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A1 verb #3,500 más común 8 min de lectura

medir

Top 3,500

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos medir en 30 segundos

Explicación medir in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'medir' is introduced as a basic action verb related to everyday life. Learners focus on the literal meaning: using a ruler or a scale. At this stage, you should be able to say 'Eu meço a mesa' (I measure the table) or 'Ele mede um metro e oitenta' (He is 1.80m tall). The primary challenge here is the irregular first-person singular 'meço'. You will mostly use it in the present tense to describe yourself, your surroundings, or basic tasks like cooking. It is often paired with common units like 'metros', 'centímetros', and 'quilos'. You should also learn the basic imperative 'meça' for following instructions. Vocabulary at this level is concrete and tied to immediate physical reality. Understanding that 'medir' is a verb of action is crucial, and distinguishing it from the noun 'medo' (fear) is the first major hurdle for A1 students. You will likely encounter it in dialogues about height, weight, and simple shopping scenarios.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'medir' in a wider range of past and future contexts. You should be comfortable using it in the 'Pretérito Perfeito' (Eu medi) and the 'Futuro do Presente' (Eu medirei/Vou medir). The contexts expand to include health (medir a febre, medir a pressão) and simple DIY projects. You will start to see 'medir' used in sentences with more than one clause, such as 'Eu medi a parede antes de comprar a tinta' (I measured the wall before buying the paint). At this stage, the focus shifts slightly toward accuracy in conjugation across different tenses. You might also encounter the passive-like use of the third person: 'Quanto mede esta sala?' (How much does this room measure?). Learners should also become familiar with the noun form 'medida' (measure/measurement), which often appears in phrases like 'sob medida' (custom-made). This level builds the foundation for more abstract uses by solidifying the physical ones.

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By B1, you are expected to handle 'medir' in more nuanced and slightly abstract situations. This includes the 'Pretérito Imperfeito' for describing ongoing or habitual measurements in the past. You will begin to use the verb to describe the evaluation of non-physical things, such as 'medir o sucesso' or 'medir as consequências'. The subjunctive mood becomes more important here, especially after expressions of doubt or desire: 'É importante que você meça tudo com cuidado' (It is important that you measure everything carefully). You should also be familiar with common collocations and fixed expressions like 'medir as palavras' (to watch what you say). B1 learners start to distinguish between 'medir' and its synonyms like 'avaliar' (to evaluate) or 'estimar' (to estimate), choosing the correct verb based on the level of precision required. This level marks the transition from purely concrete usage to a mix of literal and figurative language.

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At the B2 level, 'medir' is used fluently in complex metaphorical contexts. You will encounter it in social and political commentary, discussing the 'measurement' of public opinion or economic impact. The irregularity of the verb should no longer be an issue, and you should be able to use the 'Futuro do Subjuntivo' comfortably: 'Quando você medir o terreno, me avise' (When you measure the land, let me know). Idiomatic expressions like 'medir forças' (to lock horns/compete) become part of your active vocabulary. You will also understand the difference between 'medir' and more technical verbs like 'aferir' (to calibrate) or 'mensurar' (to measure in a scientific sense). B2 learners can engage in debates where they must 'measure' the pros and cons of an argument. The verb becomes a tool for sophisticated analysis, allowing for more precise descriptions of scale, impact, and comparison in both formal and informal registers.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'medir' should reflect a deep understanding of its stylistic potential. You can use it in literary or highly formal academic writing to describe the 'measurement' of existential or philosophical concepts. You will recognize and use the verb in its more obscure forms and tenses, such as the 'Mais-que-perfeito'. C1 learners are sensitive to the connotations of the word; for example, using 'medir' instead of 'avaliar' can imply a more cold, clinical, or objective assessment. You can handle complex structures like 'Sem medir esforços' (without sparing any effort) with ease, integrating them naturally into your speech and writing. Your understanding of the word includes its historical and etymological connections, allowing you to appreciate wordplay or puns in Portuguese literature. At this level, 'medir' is not just a verb but a versatile instrument for articulating complex relationships between entities, values, and consequences.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like mastery of 'medir'. You can use it with total precision in any context, from a highly technical engineering report to a poetic exploration of the human condition. You understand the subtle differences between 'medir', 'mensurar', 'aferir', 'dimensionar', and 'esquadrinhar', and you choose between them instinctively to achieve the desired rhetorical effect. You can analyze the use of 'medir' in classical Portuguese literature, such as in the works of Machado de Assis or Fernando Pessoa, where the verb might be used to explore the limits of human perception or the measurement of the soul. Your use of the verb is characterized by perfect grammatical accuracy, even in the most complex subjunctive and conditional structures. You are also fully aware of regional variations in usage and can adapt your register perfectly to the audience, whether you are using street slang or delivering a formal lecture on metrology.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

medir en 30 segundos

Medir is the primary Portuguese verb for 'to measure', used for physical dimensions, weight, and abstract evaluations like success or consequences.
It is a third-conjugation verb (-ir) with a significant irregularity in the first-person singular present indicative: 'eu meço'.
Commonly heard in medical, construction, and tailoring contexts, it also appears in frequent idioms like 'medir as palavras' (to watch one's words).
Learners must distinguish it from the noun 'medo' (fear) and use it to describe both literal and figurative assessments.

The Portuguese verb medir is a fundamental linguistic tool used to describe the act of determining the dimensions, quantity, or capacity of something. At its core, it is the direct equivalent of the English verb 'to measure'. Whether you are a tailor taking someone's waist size, a scientist recording the temperature of a chemical reaction, or a baker ensuring you have exactly five hundred grams of flour, medir is the word you will rely on. It belongs to the third conjugation (verbs ending in -ir) and is notably irregular in its first-person singular present indicative form, which is a common stumbling block for beginners.

Physical Dimensions: This is the most literal application. You use it when using a ruler, tape measure, or scale to find out how long, wide, or heavy an object is. For example, when buying furniture, you must measure the room first.

Antes de comprar o sofá, eu preciso medir a sala para ter certeza de que ele cabe.

Beyond the physical, medir stretches into the metaphorical realm. It is frequently used to describe the assessment of abstract qualities such as consequences, risks, or even the impact of one's words. In a political or social context, one might 'measure the consequences' of a new law. This figurative use is highly common in formal Portuguese literature and news reporting, where evaluating the gravity of a situation requires a precise 'measurement' of variables that aren't necessarily tangible.

Comparative Evaluation: We also use this verb when comparing two things or people, often in the sense of 'measuring up' to a standard or 'measuring forces' (medir forças) in a competition or conflict.

Não devemos medir o sucesso apenas pelo dinheiro que ganhamos.

In everyday life, you will encounter this word at the doctor's office (medir a pressão - to measure blood pressure), in the kitchen (medir os ingredientes), and in construction. It is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between the exact sciences and the nuances of human behavior. Understanding its irregular conjugation—specifically 'eu meço'—is the key to sounding like a natural speaker rather than a student merely following a textbook pattern.

Using medir correctly involves navigating its irregular present tense and understanding its transitivity. As a transitive verb, it usually takes a direct object—the thing being measured. However, the way we express the result of the measurement often involves different structures. For instance, if you want to say something measures a certain length, you might use 'medir' followed directly by the number and unit, or you might use the verb 'ter' (to have).

Direct Measurement: When you are the actor performing the measurement. Structure: [Subject] + [Conjugated Medir] + [Object].

O arquiteto vai medir o terreno amanhã cedo.

One of the most important aspects of using this verb is the first-person singular present indicative form: meço. Many learners incorrectly say 'medo', which is actually a noun meaning 'fear'. If you say 'Eu medo a mesa', a Portuguese speaker will be very confused! Always remember: 'Eu meço' (I measure) vs. 'Eu tenho medo' (I have fear). This phonetic and orthographic shift from 'd' to 'ç' is a hallmark of this verb group.

Stating Dimensions: When the object itself is the subject and you are stating its size. Structure: [Object] + [Mede] + [Dimension].

Esta mesa mede dois metros de comprimento.

In more complex sentences, medir can be used reflexively or in passive structures, though this is rarer. More common is its use in idiomatic expressions like 'sem medir as consequências' (without measuring the consequences), which acts as an adverbial phrase describing a reckless action. In these cases, the verb remains in the infinitive or participle form, making it easier to use without worrying about the irregular 'ç'.

In a Portuguese-speaking country, you will hear medir in a variety of settings. The most common is perhaps the medical field. If you visit a 'posto de saúde' (health clinic), the nurse will likely say, 'Vou medir sua pressão' (I'm going to measure your blood pressure) or 'Vamos medir sua altura' (Let's measure your height). These are standard procedures where the verb is used literally and frequently.

The Construction Site: Builders and architects use this word constantly. You will hear phrases like 'medir a área' or 'medir a profundidade'. Precision is key in this industry, so the verb is often paired with adverbs like 'precisamente' or 'exatamente'.

O pedreiro precisa medir a parede antes de colocar os azulejos.

Another common place is the clothing store or tailor (alfaiate/costureira). When getting a suit or dress adjusted, the professional will say, 'Deixe-me medir seus ombros' (Let me measure your shoulders). In this context, the word is associated with customization and fit. You might also hear it in the kitchen during a cooking show, though Brazilians often use 'xícara' (cup) or 'colher' (spoon) as verbs informally, medir remains the formal standard for following a recipe accurately.

Scientific and Technical Contexts: In laboratories or technical reports, 'medir' is the standard for data collection. Whether measuring the pH of a liquid or the speed of an object, it is the verb of choice for empirical observation.

Os cientistas usam sensores para medir a poluição do ar.

Finally, in emotional or tense conversations, you might hear the phrase 'meça suas palavras' (measure your words). This is a warning to be careful about what you say, usually heard in dramas, movies, or real-life arguments. It gained a bit of 'meme' status in Brazil a few years ago ('Meça suas palavras, parça!'), so you might even hear it used jokingly among friends.

The most frequent mistake learners make with medir is the incorrect conjugation of the first-person singular in the present tense. Because the infinitive is medir, logic suggests 'eu medo'. However, as mentioned, medo is the noun for 'fear'. The correct form is eu meço. This irregularity extends to the present subjunctive (que eu meça, que tu meças, etc.) and the imperative (meça você).

The 'Medo' Trap: Avoid saying 'Eu medo a distância'. Instead, say 'Eu meço a distância'. Using 'medo' makes you sound like you are afraid of the distance!

Errado: Eu medo o tamanho da janela.
Correto: Eu meço o tamanho da janela.

Another mistake involves confusing medir with médio (average) or mediano (median). While they share a Latin root related to measurement and the middle, medir is a verb of action, while médio is an adjective. You don't 'médio' something; you 'mede' it to find the 'média' (average).

Confusion with 'Mensurar': Learners often over-complicate things by using 'mensurar' (to mensurate) in casual conversation. While 'mensurar' is a valid synonym, it is very formal and academic. Stick to 'medir' for everyday situations.

Demasiado formal: É difícil mensurar o amor.
Natural: É difícil medir o amor.

Lastly, be careful with the phrase 'medir forças'. Some students translate it literally as 'to measure forces' and use it for physics homework. While technically possible, in Portuguese, this phrase is almost exclusively used to describe a rivalry or a power struggle between two entities. If you are doing a physics experiment, you would likely use 'calcular a força' or 'determinar a magnitude da força'.

While medir is the most common verb for measurement, Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on the nuance of the action. Understanding these synonyms will help you choose the most precise word for your context, especially as you progress into more advanced levels of the language.

Avaliar (To Evaluate/Assess): Used when the measurement involves a judgment of value or quality rather than just physical size. Example: Avaliar o desempenho de um funcionário.

O professor vai avaliar o conhecimento dos alunos, não apenas medir o tempo de prova.

Another important alternative is dimensionar. This verb is specifically used in engineering and design to determine the necessary dimensions for a project to function correctly. It implies a level of planning that medir does not always carry. Similarly, pesar is used specifically for weight, and contar is used for counting individual units.

Calcular (To Calculate): Used when the measurement isn't done with a tool directly but through mathematical operations. You measure the sides of a triangle to calculate its area.

Precisamos calcular os custos antes de medir os lucros.

In literary contexts, you might see esquadrinhar, which means to examine or 'measure' something very minutely, often used for searching a place or analyzing a text. For learners, mastering medir first is essential, but knowing when to swap it for avaliar or calcular will significantly improve your fluency and precision in Portuguese.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The Latin root 'metiri' is the ancestor of many English words as well, such as 'meter', 'metric', and 'dimension'. It suggests a deep historical link between how we perceive space and how we describe it.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /meˈðiɾ/

US /meˈdʒiʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: me-DIR.

Rima con

Pedir Ouvir Sentir Subir Abrir Sorrir Partir Dormir

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'me' as an open 'meh' instead of a closed 'may' sound.
Failing to palatalize the 'di' in Brazilian Portuguese (should be 'dji').
Stress on the first syllable (ME-dir) instead of the second (me-DIR).
Confusing the pronunciation of 'medir' with the noun 'medo'.
Not pronouncing the final 'r' at all in casual Brazilian speech (medi).

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to 'measure' roots.

Escritura 3/5

Difficult due to the 'meço' irregularity and subjunctive forms.

Expresión oral 2/5

Pronunciation of 'di' varies by region, but it is generally simple.

Escucha 2/5

Clearly audible, though 'meço' might confuse beginners.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Tamanho Número Régua Fita Grande

Aprende después

Avaliar Calcular Pesar Aferir Dimensionar

Avanzado

Mensurabilidade Antropometria Metrologia

Gramática que debes saber

Irregularity in the first person present indicative (-ir verbs)

Medir -> Eu meço (not medo).

Present Subjunctive formation from the first person indicative

Eu meço -> Que eu meça, que tu meças...

Use of 'ao' + infinitive to indicate time

Ao medir a mesa, percebi o erro.

Passive 'se' with transitive verbs

Mede-se a temperatura com um termômetro.

Future Subjunctive for hypothetical future actions

Quando você medir o espaço, me avise.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Eu meço a mesa da cozinha.

I measure the kitchen table.

Note the irregular 'meço' (I measure).

Você pode medir a minha altura?

Can you measure my height?

Infinitive form 'medir' used after the auxiliary verb 'pode'.

O quarto mede três metros.

The room measures three meters.

Third person singular 'mede' used to state a dimension.

Nós medimos os ingredientes para o bolo.

We measure the ingredients for the cake.

Regular '-ir' verb ending in the 'nós' form.

Eles medem a distância entre as cadeiras.

They measure the distance between the chairs.

Third person plural 'medem'.

Meça a porta antes de comprar.

Measure the door before buying.

Imperative form 'meça' (you/formal).

Ela está medindo o tecido.

She is measuring the fabric.

Gerund form 'medindo'.

Eu preciso de uma fita para medir.

I need a tape to measure.

Infinitive used as a purpose.

Eu medi a janela ontem.

I measured the window yesterday.

Pretérito Perfeito 'medi'.

O médico vai medir sua pressão agora.

The doctor is going to measure your pressure now.

Future construction 'vai medir'.

Quanto media o seu carro antigo?

How much did your old car measure?

Pretérito Imperfeito 'media' for past descriptions.

Nós vamos medir o terreno no sábado.

We are going to measure the land on Saturday.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Você já mediu a temperatura da criança?

Have you already measured the child's temperature?

Past participle 'medido' in a perfect tense.

Eles mediram o impacto da chuva.

They measured the impact of the rain.

Pretérito Perfeito third person plural.

É fácil medir o tamanho da caixa.

It is easy to measure the size of the box.

Infinitive after an adjective phrase.

Se você medir errado, o móvel não cabe.

If you measure wrong, the furniture won't fit.

Conditional sentence using the future subjunctive 'medir'.

É importante que você meça as consequências.

It is important that you measure the consequences.

Present Subjunctive 'meça' after 'É importante que'.

Sempre medi meus passos com cuidado.

I have always measured my steps with care.

Pretérito Perfeito used for a habitual past action.

Eles mediam o progresso a cada semana.

They measured the progress every week.

Pretérito Imperfeito for repeated actions.

Se eu medisse melhor, não haveria erro.

If I measured better, there would be no error.

Imperfect Subjunctive 'medisse'.

Ela aprendeu a medir suas palavras.

She learned to measure her words.

Idiomatic use of 'medir as palavras'.

O sucesso não se mede apenas por dinheiro.

Success is not measured only by money.

Passive 'se' construction.

Vamos medir a viabilidade do projeto.

Let's measure the feasibility of the project.

Metaphorical use of 'medir'.

Quando medirem a área, poderemos começar.

When they measure the area, we can start.

Future Subjunctive 'medirem'.

O governo deve medir o impacto da nova lei.

The government must measure the impact of the new law.

Formal usage in a political context.

Eles estão medindo forças no mercado editorial.

They are measuring forces (competing) in the publishing market.

Idiom 'medir forças'.

Não medimos esforços para salvar a empresa.

We spared no effort (didn't measure efforts) to save the company.

Negative idiom 'não medir esforços'.

A precisão com que ele mede é impressionante.

The precision with which he measures is impressive.

Relative clause 'com que'.

Espero que eles não meçam o desempenho injustamente.

I hope they don't measure performance unfairly.

Negative subjunctive.

O sensor mede a umidade do solo automaticamente.

The sensor measures soil humidity automatically.

Technical context.

Ao medir o terreno, descobrimos um erro no mapa.

Upon measuring the land, we discovered an error in the map.

Gerundial phrase of time 'Ao medir'.

O alfaiate mediu o cliente com extrema perícia.

The tailor measured the client with extreme skill.

Formal vocabulary 'perícia'.

É árduo medir a profundidade de tal tristeza.

It is arduous to measure the depth of such sadness.

Literary and abstract use.

A pesquisa visa medir o nível de satisfação social.

The research aims to measure the level of social satisfaction.

Academic register.

Ele agiu sem medir as palavras, causando discórdia.

He acted without measuring his words, causing discord.

Gerundial phrase with 'sem'.

O autor tenta medir o tempo através da memória.

The author tries to measure time through memory.

Philosophical context.

Caso meçam a eficácia, verão que o plano falhou.

Should they measure the effectiveness, they will see the plan failed.

Hypothetical 'Caso' with subjunctive.

Não se pode medir a grandeza de um homem por seus bens.

One cannot measure a man's greatness by his possessions.

Impersonal 'se' in a philosophical statement.

Medindo as opções, ele decidiu pela renúncia.

Measuring the options, he decided to resign.

Gerund used to show a process of thought.

A métrica utilizada para medir o PIB foi alterada.

The metric used to measure GDP was changed.

Passive participle 'utilizada'.

A subjetividade torna impossível medir a beleza.

Subjectivity makes it impossible to measure beauty.

High-level abstract concept.

O cientista esquadrinhou os dados para medir a radiação.

The scientist scrutinized the data to measure radiation.

Use of 'esquadrinhou' alongside 'medir'.

Se tivessem medido o risco, não teriam investido.

If they had measured the risk, they wouldn't have invested.

Past Counterfactual (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito Composto do Subjuntivo).

A magnitude do evento é difícil de medir em termos humanos.

The magnitude of the event is hard to measure in human terms.

Existential scope.

Medir-se-á a competência através de testes rigorosos.

Competence will be measured through rigorous tests.

Mesoclisis (Medir-se-á), extremely formal.

O poema mede a distância entre o sonho e a realidade.

The poem measures the distance between dream and reality.

Literary personification.

Não convém medir forças com quem nada tem a perder.

It is not advisable to lock horns with someone who has nothing to lose.

Proverbial wisdom.

A aferição serviu para medir a precisão do cronômetro.

The calibration served to measure the precision of the stopwatch.

Technical distinction between 'aferição' and 'medir'.

Colocaciones comunes

Medir a pressão

Medir a temperatura

Medir a distância

Medir o tempo

Medir a área

Medir o impacto

Medir o sucesso

Medir a altura

Medir o desempenho

Medir com precisão

Frases Comunes

Medir as palavras

— To speak carefully to avoid offending someone or making a mistake.

Em reuniões tensas, ele sempre mede as palavras.

Sem medir as consequências

— Doing something recklessly without thinking about the future results.

Ele gastou todo o dinheiro sem medir as consequências.

Medir forças

— To compete or struggle against someone to see who is stronger.

Os dois candidatos vão medir forças no debate de hoje.

Medir de cima a baixo

— To look at someone critically or judgmentally from head to toe.

A vizinha me mediu de cima a baixo quando cheguei.

Não medir esforços

— To do everything possible to achieve a goal; to spare no effort.

Não mediremos esforços para encontrar a solução.

Medida provisória

— A temporary legal measure (common in Brazilian politics).

O presidente assinou uma medida provisória hoje.

Sob medida

— Custom-made or perfectly suited for a specific purpose.

Este terno foi feito sob medida para o casamento.

Na medida do possível

— As much as possible; to the extent that circumstances allow.

Vou te ajudar na medida do possível.

Tomar medidas

— To take actions or steps to solve a problem.

A polícia precisa tomar medidas contra o crime.

Fora de medida

— Excessive or out of proportion.

A reação dele foi totalmente fora de medida.

Se confunde a menudo con

medir vs Medo

Medo is the noun for 'fear'. Never say 'Eu medo' when you mean 'I measure'.

medir vs Médio

Médio is an adjective meaning 'average' or 'middle'. It is not a verb.

medir vs Mediano

Mediano means 'median' or 'mediocre'. Don't confuse it with the act of measuring.

Modismos y expresiones

"Medir tudo pela mesma régua"

— To judge different things by the same standard, often unfairly.

Você não pode medir todos os funcionários pela mesma régua.

Informal

"Meça suas palavras!"

— A sharp warning telling someone to be careful about what they are saying.

Meça suas palavras, rapaz! Você está sendo rude.

Informal/Slang

"Medir os passos"

— To act very cautiously and plan every move.

Neste novo emprego, estou medindo meus passos.

Neutral

"Medir o terreno"

— To assess a situation before acting; to 'test the waters'.

Antes de fazer a proposta, ele preferiu medir o terreno.

Neutral

"Não medir o que diz"

— To speak without thinking; to be blunt or rude.

Quando está brava, ela não mede o que diz.

Informal

"Medir o palmo"

— To measure something by eye or very roughly.

Ele mediu o palmo e achou que a mesa caberia.

Informal

"Medida por medida"

— Tit for tat; something done in return for something else.

Eles agiram baseados no princípio de medida por medida.

Formal/Literary

"Encher a medida"

— To reach the limit of someone's patience.

O comportamento dele finalmente encheu a medida do chefe.

Informal

"A conta-gotas"

— In very small, measured amounts (literally: by the dropper).

As informações foram liberadas a conta-gotas.

Neutral

"Pôr termo e medida"

— To set limits or bring something under control.

É preciso pôr termo e medida a esse caos.

Formal

Fácil de confundir

medir vs Mensurar

Both mean to measure.

Mensurar is much more formal and usually used in academic or professional contexts.

Medir a mesa (common) vs. Mensurar o impacto socioeconômico (formal).

medir vs Aferir

Both involve checking sizes or values.

Aferir specifically means to calibrate or check if an instrument is accurate.

Medir o peso vs. Aferir a balança.

medir vs Avaliar

Often used for abstract 'measurement'.

Avaliar involves judgment and value; medir is more about raw data.

Medir a altura vs. Avaliar a beleza.

medir vs Calcular

Both result in a number.

Calcular involves math; medir involves a tool like a ruler.

Medir a base e a altura para calcular a área.

medir vs Pesar

Weight is a type of measurement.

Pesar is only for mass/weight; medir is general.

Vou medir o comprimento, mas vou pesar a massa.

Patrones de oraciones

Eu preciso medir [objeto].

Eu preciso medir a cama.

Vou medir [objeto] com [instrumento].

Vou medir a parede com a fita.

É importante medir [abstrato].

É importante medir as consequências.

Não medimos esforços para [verbo].

Não medimos esforços para ajudar.

Ao medir [objeto], nota-se que...

Ao medir o impacto, nota-se que foi positivo.

Medir-se-á [sujeito] por meio de...

Medir-se-á o sucesso por meio de metas.

Quanto mede [objeto]?

Quanto mede esta mesa?

Se eu medisse [objeto]...

Se eu medisse a sala, saberia se cabe.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Medida (Measure/Measurement)

Medição (The act of measuring)

Medidor (Measuring device/meter)

Metragem (Length in meters)

Métrica (Metrics/Prosody)

Verbos

Remedir (To measure again)

Dimensionar (To dimension)

Mensurar (To measure/quantify)

Adjetivos

Medível (Measurable)

Imensurável (Immeasurable)

Medido (Measured/Moderate)

Desmedido (Excessive)

Relacionado

Metro

Régua

Fita métrica

Balança

Termômetro

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Portuguese.

Errores comunes

Eu medo o tamanho. → Eu meço o tamanho.
The first person singular of 'medir' is irregular. 'Medo' is a noun meaning 'fear'.
Eu vou medir por metros. → Eu vou medir em metros.
We use the preposition 'em' to denote the unit of measurement.
Ele medou a sala. → Ele mediu a sala.
The past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) of 'medir' is regular: medi, mediste, mediu.
Espero que você meda bem. → Espero que você meça bem.
The present subjunctive follows the irregular 'meço' stem.
Medir o peso da mala. → Pesar a mala.
While 'medir' is understood, 'pesar' is the specific and correct verb for weight.

Consejos

Master the 'Ç' shift

The irregular 'ç' in 'meço' and 'meça' is your biggest hurdle. Practice writing it ten times to build muscle memory and avoid the 'medo' trap.

Learn the tools

Associate 'medir' with its tools: régua (ruler), fita métrica (tape measure), and balança (scale). This helps contextualize the verb.

Use it for height

When someone asks 'Qual a sua altura?', you can answer 'Eu meço 1,75m'. It sounds very natural and correct.

Watch your words

Use 'medir as palavras' in your writing to show a higher level of fluency. It's a very common and useful expression.

Medical context

If you go to a pharmacy in Brazil or Portugal, you can ask 'Pode medir minha pressão?'. They often do this for free or a small fee.

The Meme Factor

Be aware of the meme 'Meça suas palavras'. If you use it jokingly with friends, you'll definitely get a laugh.

Precision matters

In scientific contexts, use 'medir' for the action but 'medição' for the result or the process itself.

Medir vs. Pesar

Remember that 'medir' is for length/general, while 'pesar' is specifically for weight. Don't use 'medir' for kilograms if you want to be precise.

Hypotheticals

Practice 'Se eu medisse...'. It's great for talking about DIY projects that went wrong because of bad planning.

Business Success

When talking about business, use 'medir o desempenho' (measure performance). It's a standard corporate phrase.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Imagine a **MEDIC** (doctor) who needs to **MEDIR** (measure) your height and weight. Both words start with 'MEDI'.

Asociación visual

Picture a yellow tape measure wrapping around the world. The tape has the word 'MEDIR' written on it in big purple letters.

Word Web

Régua Tamanho Distância Peso Altura Fita Número Cálculo

Desafío

Go around your house and name five things you can 'medir'. For each one, say: 'Eu posso medir [object] com uma régua'.

Origen de la palabra

From the Latin verb 'metiri', which also means to measure, estimate, or distribute.

Significado original: To determine the extent or quantity of something against a standard.

Romance (Indo-European)

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities, but 'medir forças' should be used carefully as it implies conflict.

Unlike English speakers who use feet and inches, Portuguese speakers will almost always use the metric system. When translating 'medir', be prepared to switch your mental units.

The song 'Medida Provisória' by various Brazilian artists. Machado de Assis often uses 'medir' metaphorically in his novels. The meme 'Meça suas palavras, parça' (Measure your words, pal).

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At the Doctor

Medir a pressão
Medir a febre
Medir o batimento cardíaco
Medir a glicose

Construction/DIY

Medir a parede
Medir o pé-direito
Medir a largura
Medir o terreno

Tailoring

Medir a cintura
Medir o ombro
Medir o comprimento da manga
Medir o busto

Cooking

Medir o leite
Medir a farinha
Medir uma xícara
Medir em gramas

Social Interaction

Medir as palavras
Medir forças
Sem medir esforços
Medir o impacto

Inicios de conversación

"Você costuma medir os ingredientes quando cozinha ou faz tudo no olho?"

"Qual foi a última vez que você precisou medir algo em sua casa?"

"Você acha que é possível medir a felicidade de uma pessoa?"

"Como as empresas devem medir o sucesso de seus funcionários?"

"Você já teve que medir forças com alguém em uma competição esportiva?"

Temas para diario

Escreva sobre uma situação em que você não mediu as consequências de seus atos.

Descreva o processo de medir e planejar um móvel novo para o seu quarto.

Reflita sobre como medimos o tempo e se essa medida é sempre justa.

Pense em um momento em que você teve que medir suas palavras cuidadosamente.

Como a ciência ajuda a medir o progresso da humanidade?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

The correct form is 'eu meço'. This is irregular. You should never say 'eu medo' because 'medo' means 'fear' in Portuguese. This change from 'd' to 'ç' is common in some -ir verbs. For example, 'Eu meço a largura da porta' (I measure the width of the door).

Yes, 'medir' is the standard verb for measuring height. However, when stating how tall someone is, we often use the verb 'ter' (to have) or 'medir' in the third person. For example, 'Ele mede 1,80m' or 'Ele tem 1,80m de altura'. Both are perfectly acceptable.

Yes, you can use it metaphorically. It is common to say things like 'medir o amor' or 'medir a dor'. However, in these cases, it often implies that the feeling is so great it is 'imensurável' (immeasurable). For example, 'Não se pode medir o amor de uma mãe'.

'Medir' is the everyday, common word used by everyone. 'Mensurar' is a more sophisticated, formal synonym. You would use 'mensurar' in a university thesis or a high-level business report. In a kitchen or a shop, always use 'medir'.

It means to be very careful about what you say, usually to avoid conflict or offense. It's like the English expression 'to weigh one's words'. Example: 'Ele estava tão bravo que nem mediu as palavras' (He was so angry he didn't even watch what he said).

The most common term is 'fita métrica'. If you are referring to the retractable metal kind used in construction, it is called a 'trena'. Both are tools used to 'medir' length and distance.

No, it is irregular in the present indicative (eu meço) and the entire present subjunctive (que eu meça, que tu meças, etc.). In most other tenses, like the past (eu medi) and future (eu medirei), it follows the regular -ir pattern.

There isn't one single opposite verb, but words like 'ignorar' (to ignore) or 'desconsiderar' (to disregard) are used in contexts where you choose not to measure something. Informally, 'chutar' (to guess) is the opposite of a precise measurement.

In Portuguese, we say 'medir a pressão' or 'aferir a pressão'. Both are used in medical contexts, with 'aferir' being slightly more formal and technically accurate for medical equipment.

Yes, in the idiom 'medir forças'. It means two people or groups are testing their power against each other. Example: 'As duas empresas estão medindo forças no mercado' (The two companies are competing for market dominance).

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