concluir in 30 Seconds
- Concluir is a versatile Portuguese verb used to express the completion of significant tasks, projects, or educational courses with a sense of finality.
- It also serves as a cognitive verb, meaning 'to conclude' or 'to deduce' something based on logic, evidence, or observation of facts.
- Grammatically, it is an -ir verb with a specific present tense pattern (eu concluo, ele conclui) and is frequently used in formal writing.
- While similar to 'terminar' or 'acabar', 'concluir' is more formal and implies a structured process reaching its intended and successful resolution.
The Portuguese verb concluir is a multifaceted gem in the Lusophone linguistic landscape. At its core, it signifies the act of bringing something to a definitive end, whether that be a physical task, a temporal period, or a complex intellectual process. Unlike simpler verbs like 'acabar' or 'terminar', which often imply a mere stopping point, concluir carries a weight of achievement and finality. It suggests that the action has reached its intended resolution or that all necessary steps have been meticulously fulfilled. This distinction is crucial for learners; you 'acabar' a glass of water, but you concluir a university degree. The verb is derived from the Latin concludere, combining 'com-' (together) and 'claudere' (to shut), effectively meaning to shut something up entirely, leaving no loose ends.
- The Practical Completion
- In everyday life, 'concluir' is used when a project, a course of study, or a formal agreement is finalized. It implies a structured progression toward a goal. For example, 'Concluí o relatório' (I finished the report) sounds more professional and thorough than 'Terminei o relatório'. It suggests the report is not just done, but ready for submission or review.
- The Logical Deduction
- Beyond physical tasks, 'concluir' is the primary verb for logical reasoning. When you analyze facts and reach a judgment, you are 'concluindo'. In this context, it translates to 'to conclude' or 'to infer'. It is the moment when the pieces of a puzzle fit together to form a clear picture. 'Concluímos que a empresa precisa de investimento' (We concluded that the company needs investment).
- The Formal Agreement
- In legal and diplomatic contexts, 'concluir' is used for the signing or finalization of treaties and contracts. It marks the transition from negotiation to a binding state. 'O tratado foi concluído ontem' (The treaty was concluded yesterday).
"Depois de analisar todos os dados, o cientista pôde finalmente concluir a sua tese com sucesso."
The usage of concluir also varies slightly between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese in terms of frequency, though the meaning remains identical. In Brazil, you might hear 'finalizar' more often in tech or business contexts, but concluir remains the gold standard for formal and academic writing. It is a verb that demands attention to detail. When you use it, you are telling your listener that you have reached the finish line through effort and logic. It is not an accidental ending; it is a purposeful one. Furthermore, 'concluir' is often followed by the preposition 'com' when describing how something was finished, such as 'concluir com chave de ouro' (to finish with a golden key, meaning to finish perfectly).
"Nós precisamos concluir este projeto antes do prazo final para evitar multas contratuais."
"Ao observar o céu escuro, ela pôde concluir que a chuva chegaria em poucos minutos."
"O juiz decidiu concluir o julgamento após ouvir o último testemunho da defesa."
Mastering concluir requires understanding its syntactic patterns and the contexts in which it thrives. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object—the thing being finished. However, it can also function as a verb of thought, followed by a 'que' (that) clause to express a deduction. This dual nature makes it one of the most versatile verbs for A2 learners moving into B1 territory. When you use it to mean 'to finish', the object is typically a noun representing a task: 'concluir a tarefa', 'concluir a obra', 'concluir o curso'. When used to mean 'to deduce', it is almost always followed by a statement of fact: 'Concluí que ele estava mentindo' (I concluded that he was lying).
- Direct Object Usage
- This is the most common way to use the verb. You specify exactly what is being brought to an end. 'Eles concluíram a reforma da casa em tempo recorde.' (They concluded the house renovation in record time). Here, 'a reforma' is the direct object. Note how it implies the completion of a complex process.
- Followed by a Clause (Deduction)
- When 'concluir' introduces a logical result, we use the conjunction 'que'. 'Pelo seu silêncio, concluí que você não concordava com a proposta.' (From your silence, I concluded that you did not agree with the proposal). This usage is essential for debates, essays, and critical thinking.
- In the Passive Voice
- In formal reports, 'concluir' often appears in the passive voice to sound objective. 'Foi concluído que as medidas eram insuficientes.' (It was concluded that the measures were insufficient). This shifts the focus from the person concluding to the conclusion itself.
"Se você não concluir o pagamento hoje, o serviço será suspenso amanhã de manhã."
Tense usage with concluir is also telling. The Pretérito Perfeito (Past Perfect) is the most frequent tense, as it marks a completed action in the past: 'Eu concluí'. However, the Future Subjunctive is very common in conditional sentences: 'Quando eu concluir o curso, vou viajar' (When I finish the course, I will travel). This highlights the dependency of future actions on the completion of current ones. In academic writing, the Present Tense is used to state general findings: 'O estudo conclui que a dieta é eficaz' (The study concludes that the diet is effective). Using the right tense helps convey whether the conclusion is a personal past achievement or a timeless logical fact.
"É fundamental concluir as etapas básicas antes de avançar para os níveis avançados do treinamento."
"O autor conclui o livro com uma reflexão profunda sobre o futuro da humanidade."
In the real world, you will encounter concluir in a variety of settings, ranging from the highly formal to the professional-casual. It is not a word you use when finishing a sandwich, but it is the word you use when you finish your workday or a meeting. If you are in a Portuguese-speaking office, 'concluir' is the language of productivity. You will hear managers asking, 'Quando você pretende concluir essa tarefa?' (When do you intend to finish this task?). It sets a tone of accountability and professional standard that 'terminar' sometimes lacks.
- In Academia and Schools
- This is perhaps the most common environment for 'concluir'. Students 'concluem o ensino médio' (finish high school) or 'concluem a graduação' (finish their degree). In academic papers, every 'Conclusão' section starts by saying 'Podemos concluir que...' (We can conclude that...). It is the vocabulary of intellectual closure.
- In the News and Media
- News anchors use it to report on the end of investigations or negotiations. 'A polícia concluiu o inquérito sobre o caso.' (The police concluded the investigation into the case). It implies that the work is done and the results are final.
- In Professional Meetings
- When a speaker wants to wrap up their points, they might say, 'Para concluir, gostaria de agradecer a todos.' (To conclude, I would like to thank everyone). It signals to the audience that the end of the speech is near.
"O técnico espera concluir as negociações com o novo jogador ainda esta semana."
In Brazil, you might also see concluir in digital interfaces. When you are filling out an online form or finishing a purchase, the final button often says 'Concluir' or 'Finalizar'. It is the digital equivalent of 'Submit' or 'Complete'. In Portugal, the usage is similar, but there is a slightly higher tendency to use 'concluir' in spoken formal language than in Brazil, where 'terminar' is more ubiquitous in speech. Regardless of the country, if you are reading a contract or a scientific article, concluir is the verb that will define the results and the final agreements.
Even for advanced learners, concluir can be tricky due to its specific nuances and conjugation. The most frequent error is overusing it in place of 'acabar' or 'terminar'. While they are synonyms, they are not always interchangeable. You shouldn't say 'Concluí meu café' (I concluded my coffee); that sounds like you performed a scientific analysis on your beverage. Instead, use 'Acabei meu café'. Concluir requires a task or a thought process. Another common pitfall is the conjugation, particularly the present tense third-person singular 'ele conclui' versus the first-person past 'eu concluí'. The accent mark is vital for meaning.
- Mistaking Concluir for Terminar
- Mistake: 'Vou concluir de ler este livro.' (Incorrect use of 'de'). Correct: 'Vou concluir a leitura deste livro.' or 'Vou terminar de ler este livro.' Unlike 'terminar', 'concluir' is rarely followed by 'de' + infinitive. It prefers a noun as a direct object.
- Conjugation of 'u' and 'i'
- Learners often write 'eu concluio' (wrong) instead of 'eu concluo'. The stem change in the present tense follows a specific pattern for verbs ending in -uir. Similarly, 'eles concluíram' (past) is often confused with 'eles concluem' (present).
- Using it for Physical Space
- You cannot 'concluir' a physical path like a street. You 'terminar' a street. 'Concluir' is for processes, projects, and thoughts. Using it for physical ends sounds unnatural.
"Não diga 'eu concluí de comer'. Diga 'eu terminei de comer' ou 'eu acabei de comer'."
Another subtle mistake is using 'concluir' when you mean 'to close' (fechar) in a physical sense. You don't 'concluir' a door; you 'fechar' a door. However, you can 'concluir' a deal (fechar um negócio/concluir um negócio). The overlap in 'closing' a deal can lead English speakers to use 'concluir' for other types of 'closing' where it doesn't fit. Always ask yourself: Is this a process reaching its end? If yes, concluir is likely the right choice. If it's just a physical stop, stick to 'terminar' or 'acabar'.
Portuguese is rich in verbs that denote the end of something. Understanding the shades of meaning between concluir and its cousins will elevate your fluency from functional to sophisticated. While 'concluir' is formal and process-oriented, others are more casual or specific to certain industries. Choosing the right one depends on the 'what' and the 'how' of the ending.
- Terminar vs. Concluir
- 'Terminar' is the most neutral and widely used. It can replace 'concluir' in most cases, but it lacks the 'logical deduction' meaning. You can 'terminar um namoro' (end a relationship), but you wouldn't 'concluir um namoro' unless it was a social experiment.
- Finalizar vs. Concluir
- 'Finalizar' is very common in business and sports. It often implies putting the finishing touches on something. 'Vou finalizar o design' (I'm going to finalize the design). It is very similar to 'concluir' but feels slightly more modern and technical.
- Encerrar vs. Concluir
- 'Encerrar' means to shut down or close formally. You 'encerra uma conta' (close an account) or 'encerra uma sessão' (close a session). It carries a sense of 'locking up' or 'sealing'.
- Deduzir vs. Concluir
- When using 'concluir' to mean 'to infer', 'deduzir' is a perfect synonym. 'Deduzi que ela estava brava' (I deduced she was angry). 'Deduzir' is slightly more focused on the mental calculation itself.
"Enquanto 'acabar' é comum no dia a dia, concluir é essencial para o sucesso acadêmico e profissional."
In summary, use concluir when you want to sound precise, when you've finished a significant project, or when you've reached a logical realization. Use 'terminar' for everyday tasks, 'finalizar' for technical finishes, and 'encerrar' for formal closures of accounts or meetings. By diversifying your vocabulary, you avoid the monotony of repeating the same verb and show a deeper grasp of the language's nuances.
Examples by Level
Eu quero concluir meu dever de casa.
I want to finish my homework.
Infinitive form 'concluir' after the auxiliary verb 'querer'.
Ela vai concluir o curso de português.
She is going to finish the Portuguese course.
Future with 'ir' + infinitive.
Nós precisamos concluir a limpeza.
We need to finish the cleaning.
Verb 'precisar' followed by 'concluir'.
Você concluiu o teste?
Did you finish the test?
Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) second person singular.
Eles concluem o trabalho às cinco.
They finish the work at five.
Present tense third person plural.
Por favor, conclua o formulário.
Please, complete the form.
Imperative form (formal) of 'concluir'.
Eu concluí a leitura hoje.
I finished the reading today.
First person singular past tense with accent mark.
O jogo vai concluir agora.
The game is going to end now.
Future construction with 'ir'.
Depois de muito trabalho, ele concluiu o projeto.
After much work, he finished the project.
Pretérito Perfeito used for a completed process.
Eu concluí que você tinha razão.
I concluded that you were right.
Use of 'concluir que' to express a deduction.
Nós vamos concluir a reforma no próximo mês.
We are going to finish the renovation next month.
Future intention for a complex task.
Ela concluiu o curso com boas notas.
She finished the course with good grades.
Preposition 'com' used to describe the manner of completion.
Você já concluiu o seu relatório?
Have you already finished your report?
Use of 'já' with the past tense.
Eles não concluíram a obra por causa da chuva.
They didn't finish the construction because of the rain.
Negative past tense.
O médico concluiu o exame rapidamente.
The doctor finished the exam quickly.
Adverb 'rapidamente' modifying the verb.
Podemos concluir que o plano funcionou.
We can conclude that the plan worked.
Modal verb 'podemos' + infinitive.
Espero que você conclua a tarefa a tempo.
I hope you finish the task on time.
Present Subjunctive 'conclua' after 'espero que'.
Para concluir, gostaria de dizer obrigado.
To conclude, I would like to say thank you.
Infinitive used as a transition phrase.
Se eu concluir o livro hoje, te empresto amanhã.
If I finish the book today, I'll lend it to you tomorrow.
Future Subjunctive 'concluir' in a conditional 'if' clause.
O cientista concluiu que a hipótese era falsa.
The scientist concluded that the hypothesis was false.
Logical deduction in a formal context.
Nós concluímos o contrato após longas negociações.
We concluded the contract after long negotiations.
Verb used for formal agreements.
É necessário concluir todas as etapas do processo.
It is necessary to complete all steps of the process.
Impersonal expression 'é necessário' + infinitive.
Eles concluíram que o investimento era arriscado.
They concluded that the investment was risky.
Deduction based on analysis.
Ao concluir a faculdade, ela se mudou para o exterior.
Upon finishing college, she moved abroad.
Gerund-like use of 'ao' + infinitive.
O autor conclui o artigo com uma proposta inovadora.
The author concludes the article with an innovative proposal.
Present tense used for literary or academic summary.
Dificilmente concluiremos a obra antes do prazo.
We will hardly finish the work before the deadline.
Future tense with an adverb of doubt.
Foi concluído que a falha foi humana.
It was concluded that the failure was human.
Passive voice 'foi concluído'.
Não se pode concluir nada sem provas concretas.
One cannot conclude anything without concrete evidence.
Impersonal 'se' with 'poder' + infinitive.
Embora tenha concluído o curso, ele não se sente pronto.
Although he finished the course, he doesn't feel ready.
Concessive clause with Compound Past Subjunctive.
O juiz decidiu concluir o caso por falta de evidências.
The judge decided to close the case due to lack of evidence.
Legal context for finishing a process.
Concluímos a reunião com um plano de ação claro.
We concluded the meeting with a clear action plan.
Preterite tense for professional summary.
O estudo conclui que a poluição afeta o clima.
The study concludes that pollution affects the climate.
Present tense for stating research findings.
Pela análise das variáveis, é lícito concluir que o mercado irá retrair.
By analyzing the variables, it is reasonable to conclude that the market will shrink.
Formal academic/business phrasing with 'é lícito'.
O orador concluiu sua fala sob aplausos calorosos.
The speaker concluded his speech under warm applause.
Literary style using 'sob'.
Caso concluamos o acordo hoje, poderemos celebrar amanhã.
In case we conclude the agreement today, we can celebrate tomorrow.
Future Subjunctive in a hypothetical scenario.
A investigação foi concluída sem que houvesse culpados.
The investigation was concluded without there being any guilty parties.
Passive voice combined with a subjunctive result clause.
É imperativo que se conclua a auditoria até o fim do semestre.
It is imperative that the audit be concluded by the end of the semester.
Passive subjunctive in an impersonal imperative structure.
Concluir-se-á, ao final deste ensaio, que a ética é subjetiva.
It will be concluded, at the end of this essay, that ethics is subjective.
Mesoclisis (future tense with middle pronoun), very formal.
Tendo concluído o seu périplo, o viajante retornou ao lar.
Having concluded his journey, the traveler returned home.
Compound gerund for a completed antecedent action.
O filósofo conclui que a existência precede a essência.
The philosopher concludes that existence precedes essence.
Present tense for timeless philosophical assertions.
Não se pode senão concluir que a conjuntura atual é deveras complexa.
One cannot but conclude that the current situation is truly complex.
Double negative structure for rhetorical emphasis.
O autor, ao concluir o tomo, tece críticas à sociedade de sua época.
The author, upon concluding the volume, weaves criticisms of his era's society.
Formal literary syntax with an intercalated clause.
Pudesse ele concluir a obra, teríamos hoje uma obra-prima inacabada.
Had he been able to conclude the work, we would have an unfinished masterpiece today.
Inverted imperfect subjunctive for hypothetical condition.
A celeridade com que se concluiu o processo causou estranheza.
The speed with which the process was concluded caused surprise.
Complex noun phrase with a relative clause.
Concluir que a verdade é absoluta requer um salto de fé.
To conclude that truth is absolute requires a leap of faith.
Infinitive as a subject noun phrase.
Mal concluíra o discurso, as vaias começaram a ecoar no recinto.
Hardly had he concluded the speech when the boos began to echo in the room.
Pluperfect indicative used for immediate sequence of events.
O tratado, uma vez concluído, alterará a geopolítica regional.
The treaty, once concluded, will alter regional geopolitics.
Participial clause expressing condition/time.
Resta-nos concluir que a jornada foi tão importante quanto o destino.
It remains for us to conclude that the journey was as important as the destination.
Pronominal verb 'restar' followed by infinitive.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Used as a transition phrase to signal the end of a speech or text.
Para concluir, quero agradecer a todos.
— To finish something perfectly or in a grand way.
Ele concluiu a carreira com chave de ouro.
— To eventually reach a realization or decision.
Cheguei a concluir que ele estava certo.
— Something is still unfinished or pending completion.
Ainda falta concluir a última etapa.
— To have the intention of finishing something.
Pretendo concluir o livro amanhã.
— To figure something out on one's own.
Você deve concluir por si mesmo o que é melhor.
Summary
The verb 'concluir' is your essential tool for describing the successful completion of milestones and the logical end of arguments. Use it when you want to sound professional or when you are summarizing a series of thoughts. For example: 'Concluímos o projeto com sucesso' (We concluded the project successfully).
- Concluir is a versatile Portuguese verb used to express the completion of significant tasks, projects, or educational courses with a sense of finality.
- It also serves as a cognitive verb, meaning 'to conclude' or 'to deduce' something based on logic, evidence, or observation of facts.
- Grammatically, it is an -ir verb with a specific present tense pattern (eu concluo, ele conclui) and is frequently used in formal writing.
- While similar to 'terminar' or 'acabar', 'concluir' is more formal and implies a structured process reaching its intended and successful resolution.
Example
Precisamos concluir este projeto até sexta-feira.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More academic words
a despeito de
A2Despite; in spite of.
a fim
A2In order to; for the purpose of. (Followed by 'de')
a saber
A2Namely; that is to say.
a título de exemplo
A2By way of example; for example.
abordagem
A2A way of dealing with something; an approach.
abordar
B1To deal with (a matter or problem); to approach a topic.
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abreviatura
B1A shortened form of a word or phrase.
abstração
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstracto
B1Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
