quitar

§ What 'Quitar' Means

Portuguese Word

quitar (verb)

CEFR Level

A2

Primary Definition

To quit, to give up.

When you're learning Portuguese, you'll find that 'quitar' is a useful verb with a straightforward meaning. Its primary use is to express the act of quitting or giving up something. Think of it like 'to quit' or 'to resign' in English. It's often used in contexts like quitting a job, giving up a habit, or even clearing a debt (though we'll focus on the 'quit/give up' meaning here).

§ How to Use It in a Sentence

Using 'quitar' is pretty standard for a regular -AR verb. Here's what you need to know about its grammar and common prepositions.

First, let's look at some examples of 'quitar' in action. You'll usually see it followed by a direct object (the thing being quit) or a preposition like 'de' (of/from) before an activity or situation you're giving up.

Translation hint

He decided to quit the job.

In this example, 'o emprego' (the job) is the direct object. He's quitting the job directly.

Translation hint

I want to quit smoking.

Here, 'de fumar' (from smoking) uses the preposition 'de' because 'fumar' is an activity. You're quitting *from* the act of smoking.

Translation hint

She is not going to give up her studies.

This shows 'quitar' with a direct object again, referring to 'os estudos' (the studies).

§ Common Conjugations

As a regular -AR verb, 'quitar' follows predictable conjugation patterns. Let's look at the present tense, which you'll use a lot.

• Eu quito (I quit)
• Tu quitas (You quit - informal singular)
• Ele/Ela/Você quita (He/She/You quit - formal singular)
• Nós quitamos (We quit)
• Vós quitais (You quit - informal plural, less common in Brazil)
• Eles/Elas/Vocês quitam (They/You quit - plural)

§ Prepositions with 'Quitar'

The most common preposition you'll see with 'quitar' when talking about giving up an activity is 'de'.

Translation hint

He couldn't quit drinking coffee.

You can also use 'quitar' without a preposition when the object is a noun, similar to 'to quit a habit' or 'to quit a job'.

Translation hint

I decided to quit the addiction.

§ What 'quitar' means

Definition

To quit, to give up. This is the primary meaning you'll encounter in everyday conversation.

When you hear 'quitar' in Portuguese, it most often means to quit or give up on something. It's a straightforward verb and important for many common situations.

§ 'Quitar' in professional settings

In the workplace, 'quitar' can be used when someone leaves a job or stops a project. It's a direct way to express these actions.

Here, 'ele decidiu quitar o emprego' means 'he decided to quit the job.'

'Não podemos quitar o projeto agora' means 'we can't give up on the project now.'

§ 'Quitar' in academic environments

At school or university, you might hear 'quitar' when someone drops out of a course or abandons a study. It's quite common.

'Muitos estudantes quitaram o curso de matemática' means 'many students dropped out of the math course.'

'Não vou quitar meus estudos' means 'I won't give up my studies.'

§ 'Quitar' in news and everyday talk

The news or general conversation might use 'quitar' when talking about someone resigning from a position, a team giving up in a competition, or even someone quitting a bad habit.

'O político decidiu quitar o cargo' means 'the politician decided to resign from the position.'

'Ele prometeu quitar o cigarro' means 'he promised to quit smoking.'

§ Common phrases with 'quitar'

Here are some common ways you'll hear 'quitar' used:

• Quitar um hábito: To quit a habit (e.g., smoking, drinking).

• Quitar o emprego/cargo: To quit a job/position.

• Quitar os estudos/um curso: To quit studies/a course.

• Quitar de algo: To give up on something.

§ Common Mistakes with "Quitar"

When learning Portuguese, some words can be tricky because their meaning might seem straightforward but actually have nuances or common pitfalls. The verb "quitar" is one of those words. While its primary meaning is 'to quit' or 'to give up,' learners often make a few key mistakes. Let's break them down so you can avoid them.

§ Mistake 1: Using "quitar" for 'to quit a job'

Many English speakers, when they want to say 'I quit my job,' might instinctively use "quitar." However, in Portuguese, this is not the most natural or common way to express it. While technically understandable, it sounds a bit off.

Instead of:

Eu vou quitar meu emprego.

§ Mistake 2: Confusing "quitar" with 'to finish' or 'to complete'

Another common error is using "quitar" when you mean 'to finish' or 'to complete' something, like a task or a course. "Quitar" implies giving up or abandoning, not successfully concluding.

Incorrect:

Eu preciso quitar este trabalho hoje.

§ Mistake 3: Overusing "quitar"

While "quitar" means 'to quit,' it's not always the go-to verb for every instance where you might say 'quit' in English. Portuguese often has more specific verbs or phrases that fit the context better.

• For 'quit smoking,' use "parar de fumar."

  Ele decidiu parar de fumar. (He decided to quit smoking.)

• For 'quit drinking,' use "parar de beber."

  Ela conseguiu parar de beber. (She managed to quit drinking.)

• For 'to quit a habit,' use "largar um hábito" or "deixar um hábito."

  É difícil largar um hábito antigo. (It's hard to quit an old habit.)

§ When to use "quitar" correctly

So, when should you use "quitar"? It's best used when you're talking about giving up or abandoning something, often with a sense of defeat or finality. It can also be used in a more specific, financial context, meaning to settle or pay off a debt, but this is less common for A2 learners.