Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| enviar | /ẽ.viˈa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ẽˈvja(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
|
| emitir | /e.miˈt͡ʃi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /e.miˈt͡ʃi(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
|
| mandar | /mɐ̃ˈda(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /mɐ̃ˈda(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
colloquial |
| despachar | /des.paˈʃa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /d͡ʒis.paˈʃa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
In Portuguese, several words can express the act of making something go somewhere, depending on the context. enviar is the standard term for sending objects or information. emitir is used specifically for sending out signals, sounds or official documents like invoices and certificates. despachar is used when the focus is on the act of processing or dispatching something, such as a package or a formal document.
Which one should you use?
While enviar is the standard term for sending objects or information, mandar is more common in everyday spoken Portuguese. despachar focuses on the act of dispatching or processing, and emitir is reserved for issuing things like signals or official documents.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
enviar is the standard term, whereas mandar is a colloquial option used in everyday speech. For more formal situations, you might use remeter to imply sending something important or dispatching it or despachar and emitir for specific formal processes like dispatching packages or issuing documents.
How does it change in a sentence?
enviar is a regular -ar verb.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of enviar is /ẽ.viˈa(ʁ)/, with three syllables and the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The word mandar does not just mean 'to send' but also 'to order' or 'to command'. In a colloquial setting, saying someone is mandão describes a bossy person who loves to give orders.
- The word enviar comes from the Latin via, meaning 'path' or 'road', literally describing the act of putting something on its way.
- When someone wants to 'send' a message in a very informal, slangy way, they might use mandar um salve, which is a specific cultural way of sending a shout-out.
Examples in context
- Vou te enviar o link.I'll send you the link.This sentence shows how to use enviar to talk about sending a link.Tatoeba #5479179 by bill, translation #2546655 by CK
- Vou te mandar uma carta.I'll send you a letter.This sentence shows the use of mandar for sending a letter.Tatoeba #6151648 by Iwapedro, translation #6149767 by CarpeLanam
- Eu te enviarei a fatura.I'll send you the bill.This sentence demonstrates using enviar for sending a bill.Tatoeba #7417872 by kamikor, translation #2546656 by CK
- Por favor, envie o relatório até amanhã.Please send the report by tomorrow.
- A empresa enviará uma proposta comercial à sua empresa.The company will send a business proposal to your company.
- Solicitamos que a carta seja remetida ao destinatário.We request that the letter be sent to the recipient.
- O contrato será remetido pelo correio registrado.The contract will be sent by registered mail.
- Manda uma mensagem para ele.Send him a message.
- Vou te mandar um presente de aniversário.I'm going to send you a birthday gift.
- Preciso despachar esse pacote hoje mesmo.I need to send this package today itself.
- A festa vai ser incrível! Manda ver!The party is going to be amazing! Go for it!
- Não fica pensando muito, mande ver!Don't overthink, just go for it!
- 128 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Mariana are at home talking about an online purchase.
- LucasVocê pode enviar o pacote hoje?Can you send the package today?
- MarianaSim, eu vou enviar agora mesmo.Yes, I will send it right now.
- LucasObrigado, Mariana.Thanks, Mariana.
- MarianaDe nada, Lucas.You're welcome, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “send” translations and entries enviar, emitir, mandar, despachar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despachar, emitir, enviar, mandar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
