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A2 verb #6,000 most common 6 min read

narrar

Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips narrar in 30 Seconds

Explanation narrar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you likely won't use 'narrar' very often. You will mostly use 'contar' (to tell) or 'falar' (to speak). However, it is good to recognize 'narrar' when you hear someone talking about a sports game or a movie. It simply means telling what is happening. For example, 'Ele narra o jogo' (He narrates the game). At this stage, focus on the fact that it is a regular -AR verb, which means it follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'estudar'. You might see it in simple exercise instructions like 'Narre o que você vê na imagem' (Narrate what you see in the image), which is a common way for teachers to ask you to describe a scene in a sequence of events. Don't worry about the formal nuances yet; just think of it as a synonym for 'telling a story' that you might see in a book.

At the A2 level, you are starting to expand your vocabulary beyond the most basic words. 'Narrar' is a perfect word to add to your repertoire when you want to sound more precise. You should use it when you are talking about books you've read or movies you've seen. Instead of saying 'O livro fala sobre...', you can say 'O livro narra a história de...'. This shows a higher level of Portuguese. You should also be able to conjugate it in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to talk about a story you told: 'Eu narrei a minha viagem para os meus amigos'. At this level, you should also recognize the noun 'narrador' (narrator). Understanding the difference between 'narrar' (formal/structured) and 'contar' (informal/casual) will help you choose the right word for the right situation.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'narrar' in various contexts, including professional and academic ones. You will use it to describe processes or sequences of events in a more structured way. For instance, in a presentation, you might 'narrar as fases de um projeto'. You should also begin to notice how 'narrar' is used in the media. When you read news reports, they often 'narram os acontecimentos' of the day. You should be familiar with the passive voice usage: 'A história foi narrada por...'. This is common in literature and film credits. Your focus at B1 should be on using 'narrar' to provide detailed, chronological accounts of events, moving beyond simple storytelling to more complex 'relatos' (reports).

At the B2 level, 'narrar' becomes a tool for stylistic variation. You will use it to discuss literary techniques, such as 'narrar em primeira pessoa' (narrating in the first person) versus 'narrar em terceira pessoa' (narrating in the third person). You should understand the nuance of 'narrativa' (narrative) as a noun and how it applies to politics, marketing, and sociology. At this level, you are expected to handle the verb in all moods, including the subjunctive: 'É importante que ele narre os fatos com imparcialidade' (It is important that he narrates the facts with impartiality). You will also encounter 'narrar' in more abstract senses, such as how a culture 'narra a sua própria origem' (narrates its own origin).

At the C1 level, you use 'narrar' with a deep understanding of its rhetorical power. You can distinguish between 'narrar', 'dissertar', and 'descrever' with ease in academic writing. You will use the verb to analyze the reliability of a narrator ('o narrador não confiável') and discuss the 'ato de narrar' as a fundamental human activity. You should be able to use it in complex sentence structures, often involving gerunds or infinitives to create flow: 'Ao narrar os pormenores da sua infância, o autor revela traumas profundos'. You will also encounter the word in legal and philosophical texts, where the precision of how something is narrated can change the entire meaning of a testimony or a theory.

At the C2 level, 'narrar' is part of your sophisticated command of the language. You understand the philosophical implications of 'narrar o inenarrável' (narrating the unnarratable). You can use the verb in highly formal or poetic contexts, perhaps using archaic or rare forms for effect. You are aware of the subtle differences between 'narrar' and its most obscure synonyms like 'historiar' or 'cronicar'. You can engage in high-level debates about the 'narratologia' (narratology) of a text. For a C2 speaker, 'narrar' is not just about telling a story; it's about the construction of reality through language, and you use the verb to dissect and create complex, multi-layered accounts of existence.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

narrar in 30 Seconds

Narrar is a formal Portuguese verb meaning 'to narrate' or 'to tell a story' in a structured, sequential manner.
It is a regular -AR verb, making its conjugation predictable and easy for beginners to master in various tenses.
Commonly heard in sports broadcasting (narrating a game) and seen in literary contexts (the author narrating a plot).
It differs from 'contar' by being more formal and emphasizing the performance or the structure of the storytelling.

The Portuguese verb narrar is a sophisticated yet accessible word primarily used to describe the act of telling a story, recounting events, or providing a commentary on a sequence of actions. While it translates directly to the English "to narrate," its usage in Portuguese-speaking cultures spans several distinct domains, from the high-energy world of sports broadcasting to the quiet intimacy of bedtime stories and the formal requirements of legal or historical documentation.

Literary Context: In literature, narrar refers to the perspective and voice of the narrator. It is the technical term used when discussing how a plot is unfolded to the reader.
Sports Broadcasting: In Brazil and Portugal, the person who describes a football match live on radio or TV is called a narrador. They don't just 'comment'; they 'narrate' the play-by-play action with immense passion.
Formal Reporting: When a witness describes a crime or a historian writes about a war, they are narrando fatos (narrating facts). It implies a structured, chronological sequence.

O comentarista começou a narrar o golo com muita emoção.

At an A2 level, you should recognize narrar as a more formal alternative to contar (to tell). While you might contar uma piada (tell a joke), a famous author would narrar uma epopeia (narrate an epic). The word carries a sense of structure and sequence. It is an -AR verb, making it one of the easiest categories to conjugate in the present, past, and future tenses.

Furthermore, narrar is essential for academic writing. If you are summarizing a book or a movie for a Portuguese class, you will often use phrases like "O autor narra a história de..." (The author narrates the story of...). It elevates your vocabulary above the basic level of falar (to speak) or dizer (to say).

Using narrar correctly requires understanding its transitivity. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object—the thing being narrated. You narrate a story, a dream, a sequence of events, or a match.

Direct Object Usage: Eu vou narrar as minhas férias. (I am going to narrate/recount my vacation.)
Passive Voice: A história foi narrada por um ator famoso. (The story was narrated by a famous actor.)

Ele consegue narrar cada detalhe do acidente sem hesitar.

In terms of conjugation, follow the regular pattern for -AR verbs. In the present tense: eu narro, tu narras, ele/ela/você narra, nós narramos, vós narrais, eles/elas/vocês narram. For A2 learners, the Pretérito Perfeito is vital: eu narrei (I narrated). This is used when you have finished telling a specific story.

When using it in a professional context, such as a business presentation, you might say: "Vou narrar os passos que tomamos para atingir a meta." This sounds much more professional than "Vou falar o que fizemos." It suggests a logical flow and a professional delivery.

You will encounter narrar in specific environments that prioritize storytelling and reporting. Understanding these contexts helps you grasp the cultural weight of the word.

The Stadium and the Screen: In Brazil, the locutor esportivo is an icon. When they say "Vou narrar este clássico," they are promising an artistic performance of speech. The verb here implies speed, rhythm, and vocal modulation.
Audiobooks and Documentaries: On platforms like Audible or YouTube documentaries, the credits will often list: "Narrado por [Nome]." This is the standard term for voice-over work.

Muitos documentários da Natureza são narrados por vozes calmas e profundas.

In daily conversation, you might hear a friend say, "Deixa-me narrar o que aconteceu ontem na festa!" This indicates they are about to give you a long, detailed, and likely dramatic account of the events. It sets the stage for a story rather than just a quick update.

While narrar is straightforward, English speakers often make mistakes by overusing it or confusing it with similar verbs.

Narrar vs. Contar: The most common mistake is using narrar for everything. If you are telling a friend a simple piece of news, use contar. Use narrar when the telling is a performance or a formal report. Saying "Vou narrar que comprei pão" sounds unnaturally dramatic.
Pronunciation of the Double 'R': In Portuguese, the 'rr' in the middle of narrar is a strong, guttural sound (like the 'h' in 'house' or a French 'r'). Many learners use a soft English 'r', which can make the word hard to understand.

Não se deve narrar apenas o que é conveniente, mas sim toda a verdade.

Another mistake is forgetting the preposition a or para when indicating the listener. While you narrate something (direct object), you narrate it to someone (indirect object). "Narrar a história para as crianças" is the correct structure.

To truly master narrar, you must know its synonyms and how they differ in shade and meaning.

Contar: The most common alternative. Used for jokes, secrets, and daily events. Contar uma história is more frequent in casual speech than narrar uma história.
Relatar: Used for reporting facts, often in a professional, medical, or police context. It implies objectivity. Narrar allows for more artistic flair.
Descrever: While narrar focuses on actions over time, descrever focuses on the qualities of things or people at a specific moment.

O autor prefere narrar na primeira pessoa para criar intimidade.

In a literary analysis, you might also see expor (to expose/set forth) or historiar (to chronicle). However, for an A2 learner, sticking to the distinction between contar (informal) and narrar (formal/performative) is the best strategy.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word is a 'cognate' with English 'narrate', meaning they share the exact same Latin ancestor and look/sound very similar.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /na.ˈʁaɾ/

US /na.ˈχaχ/

The stress is on the last syllable: na-RRAR.

Rhymes With

Falar Cantar Andar Olhar Pensar Amar Chegar Lugar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the double 'rr' as a single English 'r'.
Putting the stress on the first syllable (NArrar).
Nasalizing the first 'a' (it should be oral).
Making the final 'r' too hard like an American 'r'.
Confusing the guttural 'rr' with a Spanish rolled 'r' (though some Portuguese dialects do roll it).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the English cognate 'narrate'.

Writing 3/5

Easy to conjugate as a regular -AR verb, but requires knowing when to use it over 'contar'.

Speaking 4/5

The double 'rr' can be tricky for English speakers to pronounce correctly.

Listening 2/5

Clear and distinct, especially in sports broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Falar Dizer História Jogo Livro

Learn Next

Relatar Descrever Dissertar Expor Cronicar

Advanced

Focalização Diegese Verossimilhança Enredo Clímax

Grammar to Know

Regular -AR Verb Conjugation

Eu narr-o, Tu narr-as, Ele narr-a.

Direct Object Pronouns

Eu narro a história -> Eu narro-a.

Pretérito Perfeito for completed actions

Ontem ele narrou o conto.

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

A história foi narrada por ele.

Infinitive Personal

Para nós narrarmos bem, precisamos de praticar.

Examples by Level

Eu narro a história.

I narrate the story.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Você narra bem.

You narrate well.

Present tense, 2nd person (você).

O locutor narra o jogo de futebol.

The announcer narrates the football game.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

Nós narramos o que vemos.

We narrate what we see.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Eles narram contos de fadas.

They narrate fairy tales.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Ela narra a sua vida.

She narrates her life.

Possessive pronoun 'sua' used with 'vida'.

O professor narra a lição.

The teacher narrates the lesson.

Formal use of narrar in education.

Eu quero narrar um segredo.

I want to narrate a secret.

Infinitive after the auxiliary verb 'querer'.

Ontem, eu narrei o filme para ela.

Yesterday, I narrated the movie for her.

Pretérito Perfeito (past tense).

O autor narra a aventura no deserto.

The author narrates the adventure in the desert.

Narrar used in a literary context.

Nós vamos narrar a nossa viagem amanhã.

We are going to narrate our trip tomorrow.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Ele narrou os fatos com clareza.

He narrated the facts with clarity.

Adverbial phrase 'com clareza'.

Você pode narrar o que aconteceu?

Can you narrate what happened?

Interrogative with 'poder'.

A rádio narra o jogo em direto.

The radio narrates the game live.

'Em direto' means 'live'.

Eu gostava de narrar histórias quando era criança.

I used to like narrating stories when I was a child.

Pretérito Imperfeito (used to).

Ela narrou a notícia na televisão.

She narrated the news on television.

Pretérito Perfeito.

O documentário é narrado por um cientista.

The documentary is narrated by a scientist.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.

Sempre que ele viaja, ele narra tudo no seu blogue.

Whenever he travels, he narrates everything on his blog.

Present tense expressing a habit.

É difícil narrar sentimentos tão complexos.

It is difficult to narrate such complex feelings.

Infinitive as a subject.

Eles narraram o evento passo a passo.

They narrated the event step by step.

Idiomatic expression 'passo a passo'.

Se eu soubesse, eu narraria a verdade.

If I knew, I would narrate the truth.

Conditional mood.

O livro consegue narrar a história de várias gerações.

The book manages to narrate the story of several generations.

Verb 'conseguir' + infinitive.

Ela prefere narrar do que apenas observar.

She prefers narrating over just observing.

Comparison with 'preferir... do que'.

Os avós narravam lendas antigas à lareira.

The grandparents used to narrate old legends by the fireplace.

Pretérito Imperfeito for past habits.

O autor optou por narrar a obra de forma não linear.

The author chose to narrate the work in a non-linear way.

Preposition 'por' after 'optar'.

Ao narrar o crime, a testemunha entrou em contradição.

While narrating the crime, the witness contradicted themselves.

'Ao' + infinitive (while doing something).

Duvido que ele narre os factos como eles realmente foram.

I doubt that he narrates the facts as they actually were.

Present Subjunctive after 'duvidar que'.

A exposição narra a evolução da tecnologia.

The exhibition narrates the evolution of technology.

Metaphorical use of 'narrar' for an exhibition.

Narrar requer uma boa capacidade de síntese.

Narrating requires a good capacity for synthesis.

Infinitive as a noun/subject.

O filme foi criticado por narrar a história de forma superficial.

The movie was criticized for narrating the story superficially.

Preposition 'por' + infinitive (reason).

Espero que tu narres a tua experiência no congresso.

I hope you narrate your experience at the congress.

Present Subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

Ele tem o dom de narrar qualquer situação com humor.

He has the gift of narrating any situation with humor.

Noun phrase 'o dom de'.

A obra prima por narrar o quotidiano com uma sensibilidade ímpar.

The work excels by narrating daily life with unparalleled sensitivity.

Verb 'primar por' means to excel at.

É imperativo que se narrem os acontecimentos sem enviesamentos.

It is imperative that the events be narrated without bias.

Passive voice with 'se' + subjunctive.

O historiador dedicou a vida a narrar as glórias e quedas do império.

The historian dedicated his life to narrating the glories and falls of the empire.

Preposition 'a' after 'dedicar-se'.

Narrar a guerra é, muitas vezes, um ato de resistência política.

Narrating war is often an act of political resistance.

Abstract and philosophical usage.

Embora narrasse com detalhe, faltava-lhe a emoção necessária.

Although he narrated in detail, he lacked the necessary emotion.

Imperfect Subjunctive after 'embora'.

A capacidade de narrar a própria história é fundamental para a identidade.

The ability to narrate one's own story is fundamental to identity.

Gerundial infinitive construction.

O realizador escolheu narrar o filme através de flashbacks.

The director chose to narrate the film through flashbacks.

Technical cinematic terminology.

Não basta narrar; é preciso fazer o leitor sentir a atmosfera.

It's not enough to narrate; it's necessary to make the reader feel the atmosphere.

Contrastive sentence structure.

A hermenêutica contemporânea debruça-se sobre o modo como narramos a existência.

Contemporary hermeneutics focuses on the way we narrate existence.

High-level academic vocabulary.

Ao narrar o indizível, a poesia transcende as limitações da linguagem.

By narrating the unspeakable, poetry transcends the limitations of language.

'Ao' + infinitive with abstract objects.

O autor exime-se de narrar os factos, preferindo a introspeção pura.

The author refrains from narrating the facts, preferring pure introspection.

Reflexive verb 'eximir-se de'.

Narrar-se-ia a tragédia se houvesse palavras para tal?

Would the tragedy be narrated if there were words for it?

Mesoclisis (narrar-se-ia) - extremely formal/archaic.

A historiografia oficial tende a narrar os eventos sob a ótica dos vencedores.

Official historiography tends to narrate events from the perspective of the winners.

Critical social science terminology.

O fluxo de consciência permite narrar a fragmentação do pensamento moderno.

The stream of consciousness allows for narrating the fragmentation of modern thought.

Literary theory context.

A despeito de narrar a sua queda, o herói mantém a sua dignidade.

Despite narrating his fall, the hero maintains his dignity.

Complex prepositional phrase 'a despeito de'.

Narrar é, em última análise, um esforço para ordenar o caos do mundo.

Narrating is, in the final analysis, an effort to order the chaos of the world.

Philosophical definition.

Common Collocations

Narrar um jogo

Narrar uma história

Narrar fatos

Narrar em detalhe

Narrar a vida

Narrar com emoção

Narrar na primeira pessoa

Narrar um acontecimento

Narrar passo a passo

Narrar o passado

Common Phrases

Deixa-me narrar...

— A common way to start telling a long story. It sets a dramatic tone.

Deixa-me narrar o que aconteceu no escritório hoje!

Narrar a própria história

— Taking control of one's life narrative. Often used in self-help or social contexts.

Todos temos o direito de narrar a nossa própria história.

Bem narrado

— Used to praise a story or a sports commentary. It means 'well told'.

Aquele audiobook é muito bem narrado.

Vou narrar...

— A formal introduction to a speech or a report.

Vou narrar os objetivos desta reunião.

Narrar por alto

— To narrate briefly without many details.

Vou narrar por alto o que ele disse.

Narrar tim-tim por tim-tim

— To narrate every single tiny detail. Very idiomatic.

Ela narrou a fofoca tim-tim por tim-tim.

Narrar o óbvio

— To state things that everyone already knows. Often used critically.

Não precisas de narrar o óbvio, todos vimos o que aconteceu.

O narrador diz...

— A standard way to reference the narrator's voice in a text.

O narrador diz que a personagem estava triste.

Narrar em voz alta

— To tell a story out loud.

Gosto de narrar contos em voz alta para os meus filhos.

Narrar o impossível

— To try to describe something beyond words.

O poeta tentou narrar o impossível.

Often Confused With

narrar vs Nadar

Sounds similar but means 'to swim'. Don't mix them up in conversation!

narrar vs Negar

Means 'to deny'. Sometimes learners confuse the sounds at high speed.

narrar vs Narrativa

This is the noun (narrative), while 'narrar' is the verb.

Idioms & Expressions

"Narrar tim-tim por tim-tim"

— To tell a story with every minute detail, leaving nothing out.

Ela narrou a viagem tim-tim por tim-tim.

Informal

"Narrar de fio a pavio"

— To tell a story from beginning to end without skipping anything.

Ele narrou o livro de fio a pavio.

Colloquial

"Narrar o que não viu"

— To invent details or lie about events one didn't witness.

Cuidado com ele, ele adora narrar o que não viu.

Informal

"Narrar com papas na língua"

— To narrate something with hesitation or without being completely honest (negation of 'sem papas na língua').

Ele narrou o ocorrido com papas na língua, escondendo a verdade.

Idiomatic

"Narrar para boi dormir"

— A variation of 'conversa para boi dormir', meaning to tell a story that is obviously a lie or an excuse.

Essa desculpa é só para narrar para boi dormir.

Slang

"Narrar a missa"

— To explain something in an overly detailed and boring way, like a long sermon.

Ele começou a narrar a missa sobre o novo sistema.

Informal/Humorous

"Narrar o jogo antes dele acabar"

— To celebrate or claim victory before the event is actually over.

Não narre o jogo antes dele acabar, ainda há tempo para perder.

Metaphorical

"Narrar o próprio enterro"

— To describe a situation that is leading to one's own failure or demise.

Ao confessar, ele estava a narrar o próprio enterro profissional.

Dramatic

"Narrar de cor e salteado"

— To know a story so well that you can narrate it perfectly and even out of order.

Ela narra aquela lenda de cor e salteado.

Colloquial

"Narrar o que a alma sente"

— To express deep, personal feelings through storytelling.

O fado serve para narrar o que a alma sente.

Poetic

Easily Confused

narrar vs Contar

Both mean 'to tell'.

'Contar' is the general word for telling anything. 'Narrar' is specifically for structured stories or reports and is more formal.

Eu conto uma piada (informal). Eu narro um conto (formal).

narrar vs Relatar

Both involve recounting events.

'Relatar' is objective and factual (like a report). 'Narrar' can be subjective, artistic, or dramatic.

O médico relatou os sintomas. O avô narrou a aventura.

narrar vs Descrever

Both involve talking about something.

'Descrever' is about attributes and qualities (what it looks like). 'Narrar' is about actions and time (what happened).

Descrevi a casa. Narrei a festa.

narrar vs Falar

Both involve using the voice.

'Falar' is the general act of speaking. 'Narrar' is a specific type of speaking (storytelling).

Ele fala muito. Ele narra bem.

narrar vs Dizer

Both involve transmitting information.

'Dizer' is for specific statements or quotes. 'Narrar' is for a whole sequence of events.

Ele disse 'oi'. Ele narrou a viagem.

Sentence Patterns

Eu narro [objeto].

Eu narro o livro.

Ontem, eu narrei [objeto].

Ontem, eu narrei a festa.

[Objeto] é narrado por [pessoa].

O filme é narrado por ele.

É importante que ele narre [objeto].

É importante que ele narre a verdade.

Ao narrar [objeto], [sujeito] [verbo]...

Ao narrar o crime, ele chorou.

Narrar-se-ia [objeto] se...

Narrar-se-ia o fim se fosse possível.

Ele gosta de narrar [objeto].

Ele gosta de narrar piadas.

Nós vamos narrar [objeto] para [pessoa].

Nós vamos narrar a viagem para ti.

Word Family

Nouns

Narrador (Narrator)

Narrativa (Narrative)

Narração (Narration)

Verbs

Narrar (To narrate)

Adjectives

Narrativo (Narrative/Related to narration)

Narrável (Narratable)

Enredo (Plot)

Conto (Short story)

Relato (Report)

Locutor (Announcer)

Crónica (Chronicle)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media and literature; medium frequency in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

Using 'narrar' for simple facts. → Eu contei que comprei pão.
Using 'narrar' for buying bread sounds too formal. Use 'contar' for everyday actions.
Pronouncing 'rr' like an English 'r'. → Narrar (with a guttural 'rr').
The English 'r' doesn't exist in Portuguese. The 'rr' should be in the throat.
Saying 'narrar sobre'. → Vou narrar a história.
Narrar is a transitive verb; it doesn't usually need 'sobre'.
Confusing 'narrar' with 'nadar'. → Eu narro a história / Eu nado na piscina.
They sound similar but have very different meanings. Context usually helps.
Using 'narrar' to mean 'to say'. → Ele disse que estava com fome.
Don't use 'narrar' for short sentences or quotes. Use 'dizer'.

Tips

Formal Writing

When writing a book review or a summary, use 'narrar' to describe what the author does. It sounds much more professional than 'falar'.

The Double R

Don't be afraid to make a strong sound for the 'rr'. It's the key to sounding like a native speaker when saying 'narrar'.

Learn the Family

Learn 'narrador' and 'narrativa' at the same time. They are very common and will help you understand 'narrar' better.

Sports Fans

If you like football, watch a match with Portuguese commentary. You will hear the verb 'narrar' and the noun 'narrador' constantly.

Regularity

Since it's a regular -AR verb, you can apply everything you know about 'falar' or 'amar' to 'narrar'. No surprises here!

Dramatic Flair

Use 'narrar' when you want to tell a story with a bit of drama. It prepares your audience for something more interesting than a simple fact.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks are great for hearing 'narrar'. Look for 'narrado por' in the description to see who the narrator is.

Narrar vs Contar

Always remember: 'Contar' is for your friends, 'Narrar' is for the stage or the page.

Cognates

Use the fact that it looks like 'narrate' to help you remember it, but don't forget the Portuguese pronunciation rules!

Daily Practice

Try to 'narrar' one small thing that happened today in your journal. It's great practice for the past tense.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Narrator' in a movie. In Portuguese, they 'Narrar' the story. The double 'RR' sounds like a car engine starting—the engine of the story!

Visual Association

Imagine a person sitting by a campfire with a book, with the word 'NARRAR' written in the smoke rising from the fire.

Word Web

História Voz Livro Futebol Rádio Escritor Início Fim

Challenge

Try to narrate your breakfast routine in Portuguese using the verb 'narrar' in the present tense: 'Eu narro como faço o meu café...'

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'narrare', which means 'to relate, tell, or make known'.

Original meaning: The Latin root is related to 'gnarus' (knowing/acquainted with), suggesting that to narrate is to 'make someone know' something.

Romance (Latin origin).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but when narrating historical events, be mindful of different perspectives (e.g., 'narrar o descobrimento' vs 'narrar a invasão').

In English, 'narrate' is quite formal. In Portuguese, 'narrar' is also formal but is the standard word for sports commentary, which makes it feel slightly more 'everyday' in that specific context.

Galvão Bueno (Famous Brazilian sports narrador) Jorge Amado (Author whose works are often described as 'narrando a Bahia') José Saramago (Nobel prize winner known for his unique way of narrating)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Sports

Narrar o golo
Narrar a partida
Narrador oficial
Ritmo de narração

Literature

Narrar em terceira pessoa
O autor narra
Narrar o clímax
Estilo de narrar

Legal

Narrar os factos
Narrar o ocorrido
Narrar sem omissões
Falsa narração

Everyday Life

Narrar a viagem
Deixa-me narrar
Narrar o dia
Narrar um sonho

Media

Narrar o documentário
Voz para narrar
Narrar as notícias
Narrar em direto

Conversation Starters

"Podes narrar o que aconteceu no teu primeiro dia de trabalho?"

"Quem é o teu narrador de futebol favorito?"

"Se fosses narrar a tua vida, qual seria o título do primeiro capítulo?"

"Gostas de audiolivros narrados por autores ou por atores?"

"Como é que os teus avós costumavam narrar as histórias de família?"

Journal Prompts

Narre o momento mais feliz da sua infância com o máximo de detalhes possível.

Escolha um objeto no seu quarto e narre a história de como ele chegou até si.

Narre o seu dia de hoje como se fosse um comentador desportivo entusiasmado.

Se pudesse narrar um evento histórico importante, qual escolheria e porquê?

Narre um sonho recorrente que tenha tido recentemente.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but it sounds more formal or dramatic. If you say 'Vou narrar o meu dia', people will expect a very detailed and perhaps entertaining story rather than just a quick summary. In most casual situations, 'contar' is the better choice.

Yes, the meaning is identical. However, the pronunciation of the 'rr' and the final 'r' will differ. Brazilians often use a breathy 'h' sound, while many Portuguese speakers use a more guttural or trilled 'r'. In both countries, it's the standard word for sports broadcasting.

A 'narrador' is a narrator. This could be the voice in an audiobook, a character telling a story in a novel, or a sports commentator who describes the action of a match. It's a very common noun related to the verb 'narrar'.

For the Pretérito Perfeito: Eu narrei, Tu narraste, Ele narrou, Nós narrámos (PT)/narramos (BR), Vós narrastes, Eles narraram. This is used for a story you finished telling.

Absolutely. It is frequently used for history, news reports, and legal testimonies. In fact, 'narrar os fatos' (narrating the facts) is a standard phrase in legal contexts.

Usually, yes. You narrate *something*. However, you can use it absolutely in sentences like 'Ele tem o dom de narrar' (He has the gift of narrating/storytelling), where the focus is on the skill itself.

It is a good 'expansion' word. While not as essential as 'comer' or 'ir', it is very useful for describing media and literature, which are common topics in A2 exams and lessons.

'Narrar' is about time and sequence (what happened first, then second). 'Expor' is about presenting information or ideas, often in a logical rather than chronological order.

It's better to avoid it. Use 'narrar' + direct object. For example, 'Ele narrou a viagem' is better than 'Ele narrou sobre a viagem'. If you want to use 'sobre', use 'falar sobre' or 'contar sobre'.

A 'narrativa' is a narrative or a story. It can refer to a specific literary work or a general way of explaining events (e.g., 'a narrativa política').