Meaning
To view programs on a television set.
Cultural Background
Novelas are a massive part of Brazilian culture. People often say 'Vou assistir a novela', which is a specific type of 'assistir televisão'. In Portugal, the preposition 'a' is more strictly maintained in formal speech than in Brazil. Television is often the background noise of a home, even if no one is actively watching.
Drop the 'a'
Don't worry about the 'a' in casual conversation. Brazilians almost always drop it.
False Friend
Never use 'assistir' to mean 'help'. You will confuse native speakers!
Meaning
To view programs on a television set.
Drop the 'a'
Don't worry about the 'a' in casual conversation. Brazilians almost always drop it.
False Friend
Never use 'assistir' to mean 'help'. You will confuse native speakers!
Context is King
If you are talking about a specific show, use 'assistir a' (e.g., 'assistir à novela').
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence.
Eu gosto de ______ televisão.
Assistir is the correct verb for watching TV.
Which is correct?
Choose the natural way to say this.
Option 2 is the standard collocation.
Match the verb to its meaning.
Assistir = ?
In this context, it means to watch.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Vamos ver um filme? B: Sim, eu adoro ______.
It fits the context of watching media.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEu gosto de ______ televisão.
Assistir is the correct verb for watching TV.
Choose the natural way to say this.
Option 2 is the standard collocation.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
In this context, it means to watch.
A: Vamos ver um filme? B: Sim, eu adoro ______.
It fits the context of watching media.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsGrammatically 'assistir a', but in speech, just 'assistir' is fine.
Yes, 'assistir televisão' is often used for any screen content now.
No, never. Use 'ajudar'.
It is neutral.
Eu assisti.
Yes, 'ver' is very common.
Related Phrases
Ver televisão
synonymTo see TV
Ligar a televisão
builds onTo turn on the TV
Assistir a um filme
specialized formTo watch a movie
