Ter sucesso.

You use ter sucesso when you want to express that someone or something has achieved a positive result or reached a goal. It’s a versatile phrase that can be used in many situations. You can use it to talk about personal achievements, professional accomplishments, or even the success of a project or business. It’s a common and natural way to talk about positive outcomes.

• A student might say, "Espero ter sucesso no meu exame final." (I hope to be successful in my final exam.)
• A business owner could comment, "Nossa nova loja está tendo sucesso!" (Our new store is being successful!)
• A friend might encourage you, "Tenho certeza que você vai ter sucesso neste novo projeto." (I'm sure you will be successful in this new project.)
• You might see it in a news headline: "Empresa portuguesa tem sucesso no mercado internacional." (Portuguese company achieves success in the international market.)

Use ter sucesso when you want to talk about achieving a positive outcome. This could be a personal goal, like learning a new skill or getting fit. It works for professional achievements, such as getting a promotion or closing a deal. You can also use it for projects, events, or even creative endeavors. If something worked out well and met its objectives, you can say it teve sucesso.

Avoid ter sucesso when you're talking about something that just happened without any effort or goal. For instance, if it rained today, you wouldn't say it teve sucesso. Also, if you mean something simply *exists* or *is present*, this phrase won't fit. It's specifically about achieving a positive result or goal. Don't use it for neutral outcomes or failures; that's where other words come in handy. It's not for describing a simple action, like "walking" or "eating"; it’s about the *result* of an action.

Learners sometimes mix up ter sucesso with simply ser (to be). While related, they aren't interchangeable. You wouldn't say "Eu sou sucesso" to mean "I am successful" in the same way. Another common slip is using fazer sucesso incorrectly. Fazer sucesso often implies becoming popular or famous, especially in entertainment or social contexts, which is a bit different from the general achievement of ter sucesso. Remember, ter means "to have" and fazer means "to do/make".

• ✗ Eu sou sucesso → ✓ Eu quero ter sucesso.
• ✗ O filme fez sucesso (meaning popular) → ✓ O filme teve sucesso (meaning it was well-received/achieved its goals).

• Ser bem-sucedido: This is very close in meaning, often used interchangeably, but can sound slightly more formal. It literally means "to be well-succeeded."
• Alcançar o sucesso: Means "to reach success." It emphasizes the journey of getting there.
• Conseguir: A general verb for "to manage" or "to achieve." You might say "Consegui meu objetivo" (I achieved my goal), which implies success.
• Prosperar: Means "to prosper" or "to thrive." It suggests growth and continuous success, often in business or personal development.

The verb ter changes based on the subject and tense. So, you'll see variations like:

• Eu tenho sucesso (I have success)
• Ele teve sucesso (He had success)
• Nós teremos sucesso (We will have success)
• Eles estão tendo sucesso (They are having success)

The structure ter sucesso em algo (to have success in something) is also very common, like ter sucesso nos estudos (to have success in studies).

• Is ter sucesso formal or informal? It's quite neutral, fitting most situations.
• Can ter sucesso apply to a person? Yes, absolutely! You can say a person tem sucesso.
• What's the difference between ter sucesso and ser um sucesso? Ser um sucesso often means something *is* a success (like a party), while ter sucesso is more about the *act* of achieving it.