sempre
/ˈsẽ.pɾi/
The English word 'always' is translated into Portuguese as sempre.
sempre is used to mean 'at all times'. Similar to English, you can place sempre either before or after the verb in a sentence, depending on which part of the sentence you wish to emphasize.
Meaning: at all times (adv)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverb, sempre is invariable, meaning it does not change its form to match gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈsẽ.pɾi/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In certain Brazilian Portuguese dialects, you might hear people use the phrase sempre in a sarcastic way to mean 'as usual' when something annoying happens.
- Portuguese speakers may use sempre in a way that translates to 'still' or 'continue to' in certain contexts, such as saying someone sempre believes something despite evidence.
- While sempre means 'always', the phrase sempre que transforms the word into a conjunction meaning 'whenever', changing its grammatical role entirely.
Examples in context
- Você é bom sempre.You're always good.This example shows how to use sempre to describe a constant quality.Tatoeba #3704645 by Ricardo14, translation #2218072 by CK
- Por que sempre eu?Why always me?This sentence illustrates a common way to use sempre in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #5531008 by carlosalberto, translation #924341 by dominiko
- O mesmo de sempre.The same as always.This example demonstrates the phrase 'the same as always' using sempre.Tatoeba #5876952 by sergiomelo, translation #5821099 by Gwyn
- Ela sempre chega pontualmente.She always arrives punctually.
- Estou constantemente em busca de conhecimento.I am always seeking knowledge.
- Ela invariavelmente tem uma atitude positiva.She always has a positive attitude.
- Ela sempre chega atrasada.She always arrives late.
- Ele está cantarolando o tempo todo!He's always humming!
- Eu sempre visito meus avós aos domingos.I always visit my grandparents on Sundays.
- Ele lê livros o tempo todo.He's always reading books.
- 2026 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are discussing their daily habits at a cafe.
- BeatrizVocê sempre bebe café puro?Do you always drink black coffee?
- GabrielSim, eu sempre prefiro assim.Yes, I always prefer it this way.
- BeatrizEu sempre coloco açúcar.I always add sugar.
- GabrielCada um tem seu gosto.To each their own.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “always” translations and entries sempre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
