interessar

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Portuguese verb “interessar” is very similar to its English counterpart “to interest.” However, there are some important nuances to understand so you can use it correctly. At its core, “interessar” means to create or hold interest, or to be of concern or importance to someone. It’s a versatile verb you’ll hear and use often in everyday conversations.

You'll typically use “interessar” when you want to express that something sparks someone's curiosity, attention, or involvement. It's often used reflexively with pronouns like 'me,' 'te,' 'lhe,' 'nos,' 'vos,' and 'lhes' to indicate who is being interested. This construction is crucial for sounding natural in Portuguese. Think of it like saying 'it interests me' rather than 'I interest it.'

Common Usage

When something is appealing, attractive, or captures attention.

In this example, the book is the subject doing the 'interesting,' and 'me' is the indirect object, indicating who is being interested. This is a common structure you'll encounter. The thing that is interesting comes before the verb, and the person who is interested is indicated by the reflexive pronoun attached to the verb, or preceding it in different sentence structures.

Another Use

To express concern or importance, often in a more formal context or when discussing business.

Here, the opinion is what is important or of concern. It shows that what someone thinks has weight or relevance to 'us.' It's not just about curiosity, but about significance.

When you want to say that *you* are interested in something, you use “interessar-se por” or “interessar-se em.” This is a reflexive verb construction followed by a preposition.

The choice between “por” and “em” can sometimes be interchangeable, but “por” is often used when expressing interest in a subject or topic, while “em” can be used for actions or activities. Don't overthink this too much at first; the key is to remember to use one of them when saying *you* are interested.

In summary, “interessar” is a critical verb for expressing interest, importance, and concern in Portuguese. Its usage often involves reflexive pronouns and prepositions, which might feel a little different from English. Practice these structures, and you'll quickly get the hang of it.

§ Don't confuse 'interessar' with 'estar interessado'

Many English speakers learning Portuguese directly translate "to be interested in" using a form of "ser" or "estar" with "interessado." While "estar interessado em" is a perfectly valid and common way to express interest, "interessar" functions differently. It's crucial to understand that "interessar" means "to interest" or "to be of concern/importance to someone," implying that the *thing* or *activity* is doing the "interesting."

§ Incorrect: "Eu interesso em português"

This is a common beginner mistake. You wouldn't say "I interest in Portuguese" in English, and the same applies in Portuguese. If you want to say you are interested in Portuguese, you need to use the construction with "estar interessado em."

Wrong

Eu interesso em português. (Incorrect use of the verb's active voice)

Correct

Eu estou interessado em português. (I am interested in Portuguese.)

Correct

Português me interessa. (Portuguese interests me.)

§ Using the wrong pronoun with 'interessar'

When something interests *you*, *him*, *her*, *us*, *them*, etc., you need to use the indirect object pronouns (me, te, lhe, nos, lhes) *before* the verb "interessar." The thing that interests you remains the subject of the sentence.

Wrong

O filme interessa eu. (Incorrect direct pronoun)

Correct

O filme me interessa. (The film interests me.)

§ Forgetting agreement with the subject

Remember that "interessar" must agree with its subject, which is the thing or idea that is doing the "interesting." If the subject is singular, the verb is singular. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural.

Wrong

Esses filmes me interessa. (Plural subject, singular verb)

Correct

Esses filmes me interessam. (These films interest me.)

§ Overusing 'interessar' when 'estar interessado em' is more natural

While "interessar" is useful, sometimes "estar interessado em" is simply a more common or natural way to express interest, especially when you want to emphasize the state of being interested rather than the action of the thing that interests you. Both are correct, but pay attention to native speaker usage.

Example

Estou interessado em aprender a cozinhar comida brasileira. (I am interested in learning to cook Brazilian food.)

While you could technically say "Aprender a cozinhar comida brasileira me interessa," the first option feels more direct and common in everyday conversation for expressing personal interest.

• **Key Takeaway:**
• "Interessar" = The thing/action is the subject, and it interests someone (me, te, lhe, etc.).
• "Estar interessado em" = The person is the subject, and they are interested in something.