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B2 verb 9 min read

coincidir

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips coincidir in 30 Seconds

Explanation coincidir in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 'coincidir' as a way to say 'at the same time'. Imagine you have a class at 10:00 and your friend has a party at 10:00. These two things 'coincidir'. It is a big word, but it is very useful for talking about your calendar. You can use it simply with dates and times. For example, 'My birthday coincides with Sunday'. In Portuguese, we say: 'O meu aniversário coincide com o domingo'. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet. Just remember that it usually needs the word 'com' (with) after it. It helps you explain why you cannot go to a meeting or why you are happy that two good things are happening together. Think of it as a 'match' in time. Even if you don't use it perfectly, people will understand you because it sounds like the English word 'coincide'. It is a great 'bridge' word for English speakers starting their Portuguese journey. Focus on the present tense for now: 'Eu coincido' (rarely used), 'Ele coincide', 'Eles coincidem'. Usually, we talk about events (it), so 'coincide' is the form you will hear the most.

At the A2 level, you start using 'coincidir' to manage your social life and simple work tasks. You can use it to talk about past events using the 'pretérito perfeito'. For example: 'Ontem, o meu trabalho coincidiu com o jogo de futebol' (Yesterday, my work coincided with the soccer game). This level involves more interaction, so you might use it to find common interests with new friends. 'As nossas opiniões coincidem!' (Our opinions match!). You should also pay attention to the plural form 'coincidem'. When you have two subjects, like 'The party and the concert', you use the plural. 'A festa e o concerto coincidem no sábado'. You are also learning that 'coincidir' is a regular verb ending in -ir, like 'partir' or 'abrir'. This makes it easier to conjugate. Start using it in emails or texts when you are trying to schedule a meeting with a tutor or a friend. It sounds more polite and precise than just saying 'at the same time'. Also, begin to notice the noun 'coincidência' (coincidence), which you can use to say 'Que coincidência!' (What a coincidence!) when you see a friend in an unexpected place.

At the B1 level, 'coincidir' becomes a tool for more abstract discussion and expressing logical connections. You are no longer just talking about clocks and calendars; you are talking about ideas, statistics, and trends. You might say, 'Os resultados da pesquisa coincidem com o que eu pensava' (The research results coincide with what I thought). This shows you can handle more complex sentence structures. You will also start using the subjunctive mood with this verb. For example, 'É importante que as nossas agendas coincidam' (It is important that our schedules coincide). This level requires you to understand the nuance between 'coincidir' and its synonyms like 'concordar' (to agree) or 'bater' (to match/hit). You use 'coincidir' when you want to sound more formal or when referring to objective facts. You might also encounter it in news articles or slightly more complex texts about history or science. For instance, 'A queda do império coincidiu com uma grande crise econômica'. Notice how the preposition 'com' remains essential. You should also be comfortable using the imperfect tense ('coincidia') to describe ongoing situations in the past where things used to align regularly.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'coincidir' with precision in professional and academic contexts. This is the level where you distinguish between 'coincidir em' (to agree on a specific point) and 'coincidir com' (to align with something else). You use it to describe correlations in data analysis: 'O aumento da inflação coincide com a queda do poder de compra'. You also use it to navigate complex social or political arguments, noting where different ideologies might overlap. 'Embora sejam de partidos diferentes, as suas propostas coincidem em relação à educação'. At B2, you should be able to use the verb in all tenses, including the conditional ('coincidiria') and the future subjunctive ('se as datas coincidirem'). You also start to recognize the register of the word—it is more formal than the Brazilian 'bater' or the Portuguese 'calhar'. You can use it to write reports or give presentations where you need to show that two sets of information are consistent. Your pronunciation should be natural, especially the nasal 'in' sound, which is a marker of an advanced learner. You are also aware of the word family, including 'coincidente' (coincident) and 'coincidência'.

At the C1 level, your use of 'coincidir' is nuanced and stylistically varied. You can use it to discuss philosophical or literary concepts, such as the 'coincidence of opposites' (coincidência dos opostos). You use it to critique arguments, pointing out where a person's actions do not 'coincidir' with their stated values. 'A sua conduta não coincide com o seu discurso ético'. This level involves a deep understanding of collocations, such as 'coincidir plenamente' (to coincide fully) or 'fazer coincidir' (to make things coincide/align). You might use it in legal or highly technical Portuguese to describe the exact alignment of boundaries, timeframes, or contractual obligations. You are also sensitive to the rhythm of the sentence, choosing 'coincidir' over 'concordar' or 'ajustar-se' to achieve a specific tone. You can handle the most complex grammatical structures, such as the personal infinitive: 'O fato de as datas coincidirem facilitou o processo'. You use the word to express irony or skepticism in high-level debates, and you can understand its use in classical literature where it might describe fate or divine intervention. Your mastery of the verb allows you to use it effortlessly in fast-paced, high-stakes communication.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'coincidir', using it with total spontaneity and sophisticated precision. You use it not just as a verb of alignment, but as a subtle rhetorical tool. In academic writing, you might use it to describe the convergence of multiple historical factors or scientific variables. 'A confluência de fatores que coincidiram no final do século XIX transformou a sociedade'. You are familiar with rare and archaic uses or highly specialized meanings in fields like geometry, topology, or advanced logic. You can use the verb to create complex metaphors about life and existence. Your use of 'coincidir' is perfectly integrated with advanced connectors and idiomatic expressions. You can debate the subtle differences between 'coincidir', 'confluir', 'convergir', and 'coadunar-se' in a high-level linguistics or philosophy seminar. You understand the historical evolution of the word from its Latin roots and how its usage has shifted in different Lusophone countries. At this level, 'coincidir' is just one of many tools in your vast linguistic arsenal, used with perfect grammatical accuracy and a keen sense of the cultural and situational context. You can also spot when the word is used creatively in poetry or experimental prose to suggest unity or collision.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

coincidir in 30 Seconds

Coincidir means to happen at the same time or to match in space or thought.
It is a regular -ir verb and is a cognate of the English word 'coincide'.
It almost always requires the preposition 'com' when followed by an object.
It is used for schedules, data, opinions, and mathematical alignment.

The Portuguese verb coincidir is a sophisticated and versatile term that English speakers will find remarkably intuitive, as it shares a direct Latin ancestor with the English word 'coincide'. At its core, it describes the phenomenon of two or more things occupying the same space, occurring at the same time, or aligning perfectly in thought or nature. In the daily life of a Portuguese speaker, this word transcends mere accidental happenings; it is a fundamental tool for discussing schedules, comparing data, and finding common ground in debates. Whether you are a student trying to align your class schedule with a part-time job or a scientist observing that two data points land on the same coordinate, coincidir is your essential linguistic bridge. It carries a sense of precision and often carries an air of formality, though it is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation when discussing plans.

Temporal Alignment: This is the most common usage, referring to events happening simultaneously. For example, when your vacation dates match a public holiday.

As nossas férias vão coincidir este ano, o que é ótimo para viajarmos juntos.

Beyond time, the word is used for intellectual or ideological agreement. If two politicians share the same view on a policy, their opinions 'coincidem'. This usage is frequent in news broadcasts and formal writing.

Spatial and Mathematical Context: In geometry or physics, it describes two points or lines that occupy the exact same position in space.

Os dois vértices do triângulo devem coincidir para que a figura seja fechada.

It is also used in statistical analysis to describe trends that follow the same pattern. When we say two graphs 'coincidem', we mean they are identical.

O resultado da pesquisa não parece coincidir com a realidade observada nas ruas.

Interpersonal Agreement: When people find they have the same taste or ideas, they use this verb to emphasize the harmony of their thoughts.

É raro coincidirmos em tantos pontos de vista durante uma discussão.

A data do exame vai coincidir com o meu aniversário, o que é uma pena.

In summary, use 'coincidir' whenever you want to highlight a perfect match, a simultaneous occurrence, or a shared perspective. It is a word of alignment, precision, and occasionally, surprising luck.

Using coincidir correctly requires an understanding of its prepositional requirements and its conjugation as a regular '-ir' verb. In most contexts, you will use the structure 'X coincide com Y'. This 'com' (with) is the bridge that links the two entities that are in agreement or happening at the same time. If you are talking about multiple things together, you might use it without 'com', such as 'As datas coincidem'.

Present Tense for General Truths: Use the present tense to describe facts or ongoing situations where things match up.

O horário do trem sempre coincide com a minha saída do trabalho.

Past Tense for Specific Events: Use the pretérito perfeito to talk about a specific time when things happened to align.

Ontem, a minha folga coincidiu com o feriado municipal.

When dealing with opinions or data, the verb often appears in the negative to show discrepancy.

As versões das testemunhas não coincidem em nenhum detalhe importante.

Future Intentions: Use the 'ir + infinitive' construction for future plans that you hope will align.

Espero que a nossa visita possa coincidir com a sua estadia em Lisboa.

É improvável que os interesses deles coincidam neste projeto específico.

In academic writing, you will often see it used to describe correlations. 'Os picos de temperatura coincidem com o aumento do consumo de energia.' This shows a direct relationship. Finally, in more poetic or literary contexts, 'coincidir' can describe the merging of two souls or fates, though this is less common than the practical usage of time and data. Always remember to check if you need the 'com' - if you are matching one thing to another, you definitely do. If you are describing a group of things that match among themselves, the plural verb without 'com' is the way to go.

You will encounter coincidir in a variety of real-world Portuguese settings, ranging from the highly formal to the moderately casual. It is a staple of the professional environment. In a corporate office in São Paulo or a government bureau in Lisbon, you'll hear managers saying, 'Precisamos fazer com que os prazos coincidam com a disponibilidade da equipe' (We need to make the deadlines coincide with the team's availability). It is the language of logistics and planning.

News and Media: Journalists use it to report on events that happen at the same time, especially when suggesting a possible connection.

O anúncio do novo imposto coincidiu com a divulgação dos lucros recordes dos bancos.

Academic and Scientific Discourse: In universities, professors use it to describe overlapping theories or matching experimental results.

Os dados coletados em campo coincidem perfeitamente com as previsões do modelo teórico.

On the street or in a cafe, friends might use it when realizing they are both going to the same event or have the same day off. While 'calhar' is a more informal synonym in Portugal for 'to happen to be', 'coincidir' is used across the entire Lusophone world to express this alignment.

Que sorte! O meu voo coincide com o seu, podemos ir juntos ao aeroporto.

Legal and Official Documents: Contracts often use it to define periods of time that must overlap or align for certain clauses to be valid.

O período de garantia deve coincidir com o tempo de vida útil estimado do produto.

As nossas opiniões sobre o filme coincidiram em quase tudo, exceto no final.

So, whether you are listening to a podcast about history, reading a financial report, or just chatting with a Brazilian neighbor about your weekend plans, 'coincidir' will appear as the go-to word for expressing synchronization and agreement.

English speakers often find coincidir relatively easy because of its cognate nature, but there are several pitfalls involving prepositions, conjugation, and nuance that can lead to 'Portoglish' or grammatical errors. The most frequent mistake is using the wrong preposition. While in English we say 'coincide with', in Portuguese we also use 'com', but some learners mistakenly try to use 'em' or 'a' based on other Portuguese verbs of movement or location.

Preposition Pitfall: Incorrect: 'O evento coincide em o meu aniversário.' Correct: 'O evento coincide com o meu aniversário.'

Não diga 'coincidir em', a menos que esteja falando de um ponto geográfico específico onde algo se encontra.

Conjugation of '-ir' Verbs: Many learners forget that in the present tense, the 'nós' form is 'coincidimos' and the 'eles/elas' form is 'coincidem'.

Eles coincidem na escolha do restaurante (They agree/align on the choice...).

Another common error is using 'coincidir' when you actually mean 'to happen' (acontecer). 'Coincidir' implies a relationship between two things. You can't just say 'O acidente coincidiu' without saying what it coincided *with*.

Pronunciation of the Nasal 'i': Learners often pronounce it as 'co-in-ci-dir' with a hard 'n'. In Portuguese, the 'in' is a nasal vowel /ĩ/. It should sound more like 'co-ee-see-deer'.

Pratique a nasalidade em coincidir para não soar como se estivesse lendo inglês.

Lastly, avoid using 'coincidir' for 'to meet' (encontrar-se) between people unless you are talking about their schedules. If you meet a friend on the street by chance, you 'encontrou' the friend; the meeting 'coincidiu' with your walk, but the people themselves don't 'coincidir'. Keeping these distinctions in mind will elevate your Portuguese from basic to advanced.

While coincidir is a powerful word, Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on whether you want to be more informal, more specific, or more poetic. Understanding these nuances will help you choose the right 'flavor' for your sentence.

Bater (Informal/Common): In Brazil, 'bater' is often used to say that schedules or numbers match. 'As contas não batem' (The accounts don't match/coincide).

O meu horário de almoço bate com o seu hoje?

Concordar (Agreement): When the 'coincidence' is about opinions or ideas, 'concordar' is the more common verb for the act of agreeing.

Eu concordo com você, mas as nossas agendas não coincidem.

Calhar (Portugal/Regional): In Portugal, 'calhar' is used for things that happen to occur at a certain time or by chance. 'Calhou de eu estar lá' (I happened to be there).

Sobrepor-se (Overlap): If two things don't just happen at the same time but actually cover each other or conflict because of it, use 'sobrepor-se'.

As duas reuniões se sobrepõem, preciso escolher uma.

Os interesses das duas empresas convergem neste ponto (They converge/align).

Equivaler (To be equivalent): When the coincidence is in value or meaning rather than just time or space.

Choosing between these words depends on the level of formality you want to convey. 'Coincidir' remains the most versatile for both time and abstract alignment in a professional or standard setting.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'cadere' (to fall) is also found in the words 'cadência' (cadence) and 'queda' (fall). So, a coincidence is literally two things 'falling together'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ku.ĩ.si.ˈdiɾ/

US /ko.ĩ.si.ˈdʒiɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'dir'.

Rhymes With

pedir subir sentir partir sorrir dormir mentir ferir

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'in' as a hard English 'in' instead of a nasal vowel.
Stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., coin-CI-dir instead of coin-ci-DIR).
Pronouncing the 'c' as 'k' instead of 's'.
Failing to nasalize the first 'i'.
In Brazil, forgetting the 'dji' sound for 'di'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because it is a cognate of 'coincide'.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct preposition 'com' and -ir verb endings.

Speaking 5/5

Nasal vowels and stress on the last syllable can be tricky.

Listening 4/5

The nasal 'in' and palatalized 'di' in Brazil might hide the word.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

acontecer mesmo tempo com data

Learn Next

concordar divergir sobrepor ajustar quadrar

Advanced

confluência sincronia isotopia congruência

Grammar to Know

Regular -ir verb conjugation in the present tense.

Eu coincido, tu coincides, ele coincide, nós coincidimos, vós coincidis, eles coincidem.

Use of the preposition 'com' for accompanying objects.

A data coincide COM o feriado.

Subjunctive mood after expressions of desire or probability.

Duvido que as datas coincidam.

Personal infinitive for specific subjects.

O fato de eles coincidirem é estranho.

Pretérito Perfeito for completed past actions.

A reunião coincidiu com o almoço.

Examples by Level

A festa coincide com o sábado.

The party coincides with Saturday.

Simple present tense using 'com'.

O meu voo coincide com o seu.

My flight coincides with yours.

Using 'coincidir' to compare two items.

As aulas coincidem com o trabalho.

The classes coincide with work.

Plural subject 'as aulas' needs 'coincidem'.

A cor coincide com a foto.

The color matches/coincides with the photo.

Using 'coincidir' for visual matching.

Os números coincidem.

The numbers match/coincide.

Intransitive use with a plural subject.

O feriado coincide com a sexta-feira.

The holiday coincides with Friday.

Common temporal usage.

O meu plano coincide com o plano dela.

My plan coincides with her plan.

Comparing abstract noun 'plano'.

As datas não coincidem.

The dates do not coincide.

Negative form using 'não'.

Ontem, o meu almoço coincidiu com a reunião.

Yesterday, my lunch coincided with the meeting.

Pretérito Perfeito (past tense).

As nossas opiniões coincidem sobre o filme.

Our opinions coincide about the movie.

Using 'sobre' to specify the topic.

O preço coincide com o que eu esperava.

The price coincides with what I expected.

Relative clause 'o que eu esperava'.

Espero que o tempo coincida com as férias.

I hope the weather coincides with the vacation.

Present Subjunctive 'coincida' after 'Espero que'.

Os dois eventos coincidiram no mesmo dia.

The two events coincided on the same day.

Plural past tense.

A sua resposta coincide com a verdade.

Your answer coincides with the truth.

Abstract usage.

O fim do livro coincide com o início do filme.

The end of the book coincides with the start of the movie.

Temporal sequence.

As chaves não coincidem com a fechadura.

The keys do not match the lock.

Physical mismatch.

É provável que os interesses deles coincidam no futuro.

It is likely that their interests will coincide in the future.

Subjunctive mood for probability.

A minha visão do problema coincide plenamente com a sua.

My view of the problem fully coincides with yours.

Adverb 'plenamente' for emphasis.

Se as datas coincidirem, podemos viajar juntos.

If the dates coincide, we can travel together.

Future Subjunctive 'coincidirem'.

O relatório coincide com as estatísticas oficiais.

The report coincides with official statistics.

Formal data comparison.

O nascimento do bebê coincidiu com a mudança de casa.

The baby's birth coincided with the house move.

Two life events happening together.

As peças do quebra-cabeça finalmente coincidiram.

The puzzle pieces finally matched/coincided.

Metaphorical or physical use.

Nós raramente coincidimos nos nossos gostos musicais.

We rarely coincide in our musical tastes.

Personal usage 'nós coincidimos'.

O pico da montanha coincide com a fronteira.

The mountain peak coincides with the border.

Spatial alignment.

Os picos de demanda coincidem com os períodos de seca.

The demand peaks coincide with drought periods.

Technical/Scientific context.

A sua versão dos fatos não coincide com o depoimento da testemunha.

Your version of the facts does not coincide with the witness's testimony.

Legal/Formal register.

Temos de fazer coincidir os nossos esforços para ter sucesso.

We must make our efforts coincide to be successful.

Causative structure 'fazer coincidir'.

A crise política coincidiu com uma instabilidade nos mercados.

The political crisis coincided with market instability.

Socio-economic discussion.

As duas teorias coincidem em vários pontos fundamentais.

The two theories coincide on several fundamental points.

Using 'em' for specific points of agreement.

O autor faz o clímax coincidir com o final do capítulo.

The author makes the climax coincide with the end of the chapter.

Literary analysis.

Embora pareça planejado, os eventos apenas coincidiram.

Although it seems planned, the events just coincided.

Adverbial clause 'embora pareça'.

A posição das estrelas coincide com os cálculos antigos.

The stars' position coincides with ancient calculations.

Scientific/Historical usage.

A retórica do governo nem sempre coincide com as suas ações práticas.

The government's rhetoric doesn't always coincide with its practical actions.

Nuanced political critique.

Seria uma sorte se os nossos interesses voltassem a coincidir.

It would be lucky if our interests were to coincide again.

Conditional 'seria' and imperfect subjunctive 'voltassem'.

Os dados brutos coincidem exatamente com a hipótese formulada.

The raw data coincides exactly with the formulated hypothesis.

Academic precision.

Onde os nossos desejos coincidem, aí reside a nossa força.

Where our desires coincide, there lies our strength.

Philosophical/Literary tone.

As datas de validade devem coincidir com o lote de produção.

The expiration dates must coincide with the production batch.

Regulatory/Technical requirement.

O fato de as nossas férias coincidirem foi um golpe de mestre.

The fact of our vacations coinciding was a masterstroke.

Personal infinitive 'coincidirem'.

A sua partida coincidiu com a chegada de uma nova era.

His departure coincided with the arrival of a new era.

Metaphorical/Historical use.

Não podemos permitir que interesses privados coincidam com decisões públicas.

We cannot allow private interests to coincide with public decisions.

Ethical/Legal context.

A ontologia do ser não coincide necessariamente com a sua representação fenomênica.

The ontology of being does not necessarily coincide with its phenomenal representation.

High-level philosophical discourse.

Houve uma confluência de fatores que coincidiram para o desfecho trágico.

There was a confluence of factors that coincided toward the tragic outcome.

Sophisticated narrative style.

A precisão matemática exige que os eixos coincidam no ponto zero.

Mathematical precision requires the axes to coincide at the zero point.

Scientific/Mathematical rigor.

A subjetividade do autor coincide com a angústia da sua geração.

The author's subjectivity coincides with the anguish of his generation.

Literary criticism.

Se as nossas vontades não coincidirem, o contrato será nulo.

If our wills do not coincide, the contract shall be void.

Legal future subjunctive.

A síncope musical ocorre quando o acento rítmico não coincide com o tempo forte.

Musical syncopation occurs when the rhythmic accent does not coincide with the downbeat.

Technical music theory.

É imperativo que os protocolos coincidam em todas as jurisdições.

It is imperative that protocols coincide across all jurisdictions.

Diplomatic/Administrative language.

A sua existência parece coincidir com a própria história da cidade.

His existence seems to coincide with the history of the city itself.

Poetic hyperbole.

Common Collocations

coincidir plenamente

fazer coincidir

coincidir no tempo

coincidir no espaço

coincidir por acaso

coincidir com o feriado

coincidir com a realidade

coincidir em opinião

não coincidir em nada

coincidir exatamente

Common Phrases

Coincidir com os interesses

— To align with what someone wants or needs.

A proposta coincide com os interesses da empresa.

Coincidir com a expectativa

— To meet or match what was expected.

O resultado coincidiu com a expectativa do público.

Coincidir na escolha

— To choose the same thing as someone else.

Eles coincidiram na escolha do destino de viagem.

Coincidir por sorte

— To happen at the same time due to good luck.

Coincidiu por sorte de estarmos ambos em Paris.

Coincidir com o prazo

— To happen within or at the end of a deadline.

A entrega deve coincidir com o prazo final.

Coincidir com a verdade

— To be consistent with the facts.

Sua história não coincide com a verdade.

Coincidir em detalhes

— To match even in the small aspects.

As duas versões coincidem em detalhes.

Coincidir com o aniversário

— To happen on one's birthday.

O show coincide com o meu aniversário.

Coincidir com a folga

— To happen on a day off from work.

O evento coincide com a minha folga.

Coincidir com o planejado

— To happen exactly as it was organized.

Tudo coincidiu com o planejado.

Often Confused With

coincidir vs concordar

'Concordar' is for the act of agreeing between people, while 'coincidir' is for the alignment of things or opinions.

coincidir vs acontecer

'Acontecer' just means to happen. 'Coincidir' means to happen *at the same time* as something else.

coincidir vs encontrar

Don't use 'coincidir' to say you met a friend. Use 'encontrar'. Use 'coincidir' for your paths or schedules.

Idioms & Expressions

"Fazer as contas coincidirem"

— To make sure the numbers add up or match, often used in finance or excuses.

Ele tentou fazer as contas coincidirem, mas faltava dinheiro.

neutral

"Coincidir como uma luva"

— To fit perfectly (similar to 'fit like a glove').

Este horário coincide como uma luva para mim.

informal

"Não coincidir o 'tico' com o 'teco'"

— A humorous Brazilian expression meaning things don't make sense or aren't connecting (mentally).

A explicação dele é tão confusa que o tico não coincide com o teco.

slang

"Coincidir o útil ao agradável"

— To combine something useful with something pleasant (usually 'juntar', but 'coincidir' is used for accidental cases).

Coincidiu o útil ao agradável quando a reunião foi em um café.

neutral

"Coincidir em gênero, número e grau"

— To agree completely and in every aspect (borrowed from grammar).

Minha opinião coincide em gênero, número e grau com a sua.

neutral

"Coincidir os astros"

— When everything aligns perfectly, as if by destiny.

Parece que os astros coincidiram para estarmos aqui hoje.

poetic

"Coincidir de cabo a rabo"

— To match from beginning to end.

As histórias coincidem de cabo a rabo.

informal

"Coincidir na mosca"

— To match exactly or hit the mark perfectly.

Sua previsão coincidiu na mosca com o resultado.

informal

"Bater e coincidir"

— To match up perfectly (emphasizing the 'bater' synonym).

Os horários precisam bater e coincidir para dar certo.

informal

"Coincidir o caminho"

— To cross paths or have the same trajectory.

Nossas vidas coincidiram o caminho por muitos anos.

poetic

Easily Confused

coincidir vs Incidir

Looks very similar.

Incidir means to fall upon or to have an effect on something, like light hitting a surface or a tax being applied. Coincidir means to happen together.

A luz incide sobre a mesa. O feriado coincide com o sábado.

coincidir vs Reincidir

Same root.

Reincidir means to repeat a mistake or a crime. Coincidir is about alignment.

Ele reincidiu no crime. Nossas datas coincidiram.

coincidir vs Concordar

Both imply agreement.

Concordar is an action taken by a person ('I agree'). Coincidir is a state of being aligned ('Our views coincide').

Eu concordo com você. Nossas visões coincidem.

coincidir vs Bater

Used as a synonym in Brazil.

Bater is highly informal and has many other meanings (to hit, to beat). Coincidir is specific and formal.

As contas batem. Os dados coincidem.

coincidir vs Sobrepor

Both involve things in the same space/time.

Sobrepor means one thing is on top of another, often causing a conflict. Coincidir is a neutral statement of alignment.

As reuniões se sobrepõem (conflict). As reuniões coincidem (timing).

Sentence Patterns

[Event] coincide com [Day/Time].

O jogo coincide com a noite.

[Opinions] coincidem.

As nossas ideias coincidem.

Espero que [Subject] coincida com [Object].

Espero que o voo coincida com o seu.

Os [Data/Stats] coincidem com [Source].

Os números coincidem com o relatório.

O fato de [Verb Infinitive] coincidir...

O fato de a data coincidir facilitou tudo.

Não coincide necessariamente com...

A teoria não coincide necessariamente com a prática.

Se [Subject] coincidir, [Result].

Se o tempo coincidir, vamos viajar.

Fazer coincidir A com B.

Precisamos fazer coincidir o estoque com a demanda.

Word Family

Nouns

coincidência

coincidente

Verbs

coincidir

Adjectives

coincidente

coincidido

incidência

incidente

acidente

reincidir

ocorrência

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in professional, academic, and scheduling contexts.

Common Mistakes

O evento coincide em sábado. → O evento coincide com o sábado.
In Portuguese, 'coincidir' takes the preposition 'com', not 'em'.
Eu coincido com você. → Eu concordo com você.
While 'coincidir' is for ideas, 'concordar' is the standard verb for a person agreeing with another.
As datas coincida. → As datas coincidem.
Incorrect conjugation. 'Coincidem' is the third person plural present indicative.
A notícia coincidiu a minha viagem. → A notícia coincidiu com a minha viagem.
Missing the required preposition 'com'.
Espero que as agendas coincidirem. → Espero que as agendas coincidam.
Used the future subjunctive or infinitive instead of the present subjunctive after 'Espero que'.

Tips

Master the 'Com'

Always remember the 'com'. It is the most common mistake for English speakers to forget it or use 'em' instead.

Nasalize the 'In'

To sound like a native, don't say 'in' like in the English word 'inside'. Make it a nasal 'ee' sound.

Cognate Power

Use this word when you're stuck for a more complex Portuguese word. Since it's a cognate, you likely already know how to use it!

Agreement

Use 'Nossas opiniões coincidem' to be very polite and intellectual when agreeing with someone.

Professionalism

In a business email, use 'coincidir' instead of 'dar certo' to discuss meeting times. It sounds much more professional.

Regional Variation

If you are in Brazil, use 'bater' for money or simple times. If in Portugal, listen for 'calhar' for chance events.

Evidence

When describing a mystery or a problem, use 'coincidir' to show how pieces of the puzzle fit together.

Planning

The future subjunctive 'se coincidirem' is very useful for making conditional plans with friends.

Spatial use

Remember it works for space too, not just time. Use it for borders, points, and lines.

Word Family

Learn 'coincidência' at the same time. You will use the noun just as much as the verb.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'CO-IN-CI-DIR'. CO = Together. IN = Inside. CI = Cycle. DIR = Direction. Everything going in the same cycle and direction together.

Visual Association

Imagine two clocks showing exactly 12:00 at the same time, or two puzzle pieces clicking together perfectly.

Word Web

Time Agreement Schedules Dates Opinions Geometry Luck Alignment

Challenge

Try to use 'coincidir' three times today: once for a time, once for an opinion, and once for a physical object.

Word Origin

From the Medieval Latin 'coincidere', which is a combination of 'co-' (together) and 'incidere' (to fall upon/happen).

Original meaning: To fall together or to happen at the same time.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, technical, and social term.

English speakers use 'coincide' similarly, but 'coincidir' is used more frequently in daily Portuguese for simple scheduling than 'coincide' is in casual English (where 'match' or 'be at the same time' is common).

The concept of 'Coincidência dos Opostos' in philosophy. The song 'Coincidência' by various Brazilian samba artists. Commonly used in Portuguese translations of Sherlock Holmes to describe evidence.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Scheduling

O horário coincide?
As datas coincidem.
Não podemos fazer coincidir.
Coincide com a minha folga.

Arguments/Opinions

Nossas opiniões coincidem.
Coincidimos em vários pontos.
Isso não coincide com o que você disse.
As visões coincidem plenamente.

Science/Data

Os dados coincidem.
Coincide com a hipótese.
Os picos coincidem.
A medida coincide exatamente.

Police/Legal

Os depoimentos coincidem.
Não coincide com o álibi.
As versões coincidem.
Coincide com a hora do crime.

Geometry/Math

Os pontos coincidem.
As linhas coincidem.
Coincidir no vértice.
Fazer coincidir os eixos.

Conversation Starters

"Você já teve um evento importante que coincidiu com o seu aniversário?"

"As nossas opiniões sobre política costumam coincidir ou divergir?"

"Como você faz para os seus planos coincidirem com os dos seus amigos?"

"Você acha que as notícias sempre coincidem com a realidade dos fatos?"

"Alguma vez o seu voo coincidiu com o de algum conhecido por acaso?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre um momento em que dois eventos importantes da sua vida coincidiram de forma inesperada.

Reflita sobre como as suas ações diárias coincidem ou não com os seus objetivos de longo prazo.

Descreva uma situação em que você e outra pessoa coincidiram perfeitamente em uma ideia difícil.

Pense em um dado estatístico que você leu recentemente. Ele coincide com a sua percepção da realidade?

Se você pudesse fazer o seu feriado favorito coincidir com qualquer dia do ano, qual seria?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not always. If you have a plural subject like 'As datas coincidem', you don't need 'com'. However, if you say 'A data coincide...', you must add 'com a outra data'.

Only if you mean their schedules or paths aligned. If you want to say you met a friend for coffee, use 'encontrar-se com'. If you met them by chance, 'coincidir' can describe the event: 'O meu passeio coincidiu com o dela'.

Yes, it is a perfectly regular -ir verb. It follows the same pattern as 'partir' or 'abrir' in all tenses.

'Concordar' is 'to agree' (an action). 'Coincidir' is 'to coincide' (a state of alignment). You can say 'Eu concordo com você porque nossas ideias coincidem'.

Yes, it is used equally in both, although Portugal uses 'calhar' more for accidental coincidences and Brazil uses 'bater' for informal matching.

You use the noun form: 'Que coincidência!'. The verb isn't usually used in this short exclamation.

Yes, in geometry or geography, to say two points or borders are in the same place. 'A fronteira coincide com o rio'.

The third person singular present ('coincide') and the third person plural present ('coincidem') are the most frequent, as we usually talk about events or facts.

Yes, it is very common to say 'não coincide' to show that two things do not match, such as evidence or schedules.

It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly fine for daily talk but also essential for academic and professional writing.