Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 verb 9 min de lecture

decolar

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces decolar en 30 secondes

Explication decolar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'decolar' in its most basic travel context. Imagine you are at an airport. You see a plane. The plane goes up. That is 'decolar'. You might use it in simple sentences like 'O avião decola' (The plane takes off). It is a regular '-ar' verb, so you can conjugate it like 'falar' or 'estudar'. Focus on the present tense for now. It is helpful to learn it alongside 'aeroporto' (airport) and 'avião' (airplane). Don't worry about the metaphorical meanings yet. Just think of it as the 'up' word for planes. You might also see it on travel websites when booking a trip. It's a key word for survival Portuguese if you are traveling by air. Remember: it's about the start of the flight.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the A2 level, you should start using 'decolar' with prepositions and in the past tense. You can now say 'O meu voo decolou às oito horas' (My flight took off at eight o'clock). You should also learn the preposition 'de' (from). 'O avião decola de São Paulo'. This is also the stage where you might encounter the noun 'decolagem' (takeoff). You are expected to understand simple announcements at the airport. You can also start using it for rockets or very basic success stories, like 'Meu canal no YouTube vai decolar' (My YouTube channel is going to take off). This level is about expanding from just the 'what' to the 'when' and 'from where'.

At B1, you transition into using 'decolar' metaphorically with confidence. You can describe business trends, career paths, and project launches. You should be comfortable using the 'Pretérito Imperfeito' to set the scene: 'O avião decolava quando vi as nuvens negras' (The plane was taking off when I saw the black clouds). You also start to recognize the difference between 'decolar' (Brazil) and 'descolar' (Portugal). You can participate in discussions about the economy where someone might say 'A economia finalmente está decolando'. You should also know common collocations like 'autorização para decolar' (clearance to take off). Your vocabulary is now flexible enough to use the word in both literal and figurative senses in a variety of tenses.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B2 level, you use 'decolar' with more nuance and in complex grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive. 'Espero que o nosso projeto decole este ano' (I hope our project takes off this year). You understand the social registers of the word—knowing that using it to mean 'leaving a party' is informal. You can follow news reports about aviation safety or aerospace engineering where 'decolagem' is discussed in detail. You are also aware of the historical context, perhaps knowing about Santos-Dumont and the importance of aviation in Brazilian culture. You can use the word to describe sudden changes in data or social movements. Your use of the word feels natural, and you rarely confuse it with 'tirar' or 'partir'.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At C1, 'decolar' is part of a rich tapestry of synonyms. You might choose 'levantar voo' for a more literary effect or 'irromper' for a metaphorical explosion of success. You understand the subtle implications of 'fazer decolar' in a leadership context—how a CEO 'makes a company take off'. You can read technical manuals or academic papers about aerodynamics where 'decolagem' is analyzed. You also grasp the cultural weight of the word in marketing, such as why a company would name itself 'Decolar.com'. You can use the word in high-level debates about innovation and technology. Your command of the word includes its most subtle idiomatic uses and you can play with its meaning in creative writing or complex professional arguments.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of the word's every dimension. You can use 'decolar' in puns, wordplay, and deep cultural allegories. You understand how the word has evolved and its specific regional flavors across the entire Lusophone world, from Maputo to Macau. You can critique the use of aviation metaphors in political rhetoric. You might use 'decolar' in a philosophical sense to describe the human spirit or the start of an era. There is no nuance of the word—whether it's the specific vibration of a jet engine or the sudden spike in a viral trend—that escapes you. You use the word with total spontaneity and precision, indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

decolar en 30 secondes

Decolar means to take off, specifically for aircraft leaving the ground.
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses.
Commonly used metaphorically for business success or projects gaining momentum.
The opposite is 'pousar' (to land) or 'aterrissar' (to land).

The Portuguese verb decolar is a fundamental term for anyone navigating travel, business, or general life transitions in a Lusophone context. At its most literal level, it refers to the moment an aircraft breaks its contact with the ground and ascends into the sky. However, its linguistic footprint extends far beyond the tarmac of an airport. Understanding decolar requires a grasp of both its mechanical precision and its vibrant metaphorical life.

Literal Meaning: The act of an airplane, helicopter, or rocket leaving the surface to begin flight. It is the opposite of 'pousar' (to land).
Metaphorical Meaning: Used to describe a project, career, or idea that suddenly becomes very successful or gains rapid momentum. Think of a startup 'taking off'.

In everyday conversation, you will hear this word most frequently in travel hubs. When checking a flight board or listening to announcements, 'decolagem' (the noun form) and 'decolar' (the verb) are omnipresent. But if you are in a boardroom in São Paulo or a creative hub in Lisbon, the word takes on a secondary, more energetic life. If a manager says, 'Nosso projeto finalmente vai decolar,' they aren't talking about aviation; they are talking about the moment of transition from planning to explosive growth.

O avião está pronto para decolar da pista principal.

The word is inherently positive. Unlike 'partir' (to depart), which can sometimes carry a sense of loss or ending, decolar carries the thrill of ascent. It implies overcoming the 'cola' (glue) or gravity that holds one back. This nuance is vital for learners: use decolar when you want to emphasize the beginning of a journey or the start of a successful phase.

Culturally, the word reflects the Brazilian and Portuguese obsession with progress and movement. In a country like Brazil, which prides itself on its aviation history (Alberto Santos-Dumont), the word carries a certain nationalistic pride. It is a word of action, transition, and upward mobility. Whether you are watching a Boeing 747 leave Guarulhos or watching a friend's new YouTube channel gain thousands of subscribers, decolar is the verb that captures that upward trajectory perfectly.

Depois de meses de trabalho, as vendas começaram a decolar.

Synonym: Levantar Voo: A more descriptive phrase literally meaning 'to raise flight'. Used interchangeably in formal and poetic contexts.

Using decolar correctly involves mastering its relationship with prepositions and its role as an intransitive verb. Unlike many verbs that require a direct object, decolar often stands alone or is followed by 'de' (from) or 'para' (to/for).

Preposition: DE: Used to indicate the point of origin. 'O voo decola de Lisboa' (The flight takes off from Lisbon).
Preposition: PARA: Used to indicate the destination or the purpose. 'Estamos prontos para decolar para o sucesso' (We are ready to take off toward success).

When conjugating decolar, it follows the regular '-ar' pattern, making it relatively easy for A2 learners. In the present tense: 'eu decolo', 'você decola', 'nós decolamos'. In the past: 'eu decolei', 'você decolou'. The simplicity of its conjugation allows you to focus on the context. For example, in the future, 'vai decolar' is the most common way to express that something is about to happen.

Aperte os cintos, pois vamos decolar agora mesmo.

It is also important to note the difference between 'decolar' and 'partir'. While 'partir' is general (a train, a car, a person walking), decolar is specific to the verticality of flight. You wouldn't say a bus 'decola' unless it's a very creative metaphor for speed or success. In business contexts, the verb is often used in the infinitive after auxiliary verbs like 'começar a' or 'querer'.

Consider the nuance of the 'Pretérito Imperfeito' (decolava). This is used when describing an action that was in progress when something else happened. 'O avião decolava quando o motor falhou.' This creates a vivid narrative scene, common in news reports or storytelling. For beginners, sticking to the 'Pretérito Perfeito' (decolou) is safer for stating simple facts about past events.

Se a economia melhorar, os novos negócios vão decolar rapidamente.

Common Pattern: Fazer Decolar: To make something take off. 'O marketing fez a marca decolar' (Marketing made the brand take off).

The word decolar resonates in very specific environments, each giving it a slightly different flavor. The most obvious place is, of course, the airport. If you are standing in the departure lounge of Aeroporto de Lisboa or Congonhas in São Paulo, you will hear the PA system announcing: 'O voo TP202 está autorizado para decolar'. This is the word's primary home.

At the Airport: Used by pilots, air traffic controllers, and passengers. It signals the most critical phase of flight.
In Business News: Financial journalists use it to describe stock prices or company growth. 'As ações da Petrobras decolaram hoje'.

Beyond the physical airport, you'll find decolar in the world of 'startups' and entrepreneurship. In Brazil, the startup scene is often described using aviation metaphors. A company that has just received 'seed funding' is said to be 'na pista' (on the runway), and the goal is always to decolar. You'll hear this in podcasts like 'Do Zero ao Topo' or in LinkedIn posts by Brazilian tech influencers.

Ouvi no rádio que o foguete da NASA vai decolar amanhã cedo.

Another surprising place is in the world of music and pop culture. When a new artist suddenly becomes famous, fans might say 'A carreira dela decolou do nada!' (Her career took off out of nowhere!). It’s also the name of a very famous travel booking website in Latin America: **Decolar.com** (known as Despegar in Spanish-speaking countries). This brand has made the word a household name, synonymous with finding cheap flights and going on vacation.

Lastly, in casual social settings, people use it to describe leaving a place quickly. If a party is boring, someone might whisper to their partner, 'Vamos decolar daqui?' (Shall we take off from here?). While slightly slangy, it's a common way to use the word's energy to describe a quick exit. It’s less formal than 'ir embora' and more dynamic than 'sair'.

A banda começou a tocar e o público fez a festa decolar.

In Documentaries: Narration often uses 'decolar' when showing birds or insects taking flight, though 'levantar voo' is slightly more common for animals.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with decolar is over-extending its meaning based on the English phrasal verb 'take off'. In English, 'take off' is a linguistic Swiss Army knife, but in Portuguese, decolar is a specialized tool.

Mistake 1: Clothing: Never use 'decolar' for clothes. Incorrect: 'Vou decolar meu casaco'. Correct: 'Vou tirar meu casaco'.
Mistake 2: Time Off: In English, you 'take off' a day from work. In Portuguese, you 'tira um dia de folga'. Saying 'decolei um dia' would sound like you flew for 24 hours.

Another common pitfall is the confusion between 'decolar' and 'aterrissar' (or 'pousar'). While it seems basic, in the heat of a conversation at an airport, learners often swap them. Remember: **DE**colar is to go **DE**tach (from the ground). **PO**usar is to **PU**t down. Using the wrong one can lead to significant confusion regarding arrival and departure times.

Não diga 'decolar o sapato', diga 'tirar o sapato'.

Prepositional errors are also rife. English speakers often want to say 'decolar em' (take off in) when referring to a place. While you can say 'decolar em Lisboa', it’s much more natural to say 'decolar DE Lisboa'. The verb implies movement away from a point, so 'de' is the logical partner. 'Em' refers to a static location, which slightly clashes with the kinetic energy of the verb.

Lastly, learners sometimes use 'decolar' as a transitive verb with an object, like 'O piloto decolou o avião'. While technically understandable and occasionally used in very technical manuals, in common speech, the airplane is the one that 'decola'. The focus is on the machine's action, not the pilot's command. Simply say: 'O avião decolou'.

O erro comum é confundir decolar com aterrissar durante a viagem.

False Friend Alert: Descolar: In Portugal, 'descolar' is often used where Brazilians use 'decolar'. In Brazil, 'descolar' can also mean 'to get' or 'to find' something in slang.

While decolar is the standard term for aviation, Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific context. Knowing these will make your speech sound more natural and varied.

Levantar Voo: Literal translation: 'To raise flight'. This is very common for birds and can sound slightly more poetic or formal when applied to planes. 'O pássaro levantou voo da árvore'.
Partir: Literal translation: 'To depart'. This is the general term for any vehicle leaving. It focuses on the departure from a station or gate, rather than the physical act of flying.

In a metaphorical sense, if you want to say a business is doing well but 'decolar' feels too dramatic, you might use 'prosperar' (to prosper) or 'crescer' (to grow). However, 'decolar' is unique because it implies a sudden, rapid increase. If a company 'cresce', it might be slow and steady. If it 'decola', it’s an overnight sensation.

A empresa começou a prosperar após a mudança de gestão.

For rockets and space travel, you might encounter 'lançar' (to launch). While a rocket 'decola' from the pad, the entire event is a 'lançamento'. Learners should use 'lançar' when the focus is on the initiation of the project or the physical push, and 'decolar' for the actual ascent. In slang, especially in Brazil, 'vazar' is a very informal way to say 'take off' in the sense of leaving a place quickly.

Comparing 'decolar' with 'descolar' is also vital. In European Portuguese (Portugal), 'descolar' is the standard word for an airplane taking off. In Brazil, 'descolar' usually means to unstick a sticker or, informally, to 'hook someone up' with something. If you are in Lisbon, don't be surprised to see 'descolagem' on the airport signs instead of 'decolagem'.

O avião vai descolar (standard in Portugal) em breve.

Comparison: Decolar vs. Sair: 'Sair' is 'to leave/exit'. A plane 'sai' from the gate, but it 'decola' from the runway. Use 'sair' for the schedule and 'decolar' for the action.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word literally means 'to un-glue'. This is a perfect description of a plane 'un-sticking' itself from the runway to fly.

Guide de prononciation

UK /de.ko.'laɾ/

US /de.ko.'laʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: de-co-LAR.

Rime avec

Falar Cantar Andar Lugar Mar Solar Achegar Pensar

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'de' as 'dee' (it should be 'deh').
Stressing the second syllable 'co' instead of the last 'lar'.
Confusing it with 'descolar' (common in mixed dialects).
Making the 'r' too hard like an American 'r'.
Forgetting to nasalize vowels if they precede an 'm' or 'n' in related forms.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize in travel contexts.

Écriture 2/5

Regular -ar conjugation makes it simple to write.

Expression orale 2/5

Requires correct stress on the final syllable.

Écoute 3/5

Can be confused with 'descolar' in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

Avião Ir Pista Céu Viagem

Apprends ensuite

Pousar Aterrissar Tripulação Escala Conexão

Avancé

Aerodinâmica Propulsão Ascensão Irromper

Grammaire à connaître

Regular -ar Verbs

Eu decolo, você decola, nós decolamos.

Future with 'Ir'

O avião vai decolar (The plane will take off).

Preposition 'De' for origin

Decolar de Londres.

Preposition 'Para' for destination

Decolar para Paris.

Present Subjunctive for wishes

Tomara que o projeto decole.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

O avião vai decolar agora.

The plane is going to take off now.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Eu vejo o avião decolar.

I see the plane take off.

Direct perception verb + infinitive.

Que horas o voo decola?

What time does the flight take off?

Present tense used for scheduled future.

O avião decola cedo.

The plane takes off early.

Adverb 'cedo' modifying the verb.

Nós vamos decolar juntos.

We are going to take off together.

First person plural conjugation of 'ir'.

O passarinho quer decolar.

The little bird wants to take off.

Used for animals in a simple way.

O piloto decola o avião.

The pilot takes off the plane.

Transitive use (less common but possible).

O voo decola de Lisboa.

The flight takes off from Lisbon.

Preposition 'de' for origin.

O avião decolou com atraso.

The plane took off with a delay.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past Tense).

Eles decolaram para o Brasil ontem.

They took off for Brazil yesterday.

Preposition 'para' for destination.

A decolagem foi muito suave.

The takeoff was very smooth.

Noun form 'decolagem'.

O foguete decolou da base espacial.

The rocket took off from the space base.

Subject is a rocket (foguete).

Espero que o avião decole no horário.

I hope the plane takes off on time.

Present Subjunctive after 'espero que'.

O helicóptero decola verticalmente.

The helicopter takes off vertically.

Adverb 'verticalmente'.

Você viu o avião decolar de longe?

Did you see the plane take off from afar?

Question in the past tense.

A carreira dele começou a decolar.

His career started to take off.

Metaphorical use.

O avião decolava quando o motor fez um barulho estranho.

The plane was taking off when the engine made a strange noise.

Pretérito Imperfeito for background action.

Assim que o avião decolar, podemos relaxar.

As soon as the plane takes off, we can relax.

Future Subjunctive after 'assim que'.

A startup decolou após receber o investimento.

The startup took off after receiving the investment.

Metaphorical business context.

Muitos voos decolam daqui diariamente.

Many flights take off from here daily.

General fact in the present tense.

O piloto aguarda a torre para decolar.

The pilot waits for the tower to take off.

Infinitive after 'para' indicating purpose.

Se o tempo melhorar, decolaremos em breve.

If the weather improves, we will take off soon.

Future tense (decolaremos).

A empresa decolou no mercado internacional.

The company took off in the international market.

Metaphorical use with 'mercado'.

Ela sentiu um frio na barriga ao decolar.

She felt butterflies in her stomach upon taking off.

Infinitive used as a gerund-like structure.

Duvido que o avião decole com esta tempestade.

I doubt the plane will take off with this storm.

Subjunctive after 'duvido que'.

O projeto decolou graças ao esforço da equipe.

The project took off thanks to the team's effort.

Causal expression 'graças ao'.

Ao decolar, os passageiros devem desligar os celulares.

Upon taking off, passengers must turn off their cell phones.

Personalized infinitive construction.

A decolagem foi abortada por motivos de segurança.

The takeoff was aborted for security reasons.

Passive voice with 'foi abortada'.

O preço das passagens decolou no feriado.

Ticket prices skyrocketed during the holiday.

Metaphor for rapid price increase.

Não fosse o atraso, já teríamos decolado.

Were it not for the delay, we would have already taken off.

Conditional perfect with 'teríamos decolado'.

É fundamental que todos os sistemas decole em harmonia.

It is essential that all systems take off in harmony.

Subjunctive for necessity (metaphorical).

A marca decolou após a campanha de marketing.

The brand took off after the marketing campaign.

Metaphorical success.

O avião decolara minutos antes do terremoto.

The plane had taken off minutes before the earthquake.

Pretérito Mais-Que-Perfeito Simples (Literary).

A economia nacional está prestes a decolar, diz o ministro.

The national economy is about to take off, says the minister.

Expression 'prestes a' (about to).

Embora o avião tenha decolado, o clima continua instável.

Although the plane has taken off, the weather remains unstable.

Past Subjunctive with 'embora'.

O sucesso decolou de forma avassaladora.

Success took off in an overwhelming way.

Sophisticated adverbial phrase 'de forma avassaladora'.

Caso o voo não decole, teremos que pernoitar aqui.

Should the flight not take off, we will have to stay overnight here.

Conditional 'Caso' + Subjunctive.

A aeronave decolou sob um céu de brigadeiro.

The aircraft took off under a perfectly clear sky.

Idiom 'céu de brigadeiro' (perfect flying weather).

O empreendedor fez sua ideia decolar contra todas as probabilidades.

The entrepreneur made his idea take off against all odds.

Causative 'fazer' + infinitive.

A decolagem exige precisão matemática absoluta.

Takeoff requires absolute mathematical precision.

Technical/Scientific register.

A alma parece decolar do corpo em momentos de êxtase.

The soul seems to take off from the body in moments of ecstasy.

Philosophical/Poetic metaphor.

O autor utiliza a decolagem como metáfora para a liberdade.

The author uses takeoff as a metaphor for freedom.

Literary analysis.

Oxalá a nossa nação decole rumo à justiça social.

May our nation take off toward social justice.

Archaic/Formal 'Oxalá' + Subjunctive.

A despeito das críticas, a nova tecnologia decolou.

Despite the criticisms, the new technology took off.

Concessive 'A despeito de'.

Vimos a aeronave decolar e sumir no horizonte infinito.

We saw the aircraft take off and disappear into the infinite horizon.

Evocative narrative style.

O império decolou a partir de uma pequena rota comercial.

The empire took off from a small commercial route.

Historical metaphorical use.

Raramente um projeto decola sem um planejamento minucioso.

Rarely does a project take off without meticulous planning.

Inverted sentence structure for emphasis.

A decolagem daquela carreira foi um fenômeno sociológico.

The takeoff of that career was a sociological phenomenon.

Abstract noun usage.

Collocations courantes

Autorização para decolar

Pronto para decolar

Decolar com atraso

Fazer decolar

Decolar na carreira

Pista de decolagem

Voo decola de

Decolar para o sucesso

Impedido de decolar

Decolar verticalmente

Phrases Courantes

O voo já decolou?

— Asking if the flight has already left.

Moça, o voo para Paris já decolou?

Vamos decolar!

— Let's go / Let's get started.

A reunião começou, vamos decolar!

Aperte os cintos, vamos decolar.

— Standard safety phrase, also used before starting something exciting.

O show vai começar. Aperte os cintos, vamos decolar.

Minha vida decolou.

— My life suddenly became very successful.

Depois que mudei de cidade, minha vida decolou.

O projeto não decola.

— The project is stuck or failing to start.

Já tentamos de tudo, mas o projeto não decola.

Hora de decolar.

— Time to leave or start.

A festa acabou, hora de decolar.

Decolar do zero.

— Starting from nothing and becoming successful.

Ela fez a empresa decolar do zero.

Voo autorizado a decolar.

— Official clearance for flight.

Torre para piloto: Voo 302 autorizado a decolar.

Decolar em cinco minutos.

— Taking off in five minutes.

Atenção, vamos decolar em cinco minutos.

Fazer o negócio decolar.

— To make the business succeed.

Ele foi contratado para fazer o negócio decolar.

Souvent confondu avec

decolar vs Tirar

English speakers use 'take off' for clothes, but Portuguese uses 'tirar'.

decolar vs Sair

Sair is 'to leave', decolar is specifically 'to fly off'.

decolar vs Descolar

In Brazil, this means 'to unstick' or 'to find/get'. In Portugal, it means 'to take off'.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Decolar na vida"

— To achieve great success in one's personal or professional life.

Ele estudou muito e finalmente decolou na vida.

Neutral

"Céu de brigadeiro"

— Perfect conditions for something to 'take off' or succeed (originally aviation slang).

Com esse investimento, temos um céu de brigadeiro para decolar.

Informal/Brazil

"Estar na pista para decolar"

— To be fully prepared and waiting for the right moment to start.

O novo produto já está na pista para decolar.

Business

"Não decolar de jeito nenhum"

— To fail repeatedly despite efforts.

Essa ideia de aplicativo não decola de jeito nenhum.

Informal

"Dar um empurrão para decolar"

— To give someone or something the necessary help to start succeeding.

O pai deu um empurrão para a carreira do filho decolar.

Informal

"Decolar rumo ao desconhecido"

— To start a new, uncertain adventure.

Eles venderam tudo e decolaram rumo ao desconhecido na Ásia.

Literary

"Fazer a festa decolar"

— To make a party become energetic and fun.

O DJ chegou e fez a festa decolar.

Slang

"Decolar antes da hora"

— To start something prematurely.

Não decole antes da hora, espere o sinal.

Neutral

"Ver o sucesso decolar de camarote"

— To watch someone else's success from a privileged position.

Eu vi o sucesso dele decolar de camarote.

Informal

"Voo de galinha"

— A short-lived success that 'takes off' but falls immediately (literally 'chicken flight').

O crescimento da economia foi apenas um voo de galinha; não decolou de verdade.

Political/Economic Slang

Facile à confondre

decolar vs Descolar

They sound almost identical.

In Brazil, 'decolar' is for planes and 'descolar' is for stickers. In Portugal, they are often synonyms for planes.

Vou descolar o adesivo (Brazil) vs O avião vai descolar (Portugal).

decolar vs Pousar

Opposite actions in the same context.

Decolar is up; Pousar is down.

O avião decola agora e pousa em duas horas.

decolar vs Aterrissar

Related to landing.

Aterrissar is specifically touching the ground; decolar is leaving it.

É mais difícil decolar ou aterrissar?

decolar vs Partir

Both involve leaving.

Partir is general (bus, train, person); decolar is specific to flight.

O trem parte da plataforma 1.

decolar vs Lançar

Used for rockets.

Lançar is the act of launching; decolar is the act of the vehicle rising.

Lançaram o foguete e ele decolou perfeitamente.

Structures de phrases

O [Subject] decola.

O avião decola.

O [Subject] decola de [Place].

O voo decola de Madrid.

O [Subject] vai decolar para [Place].

Nós vamos decolar para o sucesso.

Fazer [Object] decolar.

Vou fazer meu blog decolar.

Duvido que [Subject] decole.

Duvido que o avião decole hoje.

A decolagem de [Noun] foi [Adjective].

A decolagem da empresa foi meteórica.

Prestes a decolar rumo a [Destination].

A humanidade está prestes a decolar rumo a Marte.

A despeito de tudo, decolou.

A despeito da crise, o setor decolou.

Famille de mots

Noms

Decolagem (Takeoff)

Decolador (Something that takes off)

Verbes

Decolar (To take off)

Adjectifs

Decolado (Taken off)

Apparenté

Voo

Avião

Pista

Aterrissar

Piloto

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in travel and business contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Eu vou decolar meu casaco. → Eu vou tirar meu casaco.
Decolar is only for aircraft or success, not clothing.
O avião decolou em o chão. → O avião decolou do chão.
Use 'do' (de + o) to show the point of origin.
Eu decolo um dia de folga. → Eu tiro um dia de folga.
'Take off' a day from work is 'tirar um dia de folga'.
A decolar foi boa. → A decolagem foi boa.
Use the noun 'decolagem' after an article, not the infinitive verb.
O avião pousou às 8 e decolou às 8. → O avião decolou às 8 (meaning it left).
Ensure you don't swap 'pousar' (land) and 'decolar' (take off).

Astuces

The Glue Rule

Think of 'cola' (glue). 'De-colar' is to 'un-glue' from the runway. If you aren't un-glueing from the ground, don't use it!

Airport Survival

Look for the word 'Partidas' (Departures) at the airport; you will see 'decolagem' or 'decola' listed under the status column.

Business Success

Use it in interviews! 'Quero ajudar esta empresa a decolar' (I want to help this company take off) shows ambition.

Preposition Power

Always pair 'decolar' with 'de' for the starting point and 'para' for the destination to sound like a pro.

Brazilian Pride

Mentioning 'decolagem' and Santos-Dumont in the same sentence is a great way to start a conversation with a Brazilian pilot.

Party Exit

Use 'Vamos decolar?' when you want to leave a social event quickly but politely with your partner.

Noun vs Verb

Don't confuse 'decolar' (to take off) with 'decolagem' (the takeoff). 'O avião decola' vs 'A decolagem é às 9h'.

Stress the End

The 'AR' at the end is the strongest part. If you stress the 'CO', people might not understand you.

Space Travel

It’s the same word for a Boeing 747 and a SpaceX rocket. Very versatile for all things vertical!

Portuguese Differences

If you are in Lisbon, use 'descolar'. If you are in Rio, use 'decolar'. Both will be understood, but regional preference matters.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a plane being 'glued' (colar) to the ground. To fly, it must 'DE-glue' (decolar).

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant glue stick under a plane. The plane pulls away, breaking the glue strings as it rises.

Word Web

Avião Sucesso Pista Céu Viagem Foguete Carreira Partida

Défi

Try to use 'decolar' in a sentence about your Portuguese learning progress today.

Origine du mot

From the French 'décoller'. It is composed of the prefix 'de-' (expressing removal or reversal) and 'colar' (to glue), which comes from the Latin 'colla'.

Sens originel : To unstick or to separate something that was glued down.

Romance (Portuguese via French).

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities; it is a very positive and safe word to use.

English speakers use 'take off' for many things (clothes, time, planes). Portuguese is much more specific. Don't use 'decolar' for your jacket!

Decolar.com (Major travel site) Santos-Dumont's history Brazilian economic 'Voo de Galinha' concept

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At the Airport

Onde é a pista de decolagem?
O voo já decolou?
A que horas decolamos?
O voo foi autorizado a decolar.

Business Meeting

Como fazer o projeto decolar?
As vendas estão decolando.
Precisamos decolar este mês.
O investimento fará a empresa decolar.

Space/Science

O foguete decola amanhã.
A decolagem foi um sucesso.
Sistemas prontos para decolar.
Contagem regressiva para decolar.

Casual Social

Vamos decolar?
A festa decolou!
A carreira dela decolou.
Ele decolou na vida.

News/Economy

A economia decola.
Preços decolam no verão.
O mercado decolou hoje.
Novas startups decolam no país.

Amorces de conversation

"Você já sentiu medo quando o avião decola?"

"A que horas o seu voo decola para as férias?"

"O que você acha que faz uma carreira decolar de verdade?"

"Você prefere o momento de decolar ou o momento de pousar?"

"Qual startup brasileira você acha que vai decolar este ano?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva a sensação de ver um avião decolar pela primeira vez.

Escreva sobre um momento em que sua vida 'decolou'. O que mudou?

Se você pudesse decolar para qualquer lugar do mundo agora, para onde iria?

Quais são os passos necessários para fazer um projeto pessoal decolar?

Reflita sobre a diferença entre 'decolar' e 'apenas partir'.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, but 'levantar voo' is slightly more common for animals. 'O pássaro decolou' sounds a bit like the bird is a little airplane, which can be cute or technical.

Yes, but 'descolar' is more frequent in European Portuguese for airplanes. 'Decolar' is understood but sounds very Brazilian.

You can say 'Meu negócio está decolando'. This is a very common and natural metaphor in Portuguese.

No. Never use 'decolar' for clothes. Use 'tirar' (e.g., 'Tirar a camisa').

The noun is 'decolagem' (takeoff). For example, 'A decolagem foi tranquila'.

Both are used, but 'decolar de' (from) is more common when specifying the origin. 'Decolar em' is used when talking about the city where the action happens.

Only metaphorically if the car is going so fast it feels like it's flying, or if the car sales are 'taking off'.

The opposites are 'pousar' or 'aterrissar' (to land).

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb. It follows the same pattern as 'falar'.

In Brazilian slang, yes. 'Vamos decolar?' means 'Shall we get out of here?'.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes