Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| verificar | /ve.ɾi.fiˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ve.ɾi.fiˈka(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
|
| checar | /ʃeˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ʃeˈka(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
Brazil |
The verb is used when you want to verify or compare something against a source of information. Note that if you are referring to a bill at a restaurant, you should use the nouns conta or comanda instead of the verb.
Which one should you use?
While verificar is the standard term used throughout the Portuguese-speaking world, checar is an informal, anglicized version of the English word 'to check'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
checar is a common loanword from English used in Brazil, whereas it is much less common in Portugal.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /ve.ɾi.fiˈka(ʁ)/.
When do people say it?
When requesting a bill in a restaurant, you can use formal phrases such as A conta, por favor (The check, please) or Posso ver a conta, por favor? (May I see the check, please?).
Did you know?
- The word verificar is built from vero, meaning 'true', and the suffix -ificar, which means 'to make'.
- In Brazil, checar is not just a translation of 'check' but is often used in the phrase checar a vibe to describe gauging the mood or energy of a person or place.
- The Portuguese word for a 'check-up' (medical) is often expressed as check-up using the English term itself rather than verificação.
Examples in context
- Eu vou lá checar.I'll go check.This sentence shows how to use checar to express going to check something.Tatoeba #5191837 by Ricardo14, translation #2247746 by CK
- Eu quero checar isso.I want to check it out.This sentence demonstrates using checar to express wanting to check something out.Tatoeba #2847545 by MarlonX19, translation #2210695 by Hybrid
- Vamos verificar o mapa.Let's check the map.This sentence shows the standard use of verificar when checking a map.Tatoeba #4394640 by carloseperola, translation #3008612 by CK
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are preparing for a trip at home.
- MarianaRodrigo, você pode verificar se pegamos os passaportes?Rodrigo, can you verify if we grabbed the passports?
- RodrigoSim, eu vou verificar agora mesmo.Yes, I will verify right now.
- MarianaÓtimo, eu também vou verificar as reservas do hotel.Great, I am also going to verify the hotel reservations.
- RodrigoPerfeito, assim não esquecemos nada.Perfect, that way we won't forget anything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “check” translations and entries verificar, checar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries checar, verificar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
