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B1 verb #8,000 más común 11 min de lectura

vetar

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos vetar en 30 segundos

Explicación vetar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'vetar' very often, but it's good to recognize it. Think of it as a very strong 'Não' (No). Imagine a boss or a parent saying 'No' to a plan. In simple terms, 'vetar' means someone in charge says 'You cannot do this.' You might see it in simple news headlines about a president saying no to a new rule. At this stage, focus on the fact that it's a regular '-ar' verb, so it conjugates like 'falar' or 'trabalhar'. If you want to say 'He vetoes,' you say 'Ele veta.' If you want to say 'They vetoed,' you say 'Eles vetaram.' Just remember it's a formal way of saying 'to stop' or 'to say no' to a proposal. It is more common in adult conversations than in children's talk. You might hear it on the news more than in the supermarket.

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By A2, you are starting to understand more about how society works in Portuguese-speaking countries. 'Vetar' becomes useful when talking about simple rules or decisions in a group. For example, if you and your friends are deciding where to eat, and one friend says 'No' to pizza, they are 'vetando' the pizza. In A2, you should also learn the word 'proibido' (forbidden), which is related. 'Vetar' is the action that makes something 'proibido'. You will mostly see 'vetar' in the past tense (pretérito perfeito) because usually, we talk about a decision that has already been made: 'O diretor vetou a ideia.' You should also be aware of the noun form 'o veto'. This level is about moving from simple verbs to more specific ones that describe social interactions and decisions.

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At the B1 level, 'vetar' is a key vocabulary word. This is the level where you start discussing politics, work environment, and news. You should understand that 'vetar' is the official power to stop a law. You will learn about the 'poder de veto' (power of veto). You should be able to use 'vetar' in the subjunctive mood, which is common when expressing opinions or desires: 'Duvido que o governo vete essa lei' (I doubt the government will veto this law). You should also distinguish 'vetar' from 'votar'. This is a common mistake for B1 students. 'Votar' is what citizens do in an election; 'vetar' is what a leader does to a law. You can also use it in sports contexts, like when a doctor stops a player from playing. It's a versatile word for describing authority.

At B2, you should master the nuances of 'vetar' in professional and legal contexts. You should know the difference between a 'veto total' and a 'veto parcial'. You should also be comfortable using the passive voice: 'A proposta foi vetada por unanimidade' (The proposal was vetoed unanimously). At this level, you can use 'vetar' metaphorically in complex discussions. For instance, in a debate about ethics, you might say 'A ética deve vetar certas práticas comerciais' (Ethics should veto certain commercial practices). You are expected to use the verb with correct collocations, like 'vetar integralmente' or 'vetar por razões técnicas'. You should also understand its usage in corporate hierarchy, where a board of directors might 'vetar' a merger or an acquisition.

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For C1 learners, 'vetar' is part of a sophisticated vocabulary used in high-level discourse. You should understand the historical and constitutional implications of the 'veto' in different Lusophone countries. You can use the verb to describe subtle social dynamics, such as 'veto social' (social blackballing). At this level, you should be able to write formal reports or essays using 'vetar' and its derivatives with precision. You might use it in legal arguments: 'O ato de vetar não foi devidamente fundamentado' (The act of vetoing was not properly justified). You should also be familiar with synonyms like 'impugnar', 'glosar', or 'obstar', and know exactly when 'vetar' is the more precise choice. Your use of the verb should reflect an understanding of administrative law and high-level management.

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At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'vetar'. You understand the political philosophy behind the right to veto and can discuss its role in checks and balances (freios e contrapesos). You can use 'vetar' in highly idiomatic or literary ways. You might encounter it in classical literature or complex legal opinions where the 'veto' is analyzed as a 'condição resolutiva'. You can distinguish between the 'veto político' and the 'veto jurídico'. Your pronunciation is perfect, including the distinction between the open 'e' sound in some regions or the closed one in others, depending on the dialect. You can use the word to navigate the most formal environments, from a session of the Supreme Court to a high-level diplomatic negotiation where a 'veto' could change the course of history.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

vetar en 30 segundos

Vetar means to use authority to reject or block a law, proposal, or action.
It is a regular -ar verb commonly used in politics, business, and sports medicine.
It is a direct transitive verb, meaning it doesn't need a preposition like 'de' or 'a'.
Commonly confused with 'votar' (to vote), which has a completely different meaning.

The Portuguese verb vetar is a powerful and decisive term that translates directly to 'to veto' or 'to forbid' in English. While its roots are deeply embedded in the legal and political spheres, its usage has expanded into corporate environments, social circles, and even domestic life. At its core, vetar signifies the exercise of authority to prevent an action, reject a proposal, or stop a process from moving forward. It is not merely a 'no'; it is a formal or authoritative rejection that often carries the weight of finality.

Legislative Context: In the world of politics, particularly in Brazil and Portugal, the word is most frequently associated with the power of the Executive branch. When a President or Governor refuses to sign a bill passed by the legislature, they 'vetam' that bill. This can be a 'veto total' (total veto) or a 'veto parcial' (partial veto), where only specific articles are rejected.

O presidente decidiu vetar o novo imposto sobre combustíveis por considerá-lo inconstitucional.

Social and Professional Context: Outside of government, you might hear this word in a boardroom where a director 'vetas' a marketing strategy, or in a friend group where one person 'vetas' a specific restaurant choice. It implies that the person has a say—or at least feels they have the right to block the decision.

Minha esposa vetou a ideia de comprarmos um carro esportivo este ano.

The cultural nuance of vetar often involves a clash of interests. It is a word of conflict and resolution. When something is 'vetado', it usually means the discussion is over, at least for the moment. In sports, a medical team might 'vetar' a player from participating in a match due to injury. In this sense, it means 'to declare unfit' or 'to bar' based on expert authority. This versatility makes it a crucial verb for B1 learners to master, as it bridges the gap between everyday conversation and formal news reporting.

Medical Context: In sports medicine, 'vetar' is used when a doctor prohibits an athlete from playing. 'O departamento médico vetou o atacante para o clássico de domingo.'

O médico vetou minha participação na maratona por causa da lesão no joelho.

Understanding the weight of 'vetar' helps you navigate Portuguese-speaking societies where hierarchical structures are often respected. Whether it is a parent 'vetando' a late-night outing or a manager 'vetando' a vacation request, the word carries an air of non-negotiable rejection that is essential for clear communication.

Using vetar correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature. It is a direct transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object without a preposition. You veto 'something' or 'someone'. Grammatically, it follows the regular conjugation of verbs ending in -ar, which makes it relatively simple for learners to conjugate once the stem 'vet-' is identified.

Direct Object Usage: The most common structure is [Subject] + [Vetar] + [Noun]. For example: 'A comissão vetou o projeto'. There is no need for 'de' or 'a' after the verb.

Eles vetaram a entrada de menores de dezoito anos no evento.

In the passive voice, vetar is frequently used to describe the status of a proposal or a person. 'O projeto foi vetado' (The project was vetoed). This is very common in journalistic writing. When using the passive voice, pay attention to gender and number agreement: 'As propostas foram vetadas' (The proposals were vetoed).

A lei foi vetada integralmente pelo governador ontem à noite.

The 'Veto Parcial': In legal contexts, you will often see the verb modified by adverbs. 'Vetar parcialmente' (to partially veto) is a standard phrase in Brazilian administrative law, referring to the rejection of specific parts of a text while approving others.

O conselho de administração vetou o nome do novo diretor sugerido pelo RH.

In everyday speech, the verb can be used more loosely. You might hear someone say, 'Eu veto essa música!' (I veto this song!) during a party if they don't like what's playing. Even though it's a 'heavy' word, using it in light situations adds a touch of dramatic flair or asserts a strong opinion. However, be careful not to sound too bossy or arrogant by overusing it in casual settings.

Tense Nuances: In the future tense, 'ele vetará' sounds very formal. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people prefer 'ele vai vetar'. In the subjunctive, 'Espero que ele não vete a nossa viagem' (I hope he doesn't veto our trip) is a common way to express anxiety about someone else's decision-making power.

Se você vetar meus planos agora, não teremos tempo de organizar nada.

Finally, remember that 'vetar' is often followed by a justification. In formal documents, the phrase 'vetar por razões de interesse público' (to veto for reasons of public interest) is a standard cliché. In personal life, it's usually followed by 'porque' (because). Mastery of this verb allows you to participate in debates about rules, laws, and boundaries effectively.

The word vetar is omnipresent in the Portuguese-speaking media landscape. If you open a Brazilian newspaper like Folha de S.Paulo or a Portuguese one like Público, you are almost guaranteed to find this verb in the politics or economics sections. It is the bread and butter of political reporting, used to describe the friction between the legislative and executive powers.

The Evening News (Jornal Nacional): News anchors frequently use 'vetar' when reporting on the President's actions. 'O Palácio do Planalto confirmou que o presidente vai vetar o projeto de lei que altera as regras da previdência.'

A notícia de que a prefeitura iria vetar o aumento das passagens gerou alívio na população.

In the corporate world, vetar is heard during strategic meetings. It is a more professional and precise way to say that an idea was rejected. If a CEO 'vetas' a budget, it means the budget is dead until revised. It carries a sense of strategic oversight. You might hear a manager say: 'Eu tive que vetar aquele fornecedor porque eles não cumprem os prazos' (I had to veto 그 supplier because they don't meet deadlines).

Sports Commentary: Listen to sports radio or TV, and you'll hear about players being 'vetados pelo departamento médico'. This is a very specific but common usage. It means the player is physically unable or not allowed to play by the team doctors.

Neymar foi vetado para o jogo de amanhã devido a uma fadiga muscular.

In reality TV shows, like Big Brother Brasil (BBB), the word is used in the 'Prova do Veto', where a contestant has the power to 'vetar' another contestant from participating in the next competition. This has popularized the word among younger audiences who might not follow political news closely. It emphasizes the 'blocking' aspect of the verb.

Social Media and Pop Culture: On Twitter (X) or Instagram, users might 'vetar' a certain topic or person. 'Vetei esse assunto na minha vida' (I've vetoed this subject in my life). It's a dramatic way of saying they are done with it.

Depois daquela confusão, eu vetei o nome dele da lista de convidados.

Ultimately, vetar is a word that signals power dynamics. Wherever there is a hierarchy—be it a government, a hospital, a sports team, or a household—you will hear vetar being used to define the limits of what is permitted and what is not. Paying attention to who is doing the 'vetting' and what is being 'vetted' provides deep insight into the social structure of the context you are in.

For English speakers learning Portuguese, vetar is a 'friendly' word because it is a cognate. However, its ease of use can lead to several common pitfalls that can make your Portuguese sound unnatural or even confusing. The most frequent mistake is confusing it with the phonetically similar verb votar (to vote).

Confusion with 'Votar': This is the #1 mistake. 'Votar' means to cast a vote in favor of or against something. 'Vetar' means to unilaterally block something. If you say 'Eu vetei no candidato X', you are saying you blocked the candidate, when you probably meant 'Eu votei no candidato X' (I voted for candidate X).

Cuidado: Não confunda 'vetar' (rejeitar) com 'votar' (escolher).

Another common error involves the misuse of prepositions. As mentioned, vetar is a direct transitive verb. English speakers often want to add 'against' (contra) because in English we might say 'to veto against a proposal' (though 'to veto a proposal' is more correct). In Portuguese, 'vetar contra' is redundant and incorrect. Just say 'vetar a proposta'.

Errado: O diretor vetou contra o projeto. Correto: O diretor vetou o projeto.

Semantic Overextension: Sometimes learners use 'vetar' when they simply mean 'to dislike' or 'to say no'. 'Vetar' implies a certain level of power or authority. If you don't have the power to stop something, you can't really 'vetar' it; you can only 'discordar' (disagree) or 'desaprovar' (disapprove).

There is also the issue of formal vs. informal tone. While 'vetar' is used in casual conversation for dramatic effect, using it too much can make you sound like a politician or a rigid bureaucrat. If you are just telling a friend you don't want to go to the movies, 'Eu não quero ir' or 'Não estou a fim' is much more natural than 'Eu veto o cinema'. Use 'vetar' when there is a decision-making process involved.

Ao usar 'vetar', certifique-se de que você tem autoridade para tal decisão.

Finally, be careful with the word 'vetado' used as an adjective. It means 'forbidden' or 'blocked'. In some contexts, like 'estacionamento vetado', it's much more common to see 'proibido estacionar'. 'Vetado' is usually the result of a specific act of vetting, whereas 'proibido' is a general rule. Understanding this distinction will help you sound like a native speaker.

Portuguese is a rich language with many synonyms for rejection and prohibition. While vetar is specific to authoritative rejection, other words might be more appropriate depending on the context. Let's compare vetar with its closest relatives to help you choose the right word every time.

Vetar vs. Proibir: 'Proibir' is the general word for 'to prohibit' or 'to forbid'. It applies to laws, rules, and general bans. 'Vetar' is more about blocking a specific proposal or action that was up for consideration. You 'proibir' smoking in a building, but you 'vetar' a law that would have allowed smoking.

É proibido fumar aqui. O gerente vetou a criação de uma área para fumantes.

Vetar vs. Rejeitar: 'Rejeitar' is 'to reject'. It is broader and less formal. You can rejeitar an offer, a gift, or an idea. 'Vetar' implies that you are stopping something from being enacted or implemented. 'Rejeitar' is often emotional or personal; 'vetar' is usually procedural.

A segurança barrou a entrada de pessoas sem convite.

Vetar vs. Impedir: 'Impedir' means 'to prevent' or 'to hinder'. It is often used for physical or circumstantial prevention. 'A chuva impediu nossa saída' (The rain prevented our departure). 'Vetar' is always a conscious, human decision based on authority.

In legal and administrative contexts, you might also encounter indeferir (to deny/overrule a request) or impugnar (to challenge/contest). These are more technical than vetar. For example, a judge 'indefere' a motion, but a president 'veta' a law.

O juiz indeferiu o pedido de liminar feito pelos advogados.

Choosing the right word shows your level of fluency. Use vetar when you want to emphasize the formal rejection by someone in power. Use proibir for rules, rejeitar for personal refusals, and barrar for informal blocking. This distinction will make your Portuguese much more precise and sophisticated.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The word 'veto' is actually the first-person singular present indicative of the Latin 'vetare'. So when a Roman tribune said 'Veto!', he was literally saying 'I forbid!'.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /veˈtaɾ/

US /veˈtaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: ve-TAR.

Rima con

cantar falar andar olhar chegar pensar estudar comprar

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it like 'votar' (vo-TAR).
Making the 'e' sound like 'ee' (vee-TAR).
Using a hard English 'r' at the end.
Stressing the first syllable (VE-tar).
Nasalizing the 'e' unnecessarily.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize as a cognate for English speakers.

Escritura 3/5

Requires knowledge of regular -ar verb conjugation.

Expresión oral 4/5

Challenging to distinguish clearly from 'votar' in fast speech.

Escucha 4/5

Can be easily confused with 'votar' depending on the accent.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

votar lei não poder falar

Aprende después

sancionar promulgar impugnar indeferir proibir

Avanzado

inconstitucionalidade prerrogativa cláusula pétrea

Gramática que debes saber

Direct Transitive Verbs

Vetar o projeto (No preposition needed).

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

O projeto foi vetado pelo diretor.

Subjunctive Mood for Uncertainty

Duvido que ele vete a proposta.

Future Subjunctive with 'Se'

Se você vetar isso, eu ficarei triste.

Agreement of Past Participle

As leis foram vetadas (feminine plural).

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Ejemplos por nivel

O pai veta o doce antes do jantar.

The father vetoes (forbids) the sweet before dinner.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Eu veto essa cor para o quarto.

I veto this color for the room.

Simple present, expressing a choice.

Eles vetam o plano.

They veto the plan.

Subject-verb agreement with 'eles'.

Você veta o filme?

Do you veto the movie?

Question form using 'você'.

Nós não vetamos nada.

We don't veto anything.

Negative sentence.

O chefe veta a ideia.

The boss vetoes the idea.

Using 'chefe' as the authority figure.

Ela veta a música alta.

She vetoes the loud music.

Direct object 'a música alta'.

O professor veta o uso do celular.

The teacher forbids the use of the cell phone.

Context of classroom rules.

O diretor vetou minha viagem de trabalho.

The director vetoed my work trip.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past tense).

Minha mãe vetou a festa no domingo.

My mother vetoed the party on Sunday.

Common family context.

Eles vetaram a entrada de animais no parque.

They vetoed (prohibited) the entry of animals in the park.

Plural past tense.

O médico vetou o jogador por uma semana.

The doctor vetoed the player for a week.

Medical context.

A comissão vetou o novo logotipo.

The commission vetoed the new logo.

Collective noun 'comissão'.

Nós vetamos o restaurante japonês ontem.

We vetoed the Japanese restaurant yesterday.

Group decision-making.

O juiz vetou a pergunta do advogado.

The judge vetoed the lawyer's question.

Legal/Courtroom context.

O sistema vetou meu acesso à conta.

The system vetoed (blocked) my access to the account.

Technological context.

O presidente vai vetar a nova lei de impostos.

The president is going to veto the new tax law.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Se o conselho vetar o projeto, teremos problemas.

If the board vetoes the project, we will have problems.

Future subjunctive after 'se'.

Espero que eles não vetem nossa sugestão.

I hope they don't veto our suggestion.

Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.

A proposta foi vetada por falta de verbas.

The proposal was vetoed due to lack of funds.

Passive voice.

O departamento médico vetou o atleta para a final.

The medical department vetoed the athlete for the final.

Specific sport terminology.

Você tem o direito de vetar qualquer cláusula do contrato.

You have the right to veto any clause of the contract.

Infinitive after 'direito de'.

O governo vetou o aumento salarial este ano.

The government vetoed the salary increase this year.

Economic context.

Muitos sócios vetaram a entrada de novos membros.

Many partners vetoed the entry of new members.

Corporate/Club context.

O governador vetou parcialmente o orçamento estadual.

The governor partially vetoed the state budget.

Adverb 'parcialmente' modifying the verb.

A decisão de vetar o projeto foi puramente política.

The decision to veto the project was purely political.

Using the infinitive as a noun.

Caso o diretor vete a proposta, precisaremos de um plano B.

In case the director vetoes the proposal, we will need a plan B.

Subjunctive after 'caso'.

O veto foi mantido pelo Congresso Nacional.

The veto was upheld by the National Congress.

Noun form 'o veto'.

A empresa vetou a divulgação de dados sigilosos.

The company vetoed the disclosure of confidential data.

Formal business context.

Ela foi vetada da competição por não cumprir os requisitos.

She was vetoed (barred) from the competition for not meeting the requirements.

Passive voice with a person as subject.

O conselho de ética vetou a conduta do parlamentar.

The ethics council vetoed the parliamentarian's conduct.

Abstract object 'conduta'.

É provável que o órgão regulador vete a fusão das empresas.

It is likely that the regulatory body will veto the merger of the companies.

Subjunctive after 'é provável que'.

O presidente exerceu sua prerrogativa de vetar o texto integralmente.

The president exercised his prerogative to veto the text in its entirety.

High-level legal vocabulary ('prerrogativa').

O plenário pode derrubar o veto se houver maioria absoluta.

The plenary can overturn the veto if there is an absolute majority.

Legislative process terminology ('derrubar o veto').

A censura costumava vetar obras de arte subversivas.

Censorship used to veto (ban) subversive works of art.

Historical context, imperfect tense.

O departamento jurídico vetou a cláusula por insegurança jurídica.

The legal department vetoed the clause due to legal uncertainty.

Professional legal context.

Embora o comitê tenha vetado a ideia, o CEO insistiu nela.

Although the committee vetoed the idea, the CEO insisted on it.

Concessive clause with perfect subjunctive.

O veto presidencial gerou uma crise institucional sem precedentes.

The presidential veto sparked an unprecedented institutional crisis.

Complex noun phrase.

Não se deve vetar o debate sobre temas sensíveis na universidade.

One should not veto (block) the debate on sensitive topics at the university.

Passive reflexive 'se'.

A federação vetou o uso de substâncias proibidas nos treinos.

The federation vetoed the use of prohibited substances in training.

Regulatory context.

A fundamentação do veto baseou-se em vício de inconstitucionalidade.

The justification for the veto was based on a defect of unconstitutionality.

Technical legal jargon.

Vetar por mero capricho político compromete a estabilidade democrática.

Vetoing out of mere political whim compromises democratic stability.

Philosophical/Political analysis.

A proposta, conquanto meritória, foi vetada sob o prisma fiscal.

The proposal, although meritorious, was vetoed from a fiscal perspective.

Advanced conjunction 'conquanto'.

O poder de vetar não deve ser confundido com o de legislar.

The power to veto should not be confused with the power to legislate.

Conceptual distinction.

Instâncias superiores vetaram a aplicação daquela norma obsoleta.

Higher instances vetoed the application of that obsolete norm.

Administrative law context.

Ao vetar o projeto, o executivo sinaliza uma mudança de paradigma.

By vetoing the project, the executive signals a paradigm shift.

Gerund expressing means.

O escrutínio público acabou por vetar moralmente a indicação.

Public scrutiny ended up morally vetoing the nomination.

Metaphorical usage.

Subsiste o receio de que o monarca vete qualquer tentativa de reforma.

The fear persists that the monarch will veto any attempt at reform.

Literary/Historical context.

Colocaciones comunes

vetar um projeto

vetar uma lei

vetar totalmente

vetar parcialmente

vetar a entrada

vetar um jogador

vetar por unanimidade

vetar o acesso

vetar gastos

vetar a participação

Frases Comunes

Poder de veto

— The constitutional or official right to reject a decision.

O Brasil busca um assento com poder de veto na ONU.

Veto presidencial

— The specific act of a president rejecting a bill.

O veto presidencial foi publicado no Diário Oficial.

Veto parcial

— Rejection of only specific parts of a proposal.

O projeto sofreu um veto parcial em três artigos.

Derrubar o veto

— When a legislature votes to override a veto.

O Congresso se reuniu para derrubar o veto do presidente.

Manter o veto

— When a veto is upheld and the rejection remains.

Os parlamentares decidiram manter o veto original.

Razões do veto

— The official justifications provided for a rejection.

As razões do veto foram explicadas em uma carta aberta.

Veto médico

— A medical prohibition from participating in an activity.

O atleta recebeu um veto médico após os exames.

Veto absoluto

— A rejection that cannot be overturned.

Algumas monarquias possuíam o veto absoluto.

Veto de gaveta

— Informal term for when a leader simply ignores a bill to let it die.

Muitos criticam o uso do veto de gaveta na política local.

Veto técnico

— A veto based on technical flaws rather than political ones.

O engenheiro deu um veto técnico à obra.

Se confunde a menudo con

vetar vs votar

Votar means to vote; vetar means to block/veto. They sound very similar.

vetar vs vedar

Vedar means to seal (like a pipe) or to block a view. It is occasionally used as 'to forbid' but 'vetar' is more specific to proposals.

vetar vs evitar

Evitar means to avoid. It does not imply authority like 'vetar' does.

Modismos y expresiones

"Vetar na raiz"

— To stop something at its very beginning before it grows.

Temos que vetar essa ideia na raiz antes que ganhe força.

informal

"Dar um veto"

— To decisively say no to something.

Minha esposa deu um veto na nossa mudança para o exterior.

neutral

"Veto de sangue"

— A rare, dramatic term for a rejection that causes deep conflict.

Aquela decisão foi um veto de sangue entre as duas famílias.

literary

"Ter o veto final"

— To have the ultimate authority to decide against something.

No final das contas, o dono da empresa tem o veto final.

business

"Veto de silêncio"

— To block a discussion by refusing to speak about it.

Ela impôs um veto de silêncio sobre o divórcio.

metaphorical

"Veto de amizade"

— When friends collectively decide not to do something or accept someone.

Houve um veto de amizade contra o novo namorado dela.

slang

"Veto de bolso"

— Another way to say 'pocket veto', ignoring something until it expires.

O prefeito usou seu veto de bolso para evitar a polêmica.

political

"Veto moral"

— A rejection based on ethical principles rather than rules.

A sociedade deu um veto moral àquele comportamento.

neutral

"Veto cruzado"

— When two parties veto each other's proposals, causing a deadlock.

A negociação parou devido a um veto cruzado.

formal

"Veto de emergência"

— A sudden rejection to prevent an immediate disaster.

O piloto deu um veto de emergência à decolagem.

technical

Fácil de confundir

vetar vs votar

Phonetic similarity.

Votar is to express a choice in an election. Vetar is to reject a proposal using authority.

Eu vou votar no João, mas o chefe vai vetar a promoção dele.

vetar vs vedar

Phonetic similarity.

Vedar is mostly used for sealing leaks or blocking physical access. Vetar is for laws and ideas.

Tivemos que vedar o cano. O síndico vetou a obra.

vetar vs vitar

Non-existent word.

Doesn't exist, but learners might mix 'evitar' and 'vetar'.

N/A

vetar vs rejeitar

Synonym.

Rejeitar is general and personal. Vetar is formal and authoritative.

Ela rejeitou meu amor. O presidente vetou a lei.

vetar vs proibir

Synonym.

Proibir sets a rule for everyone. Vetar stops a specific new proposal.

Proibido fumar. O gerente vetou o novo cinzeiro.

Patrones de oraciones

Eu veto [coisa].

Eu veto a pizza.

O [sujeito] vetou o [objeto].

O chefe vetou o relatório.

Espero que [sujeito] não vete [objeto].

Espero que ela não vete a festa.

[Objeto] foi vetado por [sujeito].

A lei foi vetada pelo presidente.

Se você [vete/vetar] isso, então...

Se você vetar isso, não teremos viagem.

Apesar de [sujeito] ter vetado...

Apesar de o comitê ter vetado o plano...

O poder de vetar consiste em...

O poder de vetar consiste em impedir a norma.

Vetar-se-á a proposta caso...

Vetar-se-á a proposta caso haja vício legal.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

o veto (the veto)

a votação (the voting - related root)

o vetador (the one who vetoes)

Verbos

vetar (to veto)

Adjetivos

vetado (vetoed/forbidden)

vetável (vetoable)

Relacionado

votar

proibir

sancionar

rejeitar

impedir

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

High in news and professional contexts; medium in daily life.

Errores comunes

Eu vetei no candidato. → Eu votei no candidato.
You used 'vetar' (to block) instead of 'votar' (to vote).
O diretor vetou de eu ir. → O diretor vetou minha ida.
Avoid using 'de' after vetar; use a noun as the object.
A proposta foi vetado. → A proposta foi vetada.
The past participle must agree in gender with the feminine noun 'proposta'.
Eu vetei contra a lei. → Eu vetei a lei.
'Contra' is redundant when using the verb 'vetar'.
Eles votaram o projeto. → Eles vetaram o projeto.
In this context, if they rejected it, you should use 'vetaram'.

Consejos

No Preposition

Don't use 'de' or 'a' after vetar. It's 'vetar o projeto', not 'vetar do projeto'.

Closed E

The 'e' in 'vetar' is closed (like 'eh'). Make sure it doesn't sound like 'votar' (oh).

Corporate Use

Use 'vetar' in meetings to sound more professional when rejecting a budget or plan.

News Context

If you hear 'veto' on Brazilian news, look for the word 'Congresso' nearby, as they often clash.

Authority

Only use 'vetar' if you have the power to actually stop the thing from happening.

Passive Voice

In journalism, 'foi vetado' is much more common than 'o presidente vetou'.

Veto = Vote No

Remember: A Veto is a Vote to stop something. Veto/Vote share the same root.

Injury Report

When reading about football, 'vetado' means the player is out of the game.

Justification

A legal veto must always be 'fundamentado' (explained with reasons).

Group Dynamics

In a group of friends, 'vetar' is a funny way to be dramatic about a choice.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'VET' (veterinarian) who has to 'VETAR' (veto/forbid) a dog from eating chocolate. The Vet says No!

Asociación visual

Imagine a giant red 'X' stamp coming down on a piece of paper with the word 'LAW' written on it.

Word Web

Presidente Lei Rejeição Poder Proibição Congresso Decisão Autoridade

Desafío

Try to use 'vetar' in a sentence about a decision you made today. For example: 'Eu vetei a ideia de comer pizza hoje.'

Origen de la palabra

From the Latin verb 'vetare', which means 'to forbid'.

Significado original: In Ancient Rome, the 'tribuni plebis' (tribunes of the plebs) had the right to say 'veto' (I forbid) to block the actions of other magistrates.

Romance (Latin root).

Contexto cultural

It is a strong word. Using it in a family or social setting can sound slightly arrogant or bossy if not used jokingly.

The concept of 'veto' is identical to the US Presidential veto or the UN Security Council veto.

The 'Prova do Veto' in Big Brother Brasil. UN Security Council Veto Power. The historical 'Veto of the Tribunes' in Rome.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Politics

Vetar a lei
Derrubar o veto
Veto presidencial
Razões do veto

Sports

Vetado pelo médico
Vetado para o jogo
Departamento médico vetou
Vetar a escalação

Corporate

Vetar o orçamento
Conselho vetou a fusão
Vetar a contratação
Vetar novos gastos

Legal

Vetar a cláusula
Veto jurídico
Vetar o depoimento
Veto fundamentado

Social

Vetei a ideia
Ela vetou o restaurante
Veto de grupo
Vetar a música

Inicios de conversación

"Você acha que o presidente deve vetar a nova lei de segurança?"

"Alguma vez você já teve uma ideia vetada pelo seu chefe?"

"Se você pudesse vetar um hábito das pessoas, qual seria?"

"Por que você acha que o médico vetou o jogador para a final?"

"Você costuma vetar as sugestões de filmes dos seus amigos?"

Temas para diario

Escreva sobre uma vez em que alguém vetou um plano seu e como você se sentiu a respeito.

Se você fosse presidente por um dia, qual lei você decidiria vetar imediatamente e por quê?

Reflita sobre a importância do poder de veto em uma organização ou no governo.

Descreva uma situação em que você teve que vetar uma decisão de um amigo ou familiar.

Como o ato de vetar pode ser positivo ou negativo em uma relação de trabalho?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, but it's informal and implies excluding them. 'O grupo vetou o novo vizinho' means the group decided not to accept him.

It is when a president or authority rejects only certain parts or articles of a law while approving the rest.

Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern (veto, vetas, veta, vetamos, vetais, vetam).

In Portuguese, we say 'derrubar o veto' (literally: to knock down the veto).

Usually, they 'vetam' an activity for the patient, like 'O médico vetou o açúcar para o paciente'.

Yes, it is common in all Portuguese-speaking countries with the same meaning.

It is better to avoid it. Use just 'vetar' + the object. 'Vetar o projeto' is correct.

The opposite is 'sancionar' (to sanction/sign into law).

Not necessarily. In many political systems, a veto can be overturned by a legislative vote.

'Barrar' is more informal and often implies physical blocking (like at a club door).

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