You'll often hear "puxar" when talking about opening doors. In Portugal, many doors have signs saying "Puxe" (pull) or "Empurre" (push).
"Puxar" can also mean to pull something towards you, like a chair to sit down. You might also hear it in the context of pulling someone's leg, meaning to tease them.
It's a very common verb, so it's good to learn its main uses!
When you're at the supermarket, you'll see "Puxe" on doors you need to pull open. It's the opposite of "Empurre" (push). You can also use "puxar" when talking about pulling something heavy, like a cart, or even pulling someone's leg playfully. It's a very common verb with a clear meaning.
When you're speaking Portuguese at a C1 level, understanding the nuances of verbs like "puxar" is essential. While its primary meaning is to pull, just like in English, "puxar" is incredibly versatile and appears in many idiomatic expressions and less literal contexts.
For example, you might hear someone say "puxar conversa," which means to strike up a conversation. Or, if something "puxa o saco" de alguém, it means they are sucking up to that person. Another common use is "puxar pela memória," which means to rack one's brains or try to remember something.
You can also use it to describe physical actions beyond a simple pull, like "puxar uma cadeira" (to pull up a chair) or "puxar um fio" (to pull a thread). Furthermore, in a more abstract sense, something can "puxar para o lado" (lean towards a certain side or tendency).
Mastering these varied applications of "puxar" will significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension in Portuguese, allowing you to understand and express more complex ideas naturally.
Wusstest du?
It's interesting how 'pulsare' meant 'to push' or 'to strike', and 'puxar' evolved to primarily mean 'to pull' in Portuguese. This semantic shift is a good example of how word meanings can change over time within language families. It’s a common verb in many Romance languages, often with similar meanings related to force or movement.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Ele vai puxar a porta.
He is going to pull the door.
Future tense, 'puxar a porta' means to pull the door.
Não puxe o cabelo do seu irmão.
Don't pull your brother's hair.
Negative imperative, 'puxar o cabelo' means to pull hair.
Vou puxar a cadeira para mais perto.
I'm going to pull the chair closer.
Future tense, 'puxar a cadeira' means to pull the chair.
Ela puxou a mala com força.
She pulled the suitcase strongly.
Past tense, 'puxar a mala' means to pull the suitcase.
Você pode puxar o cobertor, por favor?
Can you pull the blanket, please?
Polite request, 'puxar o cobertor' means to pull the blanket.
O cão adora puxar a guia.
The dog loves to pull the leash.
Present tense, 'puxar a guia' means to pull the leash.
Vamos puxar o barco para a areia.
Let's pull the boat to the sand.
Imperative, 'puxar o barco' means to pull the boat.
Ele sempre puxa a conversa para os seus interesses.
He always steers the conversation to his interests.
Figurative use, 'puxar a conversa' means to steer the conversation.
Ele puxou a cadeira para mais perto da mesa.
He pulled the chair closer to the table.
Não puxe o cabelo do seu irmão!
Don't pull your brother's hair!
A equipe de resgate puxou o carro para fora da vala.
The rescue team pulled the car out of the ditch.
Por favor, puxe a porta para fechar.
Please pull the door closed.
Ela puxou um lenço do bolso para enxugar as lágrimas.
She pulled a tissue from her pocket to wipe her tears.
O bebê puxou a toalha da mesa, derrubando tudo.
The baby pulled the tablecloth off the table, knocking everything over.
Para ligar o motor, você precisa puxar esta alavanca.
To start the engine, you need to pull this lever.
A corrente puxou a âncora para o fundo do mar.
The current pulled the anchor to the bottom of the sea.
Para evitar acidentes, sempre puxe o plugue da tomada, nunca o fio.
To avoid accidents, always pull the plug from the socket, never the cord.
Here 'puxar' means to pull an object directly.
O cão adora puxar a coleira quando saímos para passear, o que dificulta um pouco o controle.
The dog loves to pull on the leash when we go for a walk, which makes it a bit difficult to control.
'Puxar a coleira' means to pull on the leash.
Apesar do peso, ele conseguiu puxar a mala cheia escada acima com muito esforço.
Despite the weight, he managed to pull the full suitcase up the stairs with great effort.
Similar to the first example, 'puxar' means to pull an object.
O novo motorista ainda está aprendendo a puxar o freio de mão corretamente antes de estacionar.
The new driver is still learning to pull the handbrake correctly before parking.
'Puxar o freio de mão' is a common idiom meaning to engage the handbrake.
Decidi puxar uma cadeira para perto da janela e apreciar a vista da cidade.
I decided to pull a chair closer to the window and enjoy the city view.
'Puxar uma cadeira' means to pull up a chair, often to sit down.
O professor pediu para os alunos puxarem os cadernos e fazerem um resumo da aula.
The teacher asked the students to pull out their notebooks and summarize the lesson.
'Puxar os cadernos' can mean to take out or retrieve notebooks.
Não consigo puxar a memória para lembrar onde deixei minhas chaves.
I can't recall (pull from memory) where I left my keys.
'Puxar a memória' is an idiomatic expression meaning to try and remember or recall something.
O time conseguiu puxar uma vitória no último minuto, surpreendendo a todos.
The team managed to pull off a victory in the last minute, surprising everyone.
'Puxar uma vitória' is an idiomatic expression meaning to achieve a victory, often unexpectedly or with effort.
Grammatikmuster
Satzmuster
Eu puxo a porta.
Eu puxo a porta. (I pull the door.)
Você puxa a cadeira.
Você puxa a cadeira. (You pull the chair.)
Ele/Ela puxa o carrinho.
Ela puxa o carrinho. (She pulls the cart.)
Nós puxamos o barco.
Nós puxamos o barco. (We pull the boat.)
Eles/Elas puxam o cabelo.
Os meninos puxam o cabelo um do outro. (The boys pull each other's hair.)
Puxar a descarga.
Não esqueça de puxar a descarga. (Don't forget to flush the toilet. - literally, pull the flush)
Puxar conversa.
Ela sempre tenta puxar conversa com estranhos. (She always tries to strike up a conversation with strangers. - literally, pull conversation)
Puxar briga.
Ele gosta de puxar briga com todo mundo. (He likes to pick a fight with everyone. - literally, pull a fight)
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Adjektive
Tipps
Basic Meaning
The most common meaning of puxar is to pull. Think of pulling a door open or pulling a rope.
Related to Hair
When talking about hair, puxar can mean to tie up or to pull back hair. For example: Ela puxou o cabelo para trás. (She pulled her hair back.)
Family Resemblance
A very common idiomatic use of puxar is to say someone takes after or resembles a family member. For example: Ele puxou à mãe. (He takes after his mother.)
To Fetch (Dogs)
For dogs, puxar can mean to fetch. For example: O cão gosta de puxar a bola. (The dog likes to fetch the ball.)
To Drag/Haul
Similar to pulling, puxar can also mean to drag or haul something heavy. For example: Eles puxaram a caixa. (They dragged the box.)
To Attract/Lure
In some contexts, puxar can mean to attract or lure. For example: A música puxou as pessoas para a pista de dança. (The music attracted people to the dance floor.)
To Draw (a cigarette)
When referring to smoking, puxar can mean to take a puff or draw on a cigarette. For example: Ele puxou o cigarro. (He took a puff of the cigarette.)
To Extend/Stretch
With certain objects, puxar can mean to extend or stretch. For example: Puxar uma corda. (To stretch a rope.)
Don't Confuse with 'Empurrar'
Be careful not to confuse puxar (to pull) with empurrar (to push). This is a common mistake for English speakers.
Practice with Doors
A great way to remember puxar is to look for signs on doors. If a door sign says Puxe, it means Pull.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a 'poodle' pulling a 'shampoo' bottle. **Pu**-xar. It sounds a bit like 'poo-shar'.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture a strong person with 'muscles' (puxar sounds a little like 'push, eh?') pulling a heavy rope. Visualize the effort and the direction of the pull.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Think of 3 things you pull regularly in your daily life (e.g., a door, a drawer, a blanket). Now, try to say in Portuguese that you are pulling each of those things. For instance, 'Eu puxo a gaveta.' (I pull the drawer.)
Wortherkunft
Latin 'pulsare'
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: to push, to beat, to strike
Indo-European, Italic, RomanceKultureller Kontext
In daily Portuguese, 'puxar' is super common and versatile. Beyond just 'to pull,' you'll hear it in expressions like 'puxar conversa' (to strike up a conversation) or 'puxar pelo saco' (to suck up to someone, informally). It also shows up when talking about inheriting traits, like 'Ele puxou ao pai' (He takes after his father). So, it's not just about physical pulling; it's woven into many idiomatic expressions.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTo conjugate 'puxar' in the present tense, you'd have:
- Eu puxo (I pull)
- Tu puxas (You pull, informal)
- Ele/Ela/Você puxa (He/She/You pull, formal)
- Nós puxamos (We pull)
- Vós puxais (You all pull, informal plural, less common in Brazil)
- Eles/Elas/Vocês puxam (They/You all pull, formal plural)
Yes, it can! Besides 'to pull,' 'puxar' can mean 'to draw' (like a drawing), 'to resemble' (e.g., 'Ele puxa ao pai' - He takes after his father), or even 'to stretch' (e.g., 'puxar a massa' - to stretch the dough).
Good question! While both involve moving something, 'puxar' generally implies pulling something towards you or in a specific direction. 'Arrastar' specifically means 'to drag' something, often implying the object is heavy or being moved along the ground.
Example: Você puxa a corda (You pull the rope). Eu vou arrastar a caixa pesada (I will drag the heavy box).
That's a common point of confusion for English speakers! 'Push' in Portuguese is 'empurrar'. Just remember: 'puxar' for pull, 'empurrar' for push.
Absolutely! One very common one is 'puxar saco', which literally means 'to pull a bag' but idiomatically means 'to suck up' or 'to flatter excessively'. Another is 'puxar conversa', meaning 'to strike up a conversation'.
You can use 'puxar a' or 'puxar ao' (depending on gender/number) to mean 'to take after' or 'to resemble' someone in your family.
Example: Ela puxa à mãe (She takes after her mother). O menino puxa ao pai (The boy takes after his father).
In the simple past (pretérito perfeito simples), it's conjugated like this:
- Eu puxei (I pulled)
- Tu puxaste (You pulled)
- Ele/Ela/Você puxou (He/She/You pulled)
- Nós puxámos (We pulled - Portugal) / puxamos (Brazil)
- Vós puxastes (You all pulled)
- Eles/Elas/Vocês puxaram (They/You all pulled)
Yes, it can. While 'desenhar' is the most common verb for 'to draw,' you might hear 'puxar um traço' (to draw a line) or 'puxar um desenho' (to sketch/draw something quickly).
Yes, 'puxar' is a regular -AR verb. This means its conjugations follow the standard patterns for verbs ending in -ar, which makes it easier to learn!
You would say: 'Puxe a porta' (formal/imperative) or 'Puxa a porta' (informal/imperative). If you're just stating it, 'Ele puxa a porta' (He pulls the door).
Teste dich selbst 48 Fragen
He will pull the door. (Think about the action 'to pull'.)
Can you pull my hair? (Focus on understanding the verb in context.)
Don't pull the chair. (Listen for the negative command.)
Read this aloud:
Eu vou puxar o carrinho.
Focus: puxar
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Ela gosta de puxar a cordinha.
Focus: puxar a cordinha
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Por favor, puxe o livro.
Focus: puxe
Du hast gesagt:
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The child started to pull the blanket.
He will pull the chair closer to the table.
Please, can you pull the door when you leave?
Read this aloud:
Eu preciso puxar a mala.
Focus: puxar
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Read this aloud:
Vamos puxar a corda juntos.
Focus: juntos
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Você consegue puxar isso?
Focus: consegue
Du hast gesagt:
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Ele ____ a cadeira para mais perto da mesa.
The sentence means 'He pulled the chair closer to the table.' 'Puxou' is the past tense of 'puxar' (to pull).
Por favor, não ____ o gato pelo rabo.
The sentence means 'Please, don't pull the cat by the tail.' 'Puxe' is the imperative form of 'puxar'.
Ela ____ a porta com força, mas não abriu.
The sentence means 'She pulled the door hard, but it didn't open.' 'Puxou' is the past tense of 'puxar'.
Você pode me ajudar a ____ este carrinho?
The sentence means 'Can you help me pull this cart?' 'Puxar' is the infinitive form.
As crianças adoram ____ a corda no parque.
The sentence means 'Children love to pull the rope in the park.' 'Puxar' is the infinitive form.
Ele teve que ____ o barco para a margem.
The sentence means 'He had to pull the boat to the shore.' 'Puxar' is the infinitive form.
Imagine you are at a supermarket and need to ask an employee to help you reach something on a high shelf. Write a short sentence asking them to 'pull' the item down for you.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pode puxar aquilo para mim, por favor?
You are describing a door that is difficult to open. Write a sentence saying that you have to 'pull' it hard.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Eu tenho que puxar a porta com força para abrir.
Describe a situation where someone is 'pulling' a cart or trolley. Write a sentence explaining this action.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A mulher está a puxar um carrinho de compras cheio.
O que a criança não conseguia fazer?
Read this passage:
A criança começou a chorar porque não conseguia puxar o brinquedo que estava preso debaixo da mesa. O pai teve que ajudar a puxar o brinquedo para fora.
O que a criança não conseguia fazer?
O texto diz 'não conseguia puxar o brinquedo'.
O texto diz 'não conseguia puxar o brinquedo'.
Qual é a instrução para abrir a gaveta?
Read this passage:
Para abrir esta gaveta, é preciso puxar a pega com cuidado, pois ela está um pouco emperrada. Não tente empurrar, senão não vai abrir.
Qual é a instrução para abrir a gaveta?
O texto afirma 'é preciso puxar a pega com cuidado'.
O texto afirma 'é preciso puxar a pega com cuidado'.
O que o corredor fez apesar da dor na perna?
Read this passage:
Durante a maratona, o corredor sentiu uma dor forte na perna. Ele continuou a puxar o corpo até a linha de chegada, mostrando grande determinação.
O que o corredor fez apesar da dor na perna?
O texto diz 'Ele continuou a puxar o corpo até a linha de chegada'.
O texto diz 'Ele continuou a puxar o corpo até a linha de chegada'.
O seu argumento ___ a paciência de todos na sala.
Neste contexto, 'puxou' significa esticar ou levar ao limite a paciência de alguém, uma conotação figurada de 'pull'.
Ele teve que ___ muito para conseguir terminar o projeto a tempo.
Aqui, 'puxar' significa trabalhar intensamente ou se esforçar muito, usando a ideia de 'pull' no sentido de arrastar uma tarefa difícil.
A história de vida dela sempre me ___ lágrimas aos olhos.
Neste caso, 'puxa' significa provocar ou extrair emoções, como 'pulling' out tears.
A expressão 'puxar o saco' significa elogiar alguém sinceramente.
Na verdade, 'puxar o saco' é uma gíria que significa bajular alguém de forma interesseira ou exagerada, não sinceramente.
Quando se diz que 'a brasa puxa à sardinha', quer-se dizer que as pessoas tendem a se unir aos seus semelhantes.
Sim, a expressão 'a brasa puxa à sardinha' é um ditado popular que indica a tendência de pessoas com afinidades ou interesses em comum se atraírem e se unirem.
Se alguém 'puxa pela memória', está tentando esquecer algo.
Pelo contrário, 'puxar pela memória' significa fazer um esforço para recordar algo, evocar lembranças, 'pulling' information from memory.
This sentence uses 'puxar' in the idiomatic sense of 'working extra hours' or 'pulling a long shift'. The C1 learner should be able to recognize and order the words correctly to form this common expression.
'Puxar pela memória' is a common idiomatic expression meaning 'to rack one's brain' or 'to try hard to remember'. This exercise tests the learner's knowledge of this advanced idiom.
Here, 'puxar' is used in the sense of 'to elicit' or 'to extract' information, which is a more advanced usage of the verb. The exercise requires the learner to arrange the words to form this sophisticated sentence.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for "puxar" in the context of attracting someone's attention.
"Puxar" can colloquially mean to attract or draw attention, making "atrair" the best synonym in this context. The other options are antonyms or unrelated.
In a figurative sense, what does "puxar pela memória" mean?
"Puxar pela memória" is an idiom meaning to actively recall or try to remember something, often with effort.
Which of the following phrases uses "puxar" to imply inheriting characteristics from a family member?
In this context, "puxar" means to resemble or inherit traits from, specifically referring to the daughter inheriting her mother's blue eyes.
The expression "puxar o saco" means to genuinely help someone without expecting anything in return.
No, "puxar o saco" is an idiomatic expression meaning to flatter someone excessively or to suck up to them, often with ulterior motives.
When someone says "Não puxe pela minha língua," they are asking you to speak more clearly.
Incorrect. "Não puxe pela minha língua" means "Don't try to make me say something I don't want to say" or "Don't try to trick me into revealing something."
In a sporting context, "puxar o ritmo" means to accelerate or increase the pace.
"Puxar o ritmo" is a common expression in sports meaning to pick up the pace or increase the speed.
The speaker managed to evoke emotion from the audience.
The police are unraveling the thread to solve the crime.
I can't rack my brain to remember where I put it.
Read this aloud:
Podes puxar um assunto mais leve para animar a conversa?
Focus: puxar um assunto
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
É preciso puxar dos galões para que nos levem a sério nesta empresa.
Focus: puxar dos galões
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Sinto que estou a puxar da força para terminar este projeto a tempo.
Focus: puxar da força
Du hast gesagt:
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/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning
The most common meaning of puxar is to pull. Think of pulling a door open or pulling a rope.
Related to Hair
When talking about hair, puxar can mean to tie up or to pull back hair. For example: Ela puxou o cabelo para trás. (She pulled her hair back.)
Family Resemblance
A very common idiomatic use of puxar is to say someone takes after or resembles a family member. For example: Ele puxou à mãe. (He takes after his mother.)
To Fetch (Dogs)
For dogs, puxar can mean to fetch. For example: O cão gosta de puxar a bola. (The dog likes to fetch the ball.)
Beispiel
In context, `puxar` expresses: to pull.
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