debitar in 30 Seconds
- Debitar means to take money out of an account.
- It's a financial term used by banks.
- Think of it as the opposite of adding money.
- Commonly seen on bank statements.
The Portuguese verb 'debitar' directly translates to 'to debit' in English. In the context of finance and banking, it specifically means to deduct or remove a sum of money from a person's or entity's account. This action is typically performed by a bank or a financial institution when a transaction occurs that reduces the balance of an account. For instance, when you make a purchase using your debit card, the amount is debited from your bank account. Similarly, if you have an automatic payment set up for a bill, the company will debit your account on the due date. This term is fundamental in understanding financial transactions and is used ubiquitously in banking, accounting, and personal finance discussions. It's a formal term, commonly found in bank statements, invoices, and official financial documents. Understanding 'debitar' is crucial for anyone managing their finances in a Portuguese-speaking environment, as it directly impacts the money available in their accounts.
- Formal Usage
- Banks frequently use 'debitar' in official communications and statements to inform customers about money leaving their accounts.
- Transaction Context
- Any transaction that reduces an account balance, such as paying bills, making purchases, or withdrawing cash, involves the act of debiting.
- Everyday Relevance
- When you hear about money being taken out of an account, whether by yourself or by a third party, 'debitar' is the underlying action.
O banco irá debitar o valor da fatura da sua conta amanhã.
Por favor, confirme que o sistema pode debitar o pagamento automaticamente.
O valor da sua compra será debitado da sua conta corrente.
The verb 'debitar' is primarily used in financial contexts. It requires a subject (who or what is debiting) and an object (the account from which money is debited). The most common structure involves a direct object representing the amount of money being debited. For example, 'O banco debitou 50 euros da minha conta' (The bank debited 50 euros from my account). It can also be used with prepositions like 'de' (from) to specify the source of the debit. The verb conjugates like a regular -ar verb. Its past participle, 'debitado', is frequently used in passive voice constructions or as an adjective, meaning 'debited'. For instance, 'O valor foi debitado' (The amount was debited). In more formal settings, it might appear in legal or contractual language related to payments and charges. When discussing personal finance, people often use it to describe transactions that reduce their available funds. Understanding its conjugation and typical sentence structures will help you use it accurately in conversations about money matters.
- Active Voice
- Subject + debitar + object (amount) + de + account.
- Passive Voice
- Object (amount) + ser + debitado + de + account.
- Adjectival Use
- The past participle 'debitado' can describe something that has had money removed from it.
Eu preciso debitar este valor da conta do cliente.
A empresa debitou as taxas de serviço da minha conta bancária.
O dinheiro foi debitado sem a minha autorização.
You'll frequently encounter the word 'debitar' in various real-life scenarios, especially when dealing with financial matters in Portuguese-speaking countries. Bank statements are a prime location, clearly indicating which transactions have resulted in money being debited from your account. Customer service representatives at banks or financial institutions will use 'debitar' when explaining charges, fees, or transaction details. When you receive an invoice or bill, it might state that payment will be debited from your account on a certain date. Online banking portals and mobile banking apps will use this term to describe outgoing transactions. In accounting departments, 'debitar' is a standard term used in ledgers and financial reports. Conversations among friends or family about managing their money, paying bills, or checking their account balances will often involve this verb. Even news reports discussing economic trends or banking practices might use 'debitar' to describe financial flows. It's a word deeply embedded in the financial lexicon.
- Bank Statements
- Look for entries showing money leaving your account; these are typically described as 'débitos' or transactions that were 'debitadas'.
- Financial News
- Reports on market changes, company earnings, or banking policies often use 'debitar' to explain financial movements.
- Customer Service Interactions
- When discussing transactions or account issues with bank staff, 'debitar' will be a common term.
- Online and Mobile Banking
- Transaction histories and payment confirmations will frequently use 'debitar' to describe outgoing funds.
No extrato bancário, diz que o valor foi debitado na semana passada.
O atendente explicou que a taxa será debitada mensalmente.
Tenho que debitar o custo desta viagem do orçamento do projeto.
One common mistake learners make is confusing 'debitar' with 'creditar' (to credit). While both relate to account transactions, they are opposite actions. 'Debitar' means money leaves the account, whereas 'creditar' means money enters the account. Another potential pitfall is using the wrong preposition. While 'de' is standard for specifying the account, sometimes learners might incorrectly use other prepositions. Forgetting to conjugate the verb correctly is also a frequent error, especially with irregular past participles if they exist (though 'debitar' is regular). Learners might also misuse the past participle 'debitado', applying it where the infinitive or a different tense is required. For example, saying 'Eu debitado o dinheiro' instead of 'Eu debitei o dinheiro'. Lastly, some might incorrectly assume 'debitar' has a broader meaning outside of finance, leading to awkward or incorrect usage in non-financial contexts. It's important to remember that 'debitar' is almost exclusively used in financial and accounting contexts.
- Debit vs. Credit
- Confusing 'debitar' (to deduct money) with 'creditar' (to add money) is a very common mistake. Always remember that debiting reduces your balance.
- Preposition Usage
- Ensure you use the correct preposition, typically 'de', when specifying the account from which money is debited (e.g., debitar de uma conta).
- Verb Conjugation
- Like any verb, 'debitar' needs to be conjugated correctly according to tense and subject. Incorrect conjugation can lead to misunderstandings.
- Contextual Appropriateness
- 'Debitar' is primarily a financial term. Using it in non-financial contexts, like 'debitar um livro' (to debit a book), would be incorrect and confusing.
Erro: O banco irá creditar o pagamento. Correto: O banco irá debitar o valor da conta.
Incorrecto: O valor foi debitado para a minha conta. Correto: O valor foi debitado da minha conta.
Incorrecto: Eu debitado o dinheiro ontem. Correto: Eu deitei o dinheiro ontem.
While 'debitar' is the most precise term for deducting money from an account, especially in formal financial contexts, there are related words and phrases that might be used depending on the situation and register. The most direct antonym is 'creditar', meaning to add money to an account. In a more general sense, if money is being removed, you might hear 'retirar' (to withdraw), especially for cash from an ATM, or 'descontar' (to deduct or discount), which can apply to fees or payments taken from a larger sum. For everyday transactions, people might simply say 'pagar' (to pay) or 'gastar' (to spend), which implies that money will be debited from their account. However, these terms focus on the action of the payer rather than the bank's action of debiting. In accounting, 'lançar a débito' (to post as a debit) is a more technical phrase. For a business context, 'cobrar' can sometimes imply debiting a client's account for services rendered, though it's broader. Understanding these nuances helps in grasping the full spectrum of financial vocabulary.
- Creditar (to credit)
- This is the direct opposite of 'debitar'. It means to add money to an account. Example: 'O banco creditou o salário na minha conta.'
- Retirar (to withdraw)
- Often used for taking cash, especially from an ATM, which results in a debit. Example: 'Vou retirar dinheiro do caixa eletrônico.'
- Descontar (to deduct/discount)
- Can mean to deduct a fee or a discount from a price or amount. Example: 'Eles descontaram as taxas de serviço.'
- Pagar (to pay)
- A general term for giving money, which usually implies a debit from one's account. Example: 'Preciso pagar a conta de luz.'
- Gastar (to spend)
- Focuses on the act of using money, implying a debit. Example: 'Gastei muito dinheiro nas férias.'
O oposto de debitar é creditar.
Posso retirar dinheiro do caixa eletrônico, o que irá debitar da minha conta.
Fun Fact
The word 'debit' in English shares the same Latin root ('debere'). In accounting, a debit entry traditionally signifies an increase in assets or a decrease in liabilities/equity. For a bank account, which is a liability for the bank but an asset for the customer, a debit transaction decreases the customer's asset (money in the account).
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the final 'r' too strongly like in English 'car'.
- Not stressing the correct syllable (de-bi-TAR).
- Pronouncing the 'e' as a long 'ee' sound.
- Making the 't' sound like 'ch'.
Examples by Level
O banco debitou o dinheiro.
The bank debited the money.
Simple past tense of debitar.
Eles debitaram da minha conta.
They debited from my account.
Using 'de' to indicate the source.
O valor foi debitado.
The amount was debited.
Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.
Não quero debitar.
I don't want to debit.
Infinitive form with negation.
Posso debitar?
Can I debit?
Question form of the infinitive.
O caixa debitou.
The cashier debited.
Simple past tense.
Debitámos o custo.
We debited the cost.
First person plural, simple past.
Vou debitar agora.
I will debit now.
Future tense with 'ir' + infinitive.
O banco debitou 50 euros da minha conta.
The bank debited 50 euros from my account.
Specifying the amount and the account.
Por favor, não debite este valor da minha conta.
Please do not debit this amount from my account.
Imperative with negation.
O pagamento foi debitado automaticamente.
The payment was debited automatically.
Passive voice with an adverb.
Preciso debitar dinheiro para pagar a conta.
I need to debit money to pay the bill.
Using 'para' to express purpose.
Eles debitaram as taxas de serviço sem avisar.
They debited the service fees without warning.
Using 'sem' (without).
O valor total será debitado no final do mês.
The total amount will be debited at the end of the month.
Future tense with 'ser' + past participle.
O meu cartão de débito debitou o valor da compra.
My debit card debited the purchase amount.
Using 'debitar' with a debit card as the subject.
A loja debitou o valor errado.
The store debited the wrong amount.
Simple past tense with an object.
O sistema bancário permite debitar fundos para pagamentos recorrentes.
The banking system allows debiting funds for recurring payments.
Using 'permitir' + infinitive.
Fui informado que o valor seria debitado da minha conta poupança.
I was informed that the amount would be debited from my savings account.
Passive voice with conditional tense.
É importante verificar o extrato para garantir que nenhum valor foi debitado indevidamente.
It is important to check the statement to ensure no amount was debited improperly.
Using 'para garantir que' + subjunctive.
A empresa optou por debitar o pagamento diretamente da conta do cliente.
The company opted to debit the payment directly from the client's account.
Using 'optou por' + infinitive.
Caso ocorra algum problema, o valor poderá ser debitado em duplicado.
Should any problem occur, the amount could be debited twice.
Conditional clause with 'poder' + infinitive.
Solicitei que o débito fosse agendado para a próxima semana.
I requested that the debit be scheduled for next week.
Using 'que' + subjunctive.
O banco debitou uma taxa de manutenção trimestral da minha conta.
The bank debited a quarterly maintenance fee from my account.
Specifying frequency of debit.
É crucial que o sistema evite debitar valores negativos.
It is crucial that the system avoids debiting negative values.
Using 'é crucial que' + subjunctive.
O contrato estipula que o pagamento será debitado mensalmente em conta corrente.
The contract stipulates that the payment will be debited monthly from the current account.
Formal language, specifying account type.
A falha no sistema resultou no débito indevido de quantias significativas.
The system failure resulted in the undue debiting of significant amounts.
Using 'resultou no' + gerund.
O cliente tem o direito de contestar qualquer valor debitado sem a sua prévia autorização.
The client has the right to contest any amount debited without their prior authorization.
Using 'ter o direito de' + infinitive, and 'prévia autorização'.
A empresa de telefonia irá debitar o valor da fatura de serviços adicionais.
The telephone company will debit the amount of the invoice for additional services.
Future tense, specifying the nature of the debit.
Solicito a reversão do débito efetuado na data de ontem, pois foi um engano.
I request the reversal of the debit made yesterday, as it was a mistake.
Formal request, using 'efetuado' as an adjective.
É imperativo que os procedimentos de segurança impeçam que dados sensíveis sejam debitados indevidamente.
It is imperative that security procedures prevent sensitive data from being debited improperly.
Using 'é imperativo que' + subjunctive, and 'impeçam que'.
O valor cobrado a título de juros será debitado automaticamente do saldo devedor.
The amount charged as interest will be debited automatically from the outstanding balance.
Technical financial terms, passive voice.
A plataforma online permite que os utilizadores debitem fundos para subscrever serviços premium.
The online platform allows users to debit funds to subscribe to premium services.
Using 'permite que' + subjunctive.
A legislação tributária prevê a possibilidade de debitar impostos retidos na fonte.
Tax legislation provides for the possibility of debiting taxes withheld at source.
Legal and technical terminology.
A auditoria externa identificou inconsistências no processo de como os valores eram debitados.
The external audit identified inconsistencies in the process of how amounts were debited.
Formal audit context, past tense.
O regulamento bancário exige que toda transação que resulte em débito seja devidamente registrada.
Banking regulations require that every transaction resulting in a debit be duly recorded.
Formal regulatory language, passive infinitive.
A empresa está a ponderar debitar custos operacionais adicionais na conta do cliente.
The company is considering debiting additional operational costs to the client's account.
Using 'estar a ponderar' + infinitive, formal business context.
A negligência na verificação dos lançamentos pode levar ao débito de quantias erróneas.
Negligence in verifying entries can lead to the debiting of erroneous amounts.
Formal language, abstract noun 'débito'.
É essencial que os sistemas de pagamento automático sejam configurados para evitar duplicações de débito.
It is essential that automatic payment systems are configured to avoid debit duplication.
Technical system configuration, abstract noun 'débito'.
O acordo de cavalheiros permitiu que ambos os sócios debitassem despesas de representação.
The gentlemen's agreement allowed both partners to debit representation expenses.
Idiomatic expression 'acordo de cavalheiros', formal context.
A moeda digital permite que os utilizadores debitem fundos peer-to-peer sem intermediários.
Digital currency allows users to debit funds peer-to-peer without intermediaries.
Modern financial technology, 'peer-to-peer'.
A interpretação do contrato sugere que a cláusula de débito automático se aplica a todas as obrigações financeiras.
The interpretation of the contract suggests that the automatic debit clause applies to all financial obligations.
Highly formal, legalistic language.
O escrutínio minucioso dos registos contáveis revelou um padrão de débitos não autorizados.
The meticulous scrutiny of accounting records revealed a pattern of unauthorized debits.
Sophisticated vocabulary, abstract noun 'débitos'.
A jurisprudência estabelece que o ónus da prova recai sobre quem alega ter debitado um valor indevidamente.
Jurisprudence establishes that the burden of proof lies with the party claiming to have debited an amount improperly.
Legal terminology, 'jurisprudência', 'ónus da prova'.
A diretiva europeia visa harmonizar os procedimentos para debitar pagamentos transfronteiriços.
The European directive aims to harmonize procedures for debiting cross-border payments.
International financial regulations, 'diretiva'.
A análise forense dos dados demonstrou que os débitos fraudulentos foram orquestrados remotamente.
The forensic data analysis demonstrated that the fraudulent debits were orchestrated remotely.
Technical, sophisticated vocabulary, 'forense', 'orquestrados'.
O princípio da boa-fé contratual exige que as partes não debitem valores que não lhes sejam devidos.
The principle of good faith in contracts requires that parties do not debit amounts that are not owed to them.
Legal principle, formal phrasing.
A complexidade do sistema de compensação bancária torna difícil rastrear cada débito individual.
The complexity of the interbank clearing system makes it difficult to track each individual debit.
Technical financial systems, abstract noun 'débito'.
É imperativo que as instituições financeiras implementem salvaguardas robustas contra o débito ilícito de fundos.
It is imperative that financial institutions implement robust safeguards against the illicit debiting of funds.
Highly formal, emphasizing security and prevention.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— The bank took money out of my account.
Fiquei surpreso quando vi que o banco debitou o meu dinheiro sem eu saber.
— The amount was removed from the account.
Após a compra, o valor foi debitado da conta automaticamente.
— I need to deduct this from my account.
Tenho que debitar isto da minha conta para controlar meus gastos.
— They debited without permission.
É inaceitável que eles debitaram sem permissão.
— The card charged the purchase amount.
Usei meu cartão de débito e ele debitou o valor da compra.
— I don't want them to debit.
Não quero que debitam mais dinheiro da minha conta este mês.
— The debit was made/processed.
O débito foi efetuado com sucesso na sua conta.
— The system charged the wrong amount.
O sistema debitou o valor errado e precisei contactar o suporte.
Idioms & Expressions
— This is not a standard idiom. 'Debitar' is strictly financial. One might metaphorically say 'tirar um peso da consciência' (to lift a weight off one's conscience).
Não existe um idioma comum com 'debitar' neste sentido. Usaríamos 'tirar um peso da consciência'.
N/A (Not a real idiom)— This phrase implies that achieving success comes with a cost or sacrifice, which is 'debited' from one's personal resources (time, effort, etc.).
O sucesso neste campo exige muito trabalho, e é preciso estar preparado para debitar o preço.
Figurative/Metaphorical— To attribute blame or responsibility for a debt or problem to someone else.
Ele tentou debitar a culpa pelo fracasso do projeto nos seus colegas.
Figurative/Attribution— To charge an expense to the public treasury or government funds.
As despesas com a infraestrutura serão debitadas ao tesouro público.
Formal/Governmental— A metaphorical expression suggesting that certain actions or experiences are recorded or have a lasting impact, like entries in a ledger. It's not a common idiom.
As lições aprendidas na adversidade parecem ser debitadas no livro da vida.
Figurative/Philosophical— To charge expenses to a specific account or budget.
A empresa irá debitar todas as despesas de viagem da conta do departamento.
Business/Financial— To hold someone responsible for a cost or consequence.
Se o erro for seu, a empresa irá debitar a conta de alguém.
Figurative/Responsibility— To consider the financial investment made in education as a 'debit' or cost, often implying a long-term investment.
Os pais sentem que estão a debitar o custo da educação dos filhos por muitos anos.
Figurative/Financial Planning— To account for taxes that have been withheld from a payment.
A empresa precisa debitar os impostos retidos na fonte antes de repassar o valor.
Taxation/Accounting— To remove a large amount of money from an account.
O projeto exigiu que debitassem uma soma considerável do orçamento principal.
Financial TransactionWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a devil (de-bit-ar) taking money from your bank account. The devil is always associated with taking things, and here he's taking your money, hence 'debitar'.
Visual Association
Picture a large, red minus sign (-) over a bank account icon, symbolizing money being taken away. The word 'debitar' is written next to it.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'debitar' in at least three sentences describing hypothetical financial transactions you might encounter. For example, imagine you are buying something online or paying a bill.
Word Origin
The verb 'debitar' originates from the Latin word 'debitare', which is a frequentative form of 'debere'. 'Debere' means 'to owe', 'to be indebted', or 'to give'. The concept of debiting in finance evolved from this idea of owing or being required to pay.
Original meaning: Originally 'to owe' or 'to pay'.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > PortugueseCultural Context
When discussing financial matters, especially debits from accounts, it's important to be mindful of the context and the individuals involved. Unexpected debits can cause financial stress, so approaching the topic with empathy is key.
In English-speaking countries, the term 'debit' is also standard in banking and finance, stemming from the same Latin root. The concept and usage are very similar.
Summary
The verb 'debitar' signifies the action of deducting money from a financial account, a fundamental concept in banking and personal finance.
- Debitar means to take money out of an account.
- It's a financial term used by banks.
- Think of it as the opposite of adding money.
- Commonly seen on bank statements.
Related Content
More work words
a curto prazo
A2Over a short period of time; short-term.
à exceção de
B1With the exception of; apart from.
a longo prazo
A2Over a long period of time; long-term.
a não ser que
A2Unless; except if; only if not.
a partir de
A2Starting from; from a certain point in time or place.
a prazo
A2For a period of time; on credit or payment terms.
a tempo inteiro
B1Full-time; working the full number of hours considered normal for a job.
a tempo parcial
B1Part-time; working less than full-time hours.
abdicar
A2To give up, to abdicate; to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, or claim.
acessível
B1Available, accessible; easy to approach or use.
