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A2 verb 10 min read

requisitar

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips requisitar in 30 Seconds

Explanation requisitar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to ask for things. While 'requisitar' is a bit advanced for a complete beginner, you might see it in a library. At this stage, think of it simply as a formal way to say 'I want' or 'Can I have' when you are in a school or library. You don't need to worry about all the complex legal uses yet. Just remember that in a Portuguese library, 'requisitar' is the word for taking a book home. Example: 'Eu quero requisitar este livro.' (I want to request/borrow this book). Focus on the present tense: 'Eu requisito', 'Tu requisitas'.

At the A2 level, you should start distinguishing between casual and formal requests. You know 'pedir' for daily life, but now you should use 'requisitar' for official school or office tasks. You might need to 'requisitar' a new ID card or a specific document. You will also start seeing it in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito): 'Eu requisitei'. This level is about expanding your vocabulary to handle basic administrative tasks. You should be able to understand a sign that says 'Requisitar aqui' (Request here) at a help desk.

At B1, you are becoming an independent user of the language. You should understand that 'requisitar' implies a process. You use it when you are talking about office supplies, formal permissions, or official certificates. You should also be comfortable with the future tense and the conditional: 'Eu requisitaria o material se tivesse o formulário.' (I would request the material if I had the form). You start to notice the difference between 'requisitar' (for items) and 'solicitar' (for services/info). Your sentences should become more complex, using 'requisitar' with purpose clauses: 'Vou requisitar o documento para provar a minha morada.'

At the B2 level, you should be aware of the more 'forceful' meanings of 'requisitar'. This includes the 'civil requisition' (requisição civil) used by the government. You understand the nuances of register—using this verb in a business email makes you sound professional. You should also be familiar with the passive voice and the impersonal 'se': 'Requisita-se a colaboração de todos.' (The collaboration of everyone is requested). You can handle the verb in various moods, including the subjunctive, which is common in formal requests: 'É necessário que o diretor requisite os fundos.'

At C1, you use 'requisitar' with precision and stylistic flair. You understand its legal and historical connotations. You might use it metaphorically in writing: 'A situação requisitava uma resposta imediata' (The situation demanded an immediate response). You are fully aware of the prepositional patterns (requisitar algo a alguém) and the subtle differences between 'requisitar', 'requerer', and 'demandar'. You can read complex legal or administrative texts where 'requisitar' defines the power dynamics between the state and the individual.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of the word. You understand the historical development of the word from Latin and how its usage has evolved in different Lusophone countries. You can use it in academic writing or legal drafting. You recognize it in high literature where it might be used to describe an authoritative command. You are also comfortable with rare forms and compound structures. You can discuss the political implications of a 'requisição civil' in a deep socio-economic debate, using the verb to navigate complex arguments about labor rights and state power.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

requisitar in 30 Seconds

A formal verb for requesting items or services through official channels.
Commonly used in libraries for borrowing books and in offices for supplies.
Can imply a legal demand or state requisition in emergency contexts.
More formal than 'pedir' and more item-focused than 'solicitar'.

The Portuguese verb requisitar is a formal and specific way to express the act of requesting or demanding something, typically within an official, administrative, or institutional framework. While the everyday word for 'to ask' is pedir, requisitar implies a structured process, often involving paperwork, official channels, or a legal right to the item being requested. It is most commonly encountered in libraries, government offices, and professional environments where a 'requisition' is necessary. For an English speaker, it translates most accurately to 'to requisition' or 'to formally request'.

Institutional Context: This verb is the standard term for checking out books in a Portuguese library (biblioteca). Instead of saying you are 'borrowing' a book, you are 'requisitando' it, highlighting the formal record of the transaction.
Legal and State Authority: In more serious contexts, the state or police might 'requisitar' private property or civil services during an emergency. This usage mirrors the English 'to requisition' in a military or crisis sense.

O professor decidiu requisitar uma nova sala para o exame final.

When you use requisitar, you are signaling that the request is not a personal favor but a formal procedure. It is rarely used among friends for casual items. You wouldn't 'requisitar' a fry from a friend's plate, but a manager would 'requisitar' more printer toner from the supply department. Understanding this distinction is key to reaching a B1 or B2 level of fluency, where register and context become vital.

É necessário preencher este formulário para requisitar o seu passaporte.

Library Usage: In Portugal, if you want to take a book home, you ask: 'Posso requisitar este livro?'. It sounds more natural than 'emprestar', which focuses on the library giving it to you.

A polícia pode requisitar o auxílio de qualquer cidadão em caso de perigo.

The word carries a weight of authority. Whether it's a student asking for a transcript or a company asking for a government permit, requisitar bridges the gap between a simple wish and a formal demand. It is an essential verb for anyone navigating the Portuguese bureaucratic landscape, which is famously fond of formal procedures.

O diretor vai requisitar os arquivos históricos para a pesquisa.

Workplace Protocol: Use this verb when asking for official resources: 'Preciso requisitar um novo computador portátil'. This implies you are following the company's equipment policy.

Não te esqueças de requisitar o cartão de acesso antes de segunda-feira.

Using requisitar correctly requires an understanding of its direct object structure. Unlike some verbs that require complex prepositions, you generally 'requisitar' something directly. However, the nuance changes depending on the grammatical tense and the formality of the situation. In this section, we will explore the syntactic patterns that make this verb functional and natural in various contexts.

Pattern: Requisitar + Noun: The most common structure. Example: 'Requisitar um documento'. Here, the document is the direct object. This is used for physical items or specific services.

Nós vamos requisitar os serviços de um tradutor profissional.

In the sentence above, 'os serviços' is the object. Note how the verb elevates the tone from 'pedir ajuda' (to ask for help) to a more professional engagement. If you are in a professional setting, always lean toward requisitar or solicitar to maintain decorum.

Pattern: Requisitar + para + [Infinitive]: Used when you are requesting something for a specific purpose. Example: 'Requisitar verbas para o projeto' (To request funds for the project).

Eles tiveram de requisitar autorização para entrar no edifício.

When dealing with authority figures, the verb often appears in the passive voice or with impersonal 'se' to sound even more formal. 'Requisita-se a presença de todos' (The presence of everyone is requested). This is common in official announcements or wedding invitations.

The Preposition 'a': When you specify who you are requesting from, use 'a'. 'Requisitar algo a alguém'. Example: 'Requisitei o livro à bibliotecária'.

O juiz vai requisitar o depoimento à testemunha amanhã.

Another interesting use is the 'civil requisition' (requisição civil), a legal tool where the government compels workers to return to work during a strike. You might see headlines like 'O governo decidiu requisitar os motoristas'. This is a very strong use of the verb, implying a command that cannot be refused.

Podes requisitar o material de escritório no armazém.

In summary, use requisitar when the action involves a system. Whether it's a computer system, a filing system, or a legal system, requisitar is the key that unlocks the process. Avoid it in intimate settings unless you are being intentionally ironic or humorous about the formality of your request.

Vou requisitar uma cópia autenticada da minha certidão de nascimento.

If you are walking down the street in Lisbon or Rio de Janeiro, you probably won't hear requisitar in a casual conversation between friends at a café. However, the moment you step into an institution, the word becomes ubiquitous. Understanding the 'auditory landscape' of requisitar helps you recognize it in the wild and use it with the correct social intuition.

The University/School Environment: This is perhaps the most common place for students to hear the word. Librarians will ask: 'Deseja requisitar este livro ou apenas consultar aqui?'. Administrative staff will tell you to 'requisitar o diploma' after graduation.

Para levar o computador para casa, tem de o requisitar nos serviços técnicos.

In the workplace, specifically in large corporations or government agencies, requisitar is the language of logistics. You hear it when talking about supplies, transport, or personnel. 'O departamento de marketing vai requisitar dois estagiários' (The marketing department will request two interns). It implies a formal allocation of resources.

The News and Media: Journalists use this word frequently when reporting on government actions. 'O governo ameaça requisitar os trabalhadores em greve' is a common headline during industrial disputes in Portugal, referring to the 'requisição civil'.

O exército foi requisitado para ajudar nas operações de resgate após as cheias.

In legal dramas or news about the justice system, you'll hear about judges 'requisitando' evidence or files from other departments. It’s a verb of power and procedure. In Brazil, you might also hear it in the context of 'requisição de exames' (requesting medical exams) at a doctor's office, though 'pedir' is also common there.

Public Administration (Loja do Cidadão): When dealing with taxes, social security, or identity documents in Portugal, the staff will often use requisitar to describe the process of asking for certificates or renewals.

Pode requisitar a sua certidão online para poupar tempo.

Finally, in literature and formal writing, requisitar is used to add precision. An author might write that a character 'requisitou o silêncio' (requested silence) to show they are acting with authority or gravitas, rather than just asking for it nicely. It creates a specific mood of seriousness and importance.

O cliente decidiu requisitar o livro de reclamações após o mau atendimento.

While requisitar is a straightforward verb, its formality and specific usage patterns can lead to several common pitfalls for English speakers. Avoiding these will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.

Mistake 1: Over-using it in casual settings: If you are at a restaurant and say 'Quero requisitar uma cerveja', the waiter will likely look at you strangely. Requisitar is for official items. For food and drink, use 'pedir'.

Incorrect: Vou requisitar um café.
Correct: Vou pedir um café.

The second major mistake involves confusing requisitar with requerer. While they look similar and both involve requests, requerer is even more formal, usually reserved for legal petitions or requirements inherent in a law. You 'requisitar' a book, but a job might 'requerer' (require) a specific degree.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Requerer': Use requisitar for the act of asking. Use requerer for legal requirements or formal petitions to a court or high authority.

Este trabalho requer (not requisita) muita paciência.

Prepositional errors are also common. English speakers often want to add 'por' (for) after the verb because of the English 'request for'. In Portuguese, you just 'requisitar [something]'. Adding 'por' is grammatically incorrect in this context.

Mistake 3: Mispronouncing the 'qui': The 'u' is silent. It should sound like 're-kee-zee-tar'. Many beginners try to pronounce the 'u' (like 'kwee'), which is a giveaway of a non-native accent.

Pronúncia correta: [ʁɛkiziˈtaɾ] (re-kee-zee-tar).

Finally, avoid using requisitar when you mean 'to need' (precisar). While a request implies a need, requisitar is the outward action of asking, not the internal state of needing. If you need a pen, say 'Preciso de uma caneta'. If you are at an office and need to formally request a bulk order of pens, then you 'requisita' them.

Não diga: 'Eu requisito ajuda'.
Diga: 'Eu preciso de ajuda' ou 'Eu solicito ajuda'.

Portuguese has a rich vocabulary for the act of asking. Choosing the right synonym for requisitar depends entirely on the level of formality and the specific context of the request.

Pedir (To ask/request): The most general verb. Use it for everything from asking for a favor to ordering food. It lacks the institutional weight of requisitar.
Solicitar (To solicit/formally request): Very close to requisitar. Solicitar is often used for services or information (solicitar informações), whereas requisitar is more common for physical items or resources (requisitar material).

Podes solicitar um novo cartão de crédito pelo telefone.

Another alternative is encomendar (to order). While requisitar is for things you have a right to or are part of an internal process, encomendar is for purchasing things from an external vendor, like ordering a pizza or a custom-made suit.

Requerer (To require/petition): As mentioned before, this is for legal contexts. You 'requer' a license from the city council. It implies a formal petition that will be judged or processed by an authority.

O advogado vai requerer a liberdade condicional do réu.

In a library, you might also hear consultar. If you don't 'requisitar' (take home) a book, you 'consultar' (read it there). In a business sense, demandar can be used, but it's much stronger, often meaning 'to demand' or 'to require' as a necessity of the situation.

Reclamar (To claim/complain): Sometimes people confuse 'requesting' with 'claiming'. If you have a right to something and it hasn't been given, you 'reclamar' (claim/demand) it.

Vou requisitar o meu direito de resposta nesta reunião.

Choosing the right word shows your command of the language's social hierarchy. Using requisitar in the right place makes you sound professional and integrated into Portuguese society.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word 'requisitado' is often used in Portuguese to describe celebrities or professionals who are 'in demand'. So, if you are a famous actor, you are 'muito requisitado'!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʁɛ.ki.zi.ˈtaɾ/

US /he.ki.zi.ˈtaχ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'tar'.

Rhymes With

Cantar Falar Andar Estar Acreditar Solicitar Pensar Olhar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'u' in 'qui' (it should be silent).
Stressing the 'qui' instead of the 'tar'.
Using an English 'r' sound at the beginning.
Confusing the 'z' sound with an 's' sound (in Portuguese, 's' between vowels sounds like 'z').
Making the 'e' too open like 'ray' instead of 'reh'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to 'requisition' and 'request'.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of the 'qui' spelling and formal context.

Speaking 3/5

The 'qui' and 'z' sounds can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Distinct sound, usually clear in administrative contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Pedir Livro Biblioteca Documento Formulário

Learn Next

Solicitar Requerer Processo Autorização Deferir

Advanced

Requisição civil Expropriação Contencioso Diligência

Grammar to Know

Verbs ending in -ar follow the first conjugation pattern.

Eu requisito, Tu requisitas, Ele requisita.

Direct Object Pronouns with Infinitive (EP).

Vou requisitá-lo (I will request it).

The 'u' is silent in 'qui' and 'que'.

Re-qui-si-tar (The 'u' is not heard).

Subjunctive use with verbs of requesting.

Peço que requisites o material.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.

O livro foi requisitado ontem.

Examples by Level

Eu vou requisitar um livro.

I am going to request a book.

Simple future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Onde posso requisitar a chave?

Where can I request the key?

Interrogative sentence with 'posso' (can).

Tu requisitas o material amanhã.

You request the material tomorrow.

Present tense used for near future.

Nós requisitamos o formulário.

We request the form.

First person plural, present tense.

Ele requisita o computador agora.

He requests the computer now.

Third person singular, present tense.

Elas requisitam a sala de estudo.

They request the study room.

Third person plural, present tense.

Eu requisito ajuda na biblioteca.

I request help in the library.

Note: Using 'requisitar' for help is very formal.

Você requisita o mapa?

Do you request the map?

Formal 'você' address.

Ontem, eu requisitei um novo cartão.

Yesterday, I requested a new card.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past tense).

A professora requisitou o projetor.

The teacher requested the projector.

Third person singular, past tense.

Vocês requisitaram os documentos?

Did you (plural) request the documents?

Plural past tense question.

Preciso de requisitar uma certidão.

I need to request a certificate.

Infinitive after 'preciso de'.

Eles requisitaram o livro errado.

They requested the wrong book.

Past tense with an adjective.

Nós não requisitámos nada ainda.

We haven't requested anything yet.

Negative sentence in the past.

Podes requisitar a senha no balcão.

You can request the ticket at the counter.

Modal verb 'podes' + infinitive.

Ela requisitou o silêncio na sala.

She requested silence in the room.

Formal use of the verb.

Se eu tivesse tempo, requisitaria o livro.

If I had time, I would request the book.

Conditional mood.

O gerente vai requisitar mais pessoal.

The manager is going to request more staff.

Future with 'ir' used for professional planning.

É importante requisitar a autorização antes.

It is important to request authorization beforehand.

Impersonal expression + infinitive.

Eles requisitaram os serviços de limpeza.

They requested the cleaning services.

Requisitar + services.

A empresa requisitou o apoio do governo.

The company requested government support.

Abstract object (apoio).

Sempre requisitávamos os mesmos manuais.

We always used to request the same manuals.

Pretérito Imperfeito (Habitual past).

Não se esqueça de requisitar o recibo.

Don't forget to request the receipt.

Imperative negative.

Vou requisitar que me enviem o ficheiro.

I will request that they send me the file.

Requisitar + 'que' + subjunctive.

O governo decidiu requisitar os motoristas.

The government decided to requisition the drivers.

Civil requisition context.

Requisita-se a comparência de todos os sócios.

The attendance of all members is requested.

Passive with 'se'.

O juiz requisitou o processo ao tribunal.

The judge requested the case file from the court.

Legal context with preposition 'ao'.

Espero que eles requisitem o material a tempo.

I hope they request the material in time.

Present Subjunctive.

A situação requisita medidas extraordinárias.

The situation demands extraordinary measures.

Metaphorical use meaning 'to demand'.

Ele teria requisitado o apoio se soubesse.

He would have requested support if he had known.

Conditional Perfect.

Requisitei-lhe o documento, mas ele recusou.

I requested the document from him, but he refused.

Indirect object pronoun 'lhe'.

Ao requisitar o visto, deve pagar a taxa.

When requesting the visa, you must pay the fee.

Infinitive personal used as a temporal clause.

A autoridade requisitou os bens para fins públicos.

The authority requisitioned the goods for public purposes.

Legal/State power context.

O texto requisita uma leitura atenta e crítica.

The text demands a careful and critical reading.

Abstract demand.

Caso requisitem a sua presença, deve comparecer.

In case they request your presence, you must attend.

Future Subjunctive.

A lei permite requisitar mão-de-obra em crise.

The law allows for the requisitioning of labor in a crisis.

General legal statement.

Requisitei a retificação dos dados pessoais.

I requested the rectification of personal data.

Formal administrative request.

O historiador requisitou acesso aos arquivos secretos.

The historian requested access to the secret archives.

Academic/Research context.

Embora tenha requisitado o apoio, este tardou.

Although he requested support, it was late in coming.

Concessive clause with Subjunctive.

O diretor-geral requisitou o fecho da conta.

The general manager requested the closing of the account.

High-level corporate request.

A soberania nacional permite requisitar meios privados.

National sovereignty allows for the requisitioning of private means.

Constitutional law context.

O autor requisita do leitor uma suspensão da descrença.

The author demands from the reader a suspension of disbelief.

Literary theory context.

Haja o que houver, requisitaremos o cumprimento da lei.

Whatever happens, we will demand the fulfillment of the law.

Emphatic future.

A requisição civil foi o último recurso do Estado.

The civil requisition was the State's last resort.

Noun form 'requisição' used in a historical context.

Pudesse ele requisitar o destino, e tudo seria diferente.

If only he could command destiny, everything would be different.

Imperfect Subjunctive in a poetic wish.

A complexidade da obra requisita um estudo exaustivo.

The complexity of the work demands an exhaustive study.

Abstract demand in academic register.

O monarca requisitava vassalagem aos seus súbditos.

The monarch demanded vassalage from his subjects.

Historical narrative.

Não obstante ter requisitado o auxílio, agiu sozinho.

Despite having requested aid, he acted alone.

Advanced concessive structure.

Common Collocations

Requisitar um livro

Requisitar material

Requisitar auxílio

Requisitar autorização

Requisitar serviços

Requisitar documentos

Requisitar verbas

Requisitar silêncio

Requisitar transporte

Requisitar exames

Common Phrases

Requisição civil

— A legal mechanism where the state forces strikers back to work.

O governo decretou a requisição civil dos motoristas.

Ficha de requisição

— The form used to request something formally.

Preencha a ficha de requisição para levar o livro.

Sob requisição

— Available only upon request.

Estes documentos estão disponíveis apenas sob requisição.

Requisitar por escrito

— To make a request in writing.

Deve requisitar a alteração por escrito.

Requisitar a presença

— To formally ask for someone to appear.

Requisitamos a sua presença na reunião de amanhã.

Requisitar cópia

— To ask for a duplicate or copy.

Vou requisitar uma cópia do contrato.

Caderno de requisição

— A logbook for keeping track of requests.

Anote o pedido no caderno de requisição.

Requisitar intervenção

— To ask for an official intervention.

Os vizinhos vão requisitar a intervenção da polícia.

Direito de requisitar

— The legal right to make a request.

Todos os cidadãos têm o direito de requisitar informações.

Requisitar substituição

— To request a replacement.

Vou requisitar a substituição da lâmpada.

Often Confused With

requisitar vs Requerer

Requerer is for legal requirements/petitions; requisitar is for formal requests for items/services.

requisitar vs Solicitar

Very similar, but solicitar is broader and often used for information/favors, while requisitar is more for physical resources.

requisitar vs Pedir

Pedir is casual; requisitar is formal and procedural.

Idioms & Expressions

"Requisitar o silêncio"

— To command quiet in a formal or authoritative way.

O orador requisitou o silêncio da plateia.

Formal

"Requisitar as luzes"

— Metaphorically, to ask for clarity or insight (rare).

Requisitamos as luzes da razão para este debate.

Literary

"Requisitar o destino"

— To try to control one's own future or fate.

Não podemos requisitar o destino a nosso favor.

Poetic

"Requisitar o apoio das massas"

— To seek formal political support from the public.

O político tentou requisitar o apoio das massas.

Political

"Requisitar os olhos"

— To demand someone's full attention.

A pintura requisitava os olhos de quem passava.

Literary

"Requisitar a palavra"

— To formally ask for the floor to speak in a meeting.

O deputado requisitou a palavra para um aparte.

Formal

"Requisitar a memória"

— To try hard to remember something specific.

Tive de requisitar a memória para encontrar o nome dele.

Neutral

"Requisitar o tempo"

— To ask for someone's time in a very formal way.

Posso requisitar um pouco do seu tempo?

Polite

"Requisitar a sorte"

— To act as if one can demand good luck.

Ele joga como se pudesse requisitar a sorte.

Informal

"Requisitar a justiça"

— To formally appeal to the legal system.

A vítima decidiu requisitar a justiça divina.

Religious/Literary

Easily Confused

requisitar vs Requisito

Looks like the first person singular ('eu requisito').

Requisito (noun) means 'requirement'. Requisito (verb) means 'I request'. Context is key.

Um requisito (noun) para o emprego é falar inglês.

requisitar vs Recusar

Similar starting sound.

Recusar means 'to refuse'. Requisitar means 'to request'. They are opposites in action.

Ele vai recusar o que eu vou requisitar.

requisitar vs Resgatar

Similar length and formal tone.

Resgatar means 'to rescue' or 'to redeem'. Requisitar is just to request.

Vou resgatar os pontos para requisitar um prémio.

requisitar vs Registar

Common in administrative contexts.

Registar means 'to register' or 'to record'. Requisitar is the act of asking for the resource.

Primeiro tem de se registar para depois requisitar.

requisitar vs Adquirir

Both involve getting something.

Adquirir means 'to acquire' or 'to buy'. Requisitar is often for temporary use (like a library book).

Pode adquirir o livro ou requisitá-lo na biblioteca.

Sentence Patterns

Eu quero + requisitar + [noun]

Eu quero requisitar um livro.

Pode + requisitar + [noun] + ?

Pode requisitar o cartão agora?

É preciso + requisitar + [noun]

É preciso requisitar a chave na receção.

[Subject] + requisitou + [noun] + ontem

O João requisitou o computador ontem.

Se + [subject] + [imperf. subj.], requisitaria...

Se eu pudesse, requisitaria mais tempo.

Requisita-se + [noun]

Requisita-se a presença dos pais.

Embora + [subject] + tenha requisitado...

Embora tenha requisitado o apoio, nada aconteceu.

A [noun] + requisita + [abstract noun]

A arte requisita uma alma sensível.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in specific administrative, educational, and legal domains.

Common Mistakes

Eu requisito para um livro. → Eu requisito um livro.
You don't need the preposition 'para' (for) after 'requisitar' when naming the object. It's a direct transitive verb.
Pronouncing 'qui' as 'kwee'. → Pronouncing 'qui' as 'kee'.
In the combination 'qui', the 'u' is silent in Portuguese.
Using 'requisitar' to order a coffee. → Pedir um café.
'Requisitar' is for formal/official items, not for food and drink in a social setting.
Confusing 'requisitar' with 'requerer'. → Use 'requisitar' for items and 'requerer' for legal petitions.
While similar, 'requerer' is strictly for legal or essential requirements.
Eu requisitei ajuda de meu amigo. → Eu pedi ajuda ao meu amigo.
'Requisitar' is too formal for a request between friends.

Tips

Spelling Tip

Always remember the 'q-u-i'. In Portuguese, 'q' is almost always followed by 'u', and before 'i' or 'e', the 'u' is silent.

Office Talk

When you need a new mouse or keyboard at work, use 'requisitar'. It shows you understand the company's procurement process.

Library Etiquette

In Portugal, look for the 'Requisição' sign in libraries. That is where you go to check out your books.

The 'Z' Sound

The 's' in 'requisitar' is between two vowels ('i'), so it must be pronounced like a 'z' as in 'zebra'.

Synonym Choice

If you want to sound slightly less formal than 'requisitar' but more formal than 'pedir', use 'solicitar'.

Legal Rights

If a police officer asks for your ID, they are 'requisitando' your identification. It is a formal demand based on authority.

Don't be too stiff

Avoid using 'requisitar' with friends or family. It makes you sound like a robot or a bureaucrat.

Formal Letters

Start a formal request letter with 'Venho por este meio requisitar...' (I hereby request...).

News Keywords

When you hear 'requisição' on the news, pay attention—it usually involves a major strike or government action.

Cognate Help

Associate 'requisitar' with 'requisition' to remember that it involves a formal, often written, request.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English word 'Requisition'. Both start with 'Requi-' and both are used for formal, official requests like checking out a book or getting office supplies.

Visual Association

Imagine a librarian stamping a library card. That stamp is the moment you 'requisitar' the book.

Word Web

Biblioteca Formulário Oficial Documento Pedido Serviços Autorização Material

Challenge

Write three things you would 'requisitar' if you were starting a new job in an office. Use the phrase: 'Eu preciso de requisitar...'

Word Origin

From the Latin 'requisitāre', which is the frequentative form of 'requirere' (to search for, to require).

Original meaning: To search for repeatedly or to ask for with insistence.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'requisitar' with people; it can sound like you are treating them as objects or subordinates unless you are in a high-ranking official position.

English speakers often use 'borrow' for libraries, but in Portuguese, 'requisitar' is more precise for the administrative act.

The 'Lei da Requisição Civil' in Portuguese law. Library signs in the University of Coimbra. Administrative manuals for the Portuguese Civil Service.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Library

Quero requisitar este livro.
Qual é o prazo de requisição?
Posso requisitar online?
A requisição foi renovada.

Office

Vou requisitar mais papel.
Precisamos de requisitar um técnico.
Requisitei um novo portátil.
A requisição foi aprovada.

Government/Bureaucracy

Requisitar o passaporte.
Requisitar uma certidão de nascimento.
Requisitar o cartão de cidadão.
Requisitar apoio judiciário.

Healthcare

O médico requisitou análises.
Requisitar uma consulta de especialidade.
Requisitar transporte em ambulância.
Requisitar o historial clínico.

Legal

Requisitar o depoimento.
Requisitar provas adicionais.
Requisitar a presença do réu.
Requisitar o processo arquivado.

Conversation Starters

"Sabe como posso requisitar um novo cartão de estudante?"

"Costuma requisitar muitos livros na biblioteca municipal?"

"Já teve de requisitar algum documento oficial pela internet?"

"O que é necessário para requisitar uma sala de reuniões aqui?"

"Acha que devíamos requisitar ajuda profissional para este projeto?"

Journal Prompts

Descreve a última vez que tiveste de requisitar um documento oficial. Foi um processo fácil?

Se fosses o diretor de uma escola, que novos materiais irias requisitar para os teus alunos?

Escreve sobre um livro que requisitaste e que mudou a tua forma de pensar.

Imaginas um mundo onde não fosse necessário requisitar nada? Como funcionaria?

Relata uma situação em que tiveste de requisitar a ajuda de alguém importante.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Not really. It sounds too formal and bureaucratic. Use 'pedir' instead. For example, 'Quero pedir um bife' is correct, while 'Quero requisitar um bife' sounds like you are ordering a steak from a government department.

Yes, in the context of a library, 'requisitar um livro' is the standard way to say you are borrowing it. While 'emprestar' means 'to lend' or 'to borrow', 'requisitar' focuses on the formal checkout process.

You say 'Eu requisitei'. For example, 'Eu requisitei o documento ontem' (I requested the document yesterday).

It is a legal measure in Portugal where the government orders workers on strike to return to work because their absence endangers public safety or essential services.

Yes, but usually in a formal sense, like 'requisitar a presença de alguém' (to request someone's presence) or 'requisitar pessoal' (to request staff/personnel).

No, the 'u' is silent. The syllable 'qui' is pronounced like 'key' in English.

They are very similar. 'Requisitar' is often used for physical items (books, tools, forms), while 'solicitar' is more common for information, services, or polite requests.

Yes, it is used in Brazil, especially in formal writing and in medical contexts ('requisição de exames'), but 'solicitar' and 'pedir' are more frequent in daily speech.

A 'requisito' is a noun meaning 'requirement'. It is something you must have or do to achieve a goal. For example, 'Saber ler é um requisito para este curso'.

It's better to use 'pedir'. 'Pedir um favor' is the standard phrase. 'Requisitar um favor' sounds like the favor is part of an official procedure, which is usually not the case.