Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| ver | /ˈve(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ˈve(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
| enxergar | /ẽ.ʃeʁˈɡa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ĩ.ʃeʁˈɡa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| olhar | /oˈʎa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /oˈʎa(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
The primary verb for the act of perceiving with the eyes is ver. Beyond simple perception, ver is often used idiomatically to mean 'to find out' or 'to check' something, such as when you want to see what has happened.
Which one should you use?
The verbs ver, olhar and enxergar have distinct nuances. Use ver for the general act of perceiving with the eyes or the result of seeing. Use olhar when you are intentionally directing your gaze at something, which translates to 'to look'. Use enxergar when referring more specifically to the physical ability to see or the clarity of one's vision, often meaning 'to discern'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form veja is the imperative form of ver, used when you are commanding someone to 'look' or 'see'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈve(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- The Portuguese verb ver shares a common ancestor with the English word 'wit', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to know' or 'to see'.
- In Brazil, olha! is frequently used as a conversational filler or a way to grab attention, similar to saying 'look' or 'listen' in English even when there is nothing to physically see.
Examples in context
- É bom te ver.It is good to see you.This sentence is useful for expressing pleasure at seeing someone using ver.Tatoeba #1592080 by alexmarcelo, translation #1587304 by Spamster
- Vá ver quem é.Go and see who it is.This sentence shows how to use ver to mean checking who is there.Tatoeba #937224 by alexmarcelo, translation #276272 by CK
- Vou ver o Tom.I'll go see Tom.This sentence uses ver to describe the intention of going to see a person.Tatoeba #6817668 by Ricardo14, translation #6817278 by CK
- Espero ver você em breve.I hope to see you soon.
- Você deve observar os detalhes com cuidado.You should see the details carefully.
- Ao visitar o lugar, você pode contemplar belas paisagens.When visiting the place, you can see beautiful landscapes.
- Vou dar uma olhada nas lojas antes de me encontrar com você.I'll take a look at the shops before meeting you.
- 1608 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Juliana are sitting on a balcony at night.
- GabrielVocê consegue ver as estrelas?Can you see the stars?
- JulianaSim, eu consigo ver muitas estrelas!Yes, I can see many stars!
- GabrielÉ lindo ver o céu assim.It is beautiful to see the sky like this.
- JulianaVer a natureza me acalma.Seeing nature calms me down.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “see” translations and entries ver, enxergar, olhar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries enxergar, olhar, ver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
