Dar um presente.
To give a gift.
Littéralement: {"dar":"to give","um":"a","presente":"gift\/present"}
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'give a gift'.
- Works for birthdays, holidays, and surprises.
- Focuses on the act of giving.
- Neutral formality, widely applicable.
Signification
Il s'agit de l'acte agréable d'offrir un cadeau à quelqu'un. C'est plus que simplement remettre quelque chose ; il s'agit de montrer que vous vous souciez, de célébrer un moment ou simplement d'égayer la journée de quelqu'un. Pensez aux anniversaires, aux fêtes ou juste à une surprise 'je pense à toi'. Cela dégage une ambiance chaleureuse et généreuse.
Exemples clés
3 sur 12Texting a friend about a party
Ei! Vou te dar um presente surpresa no seu aniversário!
Hey! I'm going to give you a surprise gift on your birthday!
At a family gathering
Minha tia sempre me dá um presente especial quando venho visitá-la.
My aunt always gives me a special gift when I come to visit her.
Ordering a gift online
Quero dar um presente para a minha namorada, pode embrulhar para presente?
I want to give a gift to my girlfriend, can you gift wrap it?
Contexte culturel
The 'Amigo Secreto' is a mandatory part of December. It involves drawing names and giving a gift to a specific person without them knowing who you are until the reveal. Gift-giving is often more formal. Using the verb 'oferecer' is considered more educated and polite than 'dar' in social gatherings. It is culturally expected to open the gift immediately upon receiving it. Not opening it can be seen as a lack of interest. Gifts are often practical. Giving food or useful household items is a common way to show respect and support to family members.
Use 'Lembrancinha'
If you aren't sure if a gift is big enough, call it a 'lembrancinha'. It lowers expectations and sounds very humble and sweet.
Watch the verb 'Dar'
Remember it's irregular. 'Eu dou', not 'Eu daro'.
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say 'give a gift'.
- Works for birthdays, holidays, and surprises.
- Focuses on the act of giving.
- Neutral formality, widely applicable.
What It Means
Dar um presente is the most straightforward way to say you're giving someone a gift. It's like handing over a little piece of joy or appreciation. It’s a common gesture for many occasions. Think of birthdays, holidays, or just a spontaneous act of kindness. It’s about the connection you build.
How To Use It
You use dar um presente when you are the one initiating the act of giving. The subject is usually 'I' (eu), 'he/she' (ele/ela), or 'we' (nós). The object is the person receiving the gift. For example, Eu vou dar um presente para minha mãe. It’s super flexible! You can use it in almost any situation where a gift is involved. Just remember who is giving and who is receiving. Easy peasy!
Real-Life Examples
- Birthday: "
Vou dar um presente de aniversário para a Ana." (I'm going to give Ana a birthday present.) - Christmas: "
O João deu um presente para todos os amigos." (João gave a present to all his friends.) - Just because: "
Eu queria te dar um presente, só porque sim!" (I wanted to give you a gift, just because!) - Wedding: "
Nós vamos dar um presente especial aos noivos." (We are going to give the newlyweds a special gift.)
When To Use It
Use dar um presente for any occasion where you're physically handing over a gift. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays like Christmas (Natal) or Easter (Páscoa), graduations, or even just to say 'thank you'. It works for friends, family, colleagues, and even acquaintances. If you're buying a gift for someone on Amazon or picking something up at a local shop, you'll likely be using this phrase soon. It's the go-to phrase for gift-giving.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use dar um presente if you're talking about *receiving* a gift. That's a different phrase! Also, avoid it if you're just talking about the gift itself without the act of giving. For instance, saying "Este é um presente bonito." (This is a nice gift.) doesn't use the verb dar. It's also not used for abstract concepts like giving advice (dar conselhos) or giving a hug (dar um abraço), though those use dar too. Those are different verbs! Stick to physical gifts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mix up the verbs or prepositions. A common slip-up is using a verb that means 'to offer' but doesn't quite fit the gift context, or forgetting the recipient. It's like trying to bake a cake without flour – it just won't come out right!
- ✗
Eu vou oferecer um presente para ela.→ ✓Eu vou dar um presente para ela.(Whileoferecermeans 'to offer',daris the standard verb for giving gifts.) - ✗
Eu quero dar ela um presente.→ ✓Eu quero dar um presente para ela.(You need the prepositionparabefore the recipient when it follows the gift.) - ✗
Eu dei um presente dele.→ ✓Eu dei um presente para ele.(This means 'I gave a gift *from* him', not 'to him'.)
Similar Expressions
There are other ways to talk about gifts, but dar um presente is the most common. You might hear oferecer um presente (to offer a gift), which is slightly more formal. Entregar um presente (to hand over a gift) focuses more on the physical act of delivery. But for general gift-giving, dar um presente is your best bet. It’s the Swiss Army knife of gift phrases!
Common Variations
Sometimes, people shorten it slightly in very casual chat. Instead of dar um presente, you might hear dar um agrado (to give a treat/token of affection) or dar uma lembrancinha (to give a small souvenir/keepsake). These imply smaller, less formal gifts. Think of a small chocolate bar versus a fancy watch. It’s all about the size of the surprise!
Memory Trick
Imagine you're Dancing And Really enjoying yourself (DAR) at a party, and as a PRESENTE (present), you hand someone a GIFT! The dance moves (DAR) are the action, and the gift is the object. It's a fun, memorable way to link the giving action with the item.
Quick FAQ
Q: Is dar um presente formal or informal?
A: It's pretty neutral! You can use it in most situations, from texting friends to a slightly more formal gathering. It’s not overly casual or stuffy.
Q: Can I use dar with other things besides gifts?
A: Yes! Dar is a super versatile verb. You can dar um abraço (give a hug), dar um conselho (give advice), or dar uma olhada (take a look). Context is key!
Q: What's the difference between presente and brinde?
A: Presente is a gift you give someone personally. Brinde is usually a promotional item, like a freebie you get from a company at an event.
Notes d'usage
This is a neutral and widely applicable phrase. While generally safe for most contexts, be mindful of using the correct verb conjugation for `dar`. Avoid using it for abstract concepts; stick to tangible items. Remember the preposition `para` or `a` when specifying the recipient.
Use 'Lembrancinha'
If you aren't sure if a gift is big enough, call it a 'lembrancinha'. It lowers expectations and sounds very humble and sweet.
Watch the verb 'Dar'
Remember it's irregular. 'Eu dou', not 'Eu daro'.
Opening Gifts
In Brazil, always open the gift immediately and say 'Adorei!' (I loved it!) even if you didn't.
Exemples
12Ei! Vou te dar um presente surpresa no seu aniversário!
Hey! I'm going to give you a surprise gift on your birthday!
Here, `dar um presente` clearly indicates the intention to give a surprise gift.
Minha tia sempre me dá um presente especial quando venho visitá-la.
My aunt always gives me a special gift when I come to visit her.
Shows a recurring act of gift-giving within a family context.
Quero dar um presente para a minha namorada, pode embrulhar para presente?
I want to give a gift to my girlfriend, can you gift wrap it?
Expresses the desire to give a gift and requests gift wrapping.
Dia especial para dar um presente àquela pessoa incrível! ✨
Special day to give a gift to that incredible person! ✨
A short, sweet caption for social media about gift-giving.
Gostaríamos de dar um presente de agradecimento aos nossos colaboradores.
We would like to give a thank-you gift to our collaborators.
Used in a more formal setting to express appreciation to employees.
Em nome da empresa, quero dar um presente simbólico pela sua participação.
On behalf of the company, I want to give a symbolic gift for your participation.
A formal gesture of appreciation in a professional context.
Ele prometeu dar um presente, mas só apareceu com um sorriso. Que figura!
He promised to give a gift, but only showed up with a smile. What a character!
Lighthearted joke about someone not actually bringing a gift.
✗ Eu quero fazer um presente para você. → ✓ Eu quero dar um presente para você.
✗ I want to make a gift for you. → ✓ I want to give you a gift.
Using 'fazer' (to make) instead of 'dar' (to give) when the focus is on the act of giving, not the creation.
✗ Ele deu-lhe um presente. → ✓ Ele deu um presente para ele.
✗ He gave him a gift. → ✓ He gave a gift to him.
Incorrect pronoun placement ('lhe' is used differently) and missing preposition 'para'.
Comprei esta lembrancinha para dar um presente especial à minha avó.
I bought this souvenir to give a special gift to my grandmother.
Using `dar um presente` with a specific type of gift (`lembrancinha`).
A organização vai dar um presente para a comunidade necessitada.
The organization will give a gift to the needy community.
Refers to a gift or donation from an organization.
Obrigado por tudo! Queria te dar um presente como forma de agradecimento.
Thanks for everything! I wanted to give you a gift as a token of gratitude.
Using the phrase to express thanks through a gift.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'dar' in the present tense.
Eu ___ um presente para minha mãe hoje.
'Eu dou' is the first-person singular present tense of 'dar'.
Which phrase is used for a small, simple gift?
Eu trouxe uma ___ para você.
'Lembrancinha' is the common term for a small token of affection.
Match the occasion with the gift type.
Match the following:
All these are common associations in Lusophone culture.
Complete the dialogue.
A: O que você vai ___ para o João? B: Vou dar um livro.
The context of 'vou dar' in the answer confirms 'dar' in the question.
Match the sentence to the formality level.
Sentence: 'Gostaria de presenteá-lo.'
'Presentear' and the object pronoun '-lo' are markers of formal register.
🎉 Score : /5
Aides visuelles
Dar vs. Ganhar
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesEu ___ um presente para minha mãe hoje.
'Eu dou' is the first-person singular present tense of 'dar'.
Eu trouxe uma ___ para você.
'Lembrancinha' is the common term for a small token of affection.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All these are common associations in Lusophone culture.
A: O que você vai ___ para o João? B: Vou dar um livro.
The context of 'vou dar' in the answer confirms 'dar' in the question.
Sentence: 'Gostaria de presenteá-lo.'
'Presentear' and the object pronoun '-lo' are markers of formal register.
🎉 Score : /5
Tutoriels video
Trouve des tutoriels vidéo sur YouTube pour cette expression.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsA 'presente' is a general gift. A 'lembrancinha' is a small, often inexpensive token given to show you were thinking of someone.
Yes, but 'oferecer um presente' or 'entregar um brinde' (if it's a promotional item) might be more common in formal business settings.
It is 'Eu dei', 'Você deu', 'Nós demos', 'Eles deram'.
Both are correct. 'Para' is much more common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, while 'a' is more formal.
It means a 'Greek gift' or a Trojan horse—a gift that causes more trouble than it's worth.
Usually yes, but you can say 'dar presentes' (plural) without the article.
You say 'cartão-presente' or 'vale-presente'.
In Portugal, 'prenda' is very common for 'gift'. In Brazil, 'prenda' usually refers to a prize at a traditional festival (like Festa Junina).
Yes, when taking attendance in school, students say 'Presente!' to mean they are there.
You say 'embrulhar um presente'.
Expressions liées
Ganhar um presente
contrastTo receive a gift
Embrulhar um presente
builds onTo wrap a gift
Trocar um presente
similarTo exchange a gift
Presentear
specialized formTo gift (verb)
Dar uma lembrancinha
specialized formTo give a small token
