A1 Present Tense 23 min read Easy

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)

Remember that 'Eu vejo' is irregular, and 'Eles veem' has a double 'e' but no accent mark.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The verb 'ver' (to see) is irregular in the present tense; remember the unique 'vejo' for 'eu' and 'veem' for 'eles'.

  • The first person singular is 'vejo' (I see).
  • The third person plural is 'veem' (they see) with a double 'e'.
  • All other forms follow the stem 'v-' plus the standard ending.
Subject + Ver (conjugated) + Object

Overview

The Portuguese verb ver signifies the fundamental act of seeing, encompassing both literal physical perception and broader conceptual understanding. As a core verb in daily communication, ver is indispensable for expressing visual input, recognizing situations, and even anticipating future events. Its high frequency in both spoken and written Portuguese makes its correct conjugation and contextual usage a cornerstone of A1-level mastery.

Unlike many regular verbs, ver exhibits significant irregularity in its present tense, demanding specific memorization, particularly in the first-person singular (eu). You will encounter ver when describing visual experiences, discussing media consumption, expressing comprehension, or arranging to meet someone.

Ver is not merely about physical sight; its semantic range extends to encompass cognition and social interaction. Understanding these nuances is crucial for moving beyond basic translation and grasping idiomatic Portuguese. For instance, ver can function similarly to "to understand" in English, signifying intellectual grasp rather than optical input.

Its irregular forms are a historical consequence of phonetic evolution in the language, consolidating various stem changes over centuries. Mastering ver provides a foundation for navigating many other related verbs and expressions in Portuguese.

Conjugation Table

Person Portuguese Form English Translation
:------------- :-------------- :------------------------
Eu vejo I see
Tu vês You see (informal, sing.)
Você/Ele/Ela vê You/He/She sees
Nós vemos We see
Vós vedes You see (formal, plural)
Eles/Elas/Vocês veem They/You all see

How This Grammar Works

Portuguese verbs, like those in many Romance languages, change their endings to agree with the subject performing the action. This process is known as conjugation. While most verbs follow predictable patterns based on their infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir), ver is an irregular verb of the second conjugation (-er).
Its irregularity means that its stem (ve-) and sometimes its ending deviate from the standard patterns you might expect for an -er verb in the present indicative. The present indicative describes actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
The most prominent irregularity occurs in the eu form, where ve- transforms into vej- before taking the -o ending, resulting in vejo. This stem change is a hallmark of strong verbs in Portuguese, reflecting older linguistic developments. The third-person singular (vê) and second-person singular (vês) forms both carry a circumflex accent to differentiate them from other words and phonetically mark a closed vowel sound.
Crucially, the third-person plural form (veem) features a double e and lacks any accent mark, a direct result of the 1990 Orthographic Agreement of the Portuguese Language. This absence of an accent distinguishes it from previous spellings (vêem) and from the verb vir (to come), which has vêm in the third-person plural.
This system of irregularities requires learners to move beyond simple pattern recognition and engage in rote memorization for specific forms, especially vejo and veem. The linguistic reason behind the double e in veem stems from the reduction of what was historically a hiatus (two consecutive vowels pronounced separately) into a single syllable, while retaining the visual representation of the original two 'e' sounds. Understanding these historical nuances helps to explain why ver is structured as it is, rather than merely stating what its forms are.

Formation Pattern

1
Let's break down the conjugation of ver in the present indicative, form by form, to understand the specific patterns and irregularities you must internalize.
2
Eu form: vejo
3
This is the most irregular and vital form to memorize. Instead of the expected veo (if it were regular like comer -> como), the stem ve- changes to vej-, and the standard -o ending for first-person singular is applied. This -jo ending is distinct and indicative of ver's unique conjugation path. Think of eu vejo as a fixed unit.
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Eu vejo a paisagem da janela. (I see the landscape from the window.)
5
Não vejo o problema que você mencionou. (I don't see the problem you mentioned.)
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Tu form: vês
7
Used predominantly in Portugal and some regions of Brazil (especially the South), this form follows a more regular -es ending for the tu pronoun, but with a crucial circumflex accent. The accent on vês serves to close the vowel sound and differentiate it from other homophones or similar-looking words. This form is typically informal.
8
Tu vês muitos filmes, não vês? (You see many films, don't you?) - European Portuguese
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O que tu vês de tão interessante ali? (What do you see so interesting there?) - European Portuguese
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Você/Ele/Ela form: vê
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This third-person singular form is short, simple, and always carries a circumflex accent over the e. This accent is essential for correct spelling and pronunciation, indicating a closed vowel sound. This form is widely used in both formal and informal contexts across all Portuguese-speaking countries.
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Ele vê televisão todas as noites. (He watches television every night.)
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Ela vê o que precisa ser feito. (She sees what needs to be done.)
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Nós form: vemos
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The nós form is the most regular part of ver's present indicative conjugation. It directly applies the standard -emos ending for second-conjugation verbs (like comer -> comemos). This predictability makes it easier to remember.
16
Nós vemos o futuro com esperança. (We see the future with hope.)
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Sempre vemos nossos avós no Natal. (We always see our grandparents at Christmas.)
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Vós form: vedes
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This second-person plural form is largely archaic in Brazil and found primarily in very formal or literary contexts in Portugal. In modern spoken Portuguese, vocês veem is used instead. If you are learning for general communication, you can largely ignore this form for now, but be aware of its existence.
20
Ó vós que vedes, escutai. (Oh, you who see, listen.) - Archaic/Literary
21
Eles/Elas/Vocês form: veem
22
This third-person plural form is critical. It features a double e and, crucially, no accent mark. Prior to the 1990 Orthographic Agreement, it was spelled vêem with a circumflex. The removal of the accent simplifies the orthography and resolves an old distinction that is no longer phonetically relevant. The double e represents a single, stressed closed e sound. Confusion with vêm (from vir) is common, making the absence of the accent paramount.
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Eles veem o espetáculo do camarote. (They see the show from the box seat.)
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Vocês veem a importância desta decisão? (Do you all see the importance of this decision?)

When To Use It

The verb ver is remarkably versatile, extending beyond mere physical perception into various domains of communication. Understanding these contexts is key to using it naturally.
  • Physical Sight and Perception: This is the most direct and literal application. Use ver to describe the act of perceiving something with your eyes.
  • Eu vejo a torre Eiffel da minha janela. (I see the Eiffel Tower from my window.)
  • Você vê aquela estrela brilhante no céu? (Do you see that bright star in the sky?)
  • Não vejo meus óculos em lugar nenhum. (I don't see my glasses anywhere.)
  • Watching Media (Informal Brazilian Portuguese): In casual Brazilian Portuguese, ver is commonly used for watching television, movies, shows, or videos, often interchangeably with assistir. While assistir usually requires the preposition a (e.g., assistir ao filme), ver is typically used without it when referring to media.
  • Vamos ver um filme hoje à noite. (Let's watch a movie tonight.)
  • Você vê as notícias pela manhã? (Do you watch the news in the morning?)
  • Eles veem muitos vídeos no YouTube. (They watch many videos on YouTube.)
  • Understanding or Comprehending: Analogous to the English expression "I see" meaning "I understand," ver can convey intellectual grasp or realization. This is a crucial semantic extension.
  • Ah, agora vejo o que você quer dizer. (Ah, now I see what you mean.)
  • Finalmente vejo a solução para o problema. (Finally, I see the solution to the problem.)
  • Pelo que vejo, estamos no caminho certo. (From what I see/understand, we are on the right track.)
  • Meeting or Encountering People: Ver can indicate an anticipated or planned meeting with someone. It implies the act of visually encountering another person.
  • A gente se vê na festa mais tarde. (We'll see each other at the party later.)
  • Quero te ver antes de viajar na semana que vem. (I want to see you before traveling next week.)
  • Vou ver meus pais no fim de semana. (I'm going to see my parents this weekend.)
  • Expressing Possibility or Anticipation: In certain phrases, ver can convey the idea of waiting to observe what happens, or anticipating an outcome.
  • Vamos ver o que o futuro nos reserva. (Let's see what the future holds for us.)
  • Não vejo a hora de te encontrar! (I can't wait to meet you! - literally: "I don't see the hour")
  • Veremos como a situação se desenrola. (We will see how the situation unfolds.)

When Not To Use It

While ver is versatile, there are specific contexts where other verbs are more appropriate, or its use would be grammatically incorrect or unnatural. Differentiating these situations is crucial for accurate communication.
  • Active, Intentional Looking (Use olhar): Do not use ver when you mean to actively direct your gaze or fix your eyes on something with intention. For this purposeful act, the verb olhar (to look) is required. Ver implies a more passive reception of visual information.
  • Correct: Olhe para mim quando eu estiver falando. (Look at me when I'm speaking.)
  • Incorrect: Veja para mim quando eu estiver falando.
  • Correct: Ele olhou atentamente para o quadro. (He looked carefully at the painting.)
  • Incorrect: Ele viu atentamente para o quadro.
  • Coming or Arriving (Use vir): This is perhaps the most common and persistent error for A1 learners due to the similar appearance of ver and vir. You cannot use ver to express movement towards a location or arrival. Always use vir (to come) for these meanings.
  • Correct: Você vem à festa esta noite? (Are you coming to the party tonight?)
  • Incorrect: Você vê à festa esta noite?
  • Correct: Eles vêm aqui todos os dias. (They come here every day.)
  • Incorrect: Eles veem aqui todos os dias.
  • Attending (Formal Media/Events - Use assistir a): While ver is acceptable for casual media consumption, in formal contexts, or when emphasizing attendance and focused attention at an event, assistir followed by the preposition a is the correct choice. This is especially true in European Portuguese and more formal registers in Brazil.
  • Correct: A universidade vai assistir ao debate online. (The university will attend/watch the debate online.)
  • Less formal but acceptable: A universidade vai ver o debate online.
  • Correct: Eu assisto a concertos de música clássica. (I attend classical music concerts.)
  • Incorrect: Eu vejo concertos de música clássica. (unless simply stating you 'see' them passing by)
  • Visiting a Place (Use visitar or ir visitar): While you ver a person when you meet them, if you are actively traveling to or spending time at a place as a visitor, visitar is the appropriate verb.
  • Correct: Vamos visitar o museu amanhã. (We are going to visit the museum tomorrow.)
  • Incorrect: Vamos ver o museu amanhã. (This sounds like you'll just pass by and glance at it, not necessarily enter or explore.)

Common Mistakes

Beginners often stumble with ver due to its irregularities and close phonetic or orthographic resemblance to other verbs. Awareness of these pitfalls is the first step toward correcting them.
  • The Ver vs. Vir Conflation: This is the most frequent error. Learners confuse ver (to see) with vir (to come) because they share some similar-sounding forms and their infinitives look alike. The crucial differentiator lies in the meaning and, in the third-person plural, the accent mark.
  • Error: Using vêm (from vir) when you mean veem (from ver). Example: Eles vêm TV. (Incorrect: They come TV.)
  • Correction: Eles veem TV. (Correct: They watch TV.)
  • Error: Using vejo when you mean venho. Example: Eu vejo da Alemanha. (Incorrect: I see from Germany.)
  • Correction: Eu venho da Alemanha. (Correct: I come from Germany.)
Remember: vir (to come) always implies movement towards a speaker or a location, whereas ver (to see) implies visual perception.
  • Misconjugation of Eu Vejo: The first-person singular eu vejo is notoriously difficult for beginners because it's highly irregular. Learners might attempt to regularize it.
  • Error: Eu veo or Eu vo instead of eu vejo.
  • Correction: Eu vejo o que você fez. (I see what you did.)
Tip: This form requires direct memorization. There's no easily applicable rule other than remembering the j sound and the -o ending.
  • Incorrect Accentuation of Veem: Due to the historical spelling vêem and the common accent on vêm (from vir), learners often incorrectly add a circumflex to veem.
  • Error: Eles vêem o filme. (Incorrect spelling after the Orthographic Agreement).
  • Correction: Eles veem o filme. (Correct: They watch the movie.)
Principle: The 1990 Orthographic Agreement removed the circumflex from verbs with a double e in the third-person plural to eliminate a graphic distinction that no longer reflected a phonetic difference for most speakers. Veem stands alone without an accent.
  • Using Ver for Active Looking: Confusing ver (to see passively) with olhar (to look actively) is another frequent mistake.
  • Error: Você vê para o quadro? (Incorrect: Do you see towards the painting?)
  • Correction: Você olha para o quadro? (Correct: Do you look at the painting?)
Distinction: Olhar implies intention and direction of gaze, while ver is the outcome or result of that visual input.

Memory Trick

Memorizing irregular verbs requires more than just repetition; it often benefits from creative associations. Here are some memory tricks to help you internalize the challenging forms of ver.

- For Eu vejo: Think of the "J" in vejo as standing for Joy. When you joyfully observe something, you vejo it. Alternatively, imagine your jaw dropping when you observe something surprising. The sound /ʒ/ (like the 's' in 'treasure') is quite distinct and helps anchor this form.

- For Vê (Você/Ele/Ela) and Vês (Tu): Visualize the circumflex accent ^ as a tiny hat or a single eyebrow raised in observation. This little hat distinguishes vê and vês as singular observers. The single e without a preceding j or double e marks these singular forms. For vês, remember the s for singular 'you' (tu).

- For Veem (Eles/Elas/Vocês): Imagine two pairs of eyes (the double ee) seeing something together. Because there are two 'e's already, there's no need for a hat (circumflex accent) to indicate a single, closed vowel sound—it's implicitly there. The absence of the accent is the key. Contrast this with vêm (they come), which does have the hat, suggesting they are coming towards the hat.

- Distinguishing Ver vs. Vir: Focus on the vowel. V_e_r has an E for Eye, emphasizing visual perception. V_i_r has an I for In, implying movement in a direction or into a place. This simple vowel difference can be a powerful mnemonic for their core meanings.

Real Conversations

Understanding ver in a grammar article is one thing; recognizing its natural flow in everyday Portuguese is another. Here’s how native speakers integrate ver into modern, authentic communication.

- Informal Arrangements (Texting/Social Media): Ver is commonly used to arrange meet-ups or acknowledge seeing someone's online content.

- Text: A gente se vê por aqui no fds, ok? (We'll see each other around here on the weekend, ok?)

- Social Media Comment: Vi seu post sobre a viagem, fotos incríveis! (I saw your post about the trip, amazing photos!)

- Casual farewell: Até logo! A gente se vê. (See you later! We'll see each other.)

- Expressing Comprehension or Realization: In spoken language, ver frequently substitutes for more formal expressions of understanding.

- Conversation: Você entende o que eu digo? -> Sim, vejo o seu ponto. (Do you understand what I'm saying? -> Yes, I see your point.)

- Realization: Finalmente vejo a luz no fim do túnel. (I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.)

- Observation: Pelo que vejo, o plano está funcionando. (From what I see, the plan is working.)

- Discussing Media and Entertainment: As noted, ver is often the default verb for consuming visual media, especially in Brazilian Portuguese. This reflects a relaxed, less formal approach to describing the activity.

- Chat: Ontem eu vi um documentário muito bom na Netflix. (Yesterday I watched a very good documentary on Netflix.)

- Recommendation: Já viu a nova série do Prime Video? É ótima! (Have you seen the new Prime Video series? It's great!)

- Plan: Mais tarde, vamos ver o jogo do Corinthians. (Later, we're going to watch the Corinthians game.)

- Idiomatic Expressions: Ver is part of many common phrases that go beyond its literal meaning.

- Não vejo a hora de... (I can't wait to...): Expressing eagerness. Example: Não vejo a hora de ir de férias! (I can't wait to go on vacation!)

- Ver estrelas (To see stars): To be hit hard. Example: Levei uma pancada e vi estrelas. (I took a hit and saw stars.)

- Vamos ver... (Let's see...): Used to express uncertainty or to buy time while considering something. Example: Vamos ver se consigo ir. (Let's see if I can go.)

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly master ver, it is essential to distinguish it from other verbs that relate to visual perception or movement, but carry different nuances. The distinction between ver and olhar, and ver and assistir, is particularly important.
  • Ver vs. Olhar (To See vs. To Look)
This is a fundamental distinction. Think of it as passive reception versus active intention.
  • Ver (to see): Describes the result or outcome of using your eyes. It is often involuntary or denotes the simple fact of perceiving something. You ver things that enter your field of vision.
  • Eu abri a janela e vi um pássaro. (I opened the window and saw a bird.) - The bird simply entered my sight.
  • Você vê alguma diferença entre as duas fotos? (Do you see any difference between the two photos?)
  • De longe, vejo que ele está bem. (From afar, I see that he is well.)
  • Olhar (to look): Describes the act of directing your gaze with intention and effort. It's about consciously moving your eyes towards something.
  • Olhe para a tela quando eu fizer a pergunta. (Look at the screen when I ask the question.) - Directing your attention.
  • Ela olhou para o relógio impaciente. (She looked at the clock impatiently.)
  • O pintor olhava fixamente para a paisagem. (The painter looked fixedly at the landscape.)
Analogy: If ver is like receiving a radio broadcast (it just comes to you), olhar is like tuning into a specific station (an active choice).
Combined Example: Ele olhou para a rua, mas não viu o carro que vinha. (He looked at the street, but didn't see the car that was coming.) - He directed his gaze, but the perception (seeing the car) didn't happen.
  • Ver vs. Assistir (To Watch/Attend)
This distinction primarily applies when discussing media consumption or attendance at events.
  • Ver (to see/watch informally): Focuses on the act of visual perception. It's common in informal contexts for watching TV, movies, or sports, especially in Brazilian Portuguese. It does not require a preposition with the object.
  • Vamos ver um jogo de futebol no domingo. (Let's watch a football game on Sunday.)
  • Você viu a última temporada de “The Crown”? (Did you watch the last season of “The Crown”?)
  • Assistir (to attend/watch formally): This verb is transitive with the preposition a (i.e., assistir a algo). It implies a more formal act of attending an event or watching something with focused attention, often in a structured setting. It is preferred in formal contexts and universally in European Portuguese for media consumption.
  • Eu assisto a concertos na Casa da Música. (I attend concerts at the Casa da Música.)
  • Os alunos assistiram à palestra com atenção. (The students attended/watched the lecture with attention.)
  • Você vai assistir ao noticiário das oito? (Are you going to watch the eight o'clock news?) - More formal.
Nuance: While ver um filme and assistir a um filme can sometimes mean the same thing (to watch a movie), assistir a emphasizes the act of attendance or focused engagement. In informal Brazilian Portuguese, ver often suffices for both, but knowing assistir a elevates your formality and precision.
  • Ver vs. Vir (To See vs. To Come)
This contrast, though conceptually distinct, warrants repetition due to the orthographic and phonetic similarities that lead to frequent errors.
  • Ver (to see): Visual perception. Eu vejo o meu amigo. (I see my friend.)
  • Vir (to come): Movement towards the speaker or a specified point. Eu venho da praia. (I come from the beach.)
Key Distinction for Plurals: Eles veem (They see) vs. Eles vêm (They come). The accent on vêm is the critical visual cue.

Progressive Practice

1

Mastering ver requires a structured, step-by-step approach that builds confidence and addresses common difficulties. Here’s how you can progressively internalize its usage.

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- Step 1: Absolute Memorization of Eu Vejo: Start by isolating and repeatedly practicing the first-person singular. This is the most irregular form and often causes the most trouble. Write it out 20 times. Say it aloud 20 times. Create sentences exclusively with eu vejo.

3

- Eu vejo a sua mensagem. (I see your message.)

4

- Não vejo problema nisso. (I don't see a problem in that.)

5

- Step 2: Conquer Singular Forms and their Accents: Focus on tu vês and você/ele/ela vê. Practice them together, emphasizing the circumflex accent. Understand that the accent signifies a closed vowel sound and distinguishes these singular forms.

6

- Flashcard drill: Você vê? (Do you see?) Sim, eu vejo. (Yes, I see.)

7

- Pronunciation practice: Ensure you are correctly pronouncing the closed 'e' sound indicated by the accent.

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- Step 3: Master the Plural Veem (No Accent): Dedicate significant practice to the third-person plural eles/elas/vocês veem. Understand why it has no accent (Orthographic Agreement) and recognize the double e. This is crucial for avoiding confusion with vêm (they come).

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- Visual exercise: Write veem and vêm side-by-side, noting the accent difference. Form sentences with both to reinforce the distinction.

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- Eles veem o pôr do sol. (They see the sunset.) vs. Eles vêm para a praia. (They come to the beach.)

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- Step 4: Distinguish Ver and Olhar in Context: Engage in exercises where you must choose between these two verbs based on the active/passive nature of the looking. Describe scenes around you, differentiating between what you ver (perceive) and what you olhar (direct your gaze toward).

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- Eu olho para o céu, mas não vejo nenhuma nuvem. (I look at the sky, but I don't see any clouds.)

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- Olhe este desenho! O que você vê? (Look at this drawing! What do you see?)

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- Step 5: Apply to Real-World Scenarios: Start using ver in your daily Portuguese interactions. Describe what you see, what you've watched, what you understand, and who you're meeting. Use simple phrases first, then gradually incorporate more complex sentences.

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- Journaling: Write a short paragraph each day about things you ver (saw/perceived) and things you olhar (looked at).

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- Role-playing: Practice arranging meetings (A gente se vê...) or confirming understanding (Ah, vejo.) with a language partner.

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- Step 6: Review and Self-Correction: Regularly revisit the conjugation table and common mistakes. Pay attention to feedback from native speakers or teachers. Don't be discouraged by errors; they are part of the learning process.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to common questions that arise when learning the verb ver.
  • Q: How does ver relate to nouns like vista or visão?

Vista (view, sight, landscape) and visão (vision, eyesight, insight) are both cognates and derive from the same Latin root as ver. They all share the semantic field of visual perception. For example, Que bela vista! (What a beautiful view!) or Ele tem uma visão de futuro. (He has a vision for the future.)

  • Q: Are there other irregular forms of ver in other tenses?

Yes, ver is highly irregular across several tenses. For A1, the present indicative is the focus. However, you will later encounter irregularities in the simple past (Pretérito Perfeito Simples), such as eu vi (I saw), você viu (you saw). The future subjunctive and personal infinitive also have distinct forms (vir, virmos, virem). These will be covered in higher CEFR levels.

  • Q: Can ver be used reflexively, as in ver-se?

Absolutely. Ver-se means "to see oneself" or "to find oneself" in a particular state or situation.

  • Eu me vejo no espelho todas as manhãs. (I see myself in the mirror every morning.)
  • Ele se vê em uma situação difícil. (He finds himself in a difficult situation.)
  • Q: What about verbs like rever or prever? Do they follow the same pattern as ver?

Yes, compound verbs formed with ver (like rever - to review, to see again; prever - to foresee, to predict; prover - to provide) generally follow the same irregular conjugation patterns as ver.

  • Eu revejo meus relatórios antes de enviá-los. (I review my reports before sending them.)
  • Eles preveem dias de sol para o fim de semana. (They foresee sunny days for the weekend.)
However, prover (to provide) can sometimes have slightly different conjugations in certain tenses, so it's worth checking separately at higher levels.
  • Q: Is veja related to vejo?

Yes, veja is the imperative (command) form for você/ele/ela and the present subjunctive form for eu/você/ele/ela. It directly stems from the eu vejo form. The rule is that the present subjunctive often takes its stem from the eu form of the present indicative, dropping the -o and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings. Veja! is a common way to say "Look!" or "See!" in Portuguese.

  • Veja que horas são! (Look what time it is!)
  • Espero que você veja a verdade. (I hope you see the truth.)

Present Indicative of 'Ver'

Pronoun Conjugation
Eu
vejo
Você/Ele/Ela
vê
Nós
vemos
Vocês/Eles/Elas
veem

Meanings

The verb 'ver' is used to describe the act of perceiving with the eyes or understanding a situation.

1

Visual perception

To physically see something.

“Eu vejo um pássaro.”

“Você vê aquele carro?”

2

Understanding

To grasp a concept or situation.

“Eu vejo o que você quer dizer.”

“Eles veem o problema.”

3

Visiting/Meeting

To visit someone or meet up.

“Vou ver minha mãe hoje.”

“Nós vemos os amigos no fim de semana.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb
Eu vejo o mar.
Negative
Subject + não + Verb
Eu não vejo nada.
Question
Verb + Subject?
Você vê o ônibus?
Short Answer
Sim/Não + Verb
Sim, eu vejo.
Plural
Subject + veem
Eles veem tudo.
Reflexive
Verb + se
Vê-se a diferença.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Vejo-o mais tarde.

Vejo-o mais tarde. (Saying goodbye)

Neutral
Eu vejo você mais tarde.

Eu vejo você mais tarde. (Saying goodbye)

Informal
Te vejo mais tarde.

Te vejo mais tarde. (Saying goodbye)

Slang
Até!

Até! (Saying goodbye)

Uses of Ver

Ver

Physical

  • olhos eyes

Abstract

  • entender understand

Social

  • visitar visit
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Examples by Level

1

Eu vejo um gato.

I see a cat.

2

Você vê o sol?

Do you see the sun?

3

Nós vemos o carro.

We see the car.

4

Eles veem a casa.

They see the house.

1

Eu não vejo o problema.

I don't see the problem.

2

Você vê o filme hoje?

Are you watching the movie today?

3

Nós vemos nossos amigos.

We are seeing our friends.

4

Elas veem a televisão.

They are watching TV.

1

Vou ver se ele está em casa.

I'll see if he is home.

2

Eu vejo as coisas de outra forma.

I see things differently.

3

Você vê a importância disso?

Do you see the importance of this?

4

Eles veem o projeto com otimismo.

They view the project with optimism.

1

Não vejo a hora de viajar.

I can't wait to travel.

2

Como você vê essa situação?

How do you view this situation?

3

Nós vemos uma mudança clara.

We see a clear change.

4

Eles veem o mundo de modo global.

They see the world globally.

1

Vejo-me obrigado a recusar.

I find myself obliged to refuse.

2

Vê-se claramente a intenção.

The intention is clearly seen.

3

Eles veem-se como pioneiros.

They see themselves as pioneers.

4

Não vemos outra saída.

We see no other way out.

1

Vê-se que a história se repete.

It is seen that history repeats itself.

2

Eu vejo nele um grande mentor.

I see in him a great mentor.

3

Vê-los felizes é tudo.

Seeing them happy is everything.

4

Eles veem o futuro com incerteza.

They view the future with uncertainty.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem) vs Ver vs Olhar

Both mean to look/see.

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem) vs Ver vs Assistir

Both used for media.

Portuguese Verb Ver: To See (vejo, vê, veem) vs Ver vs Vir

Similar spelling in some forms.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu veo

✓

Eu vejo

Learners often try to remove the -er and add -o, but 'ver' is irregular.
✗

Eles vem

✓

Eles veem

Missing the double 'e'.
✗

Eu ver

✓

Eu vejo

Using the infinitive instead of the conjugated form.
✗

Você ve

✓

Você vê

Missing the accent mark.
✗

Nós vemos o filme

✓

Nós assistimos ao filme

While 'ver' is possible, 'assistir' is more common for movies.
✗

Eu vejo para o quadro

✓

Eu olho para o quadro

Confusing 'ver' with 'olhar'.
✗

Eles veem o médico

✓

Eles vão ao médico

Using 'ver' for 'visiting' a professional is less common than 'ir ao'.
✗

Eu vejo que ele é bom

✓

Eu percebo que ele é bom

Using 'ver' for 'perceber' (to realize).
✗

Vejo-o

✓

Eu o vejo

Placement of object pronouns in informal speech.
✗

Vê-se que ele é rico

✓

Percebe-se que ele é rico

Nuance in passive voice.
✗

Ele vê-se como rei

✓

Ele se vê como rei

Reflexive pronoun placement in Brazilian Portuguese.
✗

Não vejo a hora de que...

✓

Não vejo a hora de...

Incorrect preposition usage.
✗

Vê-lo-ei

✓

Eu vou vê-lo

Using future synthetic instead of analytic.

Sentence Patterns

Eu vejo ___.

Você vê ___?

Nós vemos ___.

Eles veem ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Vejo vc mais tarde!

Job Interview common

Eu vejo este cargo como um desafio.

Travel common

Onde posso ver o mapa?

Social Media very common

Vejo que você está viajando!

Food Delivery occasional

Vou ver se o pedido chegou.

Classroom common

Vocês veem a lousa?

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💡

Double E

Remember that 'veem' has two 'e's. It's the only way to distinguish it from 'vem' (comes).
⚠️

Don't regularize

Never say 'veo'. It's always 'vejo'.
🎯

Context is key

Use 'ver' for perception and 'olhar' for action.
💬

Regional usage

In Brazil, 'tá vendo' is very common for 'do you see?'.

Smart Tips

Use the infinitive for the second verb.

Eu vejo como fazer. → Eu vejo como fazer.

Check if it's 'ver' or 'vir'.

Eles vem aqui. → Eles vêm aqui.

Use 'tá vendo' in informal Brazilian contexts.

Você vê isso? → Tá vendo isso?

Avoid contractions.

Não vejo a hora. → Eu não vejo a hora.

Pronunciation

/vẽj̃/

Vê vs Veem

The 'ee' in 'veem' is a long vowel sound.

Question

Você vê? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Vejo is for me (the 'o' matches 'Eu'), veem is for them (the double 'e' is for the many).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant eye (vejo) looking at a mirror, and a group of people (veem) wearing double-E glasses.

Rhyme

Eu vejo, você vê, nós vemos, eles veem, é assim que o verbo ver convém.

Story

Eu vejo um pássaro no céu. Você vê o mesmo pássaro? Nós vemos a beleza da natureza. Eles veem a mesma coisa que nós.

Word Web

vejovêvemosveemvisãovista

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about what you see in your room right now using the verb 'ver'.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'ver' is often replaced by 'tá vendo' (está vendo) in continuous actions.

In Portugal, the use of 'ver' is more formal and follows stricter syntax.

Usage is similar to Portugal but with distinct rhythmic patterns.

From Latin 'videre'.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você vê da sua janela?

“

Você vê filmes com frequência?

“

Como você vê o futuro da tecnologia?

“

Você vê alguma diferença entre as culturas?

Journal Prompts

Descreva o que você vê no seu caminho para o trabalho.
Escreva sobre um filme que você viu recentemente.
Como você vê a importância de aprender português?
Analise uma situação difícil que você superou.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate 'ver' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ o mar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
First person singular is 'vejo'.
Choose the correct plural form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ o filme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: veem
Third person plural is 'veem'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu veo o carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo o carro.
The correct form is 'vejo'.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo o mar.
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

They see the house.

Answer starts with: Ele...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles veem a casa.
Correct conjugation for 'eles'.
Conjugate for 'Nós'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___ a casa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vemos
First person plural is 'vemos'.
Match the pronoun to the verb. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
Matches correctly.
Is this true? True False Rule

'Ver' is a regular verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Falso
'Ver' is irregular.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate 'ver' for 'Eu'.

Eu ___ o mar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
First person singular is 'vejo'.
Choose the correct plural form. Multiple Choice

Eles ___ o filme.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: veem
Third person plural is 'veem'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu veo o carro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo o carro.
The correct form is 'vejo'.
Reorder the sentence. Sentence Reorder

o / vejo / Eu / mar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo o mar.
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

They see the house.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles veem a casa.
Correct conjugation for 'eles'.
Conjugate for 'Nós'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___ a casa.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vemos
First person plural is 'vemos'.
Match the pronoun to the verb. Match Pairs

Eu -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
Matches correctly.
Is this true? True False Rule

'Ver' is a regular verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Falso
'Ver' is irregular.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

14 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Ela ___ TV à noite. (ver)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vê
Complete with the 'I' form. Fill in the Blank

Eu não ___ nada sem óculos.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vejo
Which sentence implies visual perception? Multiple Choice

Select the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você vê o sinal vermelho?
Fix the spelling error. Error Correction

Vocês vêem os pássaros?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vocês veem os pássaros?
Match the subject to the verb form. Match Pairs

Match correctly:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["vejo","vemos","veem"]
Unscramble the sentence. Sentence Reorder

filme / vejo / um / Eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo um filme
Translate 'We see the house'. Translation

Translate to Portuguese:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós vemos a casa.
Select the form used in Portugal for 'Tu'. Multiple Choice

Tu ___ o mar?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vês
Complete the idiom. Fill in the Blank

A gente se ___ por aí.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vê
Identify the incorrect verb. Error Correction

Eu ver meu amigo hoje.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu vejo meu amigo hoje.
Select the plural form. Fill in the Blank

As meninas ___ o gato.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: veem
Which implies 'I understand'? Multiple Choice

Select the best phrase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Estou vendo.
Match the similar verbs. Match Pairs

Connect the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["To see","To look","To watch"]
Arrange correctly. Sentence Reorder

não / Eles / nada / veem

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles não veem nada

Score: /14

FAQ (8)

It comes from Latin 'videre' and evolved differently than standard -er verbs.

Simply add 'não' before the verb: 'Eu não vejo'.

No. 'Veem' is from 'ver' (to see), 'vêm' is from 'vir' (to come).

Yes, but 'assistir' is more common in formal contexts.

'Ver' is perception, 'olhar' is the action of looking.

Yes, it is universal in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

Use rising intonation: 'Você vê?'

Yes, like 'visto' (past participle) or 'vi' (past tense).

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

ver

Portuguese has 'veem' (plural), Spanish has 'ven'.

French moderate

voir

French uses 'ils voient'.

German low

sehen

German changes the vowel (sieht).

Japanese none

miru

Japanese does not conjugate for person.

Arabic none

ra'a

Arabic uses a root system.

Chinese none

kàn

Chinese verbs never change form.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The Verb 'Fazer': To Do and To Make
Next
The Verb 'To Give' (dar): From Gifts to Instagram Likes

Continue With

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