Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| conseguir | /kõ.seˈɡi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /kõ.seˈɡi(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
| saber | /saˈbe(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /saˈbe(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
| poder | /poˈde(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /puˈde(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
The translation of 'can' depends on whether you are talking about a skill, a successful effort, permission or possibility. Use saber for acquired knowledge or skills, conseguir for the ability to manage or succeed in a task through effort and poder for permission or general possibility.
Which one should you use?
While all three verbs relate to ability, they have distinct nuances. Use saber when 'can' means 'to know how to' (like a learned skill). Use conseguir when 'can' implies successfully managing to do something or completing a difficult task. Use poder when 'can' refers to being allowed to do something, having permission or expressing a general possibility.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the verb poder is the most common way to express 'can' in both formal and informal settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The future tense of conseguir is conseguirei, which is used to express that you will be able to do something in the future.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/kõ.seˈɡi(ʁ)/', 'syllables': 3, 'stressed_syllable': '3 of 3'}
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use poder to express having a skill (for example, saying 'I can swim'). In Portuguese, you must use saber for skills and conseguir for successful attempts.
Did you know?
- The verb saber comes from the Latin word sapere, which originally meant 'to taste'.
- Depending on the region, using conseguir versus poder can change the perceived level of effort involved in a task.
Examples in context
- Que lhes poderei dizer?What can I tell you?This sentence shows how to use poder to ask what can be said.Tatoeba #11046504 by carlosalberto, translation #3731952 by CM
- Ninguém pode saber tudo.No one can know everything.This sentence demonstrates using saber to express that one cannot know everything.Tatoeba #1430807 by alexmarcelo, translation #868526 by LittleBoy
- Ninguém mais pode saber.Nobody else can know.This sentence shows the use of saber regarding the ability to know something.Tatoeba #2672139 by alexmarcelo, translation #2670845 by meerkat
- Eu posso ir à reunião?Can I go to the meeting?
- Você pode me ajudar com isso?Can you help me with this?
- Eu sou capaz de realizar essa tarefa.I can perform this task.
- Ele consegue terminar o projeto a tempo.He can finish the project on time.
- Eu dou conta de fazer isso sozinho.I can manage to do this on my own.
- Eu aguento correr por mais tempo.I can run for longer.
- 286 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Beatriz are discussing a difficult task at work.
- GabrielVocê acha que consegue terminar isso hoje?Do you think you can finish this today?
- BeatrizEu não consigo fazer tudo sozinha.I can't do everything alone.
- GabrielEu posso te ajudar agora.I can help you now.
- BeatrizObrigada, assim nós vamos conseguir.Thank you, that way we will be able to.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “can” translations and entries conseguir, saber, poder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conseguir, poder, saber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
