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A2 verb #2,500 most common 10 min read

demorar

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips demorar in 30 Seconds
Explanation demorar in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'demorar' is introduced as a basic verb to express that something takes a long time. Beginners learn to use it in simple, everyday contexts, such as waiting for a bus, ordering food, or asking how long a journey takes. The focus is on the present tense (eu demoro, ele demora) and basic questions like 'Demora muito?' (Does it take long?). Learners at this stage associate 'demorar' with the concept of waiting and time duration. They practice simple sentences like 'O ônibus demora' (The bus takes a long time) or 'A comida não demora' (The food won't take long). Understanding 'demorar' helps A1 students navigate basic logistical situations, manage their expectations when traveling or dining out, and express simple frustrations about delays. The vocabulary is kept concrete, focusing on tangible events and immediate needs. Teachers often use visual aids, like clocks or schedules, to illustrate the meaning of 'demorar' versus 'rápido' (fast). By mastering these fundamental uses, A1 learners build a crucial foundation for discussing time and schedules in Portuguese, enabling them to participate in basic survival conversations during travel or daily routines.
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At the A2 level, the understanding and usage of 'demorar' expand significantly. Learners begin to use the verb in the past tense (perfeito) to recount events, such as 'Eu demorei muito ontem' (I took a long time yesterday). They also learn to combine 'demorar' with prepositions to express taking a long time to do a specific action: 'demorar a' or 'demorar para' followed by an infinitive verb. For example, 'Ela demorou para chegar' (She took a long time to arrive). This structural advancement allows for much more descriptive and detailed communication. A2 students practice asking more complex questions, like 'Quanto tempo demora para ir ao centro?' (How long does it take to go downtown?). They also start to differentiate 'demorar' from related concepts like 'atrasar' (to be late), understanding that 'demorar' focuses on the duration of the action itself rather than a fixed schedule. The contexts become broader, encompassing daily routines, travel planning, and simple social interactions where punctuality or duration is discussed. This level solidifies 'demorar' as a highly functional and frequently used tool in the learner's vocabulary arsenal.
At the B1 level, learners achieve a more nuanced command of 'demorar'. They confidently use it across various tenses, including the imperfect (demorava) to describe past habits or ongoing past situations, and the future (vai demorar / demorará) for predictions. The pronominal form 'demorar-se' is introduced, allowing students to express intentional lingering or taking one's time: 'Não se demore' (Don't take too long). B1 learners can engage in more complex discussions about time management, project durations, and the reasons behind delays. They understand the subtle emotional undertones of the verb, recognizing when it expresses annoyance, impatience, or simply a neutral statement of fact. Furthermore, they begin to use 'demorar' in conditional sentences and hypothetical scenarios. The vocabulary surrounding 'demorar' expands to include collocations and common phrases, making their speech sound more natural and idiomatic. They can comfortably narrate stories where delays play a central role, explaining the consequences of something 'demorando muito'. This level marks the transition from using 'demorar' merely for survival communication to using it for expressive and detailed storytelling and planning.
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At the B2 level, the use of 'demorar' becomes highly sophisticated and native-like. Learners effortlessly integrate the verb into complex sentence structures, including the subjunctive mood to express doubt, wishes, or subjective opinions about time: 'Espero que não demore' (I hope it doesn't take long) or 'É chato que ele demore tanto' (It's annoying that he takes so long). They master the subtle distinctions between 'demorar', 'tardar', 'atrasar', and 'levar', choosing the most precise word for the specific context. B2 students can discuss abstract concepts related to time, such as the slow progress of bureaucratic processes, the time it takes for emotional healing, or the long-term duration of social changes. They are comfortable using 'demorar' in professional and academic settings, discussing project timelines, research durations, and strategic planning. The verb is used fluidly in debates and persuasive arguments, often to highlight inefficiencies or to advocate for patience. At this stage, 'demorar' is fully integrated into the learner's active vocabulary, used with correct prepositions, appropriate tenses, and an accurate understanding of its cultural implications regarding time perception in Portuguese-speaking societies.
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At the C1 level, learners possess an advanced, near-native mastery of 'demorar'. They employ the verb in highly idiomatic expressions, complex literary contexts, and sophisticated rhetorical structures. They understand and can produce sentences using 'demorar' in passive constructions or highly formal registers, though they recognize its primary home is in active, everyday speech. C1 users effortlessly navigate the nuances of 'demorar' in abstract, philosophical, or highly technical discussions. For instance, they might discuss how a specific policy 'demorou a surtir efeito' (took a long time to take effect) or analyze the 'demora' (noun form) in historical societal shifts. They are acutely aware of the sociolinguistic aspects of the word, knowing exactly how to use it to convey subtle irony, deep frustration, or polite deference when discussing time. They can seamlessly switch between 'demorar', 'tardar', and other synonyms to avoid repetition and elevate their stylistic expression. At this level, the focus is not on the mechanics of the verb, but on its strategic use for emphasis, tone, and precise meaning in complex, high-level discourse, whether in writing or advanced oral communication.
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At the C2 level, the comprehension and application of 'demorar' are indistinguishable from an educated native speaker. The learner demonstrates complete mastery over all syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic dimensions of the verb. They can effortlessly deconstruct and utilize 'demorar' in the most complex literary texts, poetry, and advanced academic prose. C2 users intuitively grasp the deepest cultural connotations of time, delay, and waiting embedded in the Portuguese language, using 'demorar' to reflect these nuances perfectly. They can play with the word, using it in creative, non-standard, or highly poetic ways to achieve specific stylistic effects. They are capable of analyzing the etymology and historical usage of 'demorar' and its cognates. In spoken language, they use it with perfect timing and intonation to convey the exact shade of meaning required, whether it's a subtle critique of inefficiency or a profound observation on the passage of time. At this pinnacle of language proficiency, 'demorar' is not just a vocabulary item, but a fully integrated conceptual tool used to articulate the most complex thoughts regarding temporality, existence, and human experience with absolute precision and elegance.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

demorar in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'to take a long time' or 'to delay'.
  • Regular '-ar' verb, very common in daily speech.
  • Often followed by 'a' or 'para' + infinitive.
  • Can be used to express frustration about waiting.
The Portuguese verb 'demorar' is a highly versatile and frequently used word that primarily translates to 'to take a long time', 'to delay', or 'to linger'. Understanding how to use 'demorar' is essential for anyone learning Portuguese, as it relates to everyday concepts of time, waiting, and expectations. When we talk about an action that consumes more time than anticipated, or simply stating the duration of an event, 'demorar' is the go-to verb. It is a regular verb ending in '-ar', making its conjugation straightforward for learners who have mastered the basic present, past, and future tenses. The concept of time in Portuguese-speaking cultures can sometimes be more fluid than in other cultures, and 'demorar' perfectly captures this cultural nuance. Whether you are waiting for a bus, expecting a friend to arrive, or describing how long a recipe takes to cook, 'demorar' fits seamlessly into the sentence structure. Let us explore the various dimensions of this word.
Primary Meaning
To take a significant amount of time to complete an action or for an event to occur.

O ônibus vai demorar muito hoje.

In many contexts, 'demorar' can be translated as 'to be late', especially when referring to people arriving at a destination. For example, if someone says 'Ele está demorando', they mean 'He is taking a long time' or 'He is late'. This highlights the verb's flexibility.
Secondary Meaning
To linger or stay in a place longer than necessary.

Não quero demorar na festa.

It is also important to note that 'demorar' can be used transitively or intransitively. When used intransitively, it simply means 'to take a long time'. When used transitively, it can mean 'to delay something'.

A chuva vai demorar a nossa viagem.

The preposition 'a' or 'para' often follows 'demorar' when introducing another verb. For instance, 'demorar a chegar' (to take a long time to arrive) or 'demorar para entender' (to take a long time to understand). Both prepositions are widely accepted, though 'para' is extremely common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Pronominal Usage
Demorar-se means to linger or delay oneself intentionally.

Ele se demorou no banho.

This pronominal form adds a layer of intention or personal involvement in the delay. Furthermore, 'demorar' is often used in negative sentences to indicate that something will happen soon. 'Não vai demorar' translates to 'It won't take long'.

A comida não vai demorar.

Mastering 'demorar' involves recognizing these subtle shifts in meaning based on context, prepositions, and pronouns. It is a word that bridges the gap between simple vocabulary and native-like fluency, allowing learners to express time-related frustrations, expectations, and observations with natural ease.
Using 'demorar' correctly requires an understanding of its syntax and the prepositions it commonly pairs with. As a regular verb, its conjugation follows the standard '-ar' pattern: eu demoro, tu demoras, ele demora, nós demoramos, eles demoram. In the past tense (perfeito), it becomes: eu demorei, tu demoraste, ele demorou, nós demoramos, eles demoraram.
Basic Intransitive Use
Using the verb on its own to state that something is taking a long time.

O trem costuma demorar.

When you want to specify *what* is taking a long time to happen, you must use a preposition followed by an infinitive verb. The two most common prepositions are 'a' and 'para'.
Demorar + a + Infinitive
This is the more traditional and slightly more formal way to express taking a long time to do an action.

Ela demorou a responder o e-mail.

Demorar + para + Infinitive
This is extremely common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese and is perfectly acceptable in all but the most formal writing.

Eu demorei para achar as chaves.

Another crucial structure involves specifying the exact amount of time something takes. In English, we say 'It takes two hours'. In Portuguese, we use 'demorar' with the time expression.

A viagem demora duas horas.

When asking questions about duration, 'demorar' is the standard verb. 'Quanto tempo demora?' means 'How long does it take?'. This is an essential phrase for travelers, shoppers, and anyone navigating daily life in a Portuguese-speaking country.

Quanto tempo vai demorar o conserto?

It is also important to understand the pronominal form 'demorar-se'. This form is used when a person intentionally lingers or takes their time in a specific location or doing a specific activity. It emphasizes the subject's agency in the delay. For example, 'Não se demore' means 'Don't take too long' or 'Don't linger'. This is often said as a parting instruction to someone running a quick errand. By mastering these different structures—intransitive, with prepositions, with time expressions, and pronominal—you will be able to use 'demorar' with the confidence and accuracy of a native speaker, greatly enhancing your communicative competence in Portuguese.
The verb 'demorar' is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking environments. Because time management, waiting, and scheduling are universal human experiences, you will encounter this word in almost every conceivable context, from casual street conversations to formal business meetings. In Brazil, where social events often have a flexible start time, 'demorar' is a frequent topic of discussion.
Public Transportation
A very common setting for this verb is when waiting for buses, trains, or flights.

O metrô está demorando muito hoje de manhã.

In restaurants and cafes, 'demorar' is used to ask about the status of an order or to apologize for a delay in service. A waiter might say, 'O prato não vai demorar' (The dish won't take long), or a customer might complain, 'Meu pedido está demorando'.
Restaurants and Service
Used to discuss the preparation time of food or the delivery of a service.

A nossa pizza vai demorar mais vinte minutos.

In professional settings, 'demorar' is used to discuss project timelines, meeting durations, and response times. While it can have a negative connotation (indicating an unwanted delay), it is also used neutrally to state facts about how long a complex task will take.

O relatório vai demorar para ficar pronto devido à falta de dados.

You will also hear 'demorar' frequently in personal relationships. When waiting for a friend to get ready to go out, or when someone is late for a date, 'demorar' is the verb of choice. 'Por que você demorou tanto?' (Why did you take so long?) is a classic question.
Social Interactions
Used to question or comment on someone's punctuality or the time taken to prepare.

Você sempre demora para se arrumar!

Furthermore, in medical contexts, doctors might use 'demorar' to explain how long a treatment will take to show results, or how long a recovery period will be. 'A cicatrização pode demorar algumas semanas' (Healing may take a few weeks).

O efeito do remédio não costuma demorar.

From the mundane frustrations of traffic jams to the anticipation of a major life event, 'demorar' is the linguistic tool Portuguese speakers use to navigate the passage of time. Its presence in music, literature, and daily dialogue cements its status as a core vocabulary word.
While 'demorar' is a regular verb, learners often make mistakes regarding its syntax, particularly concerning prepositions and direct translations from English. One of the most frequent errors is trying to translate the English phrase 'It takes me...' literally. In English, we say 'It takes me two hours to get to work'. A learner might incorrectly say 'Isso me demora duas horas'.
Incorrect Pronoun Usage
Avoid using indirect object pronouns (me, te, lhe) to indicate who is taking the time, unless using the specific pronominal form.

INCORRECT: Isso me demora muito. CORRECT: Eu demoro muito com isso.

Another common mistake involves the choice of preposition when linking 'demorar' to another verb. Learners sometimes omit the preposition entirely or use the wrong one.
Missing Preposition
Forgetting to use 'a' or 'para' before the infinitive verb.

INCORRECT: Ele demorou chegar. CORRECT: Ele demorou a chegar.

Confusion also arises between 'demorar' and 'atrasar'. While both relate to time and delays, they are not always interchangeable. 'Atrasar' specifically means 'to be late' relative to a scheduled time, or 'to delay' something that had a set deadline. 'Demorar' simply means 'to take a long time', regardless of whether there was a schedule.
Demorar vs. Atrasar
Using 'demorar' when 'atrasar' is more appropriate for scheduled events.

O voo está atrasado (delayed/late), but a viagem vai demorar (take a long time).

Learners also sometimes struggle with the pronominal form 'demorar-se'. They might use it when a simple intransitive 'demorar' is needed, or vice versa. 'Demorar-se' implies a deliberate lingering.

Não se demore na loja. (Don't linger in the store).

Finally, a subtle mistake is the overuse of 'demorar' when 'levar' (to take) might sound more natural in certain regional dialects, especially when stating a specific quantity of time (e.g., 'leva duas horas' vs 'demora duas horas'). Both are grammatically correct, but varying your vocabulary makes you sound more fluent. By paying attention to these common pitfalls—especially the 'Eu demoro' structure instead of 'It takes me'—learners can quickly improve their accuracy and sound much more natural when discussing time in Portuguese.
Expanding your vocabulary around the concept of time and delay involves learning words that are similar to 'demorar'. While 'demorar' is the most general and widely used term, Portuguese offers several synonyms and related verbs that convey slightly different nuances of duration, delay, and procrastination. Understanding these alternatives will enrich your expression and allow you to be more precise.
Tardar
A more formal or poetic synonym for demorar, meaning to be late or to delay.

A justiça tarda, mas não falha. (Justice delays, but does not fail).

Another crucial related word is 'atrasar'. As discussed in the common mistakes section, 'atrasar' specifically refers to being behind schedule. If a meeting was supposed to start at 2:00 PM and it is 2:15 PM, the meeting is 'atrasada'.
Atrasar
To be late, to fall behind schedule, or to cause something to be late.

O trânsito vai me atrasar para o trabalho.

For expressing the idea of an action consuming time, the verb 'levar' (literally 'to take' or 'to carry') is a perfect synonym for 'demorar' when followed by a time expression.
Levar (tempo)
To take an amount of time to complete an action.

A reforma vai levar três meses.

When dealing with intentional delays or putting things off, verbs like 'adiar' (to postpone) and 'procrastinar' (to procrastinate) come into play. While 'demorar' can imply a delay, 'adiar' means actively moving an event to a later date.

Tivemos que adiar a reunião.

Finally, words like 'prolongar' (to prolong) or 'estender' (to extend) relate to making something last longer than originally intended, which is a specific type of 'demora'.

O palestrante decidiu prolongar o discurso.

By integrating words like tardar, atrasar, levar, adiar, and prolongar into your vocabulary alongside 'demorar', you gain a comprehensive toolkit for discussing time, schedules, delays, and durations in Portuguese, allowing for highly nuanced and accurate communication in any situation.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Verbs followed by prepositions (Regência verbal)

Use of 'para' vs 'a' before infinitives

Pronominal verbs and reflexive pronouns

Expressing duration of time

Difference between 'levar' and 'demorar'

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Examples by Level

1

O ônibus demora.

The bus takes a long time.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

2

A comida demora muito?

Does the food take a long time?

Question form in the present tense.

3

Eu não demoro.

I won't take long.

Negative sentence, 1st person singular.

4

O trem demora dez minutos.

The train takes ten minutes.

Used with a specific time duration.

5

Por que você demora?

Why do you take so long?

Question word 'por que' with the verb.

6

A aula demora uma hora.

The class takes one hour.

Stating the duration of an event.

7

Ele sempre demora.

He always takes a long time.

Used with the frequency adverb 'sempre'.

8

O filme não demora.

The movie doesn't take long.

Negative statement about duration.

1

Eu demorei para achar a rua.

I took a long time to find the street.

Past tense (perfeito) with 'para' + infinitive.

2

Ela demorou a responder.

She took a long time to reply.

Past tense with 'a' + infinitive.

3

Vai demorar muito?

Is it going to take long?

Future construction (ir + infinitive).

4

Nós demoramos duas horas no trânsito.

We took two hours in traffic.

1st person plural in the past tense.

5

O conserto demorou mais que o esperado.

The repair took longer than expected.

Comparative structure 'mais que'.

6

Não demore no banho!

Don't take long in the shower!

Negative imperative form.

7

Quanto tempo demora a viagem?

How long does the trip take?

Question asking for specific duration.

8

Eles demoraram para entender a piada.

They took a long time to understand the joke.

3rd person plural past tense.

1

Antigamente, as cartas demoravam meses para chegar.

In the past, letters used to take months to arrive.

Imperfect tense for past habits.

2

Se chover, a obra vai demorar ainda mais.

If it rains, the construction will take even longer.

Conditional sentence with future implication.

3

Desculpe a demora, o trânsito estava terrível.

Sorry for the delay, the traffic was terrible.

Using the noun form 'a demora'.

4

Eu não queria me demorar na festa.

I didn't want to linger at the party.

Pronominal use 'demorar-se'.

5

Acho que a reunião não demorará muito.

I think the meeting won't take long.

Future tense (demorará) expressing an opinion.

6

Eles estão demorando a tomar uma decisão.

They are taking a long time to make a decision.

Present continuous (estar + gerund).

7

Por mais que eu tente, sempre demoro para me arrumar.

As much as I try, I always take a long time to get ready.

Concessive clause with 'por mais que'.

8

O médico disse que a recuperação pode demorar.

The doctor said the recovery might take a while.

Modal verb 'poder' + infinitive.

1

Espero que o processo não demore tanto quanto da última vez.

I hope the process doesn't take as long as last time.

Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.

2

É provável que a entrega demore devido à greve.

It is likely that the delivery will be delayed due to the strike.

Subjunctive used for probability.

3

Mesmo que demore, valerá a pena esperar.

Even if it takes a long time, it will be worth the wait.

Concessive clause with subjunctive 'mesmo que'.

4

Ele se demorou nos detalhes do projeto, atrasando o cronograma.

He lingered on the project details, delaying the schedule.

Pronominal form indicating excessive focus.

5

A aprovação da lei demorou anos para ser concretizada.

The approval of the law took years to be finalized.

Passive voice concept linked with duration.

6

Não me demorarei a responder sua solicitação.

I will not delay in answering your request.

Formal future pronominal use.

7

O quão mais demorar, pior será a situação.

The longer it takes, the worse the situation will be.

Proportional comparative structure.

8

Eles demoraram-se em despedidas intermináveis.

They lingered in endless goodbyes.

Literary/descriptive use of the pronominal form.

1

A transição para a nova tecnologia demorou a surtir os efeitos desejados.

The transition to the new technology took a long time to produce the desired effects.

Advanced vocabulary collocation 'surtir efeitos'.

2

É imperativo que não nos demoremos em deliberações fúteis.

It is imperative that we do not linger on futile deliberations.

Formal subjunctive with pronominal verb.

3

A justiça, embora por vezes demore, acaba por se impor.

Justice, although it sometimes delays, eventually imposes itself.

Concessive clause with philosophical tone.

4

O autor demorou-se na descrição da paisagem, criando uma atmosfera melancólica.

The author lingered on the description of the landscape, creating a melancholic atmosphere.

Literary analysis context.

5

Caso a resposta demore, tomaremos medidas alternativas.

In case the response is delayed, we will take alternative measures.

Conditional subjunctive with 'caso'.

6

A cicatrização das feridas sociais é um processo que fatalmente demora.

The healing of social wounds is a process that inevitably takes time.

Abstract noun usage and adverbial modification.

7

Não obstante a urgência, a burocracia fez com que o trâmite demorasse.

Despite the urgency, bureaucracy caused the procedure to be delayed.

Complex sentence structure with 'fazer com que'.

8

Demorou, mas finalmente compreendi a magnitude do problema.

It took a while, but I finally understood the magnitude of the problem.

Idiomatic standalone use of 'Demorou' to mean 'It took a long time'.

1

A letargia institucional fez com que a reforma demorasse décadas a sair do papel.

Institutional lethargy caused the reform to take decades to get off the ground.

Highly formal vocabulary and complex causation.

2

Demorar-se na contemplação do efêmero é um luxo da modernidade.

Lingering in the contemplation of the ephemeral is a luxury of modernity.

Infinitive used as a noun subject in a philosophical statement.

3

Por mais que a resolução demorasse, a integridade do processo foi mantida.

However long the resolution took, the integrity of the process was maintained.

Advanced concessive subjunctive.

4

A sua hesitação demorou o avanço das tropas, comprometendo a estratégia.

His hesitation delayed the advance of the troops, compromising the strategy.

Transitive use of 'demorar' meaning 'to delay something'.

5

É de uma ironia atroz que o socorro demore justamente onde é mais premente.

It is of an atrocious irony that help is delayed precisely where it is most urgent.

Sophisticated syntax expressing irony and urgency.

6

O silêncio que se seguiu à pergunta demorou uma eternidade.

The silence that followed the question lasted an eternity.

Poetic/hyperbolic use of duration.

7

Não se demore em lamúrias; a ação exige prontidão.

Do not linger in lamentations; action demands readiness.

Elevated imperative and vocabulary.

8

A consolidação da democracia é um labor que demora gerações.

The consolidation of democracy is a labor that takes generations.

Abstract sociological context.

Common Collocations

demorar muito
demorar a chegar
não demorar
demorar para fazer
demorar um pouco
demorar horas
demorar na resposta
demorar a passar
demorar a entender
demorar a sarar

Common Phrases

Demorou!
Vai demorar?
Não demora nada.
Desculpe a demora.
Que demora!
Demorar uma eternidade.
Sem mais demoras.
Demorar a cair a ficha.
Demorar para pegar no tranco.
Não se demore.

Often Confused With

demorar vs atrasar

demorar vs levar

demorar vs tardar

Idioms & Expressions

"Demorar um século"
"Demorar uma vida"
"Demorar mais que obra de igreja"
"Demorar a dar as caras"
"Demorar para engatar"
"Demorar a ver a luz do dia"
"Demorar para sair do forno"
"Demorar a criar raízes"
"Demorar a dar o braço a torcer"
"Demorar a abrir o jogo"

Easily Confused

demorar vs

demorar vs

demorar vs

demorar vs

demorar vs

Sentence Patterns

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How to Use It

note 1

'Demorar' focuses on the length of time, while 'atrasar' focuses on missing a scheduled time.

note 2

The slang 'Demorou' (past tense) is exclusively Brazilian and means 'Agreed/Let's go'.

Common Mistakes
  • Saying 'Isso me demora' instead of 'Eu demoro com isso'.
  • Forgetting the preposition 'a' or 'para' before the next verb.
  • Using 'demorar' when 'atrasar' is the correct word for being late to a meeting.
  • Confusing the noun 'demora' with the verb 'demorar'.
  • Misconjugating the past tense as 'demorou-se' when no reflexive meaning is intended.

Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement

Always ensure 'demorar' agrees with the entity taking the time. If the bus takes a long time, it's 'O ônibus demora'. If YOU take a long time, it's 'Eu demoro'.

Use 'Levar' as an Alternative

To sound more varied, alternate between 'demorar' and 'levar' when stating specific time amounts. 'Leva duas horas' and 'Demora duas horas' mean the same thing.

Master the Slang

If you are in Brazil and someone suggests a great idea, enthusiastically say 'Demorou!'. It will instantly make you sound like a local.

Stress the Last Syllable

In the infinitive form, the stress is on the final syllable: de-mo-RAR. In the present tense 'demora', the stress shifts to the penultimate syllable: de-MO-ra.

Apologizing for Delays

When apologizing, use the noun form. Say 'Desculpe a demora' (Sorry for the delay) rather than trying to use the verb form awkwardly.

Preposition Choice

Don't stress too much over 'a' vs 'para' after 'demorar' in spoken Portuguese. Both are widely understood, though 'para' is dominant in Brazil.

Catching the Negative

Listen carefully for 'não' before 'demora'. 'Não demora' is a promise that something will happen very soon, completely changing the expectation.

Formal Contexts

In formal writing, prefer 'demorar a' + infinitive. It looks more polished and adheres closer to traditional grammatical norms.

Learn the Antonyms

Pair your learning of 'demorar' with its opposites like 'apressar' (to hurry) to build a more robust vocabulary network in your brain.

Time vs Schedule

Always ask yourself: Am I talking about duration or a missed deadline? Duration = demorar. Missed deadline = atrasar.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'DEMO' taking a long time to load. A DEMO-RAR takes forever to extract.

Word Origin

From Latin 'demorari', meaning 'to linger, loiter, delay'.

Cultural Context

In Brazilian slang, 'Demorou!' is used enthusiastically to mean 'Yes, let's do it!' or 'Absolutely!'.

In Portugal, 'demorar' is used similarly, but punctuality is generally stricter in professional settings than in some parts of Brazil.

The concept of 'demora' is heavily associated with public services and paperwork in both countries.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Você acha que o ônibus vai demorar?"

"Quanto tempo você demora para chegar no trabalho?"

"Por que as coisas boas sempre demoram a acontecer?"

"Você se importa se eu demorar um pouquinho?"

"Qual foi a coisa que mais demorou na sua vida?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma vez em que você teve que esperar muito por algo. Por que demorou?

O que você faz para passar o tempo quando algo está demorando?

Descreva um processo no seu país que costuma demorar muito.

Você é uma pessoa que demora para se arrumar? Explique.

Como você se sente quando as pessoas demoram a responder suas mensagens?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

'Demorar' means to take a long time or to have a long duration. 'Atrasar' means to be late relative to a specific schedule or deadline. For example, a flight can take a long time (demorar) without being late (atrasado). If a 1-hour flight takes 3 hours, it 'demorou'. If it departs after its scheduled time, it 'atrasou'.

Both are correct when followed by an infinitive verb. 'Demorar a chegar' is slightly more traditional and formal. 'Demorar para chegar' is extremely common in everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese. You can use whichever feels more comfortable, but be prepared to hear both.

Do not translate 'It takes me' literally. In Portuguese, you become the subject of the verb. You should say 'Eu demoro 20 minutos'. Alternatively, you can use the verb 'levar' and say 'Eu levo 20 minutos'.

In Brazilian slang, 'Demorou!' is an enthusiastic way to say 'Yes!', 'Let's do it!', or 'Agreed!'. The literal translation is 'It took a long time', implying that the good idea should have been suggested earlier, so you must act on it immediately. It is very informal.

The word 'demorar' is strictly a verb. However, it has a corresponding noun form, which is 'a demora'. You use the noun in phrases like 'Desculpe a demora' (Sorry for the delay). Never say 'Desculpe o demorar'.

The pronominal form 'demorar-se' is less common in casual speech but is used to mean 'to linger' or 'to take one's time intentionally'. You might hear it in negative commands like 'Não se demore' (Don't linger/Don't take too long). It appears more frequently in literature.

The most common way to ask this is 'Quanto tempo demora?'. You can also specify the action by adding 'para' + infinitive, like 'Quanto tempo demora para chegar lá?' (How long does it take to get there?).

Yes, but usually in the negative form. To say something is fast, you can say 'Não demora' (It doesn't take long) or 'Não vai demorar nada' (It won't take any time at all). It's a common way to reassure someone who is waiting.

As a regular '-ar' verb, the past tense (perfeito) is: eu demorei, tu demoraste, ele/ela/você demorou, nós demoramos, eles/elas/vocês demoraram. 'Ele demorou muito' means 'He took a long time'.

The core meaning is exactly the same in both countries. However, the slang usage of 'Demorou!' to mean 'Agreed!' is specific to Brazil. In Portugal, they might prefer 'demorar a' over 'demorar para' more strictly than in Brazil.

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