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A2 verb 10 min read

campanhar

Examples campanhar in 30 Seconds
Explanation campanhar in your Level:
At the A1 level, the word 'campanhar' might seem a bit advanced, but you can understand it as 'working hard for an idea'. Imagine you want to help the environment or your school. When you talk to people and ask them to help you, you are starting to 'campanhar'. Even though you won't use this word every day, it's good to know because you will see it on posters or hear it on the news during election times. Think of it as 'fazer um esforço organizado' (making an organized effort). At this level, focus on the basic idea: people working together for a goal. You might use it in very simple sentences like 'Eu quero campanhar pela escola' (I want to campaign for the school). It's a way to express that you care about something and want to take action. Don't worry about the complex grammar yet; just remember that it's a verb that ends in -ar, so it works like 'falar' or 'estudar'. If you can say 'Eu falo', you can say 'Eu campanho'. This word helps you understand that in Portuguese-speaking countries, people are very active in their communities and often work together to change things they don't like.
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At the A2 level, you are ready to use 'campanhar' to describe simple social or community actions. You can now connect it with prepositions like 'por' (for) or 'contra' (against). For example, 'Nós campanhamos por mais parques' (We campaign for more parks). You should recognize that this word is more formal than 'fazer campanha' but very useful for describing projects. You can use it in the present tense to talk about what you are doing now, or in the future to talk about your plans. It's a great word to use when discussing your hobbies or volunteer work. At this level, you should also be careful not to confuse it with 'acampar' (to camp) or 'campainha' (doorbell). Remember, 'campanhar' is about people and ideas, not about tents or ringing a bell. You will start to hear this word in local news reports or see it in community newsletters. It's a step up in your vocabulary that makes you sound more engaged and aware of social issues. Try to practice it by thinking of one cause you care about and saying, 'Eu gostaria de campanhar por...' (I would like to campaign for...). This helps you internalize the verb and its purpose.
At the B1 level, you can use 'campanhar' more flexibly in various tenses and moods. You might use the Pretérito Imperfeito to describe a campaign that lasted for a while: 'Eles campanhavam todos os fins de semana' (They used to campaign every weekend). You can also start using it in the subjunctive to express opinions or desires: 'É importante que a juventude campanhe por mudanças' (It is important that youth campaign for change). At this level, you should understand the nuance between 'campanhar' and 'militar'. While 'militar' is about being an activist in a party, 'campanhar' is often about a specific goal. You will encounter this word in more complex texts, such as opinion articles in newspapers or blog posts about social justice. You can also use it in a professional context, such as 'campanhar por uma promoção' (to campaign for a promotion), though this is more metaphorical. Your ability to use 'campanhar' correctly shows that you can handle abstract concepts and discuss social dynamics. It's a word that bridges the gap between basic survival Portuguese and the ability to participate in meaningful debates about society.
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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'campanhar' in formal debates, academic essays, and professional reports. You can use it to describe strategic movements in politics or marketing. You understand that 'campanhar' involves a series of coordinated steps, not just a single action. You can use advanced structures like 'Apesar de campanhar arduamente, o grupo não obteve os resultados esperados' (Despite campaigning hard, the group did not get the expected results). You should also be aware of the word's etymology and how it relates to other 'camp-' words, which helps you understand its deeper meaning of 'taking to the field'. At this level, you can distinguish between 'campanhar' and other verbs like 'reivindicar' or 'promover' with precision. You might use it in a business presentation to describe a long-term branding strategy. Your vocabulary is now rich enough to use 'campanhar' to describe not just political elections, but also intellectual or cultural movements. You are capable of following a complex news report about a national campaign and summarizing the main points using this verb and its related nouns.
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At the C1 level, 'campanhar' becomes a tool for nuanced expression. You can use it to analyze the effectiveness of different types of public advocacy. You might discuss the ethics of 'campanhar' in the digital age, considering the impact of social media algorithms on public discourse. You are familiar with the word's usage in historical contexts, such as the 'Campanha das Diretas Já' in Brazil, and can discuss how the verb has evolved. Your use of the verb is precise, often accompanied by sophisticated adverbs or embedded in complex grammatical structures. For example, 'A eficácia de campanhar em prol de causas ambientais depende da capacidade de mobilização transnacional' (The effectiveness of campaigning for environmental causes depends on the capacity for transnational mobilization). You can use 'campanhar' to describe subtle internal politics within an organization or the broad movements of history. You understand the rhetorical power of the word and how it can be used to inspire or to criticize. At this level, you are not just using the word; you are playing with its connotations to convey a specific tone or perspective in your speech and writing.
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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'campanhar' and can use it with the same ease and precision as a highly educated native speaker. You can use it in literary analysis, philosophical discussion, or high-level political science research. You might explore the philosophical implications of what it means to 'campanhar' for a truth in a post-truth world. You can identify and use rare or archaic forms related to the word if needed for stylistic effect. Your understanding of the word is deeply integrated with your knowledge of Lusophone history, culture, and politics. You can lead a seminar on the strategies of 'campanhar' used by various social movements throughout the 20th century in Portugal or Brazil. You use the word effortlessly in the most complex grammatical environments, including the future subjunctive or the personal infinitive in sophisticated ways. For example, 'Ao campanharmos com tamanha dedicação, expomos as fragilidades do sistema vigente' (By campaigning with such dedication, we expose the weaknesses of the current system). Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a native intellectual, reflecting a deep appreciation for the word's history, its social weight, and its linguistic versatility.
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Examples

campanhar in 30 Seconds

  • Campanhar is a Portuguese verb meaning to campaign or work toward an organized goal.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, frequently used in political, social, and commercial contexts.
  • While 'fazer campanha' is more common in speech, 'campanhar' is formal and precise.
  • Commonly paired with 'por' (for) or 'contra' (against) to define the mission's objective.

The Portuguese verb campanhar is a specialized and somewhat formal term that translates to 'to campaign' in English. While many Portuguese speakers might more frequently use the periphrastic expression fazer campanha, the verb campanhar encapsulates the entire process of organizing, promoting, and executing a series of coordinated actions to achieve a specific social, political, or commercial goal. At its core, the word suggests a journey from a starting point of advocacy to a desired outcome of change. It is deeply rooted in the concept of a 'campaign'—a term originally derived from military contexts where an army would take to the 'field' (campo) for a season of operations. In modern usage, campanhar has moved from the battlefield to the ballot box, the boardroom, and the digital square. When you use this word, you are describing more than just talking about an issue; you are describing the active, systematic labor involved in mobilization. It implies a duration of time and a strategic approach. For example, a student might campanhar for better cafeteria food, or a community leader might campanhar for the preservation of a local park. The verb carries a weight of intentionality and persistence.

Political Context
In politics, campanhar refers to the exhaustive process of seeking votes, attending rallies, and distributing literature to influence the electorate.
Social Activism
Activists campanham for human rights, environmental protection, or legislative changes, often using grassroots methods.
Corporate Usage
Marketing teams may campanhar to launch a new brand identity or to raise awareness about a product's sustainability features.

Eles decidiram campanhar incansavelmente até que a nova lei fosse aprovada pelo parlamento.

The nuance of campanhar lies in its active nature. It is not a passive state of belief but an active state of doing. To campanhar is to engage with the public, to navigate opposition, and to refine a message so that it resonates with others. In a world increasingly driven by digital movements, campanhar now includes managing social media hashtags, organizing webinars, and coordinating global petitions. It is a word that bridges the gap between an idea and its realization through collective effort. Understanding this word helps learners grasp the vocabulary of civic engagement in Lusophone cultures, where public demonstration and political participation are often vibrant and central to the national identity. Whether in the bustling streets of Lisbon or the diverse neighborhoods of São Paulo, the act of campanhar is a fundamental part of the democratic fabric.

Não basta apenas querer a mudança; é preciso campanhar por ela todos os dias com convicção e estratégia.

Using campanhar correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure as a regular '-ar' verb. Like most verbs in this category, it follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy for A2 learners to integrate into their speech once they understand the context. The verb is often followed by the preposition por (for) to indicate the cause or goal, or contra (against) to indicate the opposition. For example, 'campanhar por justiça' (to campaign for justice) or 'campanhar contra a poluição' (to campaign against pollution). It can also be used intransitively when the context of the campaign is already established, such as in the sentence 'Eles estão na rua para campanhar' (They are in the street to campaign).

Subject-Verb Agreement
Eu campanho, tu campanhas, ele/ela/você campanha, nós campanhamos, eles/elas/vocês campanham. Ensure the ending matches the person performing the action.
Tense Variations
In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), it becomes 'campanhei', 'campanhou', etc. Use this to describe completed campaigns.
The Gerund Form
'Campanhando' is used to describe an ongoing action. 'Estamos campanhando para as eleições municipais' (We are campaigning for the municipal elections).

Durante o verão, os voluntários vão campanhar pela limpeza das praias locais.

Beyond simple advocacy, campanhar can be used in more complex sentence structures involving subordinate clauses. For instance, 'É necessário que todos campanhamos juntos para que a mensagem chegue ao governo' (It is necessary that we all campaign together so that the message reaches the government). Here, the use of the subjunctive mood ('campanhamos') reflects the necessity or desire for the action to happen. This level of usage is common in political speeches and formal manifestos. Furthermore, the verb can be modified by adverbs to show the intensity of the effort: 'campanhar arduamente' (to campaign hard), 'campanhar discretamente' (to campaign discreetly), or 'campanhar nacionalmente' (to campaign nationally). By varying these modifiers, you can convey the specific nature of the effort being made.

O candidato passou meses a campanhar nas áreas rurais do país.

You will encounter the word campanhar in several distinct environments, though its frequency varies. The most common place is within political discourse. During election cycles in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, or Mozambique, news anchors and political analysts frequently use this verb to describe the movements of candidates. You might hear, 'O candidato X começou a campanhar no norte do país' (Candidate X started campaigning in the north of the country). In these contexts, the word carries a sense of official, organized political activity. It is also frequently found in the headlines of newspapers like *Público* (Portugal) or *Folha de S.Paulo* (Brazil) when discussing legislative battles or social movements. The word has a journalistic quality that provides a concise way to describe complex public efforts.

News Media
Used to report on the activities of political figures and interest groups during election seasons or policy debates.
NGOs and Non-Profits
Organizations like Greenpeace or Amnesty International often use 'campanhar' in their Portuguese-language reports to describe their advocacy work.
Academic and Legal Texts
Scholars studying social movements will use the term to categorize the types of collective action being analyzed.

No telejornal de ontem, disseram que os ativistas vão campanhar por mais investimentos na educação.

Another interesting place to hear this word is in university settings. Student unions (Associações Académicas) often campanham for changes in tuition fees or better campus facilities. In this youthful environment, the word takes on a more energetic and rebellious tone. On social media, while the hashtag #campanha is more common, the verb form appears in captions where influencers or activists explain their daily grind: 'Hoje o dia foi todo de campanhar pelos direitos dos animais' (Today the whole day was spent campaigning for animal rights). It’s also worth noting that in historical documentaries or history classes, campanhar might be used in its archaic military sense, though this is rare in contemporary conversation. Understanding these contexts allows a learner to distinguish between a casual suggestion and a formal, organized effort to change the status quo.

A associação de moradores está a campanhar para que o trânsito na rua seja reduzido.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning campanhar is confusing it with other words that sound similar or share a root. The most common pitfall is 'campainha', which means 'doorbell'. It is not uncommon for a student to accidentally say 'Eu vou tocar a campanhar' (I'm going to ring the campaign) instead of 'Eu vou tocar a campainha' (I'm going to ring the doorbell). While the root 'camp-' is shared, the meanings are entirely different. Another common error is confusing it with 'acompanhar', which means 'to accompany'. Because 'acompanhar' is a much more frequent word in daily life, learners often default to it, even when they mean they are working on a campaign. 'Eu estou a acompanhar a causa' means 'I am following/accompanying the cause', whereas 'Eu estou a campanhar pela causa' means 'I am actively campaigning for the cause'.

Confusion with 'Campo'
Do not use 'campanhar' to mean 'to go to the field' or 'to camp'. For 'to camp', use 'acampar'.
Incorrect Prepositions
Learners often use 'com' (with) when they should use 'por' (for). 'Campanhar por' indicates the goal; 'campanhar com' would mean you are campaigning alongside someone.
Overuse vs 'Fazer Campanha'
While not a 'mistake', using 'campanhar' in a very casual setting might sound slightly unnatural. Native speakers usually prefer 'fazer campanha' for everyday talk.

Errado: Eu gosto de campanhar nas montanhas. (Mistaking it for acampar/camping).

Another subtle mistake involves the difference between campanhar and militar. While both involve social or political work, militar implies a more permanent, ideological commitment to a party or movement, whereas campanhar is often focused on a specific, time-bound objective (like an election or a specific bill). Using militar when you mean a temporary campaign can make you sound more radical or committed than you intended. Finally, pay attention to the spelling. It is 'campanhar' with an 'nh', which produces the sound similar to the 'ny' in 'canyon'. Some learners forget the 'h' or replace it with 'n', which changes the pronunciation and makes the word unrecognizable. Mastery of the 'nh' sound is essential for being understood when talking about your advocacy efforts.

Cuidado: Não confunda campanhar com acompanhar. Um é sobre agir, o outro é sobre seguir.

To enrich your Portuguese vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that are similar to campanhar but offer different shades of meaning. The most obvious alternative is the phrase fazer campanha. This is the most common way to express the idea in everyday speech. If you are in a casual conversation with a friend about a local election, saying 'Eles estão a fazer campanha' sounds more natural than using the single verb. However, in writing or formal speeches, campanhar provides a more sophisticated tone. Another related word is promover (to promote). While campanhar implies a broad, organized effort, promover is often used for specific events, products, or ideas. You might promover a concert, but you campanhar for a change in the law.

Militar
Focuses on the long-term activism and membership in a political or social group. 'Ele milita no partido há dez anos.'
Lutar
Literally 'to fight'. Used metaphorically for social struggles. 'Lutar por direitos' is more aggressive and passionate than 'campanhar'.
Advogar
To advocate. This is more about the verbal or legal defense of a cause. 'Advogar pela paz' suggests a rhetorical or legal stance.

Podemos promover o evento, mas precisamos campanhar para mudar a consciência das pessoas.

For business contexts, divulgar (to spread/publicize) is a useful alternative. It focuses on the act of making information known to the public. If a company is 'divulgando' a product, they are advertising it. Campanhar, in a corporate sense, would imply a more strategic, multi-faceted approach, perhaps involving public relations and social responsibility. Another interesting comparison is with mobilizar (to mobilize). Mobilizar is the act of getting people to move or take action, which is often a key part of campanhar. You campanha (the process) in order to mobilizar (the result) the population. Finally, reivindicar means 'to claim' or 'to demand'. This is used when the campaign has a very specific demand from an authority. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the exact word that fits the intensity and scope of the action you are describing.

Eles não estão apenas a divulgar o projeto; estão a campanhar por uma mudança estrutural na cidade.

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Examples by Level

1

Eu quero campanhar pela paz.

I want to campaign for peace.

Simple present tense with the preposition 'pela' (por + a).

2

Nós vamos campanhar juntos.

We are going to campaign together.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

3

Ela campanha na escola.

She campaigns at school.

Third person singular present tense.

4

Eles campanham por comida.

They campaign for food.

Third person plural present tense.

5

Você pode campanhar aqui?

Can you campaign here?

Interrogative sentence with the modal verb 'poder'.

6

Eu não gosto de campanhar sozinho.

I don't like to campaign alone.

Negative sentence with the verb 'gostar'.

7

Onde eles vão campanhar?

Where are they going to campaign?

Question word 'onde' with the future tense.

8

Campanhar é muito bom.

Campaigning is very good.

Infinitive used as a subject.

1

Nós campanhamos contra a poluição do mar.

We campaign against sea pollution.

Present tense with the preposition 'contra'.

2

O meu irmão campanhou para ser o chefe da turma.

My brother campaigned to be the class leader.

Pretérito perfeito (past tense) showing a completed action.

3

Eles estão campanhando por melhores salários.

They are campaigning for better salaries.

Present continuous (estar + gerund).

4

Você quer campanhar connosco amanhã?

Do you want to campaign with us tomorrow?

Use of the pronoun 'connosco' (with us).

5

Ela sempre campanha por causas justas.

She always campaigns for just causes.

Use of the adverb 'sempre' (always).

6

Nós vamos campanhar no centro da cidade no sábado.

We are going to campaign in the city center on Saturday.

Time expression 'no sábado'.

7

Eles campanhariam se tivessem tempo.

They would campaign if they had time.

Conditional tense.

8

É fácil campanhar na internet hoje em dia.

It is easy to campaign on the internet nowadays.

Adjective 'fácil' followed by the infinitive.

1

Se nós campanharmos bem, ganharemos o apoio do povo.

If we campaign well, we will win the people's support.

Future subjunctive in a conditional clause.

2

Eles campanhavem arduamente antes das eleições.

They used to campaign hard before the elections.

Pretérito imperfeito showing a habitual action in the past.

3

Duvido que eles campanhem sem um plano estratégico.

I doubt they will campaign without a strategic plan.

Present subjunctive after a verb of doubt.

4

Campanhar exige muita paciência e dedicação.

Campaigning requires a lot of patience and dedication.

Infinitive as a subject with the verb 'exigir'.

5

O grupo decidiu campanhar a favor da energia solar.

The group decided to campaign in favor of solar energy.

Prepositional phrase 'a favor de'.

6

Ela foi vista a campanhar no mercado local.

She was seen campaigning at the local market.

Passive structure with 'a + infinitive' (European Portuguese style).

7

Eles continuam a campanhar apesar da chuva.

They continue to campaign despite the rain.

Concessive phrase 'apesar de'.

8

Para campanhar com sucesso, é preciso conhecer o público.

To campaign successfully, it is necessary to know the audience.

Purpose clause with 'para'.

1

O partido pretende campanhar intensamente nas redes sociais.

The party intends to campaign intensely on social media.

Verb 'pretender' followed by the infinitive and an adverb.

2

Ao campanhar pela igualdade, ela inspirou milhares de jovens.

By campaigning for equality, she inspired thousands of young people.

Gerundial use of 'ao + infinitive'.

3

É fundamental que campanhamos por uma reforma no sistema de saúde.

It is fundamental that we campaign for a reform in the healthcare system.

Present subjunctive after an impersonal expression.

4

Eles teriam campanhado mais se tivessem recebido o financiamento.

They would have campaigned more if they had received the funding.

Conditional perfect with the pluperfect subjunctive.

5

Campanhar contra a corrupção é um dever de todos os cidadãos.

Campaigning against corruption is a duty of all citizens.

Infinitive used as a noun/subject.

6

A organização tem vindo a campanhar pela proteção da Amazônia.

The organization has been campaigning for the protection of the Amazon.

Present perfect continuous (ter + vindo a + infinitive).

7

Não se pode campanhar sem respeitar as regras democráticas.

One cannot campaign without respecting democratic rules.

Impersonal 'se' with the verb 'poder'.

8

O candidato foi criticado por campanhar em locais inapropriados.

The candidate was criticized for campaigning in inappropriate places.

Passive voice with the preposition 'por'.

1

A estratégia de campanhar porta a porta revelou-se a mais eficaz.

The strategy of campaigning door-to-door proved to be the most effective.

Pronominal verb 'revelar-se'.

2

Embora campanhando com poucos recursos, o movimento ganhou tração.

Although campaigning with few resources, the movement gained traction.

Concessive clause with the gerund.

3

O ato de campanhar pressupõe uma profunda compreensão das carências sociais.

The act of campaigning presupposes a deep understanding of social needs.

Verb 'pressupor' indicating a logical requirement.

4

Seria imprudente campanhar sem antes realizar uma sondagem de opinião.

It would be imprudent to campaign without first conducting an opinion poll.

Conditional mood followed by 'sem antes' + infinitive.

5

Campanhar em tempos de crise exige uma retórica de esperança e resiliência.

Campaigning in times of crisis requires a rhetoric of hope and resilience.

Complex subject with 'exigir'.

6

A decisão de não campanhar foi vista como um sinal de fraqueza política.

The decision not to campaign was seen as a sign of political weakness.

Passive voice with 'foi vista'.

7

Muitos intelectuais preferem campanhar através de artigos e ensaios.

Many intellectuals prefer to campaign through articles and essays.

Prepositional phrase 'através de'.

8

O direito de campanhar livremente é um pilar da liberdade de expressão.

The right to campaign freely is a pillar of freedom of expression.

Noun phrase 'o direito de' followed by the infinitive.

1

A fenomenologia de campanhar em sociedades digitais carece de novos quadros teóricos.

The phenomenology of campaigning in digital societies lacks new theoretical frameworks.

Academic register with 'carecer de'.

2

Ao campanhar, o sujeito político não apenas comunica, mas também performa a sua identidade.

When campaigning, the political subject not only communicates but also performs their identity.

Correlative conjunction 'não apenas... mas também'.

3

É imperativo que se analise o modo como as elites campanham para manter o status quo.

It is imperative that the way elites campaign to maintain the status quo be analyzed.

Passive subjunctive with 'se'.

4

A sutil arte de campanhar sem parecer estar a fazê-lo é o auge da sofisticação política.

The subtle art of campaigning without appearing to do so is the pinnacle of political sophistication.

Infinitive used as part of a complex noun phrase.

5

Campanhar sob regimes autoritários é um ato de coragem que transcende a mera política.

Campaigning under authoritarian regimes is an act of courage that transcends mere politics.

Relative clause with 'que transcende'.

6

A historiografia demonstra que campanhar foi, muitas vezes, o prelúdio de revoluções.

Historiography demonstrates that campaigning was, many times, the prelude to revolutions.

Use of 'foi' as a definitive past state.

7

Não obstante o esforço de campanhar, a apatia do eleitorado permaneceu inalterada.

Notwithstanding the effort to campaign, the apathy of the electorate remained unchanged.

Concessive conjunction 'não obstante'.

8

A dialética entre campanhar e governar constitui o cerne da ciência política moderna.

The dialectic between campaigning and governing constitutes the core of modern political science.

Subject composed of two infinitives.

Common Collocations

campanhar por
campanhar contra
campanhar arduamente
campanhar politicamente
campanhar nas ruas
campanhar online
começar a campanhar
decidir campanhar
campanhar intensamente
campanhar pela vitória

Common Phrases

campanhar a favor de

— To campaign in favor of something.

Campanhamos a favor da nova lei.

campanhar em prol de

— To campaign for the benefit of.

Campanhar em prol dos sem-abrigo.

campanhar dia e noite

— To campaign tirelessly.

Eles campanharem dia e noite para ganhar.

campanhar porta a porta

— To campaign door-to-door.

A estratégia foi campanhar porta a porta.

campanhar sem parar

— To campaign without stopping.

Não podemos parar de campanhar agora.

campanhar pela causa

— To campaign for the cause.

Ele dedicou a vida a campanhar pela causa.

campanhar com paixão

— To campaign with passion.

É preciso campanhar com paixão para convencer.

campanhar nas redes

— To campaign on social media.

Estamos a campanhar nas redes sociais.

campanhar pelo voto

— To campaign for votes.

O político está a campanhar pelo voto jovem.

campanhar pela mudança

— To campaign for change.

É hora de campanhar pela mudança.

Idioms & Expressions

"vestir a camisola para campanhar"

— To fully commit to a campaign (literally: to wear the jersey).

Ele vestiu a camisola para campanhar pelo partido.

informal
"dar a cara para campanhar"

— To show one's face and take responsibility in a campaign.

Ela deu a cara para campanhar contra a injustiça.

neutral
"campanhar com unhas e dentes"

— To campaign fiercely and with everything one has.

Eles campanharem com unhas e dentes pela vitória.

informal
"pôr o pé na estrada para campanhar"

— To travel around to campaign.

O candidato pôs o pé na estrada para campanhar no interior.

neutral
"fazer barulho para campanhar"

— To make a lot of noise/publicity for a campaign.

Precisamos fazer barulho par

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