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A1 verb #4,000 most common 9 min read

apanhar

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips apanhar in 30 Seconds

Explanation apanhar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal meanings of apanhar. Think of it as 'to pick up' or 'to catch'. You will use it primarily in two contexts: picking up an object that fell on the floor ('Eu apanho a caneta') and catching public transportation if you are learning European Portuguese ('Eu apanho o autocarro'). It is a regular verb, so you just need to learn the -ar endings: eu apanho, tu apanhas, ele apanha, nós apanhamos, eles apanham. At this stage, don't worry about the slang or the 'getting beaten' meanings. Just use it for physical actions and simple travel plans. It's a useful verb for describing your daily routine, like catching the train to work or picking up your kids from school (though for kids, 'buscar' is also common). Focus on the relationship between the subject and the object.

As an A2 learner, you can start using apanhar for weather and health. You should be able to say 'apanhar sol' (to get sun) and 'apanhar uma gripe' (to catch a cold). You will also notice it in the past tense more often, as you describe things that happened: 'Ontem apanhei muita chuva' (Yesterday I got caught in a lot of rain). You should also begin to distinguish between the European and Brazilian usages. Start noticing how 'apanhar' is used for catching people, such as in games like hide and seek or tag. Your sentences will become more complex, combining the verb with time expressions like 'apanhar o comboio das oito' or 'apanhar sol durante a tarde'. You are moving from simple actions to describing experiences.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the figurative and idiomatic uses of apanhar. This includes the sense of 'getting a beating' or losing a game badly. You'll understand the structure 'apanhar de alguém' (to get hit by someone). You should also use it to mean 'to understand' in informal settings, like 'Apanhaste o que eu disse?' (Did you catch/understand what I said?). You'll start using the verb in more varied tenses, including the conditional ('Eu apanharia o comboio se tivesse tempo') and the subjunctive ('Espero que não apanhes chuva'). At this level, you can also use 'apanhar' to describe being caught off guard: 'Fui apanhado de surpresa'. This passive construction is very common in storytelling and reporting events.

By B2, you should have a nuanced understanding of apanhar across different dialects. You should know that in Brazil, 'apanhar' is almost exclusively for picking things up or getting hit, while in Portugal it's the standard for transport. You can use it in more sophisticated collocations like 'apanhar o jeito' (to get the hang of something) or 'apanhar uma bebedeira' (to get drunk). You will understand the subtle difference between 'apanhar' and 'colher' or 'pegar' and choose the right one based on the level of formality you want to achieve. You should also be able to use it in complex grammatical structures, such as the personal infinitive or the future subjunctive ('Quando apanhares o comboio, avisa-me'). Your vocabulary is now rich enough to use 'apanhar' to describe social and abstract situations.

At the C1 level, apanhar becomes a tool for expressive and native-like communication. You will use it in literary or highly idiomatic contexts, such as 'apanhar as canas' (to be the one left to clean up or deal with the consequences) or 'apanhar em flagrante' (to catch red-handed). You can discuss the social implications of words, such as the cultural context of physical discipline associated with 'apanhar'. You will use the verb to describe fine nuances in understanding or perception, such as 'apanhar as entrelinhas' (to catch what's between the lines). Your usage is fluid, and you can switch between the literal and the metaphorical effortlessly. You are also aware of regionalisms beyond just Portugal and Brazil, such as usage in Angola or Mozambique.

At the C2 level, your mastery of apanhar is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You understand its role in historical texts and its etymological roots. You can use it in highly specialized registers, such as legal or poetic contexts. You might use it to describe complex psychological states, like 'apanhar-se num beco sem saída' (finding oneself in a dead end). You are familiar with rare idioms and can use the verb to create wordplay or humor. You understand the full spectrum of its emotional weight—from the mundane act of catching a bus to the traumatic connotation of receiving a beating. Your ability to use 'apanhar' reflects a deep cultural immersion and an intuitive grasp of the Portuguese language's flexibility.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

apanhar in 30 Seconds

Apanhar means to catch, pick up, or get transport.
In Portugal, it's the standard for buses and trains.
It can mean getting a beating or losing a game.
It's used for sun (sol), rain (chuva), and colds (gripe).

The Portuguese verb apanhar is a versatile and essential term that every learner must master, though its usage varies significantly between European Portuguese (Portugal) and Brazilian Portuguese. At its core, the word relates to the act of 'taking,' 'catching,' or 'picking up,' but its semantic range extends into physical discipline, environmental exposure, and transportation. Understanding this word requires looking at the context of the action: are you picking an apple from a tree, catching a bus to work, or unfortunately getting caught in a rainstorm? Each of these scenarios utilizes apanhar to describe the transition of an object or state into one's possession or experience.

Physical Retrieval: This is the most literal use. It describes picking something up from the ground or removing fruit from a plant. For example, 'apanhar flores' (to pick flowers) or 'apanhar os papéis do chão' (to pick up the papers from the floor).
Transportation: In Portugal, this is the standard way to say you are 'catching' a bus, train, or taxi. In Brazil, while understood, 'pegar' is much more common for this specific context.
Passive Experience/Exposure: Used when the subject 'receives' something from the environment, often involuntarily. Common collocations include 'apanhar sol' (to sunbathe/get sun) and 'apanhar chuva' (to get caught in the rain).

Preciso de correr para apanhar o comboio das nove horas.

Beyond these, apanhar is used in abstract senses. You can 'apanhar um susto' (get a fright) or 'apanhar uma doença' (catch a disease). In the classroom or a conversation, if you 'apanhas a ideia', it means you've grasped or understood the concept. The verb is a first-conjugation regular verb ending in -ar, making its forms predictable, which is a relief for beginners. However, the depth of its idioms means that even C2 learners find new ways to use it. It captures the essence of interaction with the world—whether you are actively seizing an opportunity or passively receiving the elements.

Cuidado para não apanhar uma constipação com este frio.

Confrontation/Discipline: Informally, 'apanhar' means to get a beating or to lose badly in a game. 'Ele apanhou do pai' means he was disciplined physically by his father.

Using apanhar correctly involves matching the verb with the right direct object and understanding the grammatical implications of its various meanings. Since it is a transitive verb in most cases, it usually requires an object to complete its meaning. However, when it refers to being beaten, it can function intransitively or with the preposition 'de'. Let's explore the syntactic structures that define this verb's utility in everyday speech.

Eu apanhei as chaves que caíram no tapete.

When you are talking about picking up objects, the structure is simple: Subject + Apanhar + Object. This is common for items dropped or items found in nature. In a more metaphorical sense, catching a cold follows the same pattern: 'Ela apanhou um resfriado'. Here, the 'catching' is involuntary, much like in English. The verb functions as a bridge between the person and the external condition they are now experiencing.

The Transport Rule: In European Portuguese, 'apanhar' is the go-to verb for public transport. Structure: 'Vou apanhar o [transporte]'. Example: 'Vou apanhar o metro'. In Brazil, you would substitute this with 'pegar'.

Nós vamos apanhar o autocarro em frente à escola.

One of the trickiest uses for English speakers is 'apanhar' meaning 'to get hit'. If you want to say 'He got a beating from his brother', you say 'Ele apanhou do irmão'. The preposition de (contracted to do/da) indicates the source of the hitting. If the subject is just 'getting a beating' in general without specifying from whom, you can simply say 'Ele vai apanhar!' (He's going to get it!). This is a very common threat used by parents or a prediction in sports contexts.

In the imperative form, it's often used as a command to clean up. 'Apanha isso!' (Pick that up!) is something you'll hear frequently. In a professional or academic setting, you might hear 'apanhar o sentido' (to catch the meaning/sense). This shows the verb moving from the physical realm into the cognitive realm. Whether you are dealing with physical objects, transportation, or abstract concepts, the verb maintains a sense of 'acquisition' or 'reception'.

Reflexive Potential?: Interestingly, 'apanhar' is rarely used reflexively (apanhar-se) compared to other verbs, but it can appear in phrases like 'apanhar-se de surpresa' (to find oneself surprised), though 'ser apanhado' (to be caught) is much more frequent.

If you walk through the streets of Lisbon or Porto, apanhar is omnipresent. You'll hear it at every bus stop ('Paragem de Autocarro') and train station. Commuters checking their watches will mutter about 'apanhar o próximo comboio'. It is the heartbeat of the morning commute. In these settings, it sounds functional, rhythmic, and perfectly mundane. However, move to a local park, and you might hear a mother telling her child, 'Não apanhes nada do chão!' (Don't pick anything up from the ground!). Here, the word takes on a cautionary tone.

Se não te despachas, vais apanhar uma molha!

In Brazil, the auditory landscape of this word changes. You are less likely to hear it at a bus stop (where 'pegar' reigns supreme) and more likely to hear it in a domestic or sports context. On a Brazilian football talk show, a commentator might say 'O time apanhou feio ontem' (The team lost/got beaten badly yesterday). In a household, 'apanhar' is the standard word for receiving physical punishment, which is a common (though increasingly debated) part of traditional parenting vocabulary in Lusophone cultures.

You will also encounter apanhar in the news, particularly in crime reports. 'O ladrão foi apanhado pela polícia' (The thief was caught by the police). This usage is universal across all Portuguese-speaking countries. It implies being discovered or apprehended. In a more lighthearted setting, like a beach in the Algarve, you'll hear tourists and locals alike talking about 'apanhar um escaldão' (getting a sunburn). The word perfectly captures the transition from enjoying the sun to the painful realization of having 'caught' too much of it.

In the Kitchen: Chefs or home cooks might use it when harvesting herbs from a pot: 'Vou apanhar um pouco de salsa'.

Eles foram apanhados desprevenidos pela notícia.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is the confusion between apanhar and pegar. While both can mean 'to take' or 'to catch' in certain contexts, they are not always interchangeable. In Brazil, using 'apanhar' to mean catching a bus sounds archaic or overly formal, whereas in Portugal, it is the standard. Conversely, using 'pegar' for picking something up from the floor is common in Brazil, but in Portugal, 'pegar' often implies 'to hold' or 'to grab' with force, while 'apanhar' is for the act of lifting it up.

The 'Beating' Trap: A major pitfall is forgetting that 'apanhar' (without an object or with 'de') means to *receive* a beating, not to *give* one. If you say 'Eu vou apanhar o João', it means you are going to pick João up (perhaps from school). If you say 'Eu vou bater no João', it means you are going to hit him. If you say 'Eu apanhei do João', it means João hit you. Mixing these up can lead to very confusing (and potentially embarrassing) conversations!

Mistake: Vou apanhar o meu amigo (when you mean you will hit him). Correct: Vou bater no meu amigo.

Another common error is the misuse of prepositions with transportation. Beginners often try to translate 'I catch the bus' literally as 'Eu apanho o ônibus' (in Brazil) and are surprised when people look confused. In Brazil, always default to pegar for vehicles. In Portugal, always use apanhar. Also, ensure you don't confuse apanhar with aprender (to learn). While 'apanhar a ideia' means to understand, it is an informal idiom; 'aprender' is the proper verb for the process of learning a skill or subject.

Preposition Confusion: Don't use 'em' or 'no' with apanhar for transport. It's 'apanhar o comboio', not 'apanhar no comboio'. The latter would mean you were caught while inside the train, likely doing something wrong!

Finally, watch out for the 'apanhar sol' vs 'tomar sol' distinction. While both are used, 'apanhar sol' is more common in Portugal, while 'tomar sol' is the standard in Brazil. If you use the 'wrong' one, you'll still be understood, but it's a quick giveaway of which dialect you've been studying. Consistency is key to sounding natural.

To enrich your Portuguese vocabulary, it's helpful to know when to use apanhar and when a more specific synonym might be better. Portuguese is a language that loves nuance, and while apanhar is a 'jack-of-all-trades' verb, specialized verbs can make your speech more precise and sophisticated.

Pegar vs. Apanhar: As discussed, pegar is the primary rival. Use pegar for grabbing, holding, or in Brazil, for transport and picking things up. Use apanhar for harvesting, collecting from the ground, or getting hit.
Colher (To Harvest/Gather): When picking fruits, flowers, or even data, colher is a more elegant and specific alternative. While 'apanhar maçãs' is fine, 'colher maçãs' sounds more professional and agricultural.
Capturar (To Capture): If the 'catching' involves a chase or a criminal, capturar or prender (to arrest) are better choices than 'apanhar' in formal writing.

O agricultor colheu os frutos, enquanto as crianças apanhavam as folhas secas.

In terms of 'getting hit', synonyms include levar (as in 'levar uma bofetada' - to get a slap) or sofrer (to suffer/undergo). For 'catching' a meaning, you might use perceber or entender. Knowing these alternatives allows you to adjust your register from the very informal (apanhar) to the formal (contrair, colher, capturar). However, in daily life, apanhar remains the king of convenience.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The link to 'cloth' explains the sense of 'gathering' or 'picking up' things into a bundle, which eventually evolved into catching transport or receiving blows.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɐ.pɐ.ˈɲaɾ/

US /a.pa.ˈɲaʁ/

The stress is on the final syllable: a-pa-NHAR.

Rhymes With

ganhar banhar acompanhar amanhar estranhar castanhar arranhar desenhar

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'nh' as 'n' (apanar instead of apanhar).
Making the first 'a' too open in European Portuguese.
Stressing the second syllable instead of the last.
Pronouncing the 'r' too strongly like an English 'r'.
Confusing the nasal 'nh' with the Spanish 'ñ' (they are similar but distinct in flow).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very common and easy to recognize in text.

Writing 2/5

Requires knowledge of dialect differences (PT vs BR).

Speaking 2/5

The 'nh' sound can be tricky for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

In fast speech, the 'a's can blend together.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

ir ter pegar chão autocarro

Learn Next

colher bater buscar levar trazer

Advanced

em flagrante entrelinhas contrapé ardil

Grammar to Know

Regular -ar Verb Conjugation

Eu apanho, Tu apanhas, Ele apanha.

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

O ladrão foi apanhado.

Personal Infinitive

Para tu apanhares o comboio, tens de correr.

Preposition 'de' for source of hitting

Apanhar do adversário.

Imperative Mood

Apanha (tu) / Apanhe (você).

Examples by Level

Eu apanho o autocarro todos os dias.

I catch the bus every day.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Tu apanhas a caneta do chão.

You pick up the pen from the floor.

Present tense, 2nd person singular.

Ela apanha uma maçã da árvore.

She picks an apple from the tree.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nós apanhamos o comboio para o Porto.

We catch the train to Porto.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Eles apanham as chaves.

They pick up the keys.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

O menino apanha o brinquedo.

The boy picks up the toy.

Direct object follows the verb.

Você apanha o táxi aqui?

Do you catch the taxi here?

Question form.

Apanha o lixo, por favor.

Pick up the trash, please.

Imperative mood.

Ontem eu apanhei muito sol na praia.

Yesterday I got a lot of sun at the beach.

Preterite tense.

Cuidado para não apanhares uma gripe.

Be careful not to catch a cold.

Subjunctive mood after 'para que/para não'.

Nós apanhámos o metro às oito horas.

We caught the subway at eight o'clock.

Preterite tense, 1st person plural.

Ela apanhou um susto com o barulho.

She got a fright from the noise.

Idiomatic use of 'apanhar um susto'.

Eles apanharam muita chuva no caminho.

They got caught in a lot of rain on the way.

Environmental exposure.

Tu apanhaste as flores para a tua mãe?

Did you pick the flowers for your mother?

Preterite question.

O gato apanhou um rato no jardim.

The cat caught a mouse in the garden.

Physical catching of an animal.

Vou apanhar um bocado de ar fresco.

I'm going to get some fresh air.

Future with 'vou' + infinitive.

Se não estudares, vais apanhar do teu pai.

If you don't study, you're going to get a beating from your father.

Future indicative with 'apanhar de'.

Apanhaste a piada que ele contou?

Did you get (understand) the joke he told?

Metaphorical understanding.

O criminoso foi apanhado em flagrante.

The criminal was caught red-handed.

Passive voice with 'ser'.

Espero que consigas apanhar o sentido da aula.

I hope you can catch the meaning of the lesson.

Subjunctive mood.

O meu time apanhou feio no jogo de ontem.

My team got beaten badly in yesterday's game.

Colloquial use for sports defeat.

Não quero que apanhes frio lá fora.

I don't want you to get cold out there.

Present subjunctive.

Ela apanhou o jeito de cozinhar bacalhau.

She got the hang of cooking cod.

Idiom: 'apanhar o jeito'.

Nós fomos apanhados de surpresa pela visita.

We were caught by surprise by the visit.

Passive voice + 'de surpresa'.

Apanhar um escaldão pode ser perigoso para a pele.

Getting a sunburn can be dangerous for the skin.

Infinitive as a noun phrase.

Ele apanhou uma bebedeira na festa de ontem.

He got drunk at yesterday's party.

Colloquial/Informal usage.

Se eu apanhasse o ladrão, chamaria a polícia.

If I caught the thief, I would call the police.

Imperfect subjunctive + conditional.

Tens de apanhar as rédeas da tua vida.

You have to take the reins of your life.

Metaphorical idiom.

Eles apanharam o vírus num cruzeiro.

They caught the virus on a cruise.

Medical context.

O motorista foi apanhado a conduzir com excesso de álcool.

The driver was caught driving over the alcohol limit.

Passive voice + gerund/infinitive.

Apanha-se muita fruta nesta época do ano.

A lot of fruit is picked at this time of year.

Passive 'se' construction.

Vou tentar apanhar o máximo de informação possível.

I will try to gather as much information as possible.

Abstract gathering.

O autor conseguiu apanhar a essência da alma portuguesa.

The author managed to capture the essence of the Portuguese soul.

Literary/Abstract capture.

Não deixes que ele te apanhe na curva.

Don't let him catch you off guard (idiomatic).

Subjunctive in an idiom.

Apanharam-no a mentir descaradamente perante o juiz.

They caught him lying blatantly before the judge.

Accusative pronoun + infinitive.

Ela apanhou um desgosto quando ele partiu.

She suffered a great heartbreak when he left.

Idiom for emotional pain.

O detetive apanhou o rasto do suspeito na floresta.

The detective caught the suspect's trail in the forest.

Metaphorical/Physical trail.

É difícil apanhar todas as nuances deste dialeto.

It is difficult to catch all the nuances of this dialect.

Cognitive perception.

Apanhei-me a pensar nela o dia todo.

I caught myself thinking about her all day.

Reflexive use 'apanhar-se'.

Sempre que ele abre a boca, acaba por apanhar.

Whenever he opens his mouth, he ends up getting (criticized/hit).

Intransitive use implying consequence.

Apanhado na teia das suas próprias intrigas, não teve saída.

Caught in the web of his own intrigues, he had no way out.

Past participle as an adjective phrase.

O governo foi apanhado em contrapé pela crise financeira.

The government was caught off balance by the financial crisis.

Sports metaphor 'em contrapé' used in politics.

Apanhar as canas é o destino de quem chega por último.

Dealing with the aftermath is the fate of whoever arrives last.

Highly idiomatic: 'apanhar as canas'.

O olhar dela apanhou um brilho fugaz de esperança.

Her gaze caught a fleeting glimmer of hope.

Poetic/Literary usage.

Não me deixarei apanhar por tais ardis novamente.

I will not let myself be caught by such ruses again.

Formal future + passive infinitive.

Apanhar o fio à meada exige paciência e dedicação.

To get the thread of the story/situation requires patience.

Idiom: 'apanhar o fio à meada'.

Foi apanhado pelo destino num momento de fraqueza.

He was caught by fate in a moment of weakness.

Philosophical/Abstract subject.

Apanhar a demão certa na pintura é uma arte.

Getting the right coat/touch in painting is an art.

Technical/Artistic idiom.

Common Collocations

apanhar o autocarro

apanhar sol

apanhar uma gripe

apanhar um susto

apanhar do pai

apanhar o jeito

apanhar em flagrante

apanhar chuva

apanhar o metro

apanhar flores

Common Phrases

Vais apanhar!

— A warning that someone is going to get a beating or get in trouble.

Se não parares agora, vais apanhar!

Apanhar um ar

— To go outside to breathe fresh air or cool down.

Preciso de sair para apanhar um ar.

Apanhar uma seca

— To be extremely bored or to wait a long time for something.

Apanhei uma seca à espera do médico.

Apanhar uma bebedeira

— To get very drunk.

Ele apanhou uma bebedeira no casamento.

Apanhar a boleia

— To get a ride/hitchhike (Portugal).

Consegui apanhar uma boleia para Lisboa.

Apanhar o fio à meada

— To understand the logic or the sequence of a story.

Demorei a apanhar o fio à meada da conversa.

Apanhar um escaldão

— To get a bad sunburn.

Apanhei um escaldão nas costas.

Apanhar as canas

— To deal with the mess or consequences left by others.

Eles fizeram a festa e eu apanhei as canas.

Apanhar desprevenido

— To catch someone off guard/by surprise.

A pergunta apanhou-me desprevenido.

Apanhar o sentido

— To grasp the meaning of something.

Não consegui apanhar o sentido do texto.

Often Confused With

apanhar vs aprender

Apanhar a ideia is informal; aprender is the proper word for studying.

apanhar vs bater

Bater is to hit; apanhar is to be hit.

apanhar vs pegar

Interchangeable in some regions but distinct in others (PT vs BR).

Idioms & Expressions

"Apanhar bonés"

— To be completely confused or not understand anything that is happening.

Na aula de física, eu estava a apanhar bonés.

Informal (Portugal)

"Apanhar uma piela"

— Another way to say getting very drunk.

Eles apanharam uma piela monumental.

Slang (Portugal)

"Apanhar na curva"

— To surprise someone when they are not expecting it, often to trick them.

O chefe apanhou-o na curva com aquela pergunta.

Colloquial

"Apanhar com a porta no nariz"

— To have a door shut in your face or to be rejected abruptly.

Fui pedir um aumento e apanhei com a porta no nariz.

Idiomatic

"Apanhar o comboio em andamento"

— To join a project or situation that has already started.

Cheguei a meio da reunião e tive de apanhar o comboio em andamento.

Metaphorical

"Apanhar-se em bons lençóis"

— To find oneself in a good situation (often used sarcastically to mean the opposite).

Se ele descobre, apanhas-te em bons lençóis!

Sarcastic/Idiomatic

"Apanhar de rasto"

— To be caught or affected by something in a devastating way.

A gripe apanhou a família toda de rasto.

Informal

"Apanhar a manha"

— To learn the trick or the secret to doing something easily.

Depois de treinar muito, apanhei a manha do jogo.

Slang (Brazil)

"Apanhar um banho"

— To lose by a huge margin in sports.

O nosso time apanhou um banho do adversário.

Sports Slang

"Apanhar azeitona"

— Literally to pick olives, but often used to describe seasonal rural work.

No Alentejo, é tempo de apanhar azeitona.

Regional/Literal

Easily Confused

apanhar vs pegar

Both mean 'to take/catch'.

In Portugal, 'pegar' is to grab/hold; 'apanhar' is to pick up/catch transport. In Brazil, 'pegar' does both.

PT: Vou apanhar o autocarro. BR: Vou pegar o ônibus.

apanhar vs buscar

Both can involve getting something.

Buscar implies going somewhere to get it and bringing it back; apanhar is the act of picking it up.

Vou buscar as crianças à escola (I go there and get them).

apanhar vs levar

Both can mean receiving something negative.

Levar is often used with specific nouns like 'levar uma bofetada' (to get a slap).

Ele levou um soco / Ele apanhou do João.

apanhar vs alcançar

Both involve reaching or getting something.

Alcançar is more about reaching a goal or a physical distance.

Ele alcançou o topo da montanha.

apanhar vs colher

Both mean picking fruits/flowers.

Colher is more formal/agricultural; apanhar is more common.

Apanhar flores no campo.

Sentence Patterns

Eu apanho o [Transporte].

Eu apanho o autocarro.

Eu apanhei [Condição Climática].

Eu apanhei sol.

Eu fui apanhado de [Sentimento/Estado].

Eu fui apanhado de surpresa.

Apanhar o jeito de [Verbo].

Apanhar o jeito de conduzir.

Apanhar-se a [Verbo].

Apanhei-me a cantarolar.

Apanhar o fio à meada de [Situação].

Apanhar o fio à meada do problema.

Apanha o [Objeto].

Apanha o livro.

Cuidado para não apanhares [Doença].

Cuidado para não apanhares uma gripe.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

Eu apanho o ônibus. → Eu pego o ônibus (in Brazil).
In Brazil, 'apanhar' for transport is rare and sounds like European Portuguese.
Ele apanhou o amigo. → Ele bateu no amigo.
If you mean he hit his friend, 'apanhou' means he was the one who got hit. 'Bater' is the action of hitting.
Apanhar em o chão. → Apanhar do chão.
The preposition used for 'from' the floor is 'do' (de + o).
Eu apanhei uma ideia. → Eu percebi/entendi a ideia.
'Apanhar a ideia' is okay informally, but 'apanhei uma ideia' sounds like you caught a physical object.
Vou apanhar sol no praia. → Vou apanhar sol na praia.
Praia is a feminine noun, so use the article 'a'.

Tips

Portugal vs Brazil

In Portugal, always use 'apanhar' for buses, trains, and taxis. In Brazil, use 'pegar'. Using the wrong one won't stop you from being understood, but it sounds 'foreign'.

Direct Objects

Always remember that 'apanhar' is usually followed by a direct object with an article: 'apanhar o comboio', not 'apanhar comboio'.

Sun Safety

'Apanhar sol' is good, but 'apanhar um escaldão' (sunburn) is bad. Use them to describe your summer holidays!

The Beating Meaning

If you say 'Vou apanhar as crianças', it means you are picking them up. If you say 'As crianças vão apanhar', it means they will be punished. Context is everything.

A-PAN-HAR

Imagine picking up a hot pan. You 'apanha' the pan from the stove. It helps you remember the 'pick up' meaning.

The Nasal NH

The 'nh' in apanhar is a single sound. Don't say 'n' then 'h'. It's like the 'ny' in the English word 'canyon'.

Health

If you 'apanhar uma gripe', you didn't do it on purpose. It's the same as 'catching' a cold in English.

Understanding

Use 'Apanhaste?' as a quick, informal way to check if your friends understood your joke or plan.

Harvesting

When visiting the countryside, use 'apanhar' for picking fruit. It sounds more natural than 'pegar'.

Rainy Days

'Apanhar uma molha' means getting soaked. It's a very common expression during the Portuguese winter.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A PAN' (a pan). You use a pan to CATCH the food you PICK UP from the stove.

Visual Association

Imagine a person catching a bus with a giant butterfly net—the net is 'apanhar' anything that moves.

Word Web

Autocarro Sol Chuva Gripe Flores Chão Bater Susto

Challenge

Try to use 'apanhar' in three different ways in one paragraph: transport, weather, and physical object.

Word Origin

From Vulgar Latin *appannāre, which comes from 'ad-' (to) + 'pannus' (cloth/rag).

Original meaning: Originally meant to cover with a cloth or to gather into a cloth.

Romance (Latin-derived).

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'apanhar' to mean physical punishment in modern contexts, as it can be a sensitive topic regarding child rights.

English speakers often use 'get' for everything. Portuguese requires you to switch between 'apanhar', 'pegar', 'tomar', and 'chegar'.

The song 'Apanha o Comboio' (Catch the Train). Portuguese proverbs about 'apanhar' (e.g., Quem cala, consente... mas às vezes apanha). Literary descriptions of 'a apanha da azeitona' in Alentejo.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Public Transport

Onde posso apanhar o autocarro?
A que horas apanhas o comboio?
Apanhei o metro errado.
Vou apanhar um táxi.

Health and Weather

Apanhei uma constipação.
Não apanhes muito sol.
Apanhámos uma molha!
Vou apanhar um pouco de ar.

Cleaning/Organization

Apanha o lixo.
Podes apanhar isso para mim?
Apanhei tudo o que caiu.
Quem vai apanhar as folhas?

Sports/Games

O nosso time apanhou feio.
Apanha a bola!
Ele foi apanhado pelo defesa.
Vais apanhar no jogo hoje.

Understanding

Apanhaste o que ele disse?
Não apanhei a piada.
Apanha o sentido disto.
Deixa-me ver se apanhei.

Conversation Starters

"A que horas costumas apanhar o autocarro para o trabalho?"

"Já apanhaste algum susto grande este ano?"

"Gostas de apanhar sol na praia ou preferes a sombra?"

"O que fazes quando apanhas uma gripe forte?"

"Alguma vez foste apanhado desprevenido por uma notícia?"

Journal Prompts

Descreve uma vez em que apanhaste uma molha inesperada.

Escreve sobre um transporte que apanhas com frequência.

Relata uma situação em que apanhaste o jeito de uma nova habilidade.

O que sentiste quando foste apanhado de surpresa por alguém?

Reflete sobre a expressão 'apanhar as canas' na tua vida.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is better to use 'pegar' or 'chamar' (call). 'Apanhar um táxi' sounds very European in Brazil.

No, it depends on context. If there is no object, or if you say 'apanhar de', it usually means a beating. With an object like 'autocarro', it means catching.

You can say 'Apanhei-te!' or 'Te peguei!' (Brazil).

Yes, it is the most common way to say you are getting sun at the beach or park.

Yes, it's an informal way to say you understood something. 'Apanhaste?' means 'Did you get it?'

The past participle is 'apanhado'. It can also mean 'caught' or 'tied up' (like hair).

Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern in all tenses.

You say 'Perdi o autocarro'. The opposite of 'apanhar' in this context is 'perder'.

Yes, 'apanhar a bola' is correct, though 'agarrar' (grab) is also common.

It's a slang term for being very bored or having to wait for a long time.