Coming vs Going: The Verb VIR
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'vir' for movement toward the speaker and 'ir' for movement away from the speaker.
- Use 'vir' when the destination is where the speaker is: 'Eu venho aqui' (I come here).
- Use 'ir' when the destination is away from the speaker: 'Eu vou lá' (I go there).
- Both verbs are irregular in the present tense, so memorize the 'eu' and 'você' forms first.
Overview
The Portuguese verb vir translates to "to come" in English, but its usage is strictly defined by direction relative to a specific reference point, typically the speaker, the listener, or an established shared destination. Unlike English "to come," which can sometimes imply movement away if the destination is shared, vir invariably signifies movement towards this reference point. This precise directional implication is a core feature differentiating Portuguese verbs of motion from English equivalents, making vir essential for accurate communication of movement and presence.
Ela vem para cá amanhã.(She comes here tomorrow.)Vocês vêm jantar connosco?(Are you all coming to dinner with us?)O meu irmão vem da Alemanha.(My brother comes from Germany.)
Conjugation Table
| Person | Pronoun (BR) | Pronoun (EP) | vir (Present Indicative) |
Example (BR) | Example (EP) | English Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------------------- | :--------------------------------- | :--------------------------------- | :----------------------------- | ||
| 1st Person Singular | Eu |
Eu |
venho |
Eu venho agora. |
Eu venho agora. |
I come now. | ||
| 2nd Person Singular | Você |
Tu |
vem |
Você vem comigo? |
Tu vens comigo? |
Are you coming with me? | ||
| 3rd Person Singular | Ele/Ela |
Ele/Ela |
vem |
Ele vem do trabalho. |
Ele vem do trabalho. |
He comes from work. | ||
| 1st Person Plural | Nós |
Nós |
vimos |
Nós vimos mais tarde. |
Nós vimos mais tarde. |
We come later. | ||
| 2nd Person Plural | Vocês |
Vós |
vêm |
Vocês vêm para a festa. |
Vós vindes (archaic) |
You all come to the party. | ||
| 3rd Person Plural | Eles/Elas |
Eles/Elas |
vêm |
Elas vêm de férias. |
Elas vêm de férias. |
They come from vacation. |
How This Grammar Works
vir is relativity of motion. Its meaning is strictly defined by movement towards the current location of the speaker, the listener, or a mutually understood shared destination. This grammatical distinction highlights the importance of the speaker's or listener's position as a focal point in Portuguese descriptions of movement.vir creates a verbal "magnetic pull" towards a reference point, emphasizing the recipient of the movement.Vem à minha casa.(Come to my house.) — Speaker inviting to their home.- Friends
vêm para a festaif you are already there. - A package
vem a caminhowhen delivered to your address.
Vir frequently pairs with prepositions indicating direction or origin, such as para (to, for, towards), a (to), and de (from). These prepositions reinforce the directional context, solidifying the concept of movement relative to a specific point.Formation Pattern
Vir is a third-conjugation (-ir) verb, but its irregularity means its pattern deviates significantly from standard conjugations. The primary irregularities in the present indicative involve stem changes: from vir- to venh- for eu, ven- for tu/ele/você, and v- combined with -êm for eles/elas/vocês.
Eu form: The standard -ir ending becomes -enho, creating eu venho. The nh sound is a distinct palatal nasal.
Tu/Ele/Ela/Você forms: The stem changes to ven-. Tu takes -s (vens), while ele/ela/você takes -m (vem). The final -m indicates a nasal vowel sound.
Nós form: This retains the vir- stem, adding -mos, resulting in nós vimos. This form is notably homographous with the past tense of ver (to see), a frequent source of confusion requiring contextual analysis.
Eles/Elas/Vocês form: The v- stem combines with -êm, yielding eles/elas/vocês vêm. The circumflex accent (^) is critical for written distinction, indicating a closed, nasal vowel sound, differentiating it from ver forms.
-ir verbs and require direct memorization. No simple formula applies beyond committing these specific forms to memory.
When To Use It
vir when the action of "coming" is directed towards the speaker, the listener, or a shared, implicitly understood destination. This is the foundational rule for its application.- Movement towards the speaker's location:
Quando você vem para a minha casa?(When are you coming to my house?) — Speaker is at "my house."O táxi já vem.(The taxi is already coming.) — Taxi is en route to the speaker's current location.- Movement towards the listener's location: This applies when the speaker asks about the listener's arrival at their own place or a place the listener is expected to be.
Se eu precisar de ajuda, você vem?(If I need help, will you come?) — The "coming" is to where the speaker needs help.- Movement towards a shared or understood destination:
Eles vêm para a festa connosco.(They are coming to the party with us.) — The party is a shared destination.Você vem para a aula amanhã?(Are you coming to class tomorrow?) — Class is a pre-arranged, shared destination.- Origin (where someone or something is from):
Vir despecifically emphasizes the action of "coming from" a place, often implying a journey or source. Eu venho do Porto.(I come from Porto.)Este vinho vem de uma adega pequena.(This wine comes from a small winery.)- Metaphorical "coming":
Vircan describe abstract concepts approaching or occurring. A primavera vem aí.(Spring is coming.)Ele vem com uma ideia nova.(He comes with a new idea.)
When Not To Use It
vir when movement is away from the speaker or the primary reference point. In these instances, ir (to go) is the correct verb. If you are leaving your current location to go somewhere else, even if that "somewhere else" is where another person is, you generally use ir.- Movement away from the speaker:
- Incorrect:
Eu venho para o trabalho.(Unless someone is at work expecting you, and you're moving towards them.) - Correct:
Eu vou para o trabalho.(I am going to work.) — Movement away from the speaker's current location. - Movement from your location to the listener's, when the listener is not currently at the target destination:
- If you are at home, and your friend is at a café. If you say you are going to meet your friend at the café, use
ir. - Incorrect:
Eu venho ao café ter contigo. - Correct:
Eu vou ao café ter contigo.(I am going to the café to meet you.) - When
virwould create ambiguity or sound unnatural: Even if a destination is technically shared,irmight be preferred for general plans of movement. Nós vamos ao Brasil nas férias.(We are going to Brazil for vacation.) — Emphasizes the act of travel away from current location.
Common Mistakes
vir, primarily due to its irregularity and the contrast with English "to come/go" usage. Understanding these common errors is key to fluent Portuguese.- The
Vervs.VirTrap (Present Indicative): This is a significant challenge for A2 learners due to conjugation similarities. Ele vem.(He comes.) —virEle vê.(He sees.) —verEles vêm.(They come.) —vir(Circumflex^is crucial.)Eles veem.(They see.) —ver(Doubleeis crucial.)- Why it's tricky: Speech distinction can be subtle, especially in Brazilian Portuguese where
vemandvêmoften sound identical. The written circumflex onvêmforviris the only consistent differentiator. Nós vimos(Pastvervs. Presentvir): The first-person plural ofvir,nós vimos, is identical to the first-person plural ofverin the past simple (pretérito perfeito simples).Nós vimos o filme ontem.(We saw the film yesterday.) —ver(past tense)Nós vimos de carro.(We come by car.) —vir(present tense)- Solution: Context, particularly adverbs of time (e.g.,
ontem- yesterday,hoje- today), is crucial for disambiguation. - Incorrect Directional Usage (
virvs.ir): A fundamental error is usingvirwheniris required, and vice-versa. - Error:
Eu venho para o trabalho.(Unless someone at work expects you, and you're moving towards them.) - Correction:
Eu vou para o trabalho.(I am going to work.) - Error:
Ele vai à festa comigo.(If you are also going to the party, and he is moving towards that shared destination with you.) - Correction:
Ele vem à festa comigo.(He is coming to the party with me.) - Linguistic reason: English "come" can be used from the destination's perspective; Portuguese
viris tied to the speaker's or listener's current location or a shared, pre-established destination. - Confusion with
Chegar(to arrive):Viremphasizes the process of coming, whilechegaremphasizes the moment of arrival. Quando você vem?(When are you coming? — asking about the journey)Quando você chega?(When do you arrive? — asking about the specific point of arrival)
Memory Trick
To navigate the complexities of vir and ver, especially the tricky third-person plural forms, employ a visual mnemonic:
- For Eles/Elas vêm (they come): Imagine the circumflex accent ^ as a hat. People wear hats when they are coming somewhere (e.g., to a party, to visit). One hat means they are coming.
- For Eles/Elas veem (they see): Imagine the double e as two eyes. You need two eyes to see. Two eyes means they are seeing.
This distinction aids recall when writing. For nós vimos, remember that "we saw" is the past, and "we come" is the present. Context is your only guide.
Real Conversations
Understanding vir extends beyond conjugations; it involves grasping its use in authentic, modern communication, reflecting the dynamic nature of Portuguese.
- Texting (WhatsApp/SMS):
- Friend A: Já estás a sair? (Are you leaving already?)
- Friend B: Sim, já venho. (Yes, I'm coming now.) — Implies movement towards Friend A or a shared spot.
- Host: Vens hoje? (Are you coming today? [EP informal])
- Guest: Sim, venho depois do trabalho. (Yes, I'll come after work.)
- Social Media Comments:
- Post: Photo of a beautiful beach.
- Comment 1: Que lindo! Eu vou para lá nas férias! (How beautiful! I'm going there for vacation!) — User expressing movement away.
- Comment 2: Vem cá, que está maravilhoso! (Come here, it's wonderful!) — Poster inviting others to their current location.
- Work Emails/Professional Context:
- Gostaria de saber se o relatório vem com os dados atualizados. (I would like to know if the report comes with the updated data.) — vir used metaphorically for accompanying information.
- Casual Conversation:
- De onde você vem? (Where do you come from? [BR])
- Eu venho do Brasil, mas agora moro em Portugal. (I come from Brazil, but now I live in Portugal.)
- Ele vem sempre com desculpas. (He always comes up with excuses.) — Idiomatic use.
These examples highlight how vir integrates naturally into various communication forms, consistently adhering to its core directional meaning relative to a reference point.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Vir is often confused with or directly contrasts with several other verbs and structures. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for precision in Portuguese.
Vir vs. Ir (To Come vs. To Go): This is the most fundamental contrast.Vir: Movement towards the speaker or a shared reference point.Ele vem para cá. (He comes here.)Vocês vêm connosco? (Are you all coming with us?)Ir: Movement away from the speaker or a shared reference point.Eu vou para lá. (I go there.)Nós vamos para a praia. (We are going to the beach.)Eu vou ao supermercado, you are moving away. If your friend is at the supermarket, they might ask Quando vêm? (When are you coming?), because you would be moving towards their location.Vir vs. Chegar (To Come vs. To Arrive):Vir: Focuses on the process or intention of moving towards a destination. It can refer to the journey itself.Eu venho de carro. (I'm coming by car.)A encomenda vem amanhã. (The order is coming tomorrow.)Chegar: Focuses on the completion or moment of reaching a destination.Eu chego às 5h. (I arrive at 5 AM/PM.)A encomenda chega amanhã. (The order arrives tomorrow.)Quando vens? asks about the overall plan to come; Quando chegas? asks about the specific arrival time.Vir vs. Trazer (To Come vs. To Bring):Vir: Refers to the movement of a person or entity.O João vem. (João is coming.)Trazer: Refers to the movement of an object with a person, also directed towards the speaker or reference point.O João traz os livros. (João brings the books.)Trazer implies vir with an object. Eu venho e trago o bolo. (I come and bring the cake.)Progressive Practice
To solidify your understanding and usage of vir, engage in targeted practice that gradually increases in complexity.
A2: Simple Sentences & Conjugation Drills:
- Practice conjugating vir in the present indicative for all pronouns.
- Form basic sentences: Eu venho da escola. (I come from school.) Ele vem cá hoje. (He comes here today.)
A2/B1: Directional Differentiation (vir vs. ir):
- Create scenarios to decide between vir or ir based on the speaker's perspective.
- Scenario: You are at a restaurant. Your friend is at home.
- Your friend says: Eu vou para o restaurante. (I'm going to the restaurant.)
- You say: Quando você vem para o restaurante? (When are you coming to the restaurant?)
B1/B2: Contextual Disambiguation (vêm vs. veem, vimos vs. vimos):
- Read sentences containing these homophones/homographs and identify the correct verb based on context.
- As crianças vêm dos parques todos os dias. (The children come from the parks every day.) — vir
- As crianças veem os desenhos animados na TV. (The children see cartoons on TV.) — ver
B2/C1: Idiomatic Expressions & Nuances:
- Integrate vir into more complex structures and idioms.
- Vir a ser (to turn out to be, to become): Ele veio a ser um grande líder. (He became a great leader.)
- Vir a calhar (to come in handy): A sua ajuda veio a calhar. (Your help came in handy.)
Quick FAQ
vir that frequently arise among Portuguese learners.vir always imply physical movement?Not exclusively. While its primary meaning is physical movement, vir can also be used metaphorically for the arrival of events, seasons, ideas, or to indicate something accompanying something else. For example, A notícia vem no jornal (The news comes in the newspaper) or O inverno vem (Winter is coming).
vem or vêm refers to ver or vir in speech?In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, vem (he/she/you come) and vêm (they/you all come) often sound identical. Context is paramount. In European Portuguese, the distinction is usually clearer, with vêm having a more closed, nasal sound. For ver forms, vê (he/she/you see) is distinct, and veem (they/you all see) is typically pronounced with two distinct 'e' sounds, not a single nasal one.
vir considered an auxiliary verb?Not in the typical sense of forming compound tenses. However, vir a can form a periphrastic future or express an outcome, as in Ele virá a ser médico (He will come to be a doctor / He will become a doctor). This is a specialized construction.
Nós vimos (we come) pronounced the same as Nós vimos (we saw)?This is an example of homography and homophony in Portuguese. Both forms share the same spelling and pronunciation in certain contexts due to historical verb evolution. Contextual clues (especially time adverbs) are the only way to differentiate them.
vir I should be aware of?Yes, vir remains irregular across many tenses. For instance, the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (Simple Past) has Eu vim, Tu vieste, Ele/Ela/Você veio, Nós viemos, Vocês vieram, Eles/Elas vieram. The Futuro do Presente (Simple Future) also has stem changes: Eu virei, Tu virás, etc. Focus on mastering the present indicative first, then tackle other irregular tenses progressively. The Imperative forms are also irregular: Vem (tu), Venha (você), Vinde (vós - archaic), Venham (vocês).
Present Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Vir (To Come) | Ir (To Go) |
|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
venho
|
vou
|
|
Você/Ele/Ela
|
vem
|
vai
|
|
Nós
|
vimos
|
vamos
|
|
Vocês/Eles/Elas
|
vêm
|
vão
|
Meanings
These verbs describe the direction of movement relative to the speaker's current location.
Physical movement
Literal displacement toward or away from a point.
“Eu venho de casa.”
“Ele vai para o trabalho.”
Inviting/Attending
Used to invite someone to join the speaker's location.
“Você vem à festa?”
“Venha aqui um pouco.”
Future intent
Using 'ir' as an auxiliary to form the near future.
“Eu vou comer agora.”
“Nós vamos estudar.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb
|
Eu vou.
|
|
Negative
|
Não + Subject + Verb
|
Eu não vou.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Verb + Subject?
|
Você vem?
|
|
Future Intent
|
Ir + Infinitive
|
Eu vou comer.
|
|
Invitation
|
Imperative Vir
|
Venha aqui!
|
|
Plural
|
Eles + Verb
|
Eles vêm.
|
Formality Spectrum
O senhor virá ao evento? (Invitation)
Você vem ao evento? (Invitation)
Vem aí? (Invitation)
Bora? (Invitation)
Directional Flow
Movement
- Vir Toward Speaker
- Ir Away from Speaker
Examples by Level
Eu vou ao parque.
I go to the park.
Você vem aqui?
Are you coming here?
Nós vamos à escola.
We go to school.
Ele vem de casa.
He comes from home.
Eu vou viajar amanhã.
I am going to travel tomorrow.
Venha jantar conosco!
Come have dinner with us!
Eles vão ao cinema hoje.
They are going to the cinema today.
Nós vimos da festa.
We are coming from the party.
Se você vier, me avise.
If you come, let me know.
Eles vêm de longe para ver o jogo.
They come from far away to see the game.
Eu vou terminar este trabalho logo.
I am going to finish this work soon.
Você vai querer café?
Are you going to want coffee?
Eu viria se tivesse tempo.
I would come if I had time.
Eles vão se mudar para Lisboa.
They are going to move to Lisbon.
Venha o que vier, estarei pronto.
Come what may, I will be ready.
Nós vamos ter que sair cedo.
We are going to have to leave early.
Ele veio a entender o problema.
He came to understand the problem.
Vão-se os anéis, ficam os dedos.
The rings go, the fingers remain.
Não venhas com desculpas agora.
Don't come with excuses now.
Iremos aonde for necessário.
We will go wherever it is necessary.
Vindo de quem vem, não me surpreende.
Coming from whom it comes, it doesn't surprise me.
Iriam eles sozinhos?
Would they go alone?
Vieram a ser grandes amigos.
They came to be great friends.
Vão-se embora sem dizer nada.
They go away without saying anything.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'vir' (to come) and 'ver' (to see) in the first person.
Learners use 'ir' when they mean 'to arrive'.
The form 'vimos' is both 'we come' and 'we saw'.
Common Mistakes
Eu ir ao mercado
Eu vou ao mercado
Você vem ao cinema?
Você vai ao cinema?
Eu venho para casa
Eu vou para casa
Eles vem
Eles vêm
Nós vimos ao trabalho
Nós vamos ao trabalho
Eu vou aqui
Eu venho aqui
Você vai vir?
Você vem?
Se você vir...
Se você vier...
Eu viria para a festa
Eu iria para a festa
Eles vêm da escola
Eles vêm da escola
Ele veio a ser
Ele veio a ser
Vão-se embora
Vão-se embora
Iremos aonde for
Iremos aonde for
Não venhas
Não venhas
Sentence Patterns
Eu vou para ___.
Você vem ___ comigo?
Eu venho de ___.
Nós vamos ___ amanhã.
Real World Usage
Você vem?
Eu venho da empresa X.
Eu vou para o Brasil.
Eu vou buscar.
Vem aí novidades!
Você vem por esta rua.
False Friend Alert: Vimos
The 'Ir' vs 'Vir' Hack
Brazilian vs European
Smart Tips
Ask yourself: 'Am I the destination?' If yes, use 'vir'.
Always use 'ir' + infinitive.
Always add the circumflex to 'vêm'.
Use the imperative 'Venha'.
Pronunciation
Vêm vs Vem
The circumflex accent on 'vêm' makes the vowel sound more closed.
Question
Você vem? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
V-I-R: V for 'Vem' (Come) to me. I-R: I for 'Ir' (Go) away.
Visual Association
Imagine a magnet in your chest. When people move toward the magnet, they 'vir'. When they move away from the magnet, they 'ir'.
Rhyme
Se você vem, eu estou aqui. Se você vai, eu fico ali.
Story
Maria is at the party. She calls João. 'Você vem?' (Are you coming?). João says 'Eu vou!' (I am going!). He arrives, and now he 'veio'.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, narrate your movements: 'Eu vou para a cozinha', 'Eu venho para o sofá'.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'ir' is used constantly for the near future. 'Vou comer' is more common than the future tense.
In Portugal, the future tense is slightly more common than in Brazil, but 'ir' + infinitive is still standard.
Similar to Brazil, 'ir' is the primary way to express future intent.
Both verbs come from Latin: 'venire' (vir) and 'ire' (ir).
Conversation Starters
Você vem à festa hoje?
De onde você vem?
Você vai viajar nas férias?
Se você pudesse ir a qualquer lugar, onde iria?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu ___ ao cinema hoje.
Você ___ comigo?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu ir para casa.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I come from Brazil.
Answer starts with: Eu ...
Nós ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Eles ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu ___ ao cinema hoje.
Você ___ comigo?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu ir para casa.
a / vou / eu / escola
I come from Brazil.
Nós ___.
Ir vs Vir
Eles ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesNós ___ visitar a avó hoje.
casa / vens / minha / à / Quando / ?
Select the correct translation.
Você vens comigo?
A: Estás em casa? B: Sim, eu ___ agora.
Match correctly.
Os alunos ___ de autocarro.
What can 'Nós vimos' mean depending on context?
How do you say 'I am coming'?
Elas vém aqui sempre.
Isso vem a ___ (This comes in handy).
Lisboa / vem / O / de / comboio
Your friend texts: 'Já estou no cinema.' You reply 'Estou a ___'.
Score: /13
FAQ (8)
Use 'vir' for movement toward the speaker and 'ir' for movement away.
Yes, 'ir' + infinitive is the most common way to express future plans.
The circumflex distinguishes the plural 'vêm' from the singular 'vem'.
Only if you are coming to the speaker's location.
It can be both! 'Nós vimos' (present of vir) and 'Nós vimos' (past of ver).
Use 'Você vem?' or 'Venha!'
No, they are highly irregular.
The core usage is the same, though future tense usage varies.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
venir / ir
Conjugations differ slightly.
venir / aller
French uses 'aller' instead of 'ir'.
kommen / gehen
German does not use these verbs for future tense.
kuru / iku
Japanese verbs do not conjugate for person.
ja'a / dhahaba
Arabic has complex root systems.
lái / qù
Chinese verbs are invariant.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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