entretener in 30 Seconds
- Entretener: To entertain, amuse, provide enjoyment.
- Used for activities, performances, and keeping people happy.
- Can be transitive (entertain someone) or reflexive (entertain oneself).
- Key verb for leisure and social interaction.
- Core Meaning
- To provide amusement, enjoyment, or pleasant distraction.
- Contexts
- Parties, performances, holidays, leisure activities, conversations.
Nós precisamos de encontrar uma forma de entretener as crianças durante a viagem.
- Transitive Use
- The subject entertains the object.
- Reflexive Use (entretener-se)
- The subject entertains themselves.
Os artistas prometem entretener o público com um espetáculo inesquecível.
- Event Planning
- Discussing how to keep guests engaged and happy.
- Media Reviews
- Describing the success of a film, play, or performance in holding attention and providing enjoyment.
- Personal Leisure
- Talking about personal activities done for self-amusement.
O circo veio para entretener a cidade durante as férias.
- Confusing with 'Manter'
- Using 'entretener' when the meaning is 'to maintain' or 'to keep up' (which is 'manter').
- Incorrect Conjugation
- Making errors in verb endings, especially in past tenses (e.g., 'entreti' instead of 'entretive').
- Missing Reflexive Pronoun
- Forgetting 'se' in reflexive constructions (e.g., 'Eu entreter' instead of 'Eu entreter-me').
Incorrect: Ele entreteu os seus deveres. (He entertained his duties.)
Correct: Ele manteve os seus deveres. (He kept up with his duties.)
- Divertir
- This is perhaps the closest synonym to 'entretener' and is widely used. It directly translates to 'to amuse' or 'to entertain.' Both verbs can often be used interchangeably, but 'divertir' might lean slightly more towards pure fun and lightheartedness.
Example: 'O jogo divertiu as crianças.' (The game amused the children.)
Comparison: 'Entretener' can sometimes imply keeping someone occupied or engaged for a longer period, while 'divertir' might focus more on immediate enjoyment. - Agraciar
- This verb means 'to please,' 'to delight,' or 'to grace.' It's often used in a more formal or literary context when referring to something that brings pleasure or charm. It's less about active entertainment and more about bestowing pleasantness.
Example: 'A música antiga agraciaram a sala.' (The old music graced the room.)
Comparison: 'Agraciar' is more about passive pleasantness or charm, whereas 'entretener' implies an active effort to amuse. - Animar
- This means 'to liven up,' 'to cheer up,' or 'to animate.' It's used when the goal is to bring energy and enthusiasm to a situation or person. While it can lead to entertainment, its primary focus is on increasing liveliness.
Example: 'Ele animou a festa com as suas piadas.' (He livened up the party with his jokes.)
Comparison: 'Animar' is about injecting energy, which can result in entertainment, while 'entretener' is directly about providing amusement. - Ocupar
- This verb means 'to occupy' or 'to keep busy.' It can be used to keep someone from being bored, but it doesn't necessarily imply enjoyment. It's more about filling time.
Example: 'O trabalho ocupou todo o meu dia.' (The work occupied my whole day.)
Comparison: 'Ocupar' is about filling time, whereas 'entretener' is about filling time with enjoyment. - Distrair
- This means 'to distract.' It can be used to take someone's mind off something unpleasant or to divert their attention. While distraction can be a form of entertainment, it often has a specific purpose of redirecting focus.
Example: 'O professor distraiu os alunos com uma história.' (The teacher distracted the students with a story.)
Comparison: 'Distrair' is about shifting attention, which might lead to entertainment, while 'entretener' is directly about providing amusement.
Synonym Example (Divertir): O espetáculo divertiu a plateia.
How Formal Is It?
"A conferência foi concebida para entreter os intelectos dos participantes."
"O programa de TV foi feito para entreter a família."
"Vamos entreter um pouco!"
"O palhaço vai entreter as crianças com seus truques."
Fun Fact
The 'inter-' prefix in Latin often implies an action happening 'between' things or times. In 'intertenere', it suggests holding someone's attention 'between' moments of boredom or 'between' other activities, thereby keeping them occupied and amused.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 't' as 'ch' (e.g., 'enchreten').
- Incorrect stress placement (e.g., stressing the first syllable).
- Muffling the final vowel sound.
Difficulty Rating
At the A2 CEFR level, 'entretener' is relatively straightforward. Learners will encounter it in contexts related to fun activities and performances. Understanding its basic meaning and common conjugations is key.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Conjugation of regular -er verbs
Present tense of 'entretener': eu entretenho, tu entreténs, ele/ela entretém, nós entretemos, vós entretendes, eles/elas entretêm.
Use of reflexive pronouns with verbs
When 'entretener' means to entertain oneself, use reflexive pronouns: 'Eu entretenho-me', 'Tu entreténs-te', 'Ele entretém-se'.
Infinitive of purpose with 'para'
Precisamos de jogos para entreter as crianças. (We need games to entertain the children.)
Subjunctive mood after expressions of desire or importance
Espero que o filme nos entretenha. (I hope the movie entertains us.)
Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) conjugation
Eu entretive, tu entreveste, ele/ela entreteve, nós entretivemos, vós entrevestes, eles/elas entretiveram.
Examples by Level
O palhaço entretém as crianças.
The clown entertains the children.
Present tense, third person singular.
O filme entreteve-me.
The movie entertained me.
Past tense (preterite), first person singular, with direct object pronoun 'me'.
Vamos entreter os nossos convidados.
Let's entertain our guests.
Infinitive used after 'vamos' (let's).
Ele gosta de se entreter com jogos.
He likes to entertain himself with games.
Reflexive verb 'entretener-se' in the infinitive.
A música vai entreter a todos.
The music will entertain everyone.
Future tense, third person singular.
O livro entreteve-a.
The book entertained her.
Past tense (preterite), third person singular, with direct object pronoun 'a'.
O que pode nos entreter?
What can entertain us?
Interrogative sentence, modal verb 'poder'.
Eles sempre nos entretêm.
They always entertain us.
Present tense, third person plural, with direct object pronoun 'nos'.
O espetáculo de magia conseguiu entreter as crianças.
The magic show managed to entertain the children.
Past tense (preterite) of 'conseguir' followed by infinitive 'entretener'.
Precisamos de encontrar atividades para entreter os visitantes.
We need to find activities to entertain the visitors.
Infinitive used after 'para' to express purpose.
Ela gosta de se entreter lendo romances.
She likes to entertain herself reading novels.
Reflexive verb 'entretener-se' in the infinitive, followed by gerund.
Os palhaços entretiveram a multidão com piadas.
The clowns entertained the crowd with jokes.
Past tense (preterite), third person plural.
Espero que o concerto nos entretenha.
I hope the concert entertains us.
Subjunctive mood, present tense, first person plural object pronoun.
Como podemos entreter um grupo tão grande?
How can we entertain such a large group?
Modal verb 'poder' followed by infinitive.
O anfitrião prometeu entreter todos os convidados.
The host promised to entertain all the guests.
Past tense (preterite) of 'prometer' followed by infinitive.
A televisão é uma forma de nos entretermos.
Television is a way for us to entertain ourselves.
Reflexive verb 'entretener-se' used with the preposition 'de'.
O novo programa de TV foi criado para entreter o público jovem.
The new TV show was created to entertain the young audience.
Passive voice ('foi criado') followed by infinitive of purpose.
Durante as férias, eles se entretiveram explorando a cidade.
During the holidays, they entertained themselves exploring the city.
Reflexive verb 'entretiveram-se' in the preterite, followed by gerund.
A qualidade do som ajudou a entreter a audiência.
The sound quality helped to entertain the audience.
Past tense (preterite) of 'ajudar' followed by infinitive.
É importante que a escola ofereça atividades que entretenham os alunos.
It is important that the school offers activities that entertain the students.
Subjunctive mood, present tense, for a subordinate clause expressing importance.
O comediante conseguiu entreter a plateia com seu humor inteligente.
The comedian managed to entertain the audience with his intelligent humor.
Past tense (preterite) of 'conseguir' followed by infinitive.
Eles se entretiveram jogando cartas até tarde da noite.
They entertained themselves playing cards late into the night.
Reflexive verb 'entretiveram-se' in the preterite, followed by gerund.
O objetivo principal do museu é entreter e educar os visitantes.
The museum's main goal is to entertain and educate visitors.
Infinitive used after 'é' to state the purpose.
A paisagem rural ajudou a entreter os viajantes durante a longa jornada.
The rural landscape helped to entertain the travelers during the long journey.
Past tense (preterite) of 'ajudar' followed by infinitive.
A companhia de teatro se dedica a entreter o público com peças inovadoras.
The theater company is dedicated to entertaining the public with innovative plays.
Infinitive following 'dedicar-se a'.
A sua capacidade de contar histórias entretém até os mais céticos.
His ability to tell stories entertains even the most skeptical.
Present tense, third person singular, subject is 'a sua capacidade'.
Eles buscaram formas criativas de se entreterem durante o confinamento.
They sought creative ways to entertain themselves during the lockdown.
Past tense (preterite) of 'buscar' followed by reflexive infinitive.
O festival de música foi projetado para entreter uma audiência diversificada.
The music festival was designed to entertain a diverse audience.
Passive voice ('foi projetado') followed by infinitive of purpose.
A inteligência artificial está a ser usada para entreter e interagir com os utilizadores.
Artificial intelligence is being used to entertain and interact with users.
Present continuous passive ('está a ser usada') followed by infinitives.
A sua presença de espírito conseguiu entreter a todos, mesmo em momentos difíceis.
His presence of mind managed to entertain everyone, even in difficult times.
Past tense (preterite) of 'conseguir' followed by infinitive.
A melhor forma de entreter um bebé é com música suave e brinquedos coloridos.
The best way to entertain a baby is with soft music and colorful toys.
Infinitive used as a noun phrase ('A melhor forma de entreter').
O objetivo era criar um ambiente que pudesse entreter e inspirar os participantes.
The objective was to create an environment that could entertain and inspire the participants.
Past tense of 'ser' followed by infinitive, and a relative clause with 'pudesse' (subjunctive).
A narrativa envolvente do livro conseguiu entreter o leitor de forma cativante.
The captivating narrative of the book managed to entertain the reader in a captivating way.
Past tense (preterite) of 'conseguir' followed by infinitive and adverb.
Os anfitriões se empenharam em entreter os convidados com uma variedade de atrações.
The hosts endeavored to entertain the guests with a variety of attractions.
Past tense (preterite) of 'empenhar-se em' followed by infinitive.
A arte performática busca não apenas entreter, mas também provocar reflexão.
Performance art seeks not only to entertain but also to provoke reflection.
Infinitive used after 'buscar' in a comparative structure ('não apenas... mas também').
A arquitetura do local foi concebida para entreter os sentidos e a mente.
The architecture of the place was conceived to entertain the senses and the mind.
Passive voice ('foi concebida') followed by infinitive of purpose.
As estratégias de marketing visavam entreter o consumidor e criar uma conexão emocional.
The marketing strategies aimed to entertain the consumer and create an emotional connection.
Past tense (preterite) of 'visar' followed by infinitives.
O humor negro é uma forma de entreter que pode ser controversa.
Black humor is a form of entertainment that can be controversial.
Infinitive used as a noun phrase ('uma forma de entreter').
A sua habilidade em improvisar permitiu-lhe entreter a audiência mesmo perante imprevistos.
His ability to improvise allowed him to entertain the audience even in the face of unforeseen events.
Past tense (preterite) of 'permitir' followed by infinitive.
O objetivo do jogo é entreter os jogadores enquanto desafia suas habilidades cognitivas.
The game's objective is to entertain the players while challenging their cognitive skills.
Infinitive used after 'é' and a gerund phrase ('enquanto desafia').
A obra de arte foi concebida não apenas para deleitar, mas primordialmente para entreter o intelecto.
The work of art was conceived not only to delight but primarily to entertain the intellect.
Passive voice ('foi concebida') followed by infinitives in a comparative structure.
Os contadores de histórias tradicionais se dedicavam a entreter as comunidades com narrativas ancestrais.
Traditional storytellers dedicated themselves to entertaining communities with ancestral narratives.
Past tense (preterite) of 'dedicar-se a' followed by infinitive.
A complexidade da trama visava entreter o espectador através de múltiplas camadas de significado.
The complexity of the plot aimed to entertain the viewer through multiple layers of meaning.
Past tense (preterite) of 'visar' followed by infinitive.
A sua eloquência permitiu-lhe entreter e persuadir a assembleia com argumentos bem elaborados.
His eloquence allowed him to entertain and persuade the assembly with well-crafted arguments.
Past tense (preterite) of 'permitir' followed by infinitives.
Os filósofos da época debatiam sobre a natureza do entretenimento e como ele deveria entreter a sociedade.
The philosophers of the era debated the nature of entertainment and how it should entertain society.
Imperfect tense of 'debatia' and subjunctive mood ('deveria entreter').
A estratégia de imersão procurava entreter os participantes de tal forma que esquecessem a realidade externa.
The immersion strategy sought to entertain the participants in such a way that they forgot the external reality.
Past tense (preterite) of 'procurar' followed by infinitive and a subordinate clause of consequence.
O desafio era criar um ambiente que pudesse simultaneamente entreter, educar e inspirar.
The challenge was to create an environment that could simultaneously entertain, educate, and inspire.
Past tense of 'ser' followed by infinitive and a relative clause with 'pudesse' (subjunctive).
A arte de contar histórias reside na capacidade de entreter a imaginação e tocar a alma.
The art of storytelling lies in the ability to entertain the imagination and touch the soul.
Infinitive used as a noun phrase ('A arte de contar histórias') and infinitive after 'reside na capacidade de'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Let's have fun! / Let's entertain ourselves!
A música começou, e a festa pegou fogo. 'Vamos entreter!', gritou alguém.
— He/She knows how to entertain (is good at amusing people).
Com seu carisma, ele sabe como entreter qualquer pessoa.
— Something to pass the time / Something to keep busy with.
Ele pegou um livro para entreter o tempo enquanto esperava o voo.
— Entertained and happy.
As crianças estavam entretidas e felizes brincando no parque.
— Engrossed in details / Preoccupied with minor points.
Ele ficou entretido com os detalhes da pintura, esquecendo-se do tempo.
— Engaged in activities.
Os participantes estavam entretidos em várias atividades interativas.
— There's nothing to entertain us / There's nothing fun to do.
Estamos presos em casa e não há nada para nos entreter.
— Entertained by the conversation.
Ela ficou entretida pela conversa interessante do novo colega.
— The goal is to entertain.
No teatro, o objetivo principal é entreter o público.
— Amused by life / Enjoying life's pleasures.
Ele parece estar sempre entretido com a vida, nunca reclama.
Often Confused With
'Manter' means 'to maintain', 'to keep up', or 'to hold'. While 'entretener' involves keeping someone's attention pleasurably, 'manter' is about preservation or continuation. For example, 'manter a calma' (to keep calm) vs. 'entretener a calma' (which doesn't make sense).
'Ocupar' means 'to occupy' or 'to keep busy'. It can be a way to prevent boredom, but doesn't necessarily imply enjoyment. 'Entretener' focuses specifically on amusement and pleasure.
'Distrair' means 'to distract'. While distraction can be a form of entertainment, its primary focus is on diverting attention, whereas 'entretener' is about providing positive engagement and enjoyment.
Idioms & Expressions
— Engrossed in trivialities or minor details, often to the point of neglecting more important matters.
Em vez de focar no problema principal, ele ficou entretido com miudezas.
Informal— Completely absorbed in playing a game, often to the exclusion of everything else.
A criança estava tão entretida no jogo que nem ouviu a mãe chamar.
Informal— Lost in one's own thoughts; preoccupied.
Ele parecia alheio à conversa, completamente entretido com os próprios pensamentos.
Neutral— Kept busy or occupied while waiting for something.
Deram-lhe um livro para ficar entretido à espera da consulta.
Neutral— Engaged in unimportant or frivolous activities.
Passou a tarde inteira entretido em futilidades em vez de estudar.
Informal— Preoccupied with one's appearance or self-image; vain.
Ele estava tão entretido com a sua própria imagem no espelho que se atrasou.
Informal— Similar to 'entretido com miudezas', focusing on insignificant things.
Não perca tempo entretido em ninharias; concentre-se no que é importante.
Informal— Occupied with small or less significant tasks.
O gerente estava entretido em tarefas menores quando o problema sério surgiu.
Neutral— Lost in thought or reflection.
Ele sentou-se à beira-mar, entretido em contemplação.
Neutral/Literary— Deceived or occupied by false hopes or beliefs.
Ele vive entretido com ilusões de grandeza.
Neutral/FigurativeEasily Confused
Both 'entretener' and 'divertir' mean to entertain or amuse and are often used interchangeably.
'Divertir' often implies a more direct sense of fun, laughter, and lighthearted amusement. 'Entretener' can have a slightly broader scope, including keeping someone engaged or occupied pleasurably, not just making them laugh.
O espetáculo divertiu a todos. (The show amused everyone.) vs. O livro entreteve o leitor por horas. (The book entertained the reader for hours.)
Both verbs relate to providing a pleasant experience.
'Agraciar' is more about bestowing pleasure, delight, or charm, often in a more passive or elegant way. It's closer to 'to please' or 'to grace'. 'Entretener' implies a more active effort to amuse and engage.
A música clássica agraciaram a sala. (The classical music graced the room.) vs. O palhaço entreteve as crianças. (The clown entertained the children.)
Both can involve making a situation more lively or enjoyable.
'Animar' means 'to liven up' or 'to cheer up', focusing on injecting energy and enthusiasm. While this can lead to entertainment, 'entretener' is directly about providing amusement and enjoyment.
Ele animou a festa com suas piadas. (He livened up the party with his jokes.) vs. A peça entreteve o público com sua trama. (The play entertained the audience with its plot.)
Both can involve filling someone's time.
'Ocupar' means to fill time or keep someone busy, which can prevent boredom but doesn't guarantee enjoyment. 'Entretener' specifically means to provide amusement and pleasure, making the time pass agreeably.
O trabalho ocupou todo o meu dia. (The work occupied my whole day.) vs. O jogo entreteve-me durante horas. (The game entertained me for hours.)
Both can involve diverting attention.
'Distrair' means to divert attention, often from something unpleasant or to shift focus. 'Entretener' is about providing positive engagement and amusement.
O professor distraiu os alunos com uma história. (The teacher distracted the students with a story.) vs. O filme entreteve-me completamente. (The movie completely entertained me.)
Sentence Patterns
Subject + entreter + Object.
O cão entretém o bebé.
Subject + entreter-se.
Eu entretenho-me.
Para + entreter + Object.
Precisamos de ideias para entreter os convidados.
Subject + entreter + Object + com + Noun.
O artista entreteve o público com música.
Subject + gostar de + se entreter + com + Noun.
Ela gosta de se entreter com trabalhos manuais.
Subject + conseguir + entreter + Object.
O livro conseguiu entreter-me.
Subject + ser + concebido/projetado + para + entreter + Object.
O jogo foi projetado para entreter os jogadores.
Subject + buscar/visar + entreter + Object.
As estratégias visavam entreter o público.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Common
-
Using 'entretener' when 'manter' is needed.
→
Ele quer manter a calma.
The mistake is using 'entretener' (to entertain) when the meaning is 'to keep' or 'to maintain'. 'Manter' is used for preservation or keeping something in a certain state.
-
Incorrect conjugation in the past tense.
→
Nós entretivemos os convidados.
A common error is using an incorrect verb ending for the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito). The correct form for 'nós' is 'entretivemos', not something like 'entretivemos'.
-
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se'.
→
Eu gosto de me entreter com música.
When the subject is also the object (entertaining oneself), the reflexive pronoun is necessary. Saying 'Eu gosto de entreter com música' is incorrect.
-
Confusing 'entretener' with 'ocupar' when enjoyment is key.
→
O jogo entreteve-me durante horas.
If the focus is on the pleasure and amusement derived, 'entretener' is better than 'ocupar' (to occupy/keep busy). The game didn't just fill time; it provided enjoyment.
-
Incorrectly using 'entretener' to mean 'to distract'.
→
O palhaço distraiu as crianças com um truque.
'Distrair' (to distract) is about shifting attention. While it can sometimes lead to amusement, 'entretener' is specifically about providing enjoyment. Here, the clown's action was a distraction.
Tips
Transitive vs. Reflexive
Remember that 'entretener' can be used transitively (to entertain someone else) or reflexively ('entretener-se' - to entertain oneself). Pay attention to the context to determine which form is appropriate.
Stress Placement
The stress in 'entretener' falls on the second syllable: en-TRE-ten. Practicing this stress pattern will make your pronunciation sound more natural.
Related Nouns
The noun form is 'entretenimento' (entertainment). Knowing this related word can help you remember and use 'entretener' more effectively.
Verb Endings
As a regular -er verb, 'entretener' follows predictable conjugation patterns. Focus on mastering the present, preterite, and imperfect tenses for confident usage.
Social Situations
This verb is very common in contexts of parties, holidays, performances, and any situation where hosts aim to provide a pleasant experience for guests or an audience.
Sound Association
Link 'entretener' to the English word 'entertain'. They sound similar and share the core meaning, making it easier to recall.
Sentence Building
Create your own sentences using 'entretener' in different tenses and with various subjects and objects. This active practice solidifies your understanding.
Exploring Alternatives
Familiarize yourself with synonyms like 'divertir' and 'animar' to add variety to your expression and understand subtle nuances in meaning.
Opposite Meanings
Knowing antonyms like 'aborrecer' (to bore) or 'entristecer' (to sadden) helps define the boundaries of 'entretener' by contrast.
Cultural Significance
Understand that in many Portuguese-speaking cultures, actively entertaining guests and creating a joyful atmosphere is a highly valued aspect of hospitality.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine holding something 'in between' your hands ('inter-' means between, 'tenere' means to hold). If you're holding someone's attention 'in between' tasks or moments of boredom, you are keeping them entertained! Think of juggling: you are 'inter-taining' the balls by keeping them from falling.
Visual Association
Picture a circus ring. Clowns and acrobats are performing, actively holding the audience's attention and providing amusement. The word 'entretener' is like the action of the performers keeping the audience engaged and happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'entretener' in at least three different sentences today, covering both transitive and reflexive uses. For example, describe how you plan to entertain a guest, or how you like to entertain yourself with a hobby.
Word Origin
The Portuguese verb 'entretener' derives from the Latin verb 'intertenere', which is a compound of 'inter-' (meaning 'between' or 'among') and 'tenere' (meaning 'to hold'). The original sense was to hold between, to keep occupied, or to keep in suspense.
Original meaning: To hold between; to keep occupied; to keep in suspense.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > PortugueseCultural Context
While 'entretener' is generally positive, ensure the context of entertainment is appropriate. For example, 'entertaining' a child with a game is different from 'entertaining' an audience at a formal event. The intention is always positive, aiming for amusement and enjoyment.
In English-speaking cultures, the concept of entertainment is also paramount, seen in cinemas, theaters, concerts, and sporting events. The verb 'to entertain' covers a similar range of activities, from professional performances to personal hosting.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Planning a party or event
- Como vamos entreter os convidados?
- Precisamos de atividades para entreter as crianças.
- O objetivo é entreter a todos.
Talking about leisure and hobbies
- Gosto de me entreter com livros.
- O que você faz para se entreter?
- Ele se entretém jogando videogame.
Describing performances or media
- O filme entreteve-me.
- O show conseguiu entreter a plateia.
- A peça foi feita para entreter.
Hospitality and hosting
- Vamos entreter os nossos hóspedes.
- O anfitrião se dedicou a entreter todos.
- É importante entreter bem quem nos visita.
Keeping children occupied
- O que podemos fazer para entreter os miúdos?
- Os desenhos animados entretiveram as crianças.
- Precisamos de brinquedos para entreter os mais novos.
Conversation Starters
"What's your favorite way to entertain yourself on a lazy Sunday?"
"Have you ever been to a show or event that really managed to entertain you?"
"When you have guests over, what do you usually do to entertain them?"
"What kind of movies or books do you find most entertaining?"
"Do you think it's important for education to also be entertaining?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you successfully entertained someone. What did you do?
Think about an activity that entertains you. Why do you enjoy it?
If you were planning a party, what would be your main goal in entertaining your guests?
What's the difference between entertaining someone and just keeping them busy?
How do you entertain yourself when you're feeling bored or stressed?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThe main meaning of 'entretener' is to entertain, to amuse, or to provide enjoyment. It's about making someone have a good time or keeping them pleasurably occupied.
It can be both. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object (e.g., 'entretener os convidados' - to entertain the guests). Reflexively, 'entretener-se' means to entertain oneself (e.g., 'Gosto de me entreter com livros' - I like to entertain myself with books).
While often interchangeable, 'divertir' tends to emphasize fun and lighthearted amusement more directly, while 'entretener' can encompass a broader sense of keeping someone agreeably engaged or occupied.
In the present indicative, it conjugates as: eu entretenho, tu entreténs, ele/ela entretém, nós entretemos, vós entretendes, eles/elas entretêm.
Generally, 'entretener' is used for people or audiences being amused. However, in a figurative sense, you might say something like 'A paisagem entreteve os viajantes' (The landscape entertained the travelers), meaning it was pleasant and engaging for them.
The past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) is: eu entretive, tu entreveste, ele/ela entreteve, nós entretivemos, vós entrevestes, eles/elas entretiveram.
Common mistakes include confusing it with 'manter' (to maintain), incorrect conjugation, and forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se' when it means 'to entertain oneself'.
'Entretenido' is the past participle and can be used as an adjective meaning 'entertained', 'amused', or 'occupied pleasurably'. For example, 'As crianças estavam entretidas.' (The children were entertained.)
A very common synonym is 'divertir'. Other related words include 'animar' (to liven up) and 'agradar' (to please).
You would use 'entretener' when the primary goal is to provide enjoyment and amusement, not just to fill time or keep someone busy. 'Entretener' implies a positive and pleasurable experience.
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Summary
The Portuguese verb 'entretener' signifies the act of providing amusement, enjoyment, or pleasant distraction. It's used when the intention is to make someone have a good time, keep them happily occupied, or engage them pleasurably. Whether it's a planned event or a casual interaction, 'entretener' captures the essence of making time pass agreeably for others. For example, 'O show de mágica entreteve as crianças' (The magic show entertained the children).
- Entretener: To entertain, amuse, provide enjoyment.
- Used for activities, performances, and keeping people happy.
- Can be transitive (entertain someone) or reflexive (entertain oneself).
- Key verb for leisure and social interaction.
Transitive vs. Reflexive
Remember that 'entretener' can be used transitively (to entertain someone else) or reflexively ('entretener-se' - to entertain oneself). Pay attention to the context to determine which form is appropriate.
Stress Placement
The stress in 'entretener' falls on the second syllable: en-TRE-ten. Practicing this stress pattern will make your pronunciation sound more natural.
Related Nouns
The noun form is 'entretenimento' (entertainment). Knowing this related word can help you remember and use 'entretener' more effectively.
Verb Endings
As a regular -er verb, 'entretener' follows predictable conjugation patterns. Focus on mastering the present, preterite, and imperfect tenses for confident usage.
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