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A1 verb #800 más común 9 min de lectura

Tomar

Top 800

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos Tomar en 30 segundos

Explicación Tomar in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'tomar' is primarily used for daily routines involving food and hygiene. Students learn it in the context of 'tomar café' (to drink coffee/have breakfast) and 'tomar banho' (to take a shower). It is one of the first verbs introduced to describe what one does after waking up. At this stage, the focus is on simple present tense conjugations and basic direct objects. The goal is to understand that 'tomar' often replaces 'to have' or 'to drink' in English when referring to beverages. It is also used for taking medicine, which is a common survival phrase. Learners should practice the first-person singular 'eu tomo' to talk about their own habits.

At the A2 level, the use of 'tomar' expands to include public transportation and simple abstract actions. Students learn to say 'tomar o ônibus' or 'tomar o comboio' (to take the bus or train). The verb also begins to appear in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), allowing learners to describe actions they completed, such as 'Ontem eu tomei um táxi'. The concept of 'tomar sol' (to sunbathe) and 'tomar chuva' (to get caught in the rain) is introduced, showing how the verb interacts with environmental factors. Learners also start to distinguish between 'tomar' and 'pegar' in more varied contexts, such as 'pegar uma gripe' (to catch a cold) versus 'tomar um remédio' (to take medicine).

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At the B1 level, 'tomar' is used for more complex decision-making and responsibility. Phrases like 'tomar uma decisão' (to make a decision) and 'tomar conta de' (to take care of) become essential. Learners are expected to use the verb in the future and conditional tenses, as well as the imperfect past. The verb's role in social expressions, like 'tomar a iniciativa' (to take the initiative), is explored. This level also introduces the reflexive uses or more idiomatic structures like 'tomar por certo' (to take for granted). The distinction between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese usage becomes more relevant, especially regarding the placement of pronouns and specific regional preferences for certain objects of the verb.

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At the B2 level, 'tomar' appears in a wide range of idiomatic expressions and more formal registers. Students learn 'tomar partido' (to take a side in an argument) and 'tomar providências' (to take measures/steps). The verb is used to describe taking up space or time in a more metaphorical sense. In writing, students use 'tomar' to structure arguments, such as 'tomando como base...' (taking as a basis...). The nuances between 'tomar' and its more formal synonyms like 'assumir' or 'adotar' are refined. Learners should be comfortable using 'tomar' in the subjunctive mood to express desires or hypothetical situations, such as 'Espero que você tome a decisão certa'.

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At the C1 level, the learner masters the subtle connotations of 'tomar' in literature and professional discourse. This includes 'tomar posse' (to take office/possession) and 'tomar a palavra' (to take the floor to speak). The verb is used in complex passive constructions and to convey subtle shifts in power or status. Expressions like 'tomar a peito' (to take something to heart) or 'tomar de assalto' (to take by storm) are used fluently. The learner understands the historical and etymological weight of the verb in legal or administrative contexts. At this level, 'tomar' is no longer just a verb of action but a tool for nuanced rhetorical expression.

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At the C2 level, 'tomar' is used with complete native-like precision, including its use in archaic or highly literary contexts. The speaker can appreciate the use of 'tomar' in classical Portuguese literature where it might signify 'to capture' or 'to perceive'. They can use the verb in sophisticated wordplay or to evoke specific cultural registers. Mastery includes knowing when NOT to use 'tomar' in favor of a highly specific or rare synonym to achieve a particular stylistic effect. The speaker is also fully aware of the regional variations across the entire Lusophone world, from Angola to Macau, and how 'tomar' might be used differently in those dialects.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

Tomar en 30 segundos

Tomar is a versatile Portuguese verb meaning 'to take,' 'to drink,' or 'to use transport.'
It is the standard verb for drinking coffee, taking a shower, and taking medicine.
In Brazil, 'tomar café' specifically refers to having breakfast in the morning.
It is used in many idioms like 'tomar conta' (take care) and 'tomar decisão' (make a decision).

The Portuguese verb tomar is one of the most versatile and essential words in the language, functioning as a linguistic Swiss Army knife for English speakers. At its core, it translates to 'to take,' but its application extends far beyond the physical act of grabbing an object. In everyday Portuguese, especially in Brazil and Portugal, it is the primary verb used for consuming liquids, assuming responsibilities, and utilizing public transportation. Understanding tomar is a gateway to sounding like a native speaker because it replaces several more specific English verbs depending on the context. For instance, while an English speaker might say 'I am drinking a coffee,' a Portuguese speaker is much more likely to say 'Estou a tomar um café' (Portugal) or 'Estou tomando um café' (Brazil). This usage highlights the verb's role in the realm of ingestion and consumption, where it often supersedes the verb beber (to drink) in social or casual settings.

Physical Action: To physically pick up or seize something, though pegar is often preferred for simple grabbing.

Consumption: Used for drinking beverages like water, juice, or alcohol, and for taking medicine or soup.

Abstract Concepts: Used for taking decisions, taking notes, or taking care of someone.

Vou tomar um banho antes de sair para o jantar.

Translation: I am going to take a shower before going out for dinner.

Beyond consumption, tomar is deeply embedded in daily hygiene and routines. The phrase 'tomar banho' is the standard way to say 'to take a bath' or 'to shower.' It also appears in the context of weather and environment, such as 'tomar sol' (to sunbathe) or 'tomar chuva' (to get caught in the rain). In professional or academic settings, you will 'tomar notas' (take notes) or 'tomar uma decisão' (make a decision). The breadth of this verb means that as you progress from A1 to C2, you will encounter it in increasingly metaphorical ways, such as 'tomar partido' (to take a side) or 'tomar pé da situação' (to get a handle on the situation). It is a foundational pillar of Portuguese communication that bridges the gap between physical actions and cognitive processes.

Eles precisam tomar uma decisão importante hoje.

Translation: They need to make an important decision today.

Você já tomou o seu remédio esta manhã?

Translation: Have you already taken your medicine this morning?

Nós vamos tomar o ônibus das oito horas.

Translation: We are going to take the eight o'clock bus.

Ela gosta de tomar sol na praia durante o verão.

Translation: She likes to sunbathe on the beach during the summer.

Using tomar correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature; it almost always requires a direct object—the thing being taken or consumed. In the present tense, for a regular -ar verb, it follows the standard conjugation patterns: eu tomo, você toma, nós tomamos, eles tomam. When discussing meals or drinks, the structure is typically tomar + [item]. For example, 'Eu tomo café da manhã às sete' (I eat breakfast at seven). Note that in Brazil, 'tomar café' can specifically mean having breakfast, whereas in Portugal, it usually refers to the act of drinking a small espresso. This nuance is vital for learners to avoid confusion during morning routines.

With Transportation: When using public transport, tomar is used for buses, trains, and taxis. Example: 'Vou tomar um táxi para o aeroporto.'

With Health: It is the standard verb for medication. Example: 'Você precisa tomar o antibiótico de oito em oito horas.'

With Space and Position: It can mean to occupy a space. Example: 'A mesa toma muito espaço na sala.'

In more advanced constructions, tomar is used reflexively or in idiomatic structures. 'Tomar-se de' can indicate being overcome by an emotion, such as 'tomar-se de fúria' (to be overcome with fury). Furthermore, the verb is used in the passive voice or impersonal 'se' constructions to describe general rules or occurrences, such as 'Toma-se muito café no Brasil' (A lot of coffee is consumed in Brazil). Learners should also be aware of the difference between tomar and levar. While both can mean 'to take,' levar usually implies carrying something from one place to another, whereas tomar implies the act of receiving, consuming, or seizing.

Nós tomamos a liberdade de reservar o hotel para você.

Translation: We took the liberty of booking the hotel for you.

O exército tomou a cidade após uma longa batalha.

Translation: The army took the city after a long battle.

If you walk into any 'padaria' (bakery) in Brazil or 'cafetaria' in Portugal, tomar is the verb you will hear most frequently. It is the sound of social life. Friends will ask each other, 'Vamos tomar uma?' which is a very common colloquialism for 'Shall we go have a drink (usually beer)?' In this context, the object is often omitted because the implication of alcohol is understood. You will also hear it in every household during the morning rush: 'Já tomou seu café?' or 'Vai tomar banho agora?' It is a verb of action and routine that permeates the domestic sphere. In the streets, you'll hear commuters asking, 'Qual ônibus eu devo tomar para ir ao centro?' (Which bus should I take to go downtown?).

In the media and news, tomar takes on a more serious tone. News anchors will report on 'medidas a serem tomadas' (measures to be taken) by the government or 'posições tomadas' (positions taken) by political leaders. In sports commentary, especially football, you might hear 'tomar um gol' (to concede a goal) or 'tomar um cartão' (to receive a card). This versatility makes it indispensable for understanding both the casual banter of a bar and the formal reporting of a newspaper. It is also frequently heard in the imperative form during medical consultations: 'Tome este comprimido uma vez ao dia' (Take this pill once a day). The word is so ubiquitous that it often acts as a filler verb in various idiomatic expressions that describe life's ups and downs.

Vamos tomar um café e conversar sobre o projeto?

Translation: Shall we have a coffee and talk about the project?

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with tomar is over-relying on it for the English 'to take' in the sense of 'carrying' or 'transporting' an object. In Portuguese, if you are taking an umbrella to work, you should use levar ('Eu levo o guarda-chuva'), not tomar. Using tomar in this context would sound like you are planning to consume the umbrella or that the umbrella is a form of transportation. Another common error is the confusion between tomar and pegar. While pegar means to physically grab or pick up something, tomar often implies a more permanent or significant 'taking,' such as seizing power or taking a seat.

Tomar vs. Beber: While both mean to drink, 'beber' is more literal. You 'bebe' water to survive, but you 'toma' a coffee as an activity. Using 'beber' for medicine is a common mistake; always use 'tomar' for pills and syrups.

Tomar vs. Levar: 'Levar' is for movement (taking something from A to B). 'Tomar' is for consumption or acquisition. Don't say 'Vou tomar meu filho à escola'; say 'Vou levar meu filho à escola'.

Additionally, learners often forget that tomar is used for 'having' meals in certain contexts. In Brazil, 'tomar café' is 'to have breakfast,' but you wouldn't say 'tomar almoço' (take lunch); instead, you use the verb almoçar. Similarly, for dinner, you use jantar. The exception is soup, which you can 'tomar' (tomar sopa). Misusing these verbs can make your Portuguese sound unnatural. Finally, be careful with the idiom 'tomar conta'. It means 'to take care of,' but learners sometimes try to translate 'take care' literally as 'tomar cuidado'. While 'tomar cuidado' means 'to be careful,' 'tomar conta' is what you do for a child or a house.

Errado: Vou tomar o livro para a biblioteca. (Incorrect for 'carrying')
Correto: Vou levar o livro para a biblioteca.

Because tomar is so broad, there are many synonyms that can provide more precision depending on the situation. For consumption, beber (to drink) and ingerir (to ingest) are the primary alternatives. Ingerir is more technical and often used in medical or nutritional contexts. For the act of grabbing or picking up, pegar and apanhar (common in Portugal) are more specific. If you are talking about taking control or seizing something, apoderar-se or conquistar might be more appropriate in a formal or historical context.

Beber: Specifically for liquids. Use this when the focus is on the physiological act of drinking rather than the social ritual.

Pegar: To catch or grab. Use this for 'taking' a pencil or 'catching' a cold (pegar um resfriado).

Adotar: To adopt. Used when 'taking' a measure or a stance in a more formal or permanent way (adotar uma medida).

In the context of 'taking' a path or direction, seguir (to follow) is a frequent alternative. For example, 'seguir um caminho' instead of 'tomar um caminho'. When 'taking' time, the verb levar is almost always used: 'Isso leva muito tempo' (That takes a lot of time). Understanding these distinctions helps in moving from basic communication to nuanced expression. While tomar is a safe 'default' verb for many situations, using these alternatives will make your speech sound more sophisticated and precise.

Ele bebeu toda a água da garrafa.

Translation: He drank all the water from the bottle.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

Unlike 'take' in English, which comes from Old Norse 'taka', 'tomar' has roots that are unique to the Iberian Peninsula, making it distinct from the French 'prendre' or Italian 'prendere'.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /tuˈmaɾ/

US /toʊˈmaɹ/

The stress is on the last syllable: to-MAR.

Rima con

Amar Falar Lugar Cantar Andar Olhar Pensar Chegar

Errores comunes

Pronouncing the 'o' like the 'o' in 'hot'. It should be more like 'oh' or 'oo'.
Over-emphasizing the 'r' like an English 'r'.
Stressing the first syllable (TO-mar) instead of the second.
In Brazil, the final 'r' might be silent or breathy (to-MAH).
Confusing the 't' sound with a 'ch' sound (common in some Brazilian regions before 'i', but not here).

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as it appears frequently.

Escritura 2/5

Easy to conjugate but requires knowing which nouns it pairs with.

Expresión oral 2/5

Requires practice to use instead of 'beber' or 'pegar' naturally.

Escucha 1/5

Clear pronunciation and usually stressed.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Eu Você Café Água Ônibus

Aprende después

Beber Pegar Levar Trazer Dar

Avanzado

Apropriar-se Munir-se Revestir-se Empreender

Gramática que debes saber

Regular -ar verb conjugation in the present tense.

Eu tomo, Tu tomas, Ele toma...

Use of the personal infinitive after prepositions.

Para tomarmos o ônibus, precisamos correr.

Reflexive pronoun placement with 'tomar-se'.

Ele tomou-se de raiva.

Difference between 'tomar' and 'beber' in social contexts.

Tomar café vs. Beber água.

Future immediate with 'ir' + infinitive.

Vou tomar um banho.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Eu tomo café todas as manhãs.

I drink coffee every morning.

Present tense, first person singular.

Você toma banho à noite?

Do you take a shower at night?

Interrogative sentence with 'você'.

Ela toma o remédio agora.

She takes the medicine now.

Present tense, third person singular.

Nós tomamos suco de laranja.

We drink orange juice.

Present tense, first person plural.

Eles tomam sopa no jantar.

They have soup for dinner.

Present tense, third person plural.

Eu vou tomar um chá.

I am going to have a tea.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Você quer tomar água?

Do you want to drink water?

Modal verb 'querer' + infinitive.

Não tome o meu café!

Don't drink my coffee!

Negative imperative.

Ontem eu tomei o ônibus para o trabalho.

Yesterday I took the bus to work.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past tense).

Nós tomamos sol na praia no domingo.

We sunbathed on the beach on Sunday.

Past tense, first person plural.

Você já tomou a sua vacina?

Have you already taken your vaccine?

Present perfect meaning in Portuguese.

Eles tomaram um táxi para o aeroporto.

They took a taxi to the airport.

Past tense, third person plural.

Eu tomava leite quando era criança.

I used to drink milk when I was a child.

Pretérito Imperfeito (Habitual past).

Ela tomou um susto com o barulho.

She got a fright from the noise.

Idiomatic use: 'tomar um susto'.

Vamos tomar um sorvete depois da aula?

Shall we have an ice cream after class?

Infinitive after 'vamos'.

Ele tomou o caminho mais curto.

He took the shortest path.

Metaphorical taking of a direction.

Eu preciso tomar uma decisão sobre o meu futuro.

I need to make a decision about my future.

Abstract object 'decisão'.

Quem vai tomar conta das crianças hoje?

Who is going to take care of the children today?

Phrasal verb 'tomar conta de'.

Ela tomou a iniciativa de ligar para o cliente.

She took the initiative to call the client.

Abstract object 'iniciativa'.

Se eu fosse você, tomaria mais cuidado.

If I were you, I would be more careful.

Conditional tense.

Nós tomamos nota de tudo o que foi dito.

We took note of everything that was said.

Idiomatic 'tomar nota'.

Eles tomaram o poder após a revolução.

They took power after the revolution.

Political context.

Você deve tomar fôlego antes de continuar.

You should catch your breath before continuing.

Idiomatic 'tomar fôlego'.

Espero que eles tomem as medidas necessárias.

I hope they take the necessary measures.

Present subjunctive.

O governo tomou providências para ajudar as vítimas.

The government took steps to help the victims.

Formal usage 'tomar providências'.

Não quero tomar partido nesta discussão familiar.

I don't want to take sides in this family argument.

Idiomatic 'tomar partido'.

A nova estante toma muito espaço no quarto.

The new bookshelf takes up a lot of space in the room.

Meaning 'to occupy space'.

Ele tomou as dores da amiga e brigou com o chefe.

He took his friend's pain to heart and fought with the boss.

Idiomatic 'tomar as dores'.

É importante tomar consciência dos nossos atos.

It is important to become aware of our actions.

Abstract 'tomar consciência'.

O projeto tomou um rumo inesperado.

The project took an unexpected turn.

Metaphorical 'tomar um rumo'.

Ela tomou por base os dados do último relatório.

She used the data from the last report as a basis.

Formal 'tomar por base'.

Tomara que amanhã não chova.

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

Fixed expression 'Tomara que' (I hope/God grant).

O novo diretor tomou posse na segunda-feira.

The new director took office on Monday.

Legal/Administrative 'tomar posse'.

O orador tomou a palavra e silenciou a multidão.

The speaker took the floor and silenced the crowd.

Formal 'tomar a palavra'.

A empresa foi tomada de assalto pela concorrência.

The company was taken by storm by the competition.

Passive voice with idiomatic 'tomar de assalto'.

Ele tomou a peito as críticas do professor.

He took the teacher's criticisms to heart.

Idiomatic 'tomar a peito'.

A decisão foi tomada à revelia dos interessados.

The decision was made without the knowledge of those concerned.

Formal/Legal context.

Tomando-se em conta a conjuntura atual, o risco é alto.

Taking into account the current situation, the risk is high.

Gerund with reflexive 'se'.

Ela tomou-se de amores por um desconhecido.

She fell deeply in love with a stranger.

Literary reflexive 'tomar-se de'.

O silêncio tomou conta do recinto.

Silence took over the room.

Personification with 'tomar conta'.

O autor toma a liberdade de subverter a cronologia.

The author takes the liberty of subverting the chronology.

Literary analysis.

A angústia tomou-lhe os sentidos por completo.

Anguish completely took over his senses.

Pronominal use with dative of possession.

Tomara eu ter a coragem que tu tens.

I wish I had the courage that you have.

Archaic/Literary use of 'Tomara' as a verb of wishing.

A vila foi tomada pelas águas na grande cheia.

The village was overtaken by the waters in the great flood.

Passive voice, environmental context.

Ele tomou por divisa a honestidade absoluta.

He took absolute honesty as his motto.

Formal/Archaic 'tomar por divisa'.

A discussão tomou proporções épicas.

The discussion took on epic proportions.

Hyperbolic/Formal usage.

Tomou-se de brios e enfrentou o desafio.

He summoned his pride and faced the challenge.

Idiomatic 'tomar-se de brios'.

O texto toma como premissa a falibilidade humana.

The text takes human fallibility as a premise.

Academic/Philosophical register.

Colocaciones comunes

Tomar café

Tomar banho

Tomar remédio

Tomar uma decisão

Tomar o ônibus

Tomar conta

Tomar sol

Tomar nota

Tomar posse

Tomar partido

Frases Comunes

Tomar um ar

— To go outside to get some fresh air.

Vou lá fora tomar um ar.

Tomar jeito

— To improve one's behavior or get organized.

Esse menino precisa tomar jeito.

Tomar corpo

— To take shape or become more substantial.

A ideia começou a tomar corpo.

Tomar a frente

— To take the lead in a situation.

Ela tomou a frente do projeto.

Tomar satisfação

— To demand an explanation or confront someone.

Ele foi tomar satisfação com o vizinho.

Tomar por base

— To use something as a foundation or reference.

Tomei por base o seu conselho.

Tomar conhecimento

— To become aware of something.

Tomei conhecimento do fato hoje.

Tomar fôlego

— To catch one's breath or take a break.

Pare um pouco para tomar fôlego.

Tomar providências

— To take necessary actions or steps.

Precisamos tomar providências urgentes.

Tomar um rumo

— To decide on a direction for one's life or a project.

Minha vida tomou um novo rumo.

Se confunde a menudo con

Tomar vs Pegar

Pegar is for physical grabbing or catching; Tomar is for consuming or taking transport.

Tomar vs Levar

Levar is for carrying something from here to there; Tomar is for the act of taking/consuming.

Tomar vs Beber

Beber is specifically for the physiological act of drinking; Tomar is more social/routine.

Modismos y expresiones

"Tomar chá de cadeira"

— To be kept waiting for a long time.

Tomei um chá de cadeira no consultório.

Informal

"Tomar uma"

— To go out for a drink (usually beer).

Vamos tomar uma depois do trabalho?

Slang/Informal

"Tomar as dores de alguém"

— To defend someone or feel their pain as your own.

Ela sempre toma as dores do irmão.

Informal

"Tomar um fora"

— To be rejected by a romantic interest.

Ele tomou um fora da Maria.

Slang

"Tomar na tarraqueta"

— To get into trouble or fail miserably (Brazil).

Se não estudar, vai tomar na tarraqueta.

Slang

"Tomar o rabo"

— To get into a very bad situation (Portugal - Vulgar).

Eles tomaram o rabo com aquele negócio.

Vulgar

"Tomar pé"

— To understand or get a handle on a situation.

Preciso tomar pé da situação antes de agir.

Informal

"Tomar de assalto"

— To surprise someone or take something by storm.

A notícia tomou a cidade de assalto.

Neutral

"Tomar a peito"

— To take something very personally or seriously.

Não tome a crítica tanto a peito.

Neutral

"Tomar o céu por assalto"

— To attempt something extremely ambitious or revolutionary.

Eles queriam tomar o céu por assalto com aquele plano.

Literary

Fácil de confundir

Tomar vs Comer

Both involve consumption.

Comer is for solid food; Tomar is for liquids, soup, and medicine.

Eu como pão, mas tomo café.

Tomar vs Apanhar

In Portugal, apanhar is used for transport.

In Brazil, apanhar means to get beaten or to pick up; in Portugal, it's a synonym for taking a bus.

Vou apanhar o autocarro (Portugal).

Tomar vs Assumir

Both can mean 'to take on'.

Assumir is more formal for roles; Tomar is more general.

Ele assumiu a culpa.

Tomar vs Receber

Both involve getting something.

Receber is passive (to receive); Tomar is active (to take).

Recebi um presente.

Tomar vs Seguir

Both used for paths.

Seguir is to follow; Tomar is to choose/enter a path.

Siga as instruções.

Patrones de oraciones

Eu tomo [bebida].

Eu tomo leite.

Vou tomar [rotina].

Vou tomar banho.

Eu tomei o [transporte].

Eu tomei o metrô.

Preciso tomar uma [abstração].

Preciso tomar uma decisão.

Tomar conta de [pessoa/coisa].

Vou tomar conta do cachorro.

Tomar [medida/providência].

O diretor tomou providências.

Tomar por [base/certo].

Tomei por certo que você viria.

Tomar-se de [sentimento].

Tomou-se de espanto ao ver a cena.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Tomada (socket/outlet or the act of taking)

Tomador (taker/borrower)

Verbos

Retomar (to resume/take back)

Pertomar (rare/archaic)

Adjetivos

Tomado (taken/occupied)

Relacionado

Pegar

Levar

Beber

Capturar

Receber

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely High - Top 50 verbs in Portuguese.

Errores comunes

Tomar uma foto → Tirar uma foto
English 'take' doesn't always translate to 'tomar'. Photos are 'pulled' or 'taken out' (tirar).
Tomar o livro para a escola → Levar o livro para a escola
If you are carrying an object to a destination, use 'levar'.
Beber um remédio → Tomar um remédio
Medication always uses 'tomar', regardless of whether it is a pill or liquid.
Tomar uma decisão de... → Tomar a decisão de...
While 'uma' is possible, 'a decisão' is more common when the action is specific.
Tomar tempo → Levar tempo
To express that something consumes time, use 'levar'.

Consejos

Regular Conjugation

Since 'tomar' is regular, once you learn it, you can conjugate hundreds of other -ar verbs. Focus on the 'eu' and 'você' forms first.

The Coffee Ritual

Always use 'tomar um café' when inviting someone out. It sounds much more natural and friendly than 'beber'.

Transport Tip

Use 'tomar' for any scheduled transport like buses or trains. It implies you are following a route.

Medicine

Never use 'comer' or 'beber' for pills. Even if you swallow them with water, the verb is always 'tomar'.

Socializing

In Brazil, 'Vamos tomar uma?' is the ultimate invitation to hang out. It's short for 'tomar uma cerveja'.

Tomar conta DE

Always remember the 'de' after 'tomar conta'. You take care OF something.

Sun and Rain

Use 'tomar' for weather exposure. 'Tomar sol' (sunbathe) and 'tomar chuva' (get wet in rain).

No Photos!

Don't say 'tomar uma foto'. The correct verb is 'tirar'.

Taking Fright

To say you were surprised, use 'tomar um susto'. It's very common in storytelling.

Legal Taking

In news, 'tomar posse' is the specific term for an official starting their job.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'Tom' taking a 'mar' (sea) trip. Tomar = Tom + Mar = Tom takes the sea.

Asociación visual

Imagine a person holding a giant coffee cup (tomar café) while stepping onto a bus (tomar o ônibus).

Word Web

Café Banho Ônibus Decisão Remédio Sol Nota Conta

Desafío

Try to use 'tomar' in three different ways today: one for a drink, one for a routine, and one for transport.

Origen de la palabra

Derived from the Latin 'tomāre', which is thought to be a back-formation or related to a pre-Roman substrate. In Ibero-Romance, it evolved to mean 'to take' or 'to catch'.

Significado original: To cut or to take a piece of something.

Romance (Indo-European)

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities, but 'tomar uma' always implies alcohol.

English speakers often use 'have' (have a coffee, have a shower), which translates directly to 'tomar' in these contexts.

The song 'Tomar um Café' by various artists. Commonly used in Telenovelas for dramatic decisions. Found in Fernando Pessoa's poetry regarding taking paths.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At a Cafe

Quero tomar um café.
O que você vai tomar?
Vamos tomar um suco?
Pode tomar aqui.

At Home

Vou tomar banho.
Já tomou seu remédio?
Tome cuidado com a escada.
Tome o seu café da manhã.

On the Street

Onde tomo o ônibus?
Vou tomar um táxi.
Tome o caminho à direita.
Cuidado para não tomar chuva.

At Work

Tome nota disso.
Precisamos tomar uma decisão.
Ela tomou a iniciativa.
Tomei a liberdade de editar.

Socializing

Vamos tomar uma?
Não tome partido.
Ele tomou as dores dela.
Tomei um susto com você!

Inicios de conversación

"Você prefere tomar café ou chá de manhã?"

"Qual ônibus eu devo tomar para chegar na sua casa?"

"Você já tomou alguma decisão importante esta semana?"

"Vamos tomar uma cerveja depois do trabalho hoje?"

"Você gosta de tomar sol na praia ou prefere a sombra?"

Temas para diario

Descreva sua rotina matinal usando o verbo 'tomar' pelo menos três vezes.

Escreva sobre uma decisão difícil que você teve que tomar recentemente.

Quais são as bebidas que você mais gosta de tomar durante o verão?

Relate uma vez que você tomou um susto engraçado.

Imagine que você vai tomar conta de um animal de estimação. O que você faria?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Generally no, except for soup (tomar sopa) or in Brazil for breakfast (tomar café da manhã). For other foods, use 'comer'.

In social contexts like having a coffee or a beer, yes. 'Beber' is more common when talking about water or the general act of drinking.

You don't use 'tomar'. You say 'tirar uma foto'.

You can say 'fazer uma pausa' or 'dar um tempo', but not usually 'tomar'.

Yes, it is widely understood and used across Brazil, Portugal, Angola, etc., though regional preferences for 'beber' or 'apanhar' exist.

It can mean to seize or take away (tomar algo de alguém), which is close to stealing but often implies force or authority.

In Brazil, both are used interchangeably. In Portugal, 'apanhar o autocarro' is more common.

Yes, it is a completely regular -ar verb in all tenses.

If you mean 'be careful', say 'tome cuidado'. If you mean 'take care of someone', say 'tomar conta de'.

No, you say 'tirar uma soneca'.

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