This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 verb #8,000 most common 11 min read

encerar

Top 8,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips encerar in 30 Seconds

Explanation encerar in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'encerar' is a useful addition to your vocabulary for describing basic daily chores and household items. You should understand it primarily as 'to wax the floor'. At this stage, focus on the present tense: 'Eu encero o chão' (I wax the floor). You might learn this word when talking about your home, your family's routine, or simple actions you do during the weekend. It is often paired with nouns like 'chão' (floor) or 'casa' (house). You don't need to worry about complex conjugations yet; just recognize that it comes from the noun 'cera' (wax). Think of it as part of a cleaning list: 'varrer' (to sweep), 'lavar' (to wash), and 'encerar' (to wax). This level is about identification and very simple sentence construction. If you go to a store in a Portuguese-speaking country, you might see 'cera' on a bottle, and knowing 'encerar' helps you understand what that product is for. It is a concrete, physical action that is easy to visualize.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'encerar' in more varied contexts and tenses. You can now talk about things you did in the past ('Ontem eu encerei o carro') or things you will do in the future ('Vou encerar a prancha de surfe'). You should be aware of the distinction between 'encerar' and other cleaning verbs like 'limpar' (to clean) or 'lavar' (to wash). A2 learners should also start noticing the noun 'enceradeira' (floor polisher/waxer), which is a common appliance in many traditional Brazilian and Portuguese homes. You might use the word when explaining your weekend plans or describing your hobbies, such as car maintenance or surfing. This is also the stage where you must be very careful not to confuse 'encerar' with 'encerrar' (to close). Remember: one 'r' is for wax, two 'r's is for closing. You will encounter this word in simple instructions or when reading a list of services at a car wash ('lavagem e enceramento').

By B1, you are expected to use 'encerar' more naturally in conversation and understand its role in more complex sentences. You can use it in the conditional ('Eu enceraria o chão se tivesse cera') and the subjunctive ('Espero que ele encere o carro antes da viagem'). You should also understand the passive voice usage, which is very common: 'O chão foi encerado' (The floor was waxed). At this level, you can describe the process in more detail, using adverbs like 'cuidadosamente' (carefully) or 'rapidamente' (quickly). You might also encounter the word in broader contexts, such as furniture restoration or specialized sports maintenance. B1 learners should be able to distinguish between 'encerar', 'polir', and 'lustrar' based on the specific material being treated. You might read about 'encerar' in home improvement blogs or hear it in more detailed domestic discussions. Your ability to distinguish the 'r' sound in 'encerar' from the 'rr' in 'encerrar' should be becoming much stronger through listening practice.

At the B2 level, you understand 'encerar' within a wider range of technical and professional registers. You might encounter it in a manual for industrial floor maintenance or in a professional detailing guide for automotive enthusiasts. You are comfortable with all its conjugations and can use it to express nuance, such as the difference between 'encerar' (applying wax) and 'impermeabilizar' (waterproofing). You can participate in discussions about the environmental impact of different types of waxes (synthetic vs. natural) and use the verb 'encerar' to describe these processes accurately. You might also recognize the word in literature or more formal writing, where it might be used to set a scene of a well-maintained, traditional home. At B2, you should be able to explain the steps of 'enceramento' to someone else in Portuguese, including the preparation and the tools required. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use related terms like 'estopa' (polishing cloth) or 'flanela' (flannel/cloth) alongside the verb.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 'encerar' includes its subtle cultural connotations and less common idiomatic uses. You recognize how the act of 'encerar' can be used in a narrative to imply a character's meticulous nature or a sense of domestic order. You are familiar with the history of the word and its Latin roots, and you can discuss the evolution of floor maintenance from traditional 'enceradeiras' to modern self-shining waxes. You might notice the word in complex legal or commercial contracts regarding property maintenance. In a professional setting, such as a museum or a high-end furniture workshop, you can use the word with technical precision. You are also highly sensitive to the phonetic difference between 'encerar' and 'encerrar', never making the mistake even in fast-paced conversation. You can appreciate wordplay or puns that might involve these two similar-sounding verbs in advertising or comedy. Your mastery allows you to use the verb in any tense or mood with complete confidence and native-like flow.

At the C2 level, you have a comprehensive, near-native command of 'encerar' and its entire word family. You can use the verb in highly sophisticated literary contexts, perhaps using it metaphorically or as part of a dense descriptive passage. You understand the nuances of regional variations—how the term might be used slightly differently in rural Portugal compared to urban Brazil. You can discuss the chemistry of 'enceramento' if necessary, or the socio-economic implications of domestic labor where 'encerar' is a primary task. Your understanding is so deep that you can identify the word even when spoken with heavy regional accents or in noisy environments. You are an expert in the language's nuances, recognizing when a writer uses 'encerar' to evoke a specific era or social class. For you, the word is not just a verb but a thread in the vast tapestry of Lusophone culture and daily life, connected to memories, smells, sounds, and the very history of how people have cared for their surroundings over centuries.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

encerar in 30 Seconds

Encerar means to apply wax to a surface for protection or shine.
It is a regular -ar verb used for floors, cars, and surfboards.
Do not confuse it with 'encerrar', which means to close or finish.
A common noun derived from it is 'enceradeira', the machine used for waxing floors.

The Portuguese verb encerar is a fundamental term for anyone learning about household maintenance, car care, or even specialized sports like surfing. At its core, it means to apply wax (cera) to a surface. However, the cultural weight of this word in Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly Brazil and Portugal, extends beyond a simple chore. For many, a floor that has been properly encerado represents a point of pride in domestic upkeep. In historical contexts, before the advent of modern 'porcelanato' or laminate flooring, many homes featured wooden 'taco' floors or red-painted cement floors that required weekly waxing to maintain their luster and protection. The act of encerar involves spreading a layer of liquid or paste wax, letting it dry, and then buffing it to a high shine, often using a heavy machine called an enceradeira.

Domestic Context: In the home, this verb is almost exclusively associated with floors. You will hear parents telling children to stay off the floor because they are about to encerar. It implies a deep cleaning process that goes beyond just sweeping or mopping.

Minha avó passava o sábado inteiro para encerar o assoalho de madeira da sala principal.

Automotive Context: When talking about cars, encerar is the standard term for applying a protective wax layer to the paintwork. It is the final step after washing to ensure the vehicle shines and is protected from the tropical sun or coastal salt air.

Depois de lavar o carro, é importante encerar para proteger a pintura contra o sol forte.

Beyond the home and car, surfers use this word constantly. To encerar a prancha (to wax the board) is a ritual performed before entering the water to ensure grip. Without this, the surfer would slip off the fiberglass surface. This specific usage highlights the word's versatility across different hobbies and industries. In the beauty industry, while 'depilar' is the general term for hair removal, the process of applying wax is inherently linked to the root of encerar, though the verb itself is less commonly used for skin than for surfaces. Finally, in industrial settings, encerar is used for finishing furniture or protecting metal parts from oxidation. It is a word of preservation, aesthetics, and meticulous labor.

O surfista começou a encerar a prancha assim que chegou na areia da praia.

Artisanal Usage: Carpenters and restorers use encerar to describe the traditional finish given to antique furniture, using beeswax (cera de abelha) to bring out the wood grain naturally.

O marceneiro recomendou encerar a mesa de jantar uma vez por ano para manter o brilho.

Eles vão encerar o piso do salão de festas antes do casamento começar.

Using encerar correctly requires understanding its conjugation as a regular '-ar' verb and its typical syntactic patterns. Usually, it is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object—the thing being waxed. For example, 'Eu encero o chão' (I wax the floor). It is rarely used intransitively. Because it describes a process that takes time, you will often see it used in the continuous present (estou encerando) or with auxiliary verbs like 'precisar' (to need) or 'ir' (to go). The verb follows the standard pattern: eu encero, tu enceras, ele encera, nós enceramos, vós encerais, eles enceram. In the past tense, it is encerrei (wait, careful! That's 'encerrar'). The past tense of encerar is encerei. This is a major pitfall for learners.

The Preterite Tense: When talking about a completed action: 'Ontem eu encerei todo o assoalho'. It conveys a sense of hard work finished. Note the single 'r'.

Nós enceramos a quadra de basquete para o torneio de amanhã.

The Future Tense: Commonly used when planning chores: 'Vou encerar o carro no final de semana'. It expresses intention.

Você vai encerar os móveis novos com cera natural ou sintética?

In imperative forms, you'll hear it in instructions: 'Encere bem os cantos da sala'. This is common in training for cleaning staff or in DIY videos. Another important aspect is the passive voice: 'O chão foi encerado ontem'. Here, encerado acts as a past participle/adjective. This is perhaps the most common way you'll encounter the word—describing the state of a surface. 'Cuidado, o chão está encerado' (Careful, the floor is waxed/slippery). This warning is ubiquitous in Brazilian buildings. The relationship between the verb and the noun enceradeira (waxing machine) is also vital for sentence construction. You use the enceradeira to encerar.

O funcionário está encerando o corredor do hospital agora mesmo.

Conditional Usage: Used for hypothetical maintenance: 'Se eu tivesse tempo, eu enceraria o assoalho da cozinha hoje'.

Seria melhor encerar a madeira antes que a umidade estrague o material.

Ela prefere encerar a prancha de surfe com cera de coco biodegradável.

The word encerar is most audible in the domestic and commercial service spheres. If you live in a Brazilian apartment building (prédio), you will frequently hear the 'zelador' (caretaker) or the 'faxineira' (cleaning lady) mentioning that they need to encerar the lobby or the stairs. The sound of the electric enceradeira—a rhythmic, low-frequency hum—is a classic weekend morning sound in many older neighborhoods. In these contexts, the word is associated with cleanliness, routine, and the specific smell of floor wax (cheiro de cera), which many Brazilians associate with a 'clean home' (casa limpa). In car washes (lava-jatos), you'll see signs offering 'lavagem e enceramento'. Here, encerar is a premium service that costs extra.

In the Surf Community: At the beach, particularly in places like Florianópolis or Nazaré, surfers talk about 'encerar a prancha' as a pre-surf ritual. It’s a moment of focus and preparation.

Ei, você tem um pouco de cera para eu encerar minha prancha antes de entrar no mar?

In Hardware Stores: In stores like Leroy Merlin or local 'ferragens', you'll hear customers asking for 'produtos para encerar madeira' or 'máquinas de encerar'.

Qual é o melhor tipo de estopa para encerar móveis antigos sem riscar?

In television commercials, especially for cleaning products like 'Veja' or 'Poliflor', the verb encerar is used to promise a home that shines like a mirror. These ads often show a person effortlessly gliding across a floor that has just been encerado. Furthermore, in the world of classic car restoration, experts discuss the nuances of how to encerar paintwork that is decades old without damaging the original finish. It is a word of care and preservation. You might also hear it in museums, where staff must encerar wooden artifacts or certain types of sculptures to keep them from drying out. In every instance, the word carries the connotation of an 'extra step' that provides protection and beauty.

O museu fecha às segundas para a equipe encerar e polir as relíquias de madeira.

In Schools: Before a school dance or a sports event, the 'zeladores' often enceram the gymnasium floor to make it look professional and 'novo'.

Os alunos foram proibidos de entrar no ginásio porque acabaram de encerar o piso.

Vou aproveitar que as crianças saíram para encerar a sala sem interrupções.

The most frequent and potentially confusing mistake for English speakers learning Portuguese is the confusion between encerar (to wax) and encerrar (to close, terminate, or finish). They look incredibly similar, differing only by a single 'r'. However, the pronunciation and meaning are vastly different. Encerar has a soft 'r' at the end of the root (like the 'r' in 'car' in some accents, but more like a tapped 'r'), whereas encerrar has a strong, throaty 'rr' (the 'h' sound in English 'hat'). If you say 'Vou encerrar o carro', people will think you are finishing a car deal or perhaps putting the car away forever, rather than making it shiny. Conversely, if a business owner says 'Vou encerar a loja', customers might expect a very shiny floor instead of the store closing down.

The 'R' vs 'RR' Trap: Encerar (/ẽ.se.ˈɾaɾ/) vs. Encerrar (/ẽ.se.ˈʁaɾ/). The difference is the vibration of the throat/tongue. Practice this distinction early!

Errado: Eu vou encerrar o chão. (I will terminate the floor). Correto: Eu vou encerar o chão.

Confusing with 'Polir': While often used together, encerar specifically implies the addition of wax. Using it for silverware or glass is incorrect; for those, use 'polir' or 'limpar'.

Errado: Preciso encerar os copos de vidro. Correto: Preciso polir ou limpar os copos de vidro.

Another common mistake is applying the verb to people in the context of waxing hair. As mentioned, the correct verb is 'depilar'. Saying 'Vou encerar minhas pernas' sounds like you are treating your legs like a wooden table. While people will understand you because of the 'cera' connection, it sounds very strange and mechanical. Additionally, learners sometimes forget that encerar is a regular verb. They might try to change the stem vowel in the present tense (like 'enciro'), but it remains 'encero'. Finally, don't confuse 'encerar' with 'engraxar'. 'Engraxar' is specifically for shoes (polishing shoes with grease/wax). You wouldn't 'encerar' your leather shoes in standard Portuguese; you 'engraxar' them.

Errado: Vou encerar meus sapatos de couro. Correto: Vou engraxar meus sapatos de couro.

Overusing Figuratively: In English, you might 'wax lyrical'. In Portuguese, 'encerar' does not have this idiomatic usage. Stick to literal waxing.

O chão está tão escorregadio que parece que acabaram de encerar com óleo!

Se você encerar o piso sem limpar antes, a sujeira vai ficar presa sob a cera.

To truly master the vocabulary of cleaning and maintenance, you need to know how encerar compares to its synonyms and near-synonyms. While encerar is specific to wax, other verbs describe the result (shine) or different methods of achieving it. The most common alternative is polir. While you often encerar a car and then polir it, polir usually implies a more abrasive process—removing a tiny layer of the surface to make it smooth. Encerar, on the other hand, is additive—you are putting something on top. Another word is lustrar, which is very common for furniture and means to buff something until it has a 'lustre' or shine. It is often used interchangeably with encerar when the final goal is shine.

Encerar vs. Polir: Encerar is adding wax for protection. Polir is smoothing the surface for shine. You wax a floor, but you polish a diamond.

Primeiro vamos encerar a madeira e depois lustrar com um pano seco.

Encerar vs. Engraxar: Use engraxar for shoes and leather boots. Use encerar for floors, cars, and surfboards.

Não use cera de chão para engraxar seus sapatos; use graxa apropriada.

There is also the verb envernizar (to varnish). Unlike encerar, which is temporary and needs to be redone frequently, envernizar creates a hard, permanent plastic-like coating. If a floor is envernizado, you usually don't need to encerar it as often, or at all. In some technical contexts, you might hear impermeabilizar (to waterproof), which is the functional purpose of waxing a surfboard or a stone floor. Finally, brunir is a more academic or industrial term for burnishing or polishing metal to a very high degree. For the average learner, sticking to encerar for wax-related tasks and polir for general shining will cover 90% of situations.

Ao encerar a prancha, você cria uma camada que ajuda na aderência dos pés.

Encerar vs. Limpar: Limpar is the general act of cleaning. Encerar is a specific maintenance step that happens *after* cleaning.

Primeiro você deve limpar a poeira, para só depois encerar a superfície.

A mesa de carvalho ficou linda depois que decidimos encerar com cera virgem.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Solicitamos encerar o piso do auditório antes da cerimônia."

Neutral

"Eu vou encerar o carro no sábado."

Informal

"Dá uma encerada aí nessa mesa, tá meio fosca."

Child friendly

"Não corra! O papai acabou de encerar o chão e está escorregadio."

Slang

"O cara é liso, parece que foi encerado."

Fun Fact

In ancient times, 'encerar' was a crucial step in creating waterproof tablets for writing, where a layer of wax was applied to wood.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ẽ.se.ˈɾaɾ/

US /ẽ.se.ˈɾaɾ/

The stress is on the final syllable 'rar'.

Rhymes With

esperar falar limpar cantar lugar mar olhar par

Common Errors

Pronouncing the single 'r' as a strong 'rr' (which makes it 'encerrar').
Forgetting the nasalization of the 'en' at the beginning.
Pronouncing the 'c' as 'k' (it should be 's').
Stressing the second syllable instead of the last.
Making the final 'r' silent like in French (it must be pronounced).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the root 'cera'.

Writing 3/5

Commonly confused with 'encerrar' (to close).

Speaking 3/5

The tapped 'r' at the end of the root can be tricky to distinguish from 'rr'.

Listening 3/5

Context is key to differentiate from 'encerrar' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

cera chão limpar carro madeira

Learn Next

polir lustrar engraxar envernizar enceradeira

Advanced

impermeabilizar restaurar manutenção conservação aderência

Grammar to Know

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Eu encero, tu enceras, ele encera...

Use of 'ir' + infinitive for immediate future

Vou encerar o chão agora.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle

O carro foi encerado.

Nasal vowels in Portuguese

The 'en' in 'encerar' is a nasal vowel /ẽ/.

Direct object placement

Vou encerá-lo (the floor).

Examples by Level

Eu vou encerar o chão hoje.

I am going to wax the floor today.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Você precisa encerar a mesa?

Do you need to wax the table?

Question form with 'precisar'.

Ela encera a casa no sábado.

She waxes the house on Saturday.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nós não enceramos o carro.

We do not wax the car.

Negative sentence in the present tense.

Onde está o produto para encerar?

Where is the product to wax with?

Use of 'para' + infinitive to show purpose.

Eles enceram o piso da escola.

They wax the school floor.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Quero encerar minha prancha nova.

I want to wax my new surfboard.

Verb 'querer' + infinitive.

Papai encera o assoalho todo mês.

Dad waxes the floor every month.

Regular present tense.

Ontem, eu encerei o carro do meu pai.

Yesterday, I waxed my father's car.

Preterite tense (completed action).

Você já encerou o chão da sala?

Have you already waxed the living room floor?

Preterite with the adverb 'já'.

Eles estavam encerando o corredor quando cheguei.

They were waxing the hallway when I arrived.

Past continuous (imperfeito + gerúndio).

Nós vamos encerar os móveis amanhã cedo.

We are going to wax the furniture tomorrow morning.

Future intention.

É difícil encerar o chão sem uma máquina.

It is difficult to wax the floor without a machine.

Impersonal expression 'É difícil'.

O surfista encerou a prancha antes de entrar no mar.

The surfer waxed the board before entering the sea.

Preterite tense.

Minha mãe sempre encerava a casa nas festas.

My mother always used to wax the house during parties.

Imperfect tense (habitual past).

Você pode me ajudar a encerar o assoalho?

Can you help me wax the floor?

Request with 'pode' + help + infinitive.

Se eu tivesse cera, eu enceraria o chão agora.

If I had wax, I would wax the floor now.

Conditional sentence (Se + imperfeito subjuntivo + futuro do pretérito).

Espero que eles encerem o salão para o casamento.

I hope they wax the hall for the wedding.

Present subjunctive after 'Espero que'.

O carro foi encerado por um profissional.

The car was waxed by a professional.

Passive voice.

Ao encerar a prancha, tome cuidado para não usar cera demais.

When waxing the board, be careful not to use too much wax.

Temporal clause with 'Ao' + infinitive.

É necessário encerar a madeira para protegê-la da umidade.

It is necessary to wax the wood to protect it from humidity.

Infinitive with object pronoun '-la'.

Embora estivesse cansado, ele resolveu encerar o piso.

Although he was tired, he decided to wax the floor.

Concessive clause with 'Embora' + subjunctive.

Nós tínhamos encerado o corredor antes da chuva começar.

We had waxed the hallway before the rain started.

Pluperfect (Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto).

Ela sugeriu que nós encerássemos os móveis antigos.

She suggested that we wax the antique furniture.

Imperfect subjunctive after a suggestion.

O manual recomenda encerar a superfície a cada seis meses.

The manual recommends waxing the surface every six months.

Transitive verb usage in formal instructions.

Caso você encere o chão hoje, ninguém poderá entrar na sala.

In case you wax the floor today, no one will be able to enter the room.

Conditional with 'Caso' + subjunctive.

A técnica de encerar madeira exige paciência e bons materiais.

The technique of waxing wood requires patience and good materials.

Gerund-like use of the infinitive as a subject.

Duvido que ele tenha encerado o carro tão rápido.

I doubt that he has waxed the car so fast.

Present perfect subjunctive with 'Duvido que'.

O assoalho, depois de encerado, recuperou seu brilho original.

The floor, after being waxed, recovered its original shine.

Reduced temporal clause (past participle).

Para encerar corretamente, deve-se aplicar a cera em movimentos circulares.

To wax correctly, one should apply the wax in circular motions.

Passive 'se' (impersonal).

Não adianta encerar se a superfície não estiver perfeitamente limpa.

It's no use waxing if the surface is not perfectly clean.

Future subjunctive after 'se'.

A empresa foi contratada para encerar todos os andares do prédio.

The company was hired to wax all the floors of the building.

Passive voice with finality clause.

A sutil arte de encerar relíquias exige um conhecimento profundo das ceras naturais.

The subtle art of waxing relics requires a deep knowledge of natural waxes.

Complex subject with abstract nouns.

Oxalá encerassem logo este piso para que pudéssemos organizar os móveis.

Would that they wax this floor soon so that we could organize the furniture.

Optative use of 'Oxalá' + imperfect subjunctive.

O ato de encerar, para ele, era quase uma meditação matinal.

The act of waxing, for him, was almost a morning meditation.

Infinitive used as a substantive.

Tão logo terminaram de encerar, a chuva torrencial aumentou a umidade do ar.

As soon as they finished waxing, the torrential rain increased the air humidity.

Temporal conjunction 'Tão logo'.

Pudesse eu encerar o passado, deixaria a vida com o brilho da infância.

Could I wax the past, I would leave life with the shine of childhood.

Inverted conditional without 'se'.

A despeito de terem encerado o convés, o capitão ainda não estava satisfeito.

Despite having waxed the deck, the captain was still not satisfied.

Concessive phrase 'A despeito de' + personal infinitive.

Haveria de encerar o assoalho antes que os convidados chegassem para o baile.

He would have to wax the floor before the guests arrived for the ball.

Periphrastic future 'Haver de' in the conditional.

Ao que parece, esqueceram de encerar os cantos, onde a poeira ainda reside.

Apparently, they forgot to wax the corners, where the dust still resides.

Idiomatic 'Ao que parece'.

A pátina do tempo fora obliterada pelo afã de encerar cada centímetro daquela herança.

The patina of time had been obliterated by the eagerness to wax every inch of that heritage.

Literary pluperfect (fora).

Encerar-se-á a madeira nobre com o máximo escrúpulo, tal qual faziam os antigos mestres.

The noble wood shall be waxed with the utmost scrupulousness, just as the old masters did.

Mesoclisis (future passive).

Não obstante o esforço em encerar o mármore, as fissuras do século passado permaneciam visíveis.

Notwithstanding the effort to wax the marble, the fissures of the last century remained visible.

Formal concessive 'Não obstante'.

Quiçá o brilho de encerar a vida cotidiana oculte as sombras da melancolia.

Perhaps the shine of waxing daily life hides the shadows of melancholy.

Literary 'Quiçá' + subjunctive.

A obsessão de encerar o assoalho beirava o patológico naquela residência austera.

The obsession with waxing the floor bordered on the pathological in that austere residence.

Substantive use of the infinitive with descriptive adjectives.

Mal haviam acabado de encerar, e o tropel das crianças já ameaçava o laborioso brilho.

Hardly had they finished waxing, and the thundering of the children already threatened the laborious shine.

Conjunction 'Mal' (hardly/as soon as).

Convinha encerar a mobília antes que o ar salino da costa a corroesse irremediavelmente.

It was advisable to wax the furniture before the saline air of the coast corroded it irremediably.

Impersonal verb 'Convinha' + infinitive.

A cera de carnaúba, usada para encerar as peças, exalava um odor que remetia a épocas idas.

The carnauba wax, used to wax the pieces, exhaled an odor that harked back to bygone eras.

Relative clause with past participle.

Common Collocations

encerar o chão

encerar o carro

encerar a prancha

encerar os móveis

máquina de encerar

encerar com cuidado

encerar e polir

encerar o piso

encerar a cada mês

encerar à mão

Common Phrases

Acabar de encerar

— To have just finished waxing. Used as a warning.

Cuidado! Acabei de encerar o chão.

Hora de encerar

— Time to wax. Refers to a scheduled chore.

Já é hora de encerar o carro novamente.

Encerar para brilhar

— To wax so that it shines. Emphasizes the aesthetic result.

Vamos encerar para brilhar no evento.

Encerar por cima

— To wax over something (like dirt). Usually a mistake.

Não pode encerar por cima da sujeira.

Encerar o taco

— Specifically waxing wooden block floors common in Brazil.

Dá muito trabalho encerar o taco da sala.

Encerar bem

— To wax thoroughly.

Certifique-se de encerar bem os cantos.

Encerar de novo

— To re-wax.

O brilho sumiu, preciso encerar de novo.

Encerar sozinho

— To wax by oneself.

Eu consigo encerar o carro sozinho.

Encerar com cera líquida

— To wax using liquid wax.

É mais fácil encerar com cera líquida.

Mandar encerar

— To have someone else wax it for you.

Vou mandar encerar o piso da loja.

Often Confused With

encerar vs encerrar

Means to close or terminate. Distinguish by the double 'r' and strong 'h' sound.

encerar vs engraxar

Specifically for shoes or lubricating gears. 'Encerar' is for broader surfaces.

encerar vs envernizar

Means to varnish. Varnish is permanent, wax is temporary.

Idioms & Expressions

"Pisar em chão encerado"

— Literally 'walking on a waxed floor', used to describe a precarious or delicate situation.

Nesta negociação, sinto que estou pisando em chão encerado.

figurative

"Dar uma encerada"

— To give a quick wax or, figuratively, to give a superficial polish to something.

Vou dar uma encerada na apresentação antes da reunião.

informal

"Brilhar mais que chão encerado"

— To shine more than a waxed floor. Used for very clean or shiny things.

Seu carro novo brilha mais que chão encerado!

colloquial

"Escorregar no encerado"

— To slip on the wax. Figuratively, to make a mistake in a smooth situation.

Ele ia bem no discurso, mas escorregou no encerado ao citar os dados.

slang/idiomatic

"Encerar o bico"

— Rarely used, but can mean to keep quiet (related to 'engraxar o bico').

Melhor encerar o bico e não contar nada.

informal

"Cuidado com o encerado"

— Watch out for the wax. A general warning about hidden dangers.

O negócio parece bom, mas cuidado com o encerado.

figurative

"Encerar a paciência"

— A creative variation of 'esgotar a paciência' (to wear out patience).

Essa burocracia está encerando a minha paciência.

creative/informal

"Ficar no encerado"

— To stay in the prepared area, or to be left out of the main action.

Ele não foi convidado e ficou no encerado.

regional

"Passar cera"

— To wax (the action itself), but sometimes used to mean 'flattering someone'.

Ele está sempre passando cera no chefe.

slang

"Liso como chão encerado"

— Smooth as a waxed floor. Used for slippery people or surfaces.

Aquele vendedor é liso como chão encerado.

colloquial

Easily Confused

encerar vs encerrar

Extremely similar spelling and sound.

Encerar (one R) is to wax. Encerrar (two Rs) is to close or end a meeting/shop.

Vou encerar o chão (wax) vs Vou encerrar a reunião (close).

encerar vs engraxar

Both involve polishing/protecting surfaces.

Engraxar is for shoes or metal parts with grease. Encerar is for floors, cars, and boards with wax.

Vou engraxar meus sapatos vs Vou encerar meu carro.

encerar vs polir

Often done at the same time as waxing.

Polir is the abrasive act of smoothing. Encerar is the additive act of applying wax.

Depois de encerar, você deve polir para dar brilho.

encerar vs lustrar

Both result in a shiny surface.

Lustrar is specifically about the final buffing/shining, often without adding more substance.

Use uma flanela para lustrar o móvel encerado.

encerar vs limpar

Waxing is a form of cleaning/maintenance.

Limpar is removing dirt. Encerar is applying a protective layer.

Você deve limpar antes de encerar.

Sentence Patterns

Eu vou encerar o [objeto].

Eu vou encerar o chão.

Você já [passado] o [objeto]?

Você já encerou o carro?

Se eu tivesse tempo, eu [condicional] o [objeto].

Se eu tivesse tempo, eu enceraria os móveis.

É preciso [infinitivo] para [objetivo].

É preciso encerar a prancha para ter aderência.

A despeito de [infinitivo pessoal], [resultado].

A despeito de termos encerado o piso, ele continua fosco.

Haveria de [infinitivo] se [condição].

Haveria de encerar a herança se o tempo permitisse.

Não [imperativo] o [objeto].

Não encere o chão agora.

Ele está [gerúndio] o [objeto].

Ele está encerando o corredor.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in domestic and maintenance contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 'encerrar' to mean wax. → Eu vou encerar o carro.
Adding an extra 'r' changes the meaning to 'to close' or 'to end'. This is the most common error.
Using 'encerar' for hair removal. → Vou depilar minhas pernas.
While wax is used, the verb for body hair removal is 'depilar'. 'Encerar' is for objects and floors.
Saying 'encerar os sapatos'. → Vou engraxar os sapatos.
Shoes require 'engraxar' (to polish with shoe grease/wax). 'Encerar' is too broad for footwear.
Pronouncing 'c' as 'k'. → Encerar (pronounced like 'en-se-rar').
The 'c' before 'e' or 'i' in Portuguese always sounds like 's'.
Forgetting the nasal 'en'. → Encerar (nasalized).
English speakers often pronounce the 'n' fully. In Portuguese, it should just nasalize the 'e'.

Tips

Watch the 'R'

The biggest mistake is adding a second 'r'. 'Encerar' (wax) vs 'Encerrar' (close). Remember: Wax has one 'r' like 'floor' (chão - wait, no, just remember one R!).

Nasal Start

Don't forget to nasalize the 'en' at the beginning. It should sound like the 'en' in 'entrar' or 'encontrar', not a sharp 'en' like in English 'pen'.

The Machine

Learn the word 'enceradeira' along with 'encerar'. It’s a very specific cultural item in older Brazilian households and helps anchor the verb in your memory.

Cars and Boards

If you are into cars or surfing, use this word! It’s the standard term. 'Vou encerar o carro' or 'Vou encerar a prancha' makes you sound very natural.

Slippery Floors

If you see a sign that says 'Piso Encerado', be very careful. It literally means 'waxed floor' and implies it is very slippery. This is a common safety warning.

Synonym Nuance

Use 'lustrar' for the final buffing step with a cloth. 'Eu encerei e depois lustrei os móveis'. This shows a higher level of Portuguese proficiency.

Link to Cera

Always remember that 'encerar' comes from 'cera' (wax). Since 'cera' has only one 'r', 'encerar' only has one 'r'. This is the best way to avoid the 'encerrar' trap.

The Saturday Ritual

In Brazil, Saturday is traditionally cleaning day. You can use 'encerar' when talking about your weekend routine to fit in with cultural norms.

Wood Care

When talking to a carpenter or furniture seller, ask: 'Como devo encerar esta madeira?' They will appreciate your specific vocabulary.

Phonetic Distinction

Listen to the difference between 'encerar' and 'encerrar' on audio tools. The 'rr' in 'encerrar' is a much stronger, friction-based sound in the throat.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'EN-CERA-R'. 'EN' (in/on) + 'CERA' (wax) + 'R' (verb ending). You are putting 'cera' on the floor.

Visual Association

Imagine a shiny surfboard at the beach with a circular pattern of white wax being applied to it.

Word Web

Cera Chão Carro Brilho Lustrar Polir Enceradeira Prancha

Challenge

Try to describe three things in your house that you could encerar and explain why you would do it in Portuguese.

Word Origin

Derived from the Portuguese noun 'cera' (wax), which comes from the Latin 'cera'. The prefix 'en-' is used to form a verb meaning 'to put into' or 'to cover with'.

Original meaning: To cover with wax.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be mindful that 'encerar' is a physical chore often associated with domestic workers; use it respectfully in those contexts.

English speakers often use 'wax' as both a noun and a verb. In Portuguese, you must distinguish between 'cera' (noun) and 'encerar' (verb).

The movie 'The Karate Kid' and the famous 'Wax on, wax off' line is often translated as 'Encera pra lá, encera pra cá' in Portuguese versions. Brazilian songs often mention the 'cheiro de cera' (smell of wax) to evoke domestic nostalgia. Traditional 'Poliflor' commercials are iconic in Brazilian pop culture.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Household cleaning

Encerar o assoalho
Passar a enceradeira
Cera líquida para o chão
Chão encerado e brilhante

Car detailing

Encerar a lataria
Cera automotiva
Polir e encerar
Proteção da pintura

Surfing

Encerar a prancha
Cera para água fria
Tirar a cera velha
Passar cera no bico

Furniture restoration

Encerar madeira antiga
Cera de abelha
Lustrar com flanela
Dar acabamento com cera

Safety warnings

Cuidado, chão encerado!
Acabaram de encerar
Piso escorregadio
Não pise no encerado

Conversation Starters

"Você costuma encerar o seu carro ou leva no lava-jato?"

"Qual é a melhor cera para encerar o chão de madeira?"

"Você já escorregou em um chão que acabaram de encerar?"

"Com que frequência você precisa encerar sua prancha de surfe?"

"Você prefere encerar os móveis com cera natural ou spray?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva o processo de encerar algo que você possui (um carro, um móvel, etc.).

Você acha que o hábito de encerar o chão está desaparecendo com os novos tipos de piso?

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve que encerar algo e deu muito trabalho.

Como o cheiro de um lugar recém-encerado faz você se sentir?

Compare a ação de encerar com a ação de polir. Quais são as diferenças para você?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, that is 'encerrar' with two Rs. 'Encerar' means to apply wax to a surface like a floor or a car. It is a very common mistake for learners because the words sound similar, but the context usually helps. If you are talking about a business, use 'encerrar'. If you are talking about cleaning, use 'encerar'.

Technically, you use wax ('cera') for hair removal, but the verb used is 'depilar'. If you say 'vou encerar as pernas', people will understand you are using wax, but it sounds like you are treating your legs like a wooden floor. It is better to say 'vou depilar com cera'.

Yes, it is a perfectly regular -ar verb. This makes it easy to conjugate once you know the pattern: eu encero, tu enceras, ele encera, nós enceramos, vós encerais, eles enceram. The past tense (encerei) is also regular.

An 'enceradeira' is an electric floor polisher or waxing machine. It was very common in Brazilian homes with wooden or cement floors. It has rotating brushes that help spread the wax and buff the floor to a high shine. The word comes directly from the verb 'encerar'.

Surfers use it to describe applying wax to the top of their surfboards. This 'enceramento' provides the necessary grip so their feet don't slip while riding a wave. It is a very common term in beach culture in Brazil and Portugal. You might hear: 'Cara, me empresta a cera para encerar minha prancha?'

'Encerar' means adding a layer of wax to protect and shine. 'Polir' (to polish) often involves using an abrasive substance to smooth out a surface. In car care, you might polish the paint to remove scratches and then wax it to protect the new surface. They are related but distinct actions.

It is much less common figuratively than in English. In English, you might 'wax lyrical', but in Portuguese, 'encerar' remains mostly literal. However, you might hear 'pisar em chão encerado' to mean being in a slippery or delicate situation, or 'dar uma encerada' to mean giving something a superficial improvement.

Yes, the word is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries. While some regional preferences for synonyms like 'dar cera' might exist in certain parts of Portugal, 'encerar' is universally understood and used for the act of waxing floors, cars, and furniture.

It depends on the surface. For floors, people use 'cera líquida' or 'cera em pasta'. For cars, 'cera automotiva' (often carnauba). For furniture, 'cera de abelha' (beeswax). For surfboards, 'parafina' is often the word for the wax itself, but the verb is still 'encerar'.

It is becoming less common for floors because of modern materials like laminate or porcelain tile that don't require wax. However, it remains very common for car enthusiasts, surfers, and people with traditional wooden furniture or 'taco' floors.