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A2 verb #6,000 most common 11 min read

Enterrar

Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips Enterrar in 30 Seconds

Explanation Enterrar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal and physical meaning of 'enterrar'. Think of it as a basic action you do with your hands. For example, a dog burying a bone in the garden ('O cão enterra o osso') or a child playing with sand at the beach ('Eu enterro os meus pés na areia'). You don't need to worry about complex metaphors yet. Just remember that it is a regular '-ar' verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'estudar'. In the present tense: eu enterro, você enterra, nós enterramos, eles enterram. It's a useful word for describing simple outdoor activities or basic stories about animals. Focus on the connection between 'enterrar' and 'terra' (earth/soil) to help you remember the meaning. If you see dirt and something going into it, 'enterrar' is your verb. Keep your sentences simple: 'Ele enterra a semente.' (He buries the seed). Practice the pronunciation of the double 'r'—it should be a strong sound from the back of your throat, like a very heavy 'h' in English.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'enterrar' in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to describe things that have already happened. This is very common in simple storytelling. For example: 'Ontem, eu enterrei uma cápsula do tempo no meu quintal' (Yesterday, I buried a time capsule in my backyard). You should also become familiar with the basic metaphorical use of 'enterrar um segredo' (burying a secret). At this level, you might also encounter the word in gardening instructions or simple news reports about archaeological finds. Pay attention to the prepositions: we usually bury something 'no' (in the) or 'na' (in the) somewhere. 'Eles enterraram o tesouro na praia.' You are also learning to differentiate between 'enterrar' and 'esconder'. Remember that 'enterrar' always implies the earth or being deep inside something. If you just put your phone under a book, use 'esconder'. If you put it in a hole in the ground, use 'enterrar'. This distinction helps you be more precise in your descriptions.

By B1, you should be comfortable with the reflexive form 'enterrar-se'. This is frequently used to describe being overwhelmed or getting into a bad situation. A very common phrase is 'enterrar-se em dívidas' (to bury oneself in debt) or 'enterrar-se no trabalho' (to bury oneself in work). You are moving beyond the literal soil and into the world of responsibilities and consequences. You should also understand the passive voice: 'O baú foi enterrado há cem anos' (The chest was buried a hundred years ago). At this level, you might start to notice the difference between 'enterrar' and 'sepultar'. While you can use 'enterrar' for people, you'll notice that 'sepultar' appears more in formal writing or when people want to sound more respectful. You can also use 'enterrar' to talk about 'burying the past' (enterrar o passado), which is a great way to express complex emotions in your writing or speaking. Practice using it in the subjunctive too: 'Espero que eles não enterrem o projeto' (I hope they don't bury the project).

At B2, you should master the idiomatic expressions and the nuances of 'enterrar' in professional and social contexts. You might hear the phrase 'enterrar o machado de guerra' (bury the hatchet) during a discussion about conflict resolution. You should also understand how 'enterrar' is used in sports, specifically basketball, where it means 'to dunk'. In a business context, 'enterrar dinheiro' (to bury money) is a common way to describe a failing investment. You should be able to use the verb in more complex grammatical structures, such as the personal infinitive or the future subjunctive. 'Se você enterrar esse segredo, ninguém saberá a verdade' (If you bury this secret, no one will know the truth). Your vocabulary should also include related words like 'enterro' (the noun for burial/funeral) and 'enterrado' (the adjective). You can now use the word to add flavor to your stories, using it to describe not just physical actions, but the suppression of ideas, the failure of careers, or the weight of history.

At the C1 level, you are expected to understand the subtle social and literary implications of 'enterrar'. You can distinguish between the bluntness of 'enterrar' and the poetic or formal weight of 'sepultar' or 'inumar'. You might analyze literature where 'enterrar' symbolizes the repression of national trauma or the burial of cultural identity. You should also be aware of regional differences; for example, how 'enterrar alguém' (to outlive someone) might be used in a casual but dark-humored conversation in a Portuguese village. You can use the verb to discuss abstract concepts like 'enterrar uma ideia' (burying an idea) in a corporate strategy meeting, implying that the idea was intentionally killed and forgotten. Your use of the word should be precise, choosing it over 'esconder' or 'ocultar' when you want to emphasize the finality and the 'weight' of the concealment. You are also proficient in using the verb in all tenses, including the most literary ones like the 'Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito simples' (ele enterrara), although this is rare in speech.

At C2, you have a native-like grasp of 'enterrar' and its vast metaphorical landscape. You can use it with irony, sarcasm, or deep emotional resonance. You understand how the word interacts with Portuguese history—for example, the 'enterrar' of secrets during the dictatorship years. You are familiar with obscure idioms and can even invent your own metaphors using the verb because you understand its core essence so well. You can discuss the etymology (from Latin 'interrare') and how it has evolved differently from its Spanish or French cousins. In high-level debates, you might use 'enterrar' to describe the 'burial' of a legal case due to technicalities. You also recognize the word's appearance in classical Portuguese literature, from Camões to Saramago, and how it is used to anchor abstract human experiences to the physical reality of the earth. Your mastery allows you to switch between the blue-collar, practical use of a construction worker and the sophisticated, metaphorical use of a philosopher or a high-level politician without hesitation.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

Enterrar in 30 Seconds

Enterrar means to bury something in the ground, like a bone, a seed, or a treasure chest.
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses for learners.
Metaphorically, it means to hide secrets, forget the past, or be overwhelmed by debt or work.
In sports slang, it can mean to dunk a basketball, and in general slang, to fail miserably.

The Portuguese verb enterrar is a fundamental word that every learner should master early in their journey. At its most basic, literal level, it means to put something into the ground and cover it with earth. This could be a gardener planting a sapling, a child playing at the beach, or the solemn act of a funeral. However, like many Portuguese verbs, its utility extends far beyond the physical world of soil and sand. It is deeply embedded in the way Lusophones describe hiding things, dealing with the past, and even facing financial or professional ruin.

Literal Burial: This refers to the physical act of placing an object or a body into the earth. For example, 'O pirata enterrou o baú' (The pirate buried the chest). It is the primary word used for gardening and archaeology as well.
Metaphorical Hiding: Used when someone wants to 'bury' a secret or a memory. 'Ela tentou enterrar o seu passado' suggests she is trying to hide or forget her history so it cannot be found.
Outliving Someone: In a somewhat somber idiomatic sense, to 'enterrar alguém' can mean to outlive them. If a grandmother is very healthy, people might say she will 'bury us all' (vai enterrar todos nós).

O cachorro gosta de enterrar ossos no quintal todos os dias.

Example of literal usage: A dog burying bones.

In Brazil and Portugal, you will also hear this verb in contexts of failure. If a project 'se enterrou', it means it went down the drain or failed miserably. It implies a sense of finality—once something is buried, it is usually gone for good. This intensity makes the word powerful in literature and daily conversation alike. Whether you are talking about a time capsule or a forgotten scandal, enterrar is the verb that bridges the gap between the physical earth and the depths of the human mind.

Precisamos enterrar o machado de guerra e fazer as pazes.

Idiomatic usage: Burying the hatchet.

Colloquial Ruin: In informal Brazilian Portuguese, 'se enterrar' can mean to get yourself into a very difficult situation, usually financial. 'Ele se enterrou em dívidas' (He buried himself in debt).

Não podemos enterrar a cabeça na areia diante dos problemas.

Idiomatic usage: Burying one's head in the sand.

Understanding the cultural weight of this word involves recognizing that Portuguese culture, particularly in rural areas, has a deep connection to the land (a terra). To bury something is to return it to the source. This is why the word feels so grounded. Even when used metaphorically, the imagery of earth and soil remains present in the speaker's mind. It is a verb of weight, depth, and often, silence.

Vou enterrar as sementes de girassol aqui.

Gardening context: Burying seeds.

Professional Failure: 'Aquele erro enterrou a carreira dele' (That mistake buried his career). This implies the mistake was so grave that his career cannot be recovered.

Eles decidiram enterrar a cápsula do tempo no parque.

Community context: Burying a time capsule.

Using enterrar correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature. In most cases, you are burying *something* (the direct object). Because it is a regular '-ar' verb, its conjugation is predictable, which is a relief for many students. However, the nuance lies in the prepositions that often follow it, such as 'em' (in) or 'no/na' (in the).

Direct Action: When the action is simple: Verb + Object. 'Eu enterro o lixo.' (I bury the trash). This is the most straightforward construction.
Location Focus: When you specify where: Verb + Object + Preposition + Place. 'Nós enterramos o tesouro na ilha.' (We buried the treasure on the island).

Eles enterraram os documentos para que ninguém os achasse.

Past tense: They buried the documents.

In the reflexive form, enterrar-se, the subject is the one being 'buried,' usually metaphorically. If you say 'Eu me enterrei em trabalho,' you are saying you are overwhelmed, much like being covered in soil. This is a very common way to express being 'swamped' or 'buried' in tasks.

Se você continuar gastando assim, vai se enterrar em dívidas.

Reflexive future: You will bury yourself in debt.

The Passive Voice: 'O corpo foi enterrado ontem.' (The body was buried yesterday). Here, the participle 'enterrado' acts as an adjective describing the state of the object.

A areia enterrou as conchas na beira do mar.

Natural action: The sand buried the shells.

When using the imperative, such as giving instructions in a garden, you might say 'Enterre a semente a dois centímetros de profundidade' (Bury the seed two centimeters deep). This is a common structure in manuals or recipes that might involve 'burying' an ingredient under another layer.

Não enterre seus talentos por medo do fracasso.

Metaphorical imperative: Don't bury your talents.

Compound Tenses: 'Eu tinha enterrado o dinheiro no jardim.' (I had buried the money in the garden). Using 'ter' + participle is standard for past perfect actions.

O governo quer enterrar o relatório sobre a corrupção.

Political context: Burying a report.

The word enterrar is ubiquitous across various domains of Lusophone life. From the news to the beach, its presence is felt in both literal and figurative ways. In Brazil, for instance, you might hear it during a football match or in a heated political debate. In Portugal, it might appear in a classic 'fado' song about loss and the earth.

The News and Media: Journalists often use 'enterrar' when discussing investigations that are being suppressed. 'O escândalo foi enterrado pela mídia' (The scandal was buried by the media). It conveys a sense of intentional concealment.
Gardening and Agriculture: On TV shows like 'Globo Rural' or in Portuguese gardening blogs, instructions will frequently use 'enterrar' for bulbs, seeds, and irrigation pipes. It is the technical term for sub-surface placement.

O time enterrou as chances de título após a derrota de ontem.

Sports context: Burying title chances.

In casual conversation, especially among young people in Brazil, 'se enterrar' can be used when someone says something embarrassing. If a friend makes a huge social gaffe, another might say, 'Nossa, você se enterrou agora!' (Wow, you really buried yourself now!). This is similar to the English 'digging a hole for yourself.'

Ele enterrou o rosto nas mãos e começou a chorar.

Emotional context: Burying one's face in hands.

Historical and Archaeological Contexts: When talking about the discovery of ancient ruins in Lisbon or the interior of Brazil, historians describe how cities were 'enterradas' by time or natural disasters like the 1755 earthquake.

A criança adora enterrar os pés na areia quente.

Leisure context: Burying feet in sand.

Religious contexts also use this word frequently. During the 'Semana Santa' (Holy Week), the burial of Christ is a central theme, and the verb 'enterrar' (or the more formal 'sepultar') appears in sermons and hymns. This gives the word a layer of sacredness and solemnity that persists in the language.

Não podemos deixar que o esquecimento enterre a nossa história.

Cultural context: Not letting history be buried by forgetfulness.

Financial Slang: In the business world, 'enterrar dinheiro' means to invest in something that gives no return—literally 'burying money' where it can't grow.

O temporal enterrou a vila sob a lama.

Disaster context: A village buried under mud.

While enterrar is a regular verb, learners often stumble over its phonetics and its close relatives in the Portuguese vocabulary. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.

Confusing with 'Aterrar': 'Aterrar' means to land (like a plane) or to terrify. Learners sometimes mix them up because both contain 'terra'. Remember: Enterrar is 'into the earth', Aterrar is 'to the earth' (landing).
Mispronouncing the Double R: The 'rr' in 'enterrar' must be a strong, guttural 'h' sound (like in 'house') or a trill. If you use a single 'r' sound (like the 'tt' in 'better'), you are saying a word that doesn't exist or sounds like 'inteira' (whole), causing confusion.

Errado: O avião vai enterrar no aeroporto.
Correto: O avião vai aterrar no aeroporto.

Common confusion: Burying vs. Landing.

Another mistake is using 'enterrar' for objects that are simply 'under' something else but not actually in the ground. For example, if you put a book under a pillow, you don't 'enterrar' it; you 'esconder' (hide) or 'colocar debaixo' (put under) it. 'Enterrar' specifically implies being surrounded by a substance like soil, sand, or metaphorical weight.

Errado: Eu enterei o cachorro.
Correto: Eu enterrei o cachorro.

Spelling error: Missing the double 'r' and correct ending.

Overusing for 'Hiding': While 'enterrar' can mean hide, it's very dramatic. If you just can't find your keys, don't say they are 'enterradas' unless they are literally under a pile of dirt. Use 'perdidas' (lost) instead.

Errado: Vou enterrar este segredo de você.
Correto: Vou esconder este segredo de você.

Context error: Hide vs. Bury (Register difference).

Finally, watch out for the reflexive usage. 'Ele se enterrou' is active (he did it to himself), while 'Ele foi enterrado' is passive (someone else did it to him). Confusing these can lead to very different meanings in a story, especially in crime or drama contexts.

Errado: Ele enterrou-se no cemitério.
Correto: Ele foi enterrado no cemitério.

Logic error: Reflexive vs. Passive in funerals.

Preposition Usage: Always use 'em' or its contractions (no, na, num, numa). Using 'com' (with) or 'por' (by) incorrectly can change the meaning of the sentence.

Errado: Enterrei o osso com o jardim.
Correto: Enterrei o osso no jardim.

Preposition error: With vs. In.

To truly master Portuguese, you need to know when to use enterrar and when a synonym might be more appropriate. The choice often depends on the level of formality and the specific context—whether you are talking about a garden, a funeral, or a hidden file.

Sepultar vs. Enterrar: 'Sepultar' is the formal, dignified version of 'enterrar' when referring to humans. While 'enterrar' is common, 'sepultar' is what you will see in newspapers and hear in religious ceremonies.
Example: 'O herói foi sepultado com honras.'
Ocultar vs. Enterrar: 'Ocultar' means to hide or conceal. If you are hiding a fact or a physical object but not necessarily putting it in the ground, 'ocultar' is the better, more neutral choice.
Example: 'Ele tentou ocultar a verdade.'

Soterrar: To be buried under a large mass (like an avalanche or building collapse).

Specific synonym: Soterrar.

Another interesting alternative is afundar (to sink). In metaphorical contexts like debt or despair, 'afundar-se' and 'enterrar-se' are often interchangeable, but 'afundar-se' emphasizes the downward motion into liquid or a void, whereas 'enterrar-se' emphasizes being covered up.

Inumar: A very technical, legal, or medical term for burial.

Technical synonym: Inumar.

Esconder vs. Enterrar: 'Esconder' is the general word for 'to hide'. If you put something in a drawer, you 'esconde'. If you put it in a hole in the backyard, you 'enterra'.

Mergulhar: To dive/immerse. Used metaphorically like 'enterrar-se nos livros' (to bury oneself in books).

Metaphorical alternative: Mergulhar.

In political or corporate jargon, you might hear 'engavetar' (to pigeonhole or 'drawer' something). This is specifically used for reports or projects that are 'buried' by being put in a drawer and ignored, rather than physically buried in the earth.

Sumiço: Not a verb, but the noun for 'disappearance'. Often used after someone 'enterrou' something.

Related noun: Sumiço.

Exumar vs. Desenterrar: Just as 'sepultar' is the formal 'enterrar', 'exumar' is the formal 'desenterrar'. It is used specifically for taking a body out of a grave for legal or ritual reasons.

Cobrir: To cover. A simpler action that is part of the burying process.

Component action: Cobrir.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word has remained remarkably stable for over a thousand years, retaining its core meaning while expanding into the rich metaphorical territory we see today.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ẽ.te.ˈʁaɾ/

US /ẽ.te.ˈʁaχ/

The stress is on the last syllable: en-ter-RAR.

Rhymes With

Cantar Falar Lugar Mar Pensar Olhar Andar Chegar

Common Errors

Pronouncing only one 'r' like the 't' in 'water'. It must be a strong 'rr'.
Forgetting the nasal 'en' sound at the beginning.
Stressing the second syllable instead of the third.
Confusing the 'te' sound with 'che' in some accents.
Pronouncing the final 'r' too strongly like an English 'r'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to 'terra' root.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the double 'r' and regular conjugation.

Speaking 4/5

The guttural 'rr' can be challenging for English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Usually clear in context, especially in gardening or news.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Terra Buraco Chão Pôr Guardar

Learn Next

Sepultar Desenterrar Soterrar Ocultar Esconder

Advanced

Inumar Exumar Estratigrafia Necrópole

Grammar to Know

Double R Pronunciation

Enterrar vs. Entera (The 'rr' is strong).

Reflexive Pronoun Placement

Eu me enterro (Brazil) vs. Enterro-me (Portugal).

Regular -ar Verb Conjugation

Eu enterro, Tu enterras, Ele enterra...

Prepositional Contractions

Enterrar NO (em + o) jardim.

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

O objeto foi enterrado.

Examples by Level

O cão gosta de enterrar o osso.

The dog likes to bury the bone.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Eu enterro os meus pés na areia.

I bury my feet in the sand.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Você enterra a semente no vaso?

Do you bury the seed in the pot?

Question form, present tense.

Nós enterramos o lixo orgânico.

We bury the organic waste.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

O gato enterra a comida no jardim.

The cat buries the food in the garden.

Simple sentence structure.

Eles enterram o tesouro de brincadeira.

They bury the treasure for fun.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Enterra isto aqui, por favor.

Bury this here, please.

Imperative mood.

A criança não quer enterrar o brinquedo.

The child doesn't want to bury the toy.

Negative sentence.

Ontem, eu enterrei uma cápsula do tempo.

Yesterday, I buried a time capsule.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past tense).

Eles enterraram o gato que morreu.

They buried the cat that died.

Past tense, sensitive context.

Você enterrou as chaves na areia?

Did you bury the keys in the sand?

Question in the past tense.

Nós não enterrámos o dinheiro ontem.

We didn't bury the money yesterday.

Negative past tense (European spelling).

O pirata enterrou o baú na ilha deserta.

The pirate buried the chest on the desert island.

Narrative past tense.

Ela enterrou o rosto na almofada.

She buried her face in the pillow.

Metaphorical/Physical blend.

Por que você enterrou a planta tão fundo?

Why did you bury the plant so deep?

Adverbial usage with 'tão fundo'.

O vento enterrou a casa sob a areia.

The wind buried the house under the sand.

Action by a natural force.

Ele se enterrou em dívidas no ano passado.

He buried himself in debt last year.

Reflexive past tense.

Espero que eles não enterrem o nosso projeto.

I hope they don't bury our project.

Present Subjunctive.

Ela está enterrada em trabalho esta semana.

She is buried in work this week.

Passive state with 'estar'.

Precisamos enterrar o passado para seguir em frente.

We need to bury the past to move forward.

Metaphorical usage with infinitive.

O segredo foi enterrado para sempre.

The secret was buried forever.

Passive voice with 'ser'.

Se você se enterrar nos estudos, vai passar.

If you bury yourself in studies, you will pass.

Conditional sentence with reflexive.

Eles decidiram enterrar o machado de guerra.

They decided to bury the hatchet.

Idiomatic expression.

O governo tentou enterrar o relatório de investigação.

The government tried to bury the investigation report.

Political context.

O jogador enterrou a bola com muita força.

The player dunked the ball with a lot of force.

Sports slang (dunk).

Não enterre o seu talento por causa do medo.

Don't bury your talent because of fear.

Imperative metaphorical.

Eles enterraram as chances de vitória com aquele erro.

They buried the chances of victory with that mistake.

Abstract direct object.

O investimento enterrou milhões de reais sem retorno.

The investment buried millions of reais without return.

Financial context.

Ele enterrou a carreira ao aceitar aquele suborno.

He buried his career by accepting that bribe.

Gerund construction ('ao aceitar').

A notícia foi enterrada por outros escândalos maiores.

The news was buried by other larger scandals.

Passive voice with agent of the passive.

Quando o avô morreu, eles o enterraram na aldeia.

When the grandfather died, they buried him in the village.

Direct object pronoun 'o'.

Enterrar-se na rotina pode ser perigoso.

Burying oneself in routine can be dangerous.

Infinitive reflexive as subject.

A história oficial muitas vezes tenta enterrar as vozes minoritárias.

Official history often tries to bury minority voices.

Sociological context.

O poeta descreve o desejo de se enterrar no silêncio da noite.

The poet describes the desire to bury oneself in the silence of the night.

Literary register.

A empresa enterrou o protótipo após os testes falharem.

The company buried the prototype after the tests failed.

Corporate context.

É preciso coragem para não enterrar a verdade sob conveniências.

It takes courage not to bury the truth under conveniences.

Ethical discussion.

Ele enterrou os pés na lama da corrupção política.

He buried his feet in the mud of political corruption.

Metaphorical imagery.

A vila foi soterrada, ou melhor, enterrada pelo tempo e pelo esquecimento.

The village was buried by debris, or rather, buried by time and forgetfulness.

Nuance between 'soterrada' and 'enterrada'.

Ela vai enterrar todos os seus inimigos com sua longevidade.

She will outlive all her enemies with her longevity.

Idiomatic usage: outliving.

O arquivo morto enterrou documentos cruciais para o processo.

The dead file buried crucial documents for the lawsuit.

Metonymy ('arquivo morto').

A magnitude da tragédia enterrou qualquer esperança de reconciliação imediata.

The magnitude of the tragedy buried any hope of immediate reconciliation.

Abstract high-level subject.

Enterraram-no sem as devidas exéquias, o que gerou revolta popular.

They buried him without the proper funeral rites, which sparked popular revolt.

Formal pronoun placement and vocabulary ('exéquias').

O autor utiliza o ato de enterrar como uma metáfora para a repressão psíquica.

The author uses the act of burying as a metaphor for psychic repression.

Analytical register.

A ideologia dominante tenta enterrar paradigmas científicos divergentes.

The dominant ideology tries to bury divergent scientific paradigms.

Academic context.

Ele se enterrou num casulo de amargura após a perda.

He buried himself in a cocoon of bitterness after the loss.

Poetic metaphor.

Não se pode enterrar a memória coletiva de um povo impunemente.

One cannot bury the collective memory of a people with impunity.

Philosophical statement.

O escândalo financeiro enterrou a reputação da instituição centenária.

The financial scandal buried the reputation of the century-old institution.

Institutional context.

Ao enterrar o machado, ele não apenas perdoou, mas esqueceu a ofensa.

By burying the hatchet, he not only forgave but forgot the offense.

Expansion of an idiom.

Common Collocations

Enterrar o machado de guerra

Enterrar a cabeça na areia

Enterrar um segredo

Enterrar em dívidas

Enterrar no quintal

Enterrar vivo

Enterrar as esperanças

Enterrar o passado

Enterrar dinheiro

Enterrar o rosto

Common Phrases

Enterrar os pés

— To mess up or get into a difficult situation.

Ele enterrou os pés naquela entrevista.

Enterrar a carreira

— To do something that ends one's professional life.

O escândalo enterrou a carreira do político.

Enterrar de vez

— To finish something completely or forget it forever.

Quero enterrar de vez esse assunto.

Enterrar o morto

— Literally to bury the dead, but also used to mean finishing a task.

Depois de enterrar o morto, vamos descansar.

Enterrar na lama

— To ruin someone's reputation completely.

A mentira o enterrou na lama.

Enterrar a bola

— To dunk in basketball.

Ele deu um pulo e enterrou a bola.

Se enterrar

— To get oneself into trouble.

Não se enterre com essas companhias.

Enterrar a sete palmos

— To bury very deep (seven spans deep).

O segredo está enterrado a sete palmos.

Enterrar a memória

— To try to forget something intentionally.

Enterramos a memória daquele dia triste.

Enterrar o nariz

— To focus intensely on something, like a book.

Ele enterrou o nariz nos estudos.

Often Confused With

Enterrar vs Aterrar

Means to land or to terrify, not to bury.

Enterrar vs Inteira

Means 'whole', sounds vaguely similar if 'rr' is mispronounced.

Enterrar vs Entornar

Means to spill, often confused by beginners.

Idioms & Expressions

"Enterrar o machado de guerra"

— To stop fighting and make peace.

Eles enterraram o machado de guerra após anos de briga.

General

"Enterrar a cabeça na areia"

— To ignore a problem and hope it goes away.

Você não pode enterrar a cabeça na areia para sempre.

General

"Estar enterrado até o pescoço"

— To be deeply involved in a difficult situation (often debt).

Estou enterrado até o pescoço em problemas.

Informal

"Enterrar os talentos"

— To waste one's natural abilities.

Não enterre seus talentos, você canta muito bem!

Biblical/General

"Enterrar a faca"

— To betray someone or make a situation worse.

Ele enterrou a faca ao contar o segredo dela.

Informal

"Enterrar de cabeça"

— To commit fully to something.

Ele se enterrou de cabeça no novo projeto.

Informal

"Enterrar um boi"

— Rare expression meaning to do something very difficult or large.

Parece que estamos tentando enterrar um boi aqui.

Regional

"Enterrar a unha"

— To charge a very high price (Brazilian slang).

Aquele mecânico enterrou a unha no conserto.

Slang

"Enterrar o pé na jaca"

— To overindulge or make a huge mistake (Brazilian).

Ele enterrou o pé na jaca na festa ontem.

Slang

"Enterrar o sabugo"

— To work very hard (Regional).

Tivemos que enterrar o sabugo para terminar a obra.

Regional

Easily Confused

Enterrar vs Aterrar

Both have 'terra' (earth) in them.

Enterrar is going INTO the earth. Aterrar is coming TO the earth (landing).

O avião aterrou, mas o pirata enterrou o ouro.

Enterrar vs Soterrar

Both mean burying.

Soterrar implies being buried by an accident or a huge mass (rubble/mud).

A lama soterrou a casa.

Enterrar vs Sepultar

Direct synonyms.

Sepultar is more formal and respectful, used for humans.

Eles sepultaram o rei com honras.

Enterrar vs Inumar

Technical synonyms.

Inumar is strictly legal or medical.

O corpo foi inumado após a autópsia.

Enterrar vs Esconder

Both involve making something invisible.

Esconder is general. Enterrar is specifically underground.

Esconda o chocolate, não o enterre!

Sentence Patterns

Eu enterro [object].

Eu enterro o osso.

Ele enterrou [object] no [place].

Ele enterrou o baú no jardim.

Eu me enterrei em [abstract noun].

Eu me enterrei em dívidas.

Não enterre seu [talent/chance].

Não enterre seu talento.

A história enterrou as [voices/facts].

A história enterrou as vozes.

Ao enterrar o machado, [consequence].

Ao enterrar o machado, ele encontrou a paz.

[Object] foi enterrado por [agent].

O segredo foi enterrado por eles.

Vou enterrar [object].

Vou enterrar a semente.

Word Family

Nouns

Enterro (burial/funeral)

Enterramento (act of burying)

Soterrado (one who is buried)

Verbs

Desenterrar (to unearth)

Soterrar (to bury under mass)

Aterrar (to land/terrify)

Adjectives

Enterrado (buried)

Desenterrado (unearthed)

Inumado (interred)

Terra

Terreiro

Território

Terrestre

Terráqueo

How to Use It

frequency

High (Top 2000 words).

Common Mistakes

Eu enterei → Eu enterrei
Missing the double 'r' and the correct past tense ending.
O avião vai enterrar → O avião vai aterrar
Confusing 'bury' with 'land'.
Enterrar com o jardim → Enterrar no jardim
Using the wrong preposition. You bury IN something, not WITH it.
Ele se enterrou no cemitério → Ele foi enterrado no cemitério
Using the reflexive instead of the passive. He didn't bury himself.
Enterar (one r) → Enterrar (two rs)
The spelling requires two 'r's to maintain the strong sound.

Tips

Regularity

Since it's a regular -ar verb, you can use the patterns of 'falar' to conjugate it perfectly.

The Strong RR

Make sure the 'rr' is strong. A weak 'r' sounds like a different word or just incorrect.

Root Word

Remember the root 'terra' (earth) and you will never forget the meaning.

Basketball

Use 'enterrada' when watching sports to sound like a local fan.

Peace Making

Use the 'machado de guerra' idiom to express reconciliation in a sophisticated way.

Formality

Avoid using 'enterrar' for people in very formal writing; use 'sepultar' instead.

Debt

The phrase 'enterrado em dívidas' is the most common way to talk about severe financial trouble.

Depth

When gardening, use 'enterrar' specifically for the depth of the seeds.

Opposites

Learn 'desenterrar' at the same time to double your vocabulary efficiency.

Finality

Use 'enterrar' when you want to emphasize that something is finished and will not return.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'EN' (into) + 'TERRA' (earth). When you 'EN-TERRA-R', you put something into the earth.

Visual Association

Imagine a pirate putting a chest into a hole in the sand. The sand is 'terra', and he is 'enterrando' the gold.

Word Web

Terra Buraco Pá Cemitério Segredo Tesouro Semente Jardim

Challenge

Try to use 'enterrar' in three different ways today: once for a physical object, once for a secret, and once for being busy.

Word Origin

From the Vulgar Latin 'interrare', which is composed of the prefix 'in-' (into) and 'terra' (earth/soil).

Original meaning: To place into the earth.

Romance (Latin-derived).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'enterrar' regarding deceased people; 'sepultar' is always safer and more respectful in formal or sensitive settings.

English speakers might use 'bury' more often for 'burying the lead' or 'burying someone in work'. Portuguese uses it similarly but with more emphasis on the physical earth.

The burial of Christ in religious processions. Pirate legends of 'tesouros enterrados'. Modern basketball 'enterradas' by stars like Oscar Schmidt.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Gardening

Enterrar as sementes
Enterrar o adubo
Enterrar os bulbos
Enterrar fundo

Finance

Enterrar dinheiro
Enterrar-se em dívidas
Enterrar a empresa
Enterrar o capital

Social

Enterrar o passado
Enterrar um segredo
Enterrar a briga
Enterrar a mágoa

Sports

Uma grande enterrada
Enterrar a bola
Enterrar no aro
Enterrar com força

Disasters

Enterrado pela lama
Enterrado sob os escombros
Enterrado vivo
Enterrado pela neve

Conversation Starters

"Você já enterrou uma cápsula do tempo quando era criança?"

"O que você faria se encontrasse um tesouro enterrado no seu quintal?"

"Você prefere enterrar o passado ou aprender com ele?"

"É comum as pessoas se enterrarem em trabalho no seu país?"

"Você gosta de enterrar os pés na areia quando vai à praia?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre um segredo que você gostaria de enterrar para sempre.

Descreva o processo de enterrar algo no jardim, passo a passo.

Reflita sobre a expressão 'enterrar o machado de guerra' em sua vida.

Imagine que você é um arqueólogo e desenterrou algo que estava enterrado há mil anos.

Como você se sente quando está enterrado em tarefas e responsabilidades?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is common, but in formal situations or funerals, 'sepultar' is more appropriate and respectful.

In Brazil, 'uma enterrada' is a dunk in basketball. It's used just like the English word 'slam dunk'.

It is a regular verb: eu enterrei, você enterrou, nós enterramos, eles enterraram.

It is an idiom meaning 'to bury the hatchet' or make peace with an enemy.

Yes, specifically for putting seeds or bulbs deep into the soil. For general planting, 'plantar' is also used.

Yes, informally. 'Enterrar o projeto' means to cause it to fail or to cancel it permanently.

The most common opposite is 'desenterrar', which means to dig up or unearth.

In most dialects, it is a guttural 'h' sound from the throat, but in some (like southern Brazil or Portugal), it can be rolled/trilled.

It describes someone who refuses to face a problem, just like the myth of an ostrich hiding its head.

Metaphorically, yes. You could say you 'enterraram' a file deep in a subfolder so no one finds it.