desenhar
/de.zẽˈɲa(ʁ)/
To draw (produce a picture) in Portuguese is desenhar.
desenhar is used when you are creating a picture using lines.
Meaning: to produce a picture (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use desenhar for creating a picture with lines, whereas pintar is used for painting or coloring with pigments. Additionally, do not confuse the verb for making art with the nouns for a game result or a lottery. For a tie in a game, use empate and for a lottery draw, use sorteio.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of the verb desenhar is desenho.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /de.zẽˈɲa(ʁ)/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use desenhar to refer to a tie in a game or a lottery draw.
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'drawing' can refer to pulling a sword or a curtain, desenhar is strictly for art and cannot be used for physical pulling.
- The word desenhar is a close linguistic relative of the English word 'design', as both stem from the Latin 'designare'.
- The noun desenho is used both for a 'drawing' and for a 'cartoon' or 'animated film' (desenho animado).
Examples in context
- Eu gosto de desenhar.I like to draw pictures.This sentence shows how to express a personal preference for the verb desenhar.Tatoeba #1212904 by alexmarcelo, translation #256602 by CK
- Tom gosta de desenhar.Tom likes to draw.This sentence demonstrates using the verb desenhar with a third-person subject.Tatoeba #4894806 by bill, translation #4498146 by CK
- Você gosta de desenhar?Do you like to draw?This sentence shows how to ask a question using the verb desenhar.Tatoeba #4894813 by bill, translation #3825077 by CK
- Eu gosto de desenhar paisagens bonitas.I like to draw beautiful landscapes.
- Vamos nos juntar para rabiscar no nosso diário de arte!Let's get together to doodle in our art journal!
- Eu gosto de desenhar retratos.I like to draw portraits.
- Eu adoro me desenhar nas horas vagas.I love to draw myself in my free time.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are at an art class.
- CamilaGabriel, o que você vai desenhar?Gabriel, what are you going to draw?
- GabrielEu vou desenhar uma árvore.I am going to draw a tree.
- CamilaEu prefiro desenhar flores.I prefer to draw flowers.
- GabrielAs suas flores são lindas, Camila.Your flowers are beautiful, Camila.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “draw” translations and entries desenhar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desenhar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
