empurrar

The Portuguese verb empurrar is a fundamental action word that every learner must master early on. At its most basic level, it describes the physical act of applying force against an object to move it away from oneself. While this sounds simple, the word carries a vast array of nuances depending on the social, physical, and metaphorical context in which it is used. Whether you are trying to get through a heavy revolving door in a Lisbon shopping center or describing how a friend encouraged you to take a new job, empurrar is the go-to term.

Physical Displacement

This is the primary usage. It involves using your hands, shoulders, or even a vehicle to exert pressure. For example, if your car breaks down on a busy street in Luanda, you might need to empurrar o carro to the side of the road. It implies a direct application of energy to overcome resistance or inertia.

Social and Psychological Pressure

Beyond the physical, empurrar is frequently used to describe urging or motivating someone. If a student is hesitant to apply for a scholarship, a teacher might empurrar o aluno toward the opportunity. However, it can also have a negative connotation, implying that someone is being coerced or forced into a situation they are not ready for.

The 'Procrastination' Nuance

In Brazilian Portuguese specifically, the expression empurrar com a barriga (to push with the belly) is a very common way to describe procrastination or handling a problem in a lazy, temporary way. It suggests that instead of fixing a problem, you are just moving it slightly forward so you don't have to deal with it right now.

In everyday life, you will encounter this word on signs (usually 'Empurre'), in gym settings (push exercises), and in crowds. Understanding the difference between a gentle nudge and a violent shove is often conveyed through adverbs or context, but the verb remains the same. It is a regular '-ar' verb, making its conjugation predictable and easy for beginners to integrate into their vocabulary. Despite its simplicity, the word is essential for navigating physical spaces. Imagine being at a grocery store with a heavy cart; you aren't pulling it, you are empurrando o carrinho. The directionality is key: away from the body.

Furthermore, empurrar can be used in the context of sales or persuasion. A salesperson might try to empurrar um produto (push a product) on a customer. This implies a level of persistence or even annoyance. When you learn this word, you aren't just learning a physical action; you are learning how to describe the dynamics of force—be it physical, temporal, or social—within the Portuguese-speaking world. It is one of the pillars of basic movement verbs, alongside 'puxar' (to pull), 'levar' (to take), and 'trazer' (to bring). Mastery of empurrar allows you to describe everything from a child on a swing to a political leader pushing for new legislation.

Finally, consider the mechanical aspect. In engineering or DIY contexts, empurrar is used for pistons, levers, and gears. If you are reading a manual for a piece of equipment in Portuguese, you will inevitably see instructions like 'empurre a alavanca para baixo' (push the lever down). This versatility across domains—from the kitchen to the boardroom to the construction site—makes it a high-frequency verb that provides significant 'bang for your buck' in your language learning journey. By the end of this guide, you will not only know how to say 'push' but also how to use it with the natural flair of a native speaker.

Using empurrar correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb. In most cases, it takes a direct object—the thing or person being pushed. However, the way we structure these sentences can change based on the intent, the force applied, and the figurative meaning. Let's explore the various grammatical structures and contexts that define its usage in Portuguese.

Direct Object Construction

The most common pattern is [Subject] + [Verb] + [Direct Object]. For example: 'João empurrou a mesa.' (João pushed the table). Here, the action is direct and physical. You don't need a preposition between the verb and the object when referring to inanimate things.

Using Prepositions for Direction

To specify where something is being pushed, we use prepositions like para (to/toward) or contra (against). Example: 'Ela empurrou a cadeira para o canto.' (She pushed the chair to the corner). Or: 'Ele empurrou o ombro contra a porta.' (He pushed his shoulder against the door).

Reflexive Usage

While less common than 'mover-se', you might see empurrar-se in specific contexts like 'Eles se empurraram na fila' (They pushed each other in the line). This reciprocal use describes a mutual action between two or more people.

When using empurrar figuratively, the sentence structure often involves an abstract object. For instance, 'O governo está empurrando novas leis' (The government is pushing new laws). In this case, the 'pushing' is about advocacy and implementation rather than physical movement. It is important to note that the verb is regular, following the standard '-ar' conjugation pattern (eu empurro, você empurra, nós empurramos, eles empurram). This makes it very accessible for learners at the A1 and A2 levels.

Another interesting usage is in the imperative mood. On doors in Brazil or Portugal, you will see the word EMPURRE. This is the command form. If you see this, you know you shouldn't pull (puxar). This is a vital distinction for travelers. If you are at a restaurant and the door doesn't open when you pull, look for the sign. If it says 'Empurre', you know you need to apply force in the opposite direction. In more formal writing, you might see the infinitive used as a command: 'Favor empurrar a porta ao sair' (Please push the door upon leaving).

In complex sentences, empurrar can be paired with gerunds to show continuous action. 'Ele passou a tarde empurrando o carrinho de bebê pelo parque.' (He spent the afternoon pushing the stroller through the park). This construction emphasizes the duration of the effort. Whether you are describing a physical task or a psychological state, the verb empurrar provides a strong, active image of force being projected. It is a versatile tool that allows for clear, dynamic communication in both speech and writing.

To sound more native, pay attention to the adverbs you use. 'Empurrar suavemente' (to push gently) vs. 'Empurrar bruscamente' (to push abruptly). These modifiers change the tone of the sentence significantly. In a medical context, a doctor might tell you to 'empurrar' during childbirth or a physical exam. In a business meeting, a manager might 'empurrar' for a deadline to be met. The word is everywhere, and its grammatical simplicity is its greatest strength for the learner.

The verb empurrar is ubiquitous in the Lusophone world, appearing in every conceivable environment from the most mundane to the highly specialized. Understanding where you will hear it helps you prepare for real-world interactions in Brazil, Portugal, Angola, or Mozambique. It’s not just a word in a textbook; it’s a word of the streets, the shops, and the homes.

In Public Transport and Crowds

In the bustling metros of São Paulo or the narrow trams of Lisbon, 'empurrar' is heard frequently. You might hear a frustrated commuter yell, 'Pare de me empurrar!' (Stop pushing me!). It’s also used by security guards or staff managing crowds: 'Por favor, não empurrem' (Please, don't push).

At the Gym and Sports

Physical trainers use this word constantly. 'Empurre o peso com as pernas' (Push the weight with your legs). In football (soccer), a commentator might say a team is 'empurrando o adversário para o seu campo de defesa' (pushing the opponent into their defensive half), describing a period of intense pressure.

In Commercial and Business Settings

You'll hear this in sales meetings. 'Precisamos empurrar esse estoque antes do fim do mês' (We need to push this stock before the end of the month). It’s also used for deadlines: 'Eles empurraram o prazo final' (They pushed/extended the deadline).

In a domestic setting, parents use it with children: 'Não empurre seu irmão!' (Don't push your brother!). You'll also hear it during home renovations or moving house: 'Ajude-me a empurrar o sofá para o outro lado da sala' (Help me push the sofa to the other side of the room). The word is deeply practical and rooted in the physical reality of moving through life. It is also found in literature and news reports, often describing social movements 'empurrando por mudanças' (pushing for changes).

Another place you will see this word is on the internet and in software. While 'clicar' (to click) is standard, sometimes 'empurrar' is used metaphorically for 'push notifications' (notificações push), though the English word is often borrowed. However, in technical manuals translated into Portuguese, 'empurrar' is the standard for any physical interaction with hardware. If you're fixing a printer, the manual might say 'empurre a bandeja de papel até ouvir um clique' (push the paper tray until you hear a click).

Finally, the word appears in many idiomatic expressions that you will hear in casual conversation. 'Empurrar com a barriga' is perhaps the most famous, but you might also hear someone say they are 'empurrando a vida' (just pushing through life), implying they are surviving but not necessarily thriving. This emotional weight gives the word a depth that goes beyond the physical. Whether in a protest, a gym, a nursery, or a boardroom, 'empurrar' is the verb of action, effort, and sometimes, resistance.

In summary, keep your ears open for the 'em-pu-RRAR' sound (with that strong Portuguese 'R'). You will find it on signs, hear it in complaints, see it in instructions, and use it yourself whenever you need to move something out of your way. It is a word that connects the physical world with the social and psychological, making it an indispensable part of your Portuguese linguistic toolkit.

For English speakers, the verb empurrar is the source of one of the most famous and persistent 'false friend' errors in the Portuguese language. Because the English word 'push' sounds remarkably similar to the Portuguese word puxar, thousands of students make the exact opposite mistake every single day. Let's break down this and other common pitfalls.

The 'Push vs. Puxar' Trap

This is the #1 mistake. Empurrar means 'to push'. Puxar means 'to pull'. English speakers often see a door that says 'Puxe' and they push it, because 'Puxe' sounds like 'Push'. You must train your brain to remember: Push is NOT Puxar. If you want to push, you must empurrar.

Confusing with 'Mover' or 'Afastar'

While 'empurrar' involves moving something, it specifically implies force. Learners sometimes use 'empurrar' when they just mean 'to move' (mover) or 'to move something away' (afastar) without much effort. Use empurrar when there is actual pressure or a shove involved.

Incorrect Preposition Use

English speakers often want to say 'push on the door' and translate it literally as 'empurrar na porta'. In Portuguese, we usually just 'empurrar a porta' (push the door). Adding the 'na' (on) isn't always wrong but often sounds unnatural or implies you are pushing *while inside* the door area.

Another subtle mistake involves the figurative use. In English, we 'push a button' (which can be physical or metaphorical). In Portuguese, for electronic buttons, we more commonly use apertar (to press) or pressionar. If you say 'empurrar o botão', a native speaker might imagine you are physically trying to shove the button across the room rather than just clicking it. Context is everything.

In the context of 'pushing' people to do things, don't confuse empurrar with obrigar (to force/obligate). Empurrar suggests a nudge or encouragement, whereas obrigar is much stronger. If you tell a friend 'Eu te empurrei para fazer isso', it sounds like a helpful nudge. If you say 'Eu te obriguei', it sounds like you gave them no choice. Choosing the wrong verb can change the entire social dynamic of your sentence.

Lastly, be careful with the expression 'empurrar com a barriga'. While it's common in Brazil, using it in a very formal business environment in Portugal might be seen as too slangy or might not be understood in the exact same way. Always gauge your audience. In Portugal, they might prefer 'adiar' (to postpone) or 'procrastinar'. By avoiding these common errors—especially the 'push/puxar' confusion—you will significantly improve your fluency and avoid many awkward moments at doorways!

While empurrar is the standard word for 'push', Portuguese offers a rich palette of synonyms and related terms that can make your speech more precise and sophisticated. Depending on the intensity, the object, and the context, you might want to swap empurrar for one of these alternatives.

Pressionar (To Press)

Use this when the goal is to apply pressure rather than to move something over a distance. Examples include 'pressionar um botão' (press a button) or 'pressionar uma ferida' (apply pressure to a wound). It is also used metaphorically for social pressure: 'pressionar o governo'.

Impulsionar (To Boost/Propel)

This is a more positive and dynamic version of pushing. It implies giving something a start or a boost. 'Novas tecnologias impulsionam a economia' (New technologies boost the economy). It sounds more professional and energetic than 'empurrar'.

Arremessar (To Hurl/Shove Violently)

If the 'push' is so violent that the object is thrown or moves a great distance quickly, 'arremessar' or 'jogar' might be better. 'Ele arremessou a bola' (He threw/pushed the ball with force).

Compelir (To Compel)

A very formal synonym for 'pushing' someone to do something. It’s used in legal or academic contexts. 'A necessidade compeliu-o a agir' (Necessity compelled him to act).

Comparing 'Empurrar' with 'Apertar': While 'empurrar' is about moving an object away, 'apertar' is about squeezing or pressing down. You 'empurrar' a swing, but you 'apertar' a doorbell. This distinction is vital for everyday interactions. If you are in a crowded elevator and someone is blocking the buttons, you ask them to 'apertar o cinco' (press five), not 'empurrar o cinco'.

In literary contexts, you might find pelir (to drive/push), though it is quite rare in modern speech. More commonly, you'll see encaminhar (to guide/push toward a path). If you are 'pushing' a project through various stages of approval, 'encaminhar' is often the more appropriate professional term. It suggests a structured movement forward rather than a brute-force shove.

Finally, consider afastar. If your goal is specifically to move something *away* to create space, 'afastar' is the right choice. 'Afastar os móveis' (to move the furniture aside) implies a more organized relocation than 'empurrar os móveis', which sounds like you're just shoving them out of the way. Learning these nuances allows you to express not just the action, but the intent and the manner behind it.