deitar
/dejˈta(ʁ)/
The Portuguese verb for to lay down is deitar.
The verb deitar is used to mean placing something on the ground. To describe the act of someone lying down themselves, the reflexive form is typically used.
Meaning: to place on the ground (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use the non-reflexive form deitar when you are laying an object down. Use the reflexive form deitar-se when referring to a person lying down themselves. To describe a person who is currently in a lying position, use the participle deitado.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the verb used for the act of lying down is usually deitar-se.
How does it change in a sentence?
The participle deitado functions as an adjective to describe someone who is in a lying position. When a person is lying down themselves, the reflexive form deitar-se is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/dejˈta(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- In many Portuguese-speaking contexts, if you say you are going to deitar fora, you are actually saying you are going to throw something away.
- Portuguese speakers use deitar to describe pouring a liquid, such as deitar café na chávena for 'pouring coffee into the cup'.
- The verb deitar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'deject', which carries a much gloomier connotation of being cast down in spirit.
Examples in context
- À noite eles chegaram a um grande bosque e estavam tão cansados por causa da mágoa e da fome e da longa caminhada, que se deitaram numa árvore oca e adormeceram.In the evening they came to a large forest, and they were so weary with sorrow and hunger and the long walk, that they lay down in a hollow tree and fell asleep.This sentence shows the use of deitar to describe people lying down to sleep.Tatoeba #11051565 by Cangarejo, translation #4846197 by Hybrid
- Eu vou me deitar um pouco.I'm going to lay down for a while.
- Estou cansado. Vou deitar um pouco.I'm tired. I'm going to lay down for a while.
- Vamos ao parque dar uma deitada na grama?Shall we go to the park and lie down on the grass?
- Posso deitar-me no sofá?Can I lay down on the couch?
- Eu deito-me todas as noites às 22 horas.I lay down every night at 10 p.m.
- Deixa-me dar uma deitada antes do jantar.Let me lay down before dinner.
- Vou deitar o bebê no berço.I am going to lay the baby down in the crib.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are organizing a living room.
- GabrielOnde eu posso deitar este tapete?Where can I lay down this rug?
- MarianaPode deitar logo ali no canto.You can lay it right there in the corner.
- GabrielVou deitar a almofada aqui também.I'll lay the cushion here too.
- MarianaSim, Gabriel, coloque-a ao lado do sofá.Yes, Gabriel, place it next to the sofa.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry deitar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deitar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
