ter/obter sucesso/êxito
In Portuguese, to succeed can be expressed as ter/obter sucesso/êxito. If unsure, use ter/obter sucesso/êxito. Wiktionary also lists conseguir.
Meaning: to obtain the object desired, to accomplish what is attempted or intended, to have a prosperous issue or termination, to be successful (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| ter/obter sucesso/êxito | |
| conseguir | /kõ.seˈɡi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /kõ.seˈɡi(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) /kõ.seˈɡi(ʁ)/ (Rio de Janeiro) /kõ.seˈɡi(ɻ)/ (Caipira) /kõ.sɨˈɡiɾ/ (Portugal) /kõ.sɨˈɡi.ɾi/ (Portugal, Southern) /kõ.siˈɡi(h)/ (Northeast Brazil) /kõ.sɛˈɡi(h)/ /kõ.siˈɡi(ɹ)/ |
To succeed means to obtain a desired object, accomplish an intended goal or have a prosperous outcome. You can use the noun sucesso to refer to the concept of success itself. When you want to express succeeding in a specific action, use conseguir followed directly by the infinitive of the second verb.
Which one should you use?
While ter sucesso is used to mean 'to have success' in a general sense, conseguir is the most common way to express succeeding in a specific task or managing to do something.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular past tense of conseguir is consegui (I succeeded / I managed to). The third-person singular future indicative of conseguir is conseguirá (he/she/it will succeed / you (formal) will succeed).
Did you know?
- While sucesso means 'success', using the verb suceder usually means 'to follow' or 'to replace' someone in a position, such as a king succeeding a queen.
- The verb conseguir shares a root with the English word 'consequence'. Both come from the Latin 'consequi', meaning 'to follow' or 'to attain'.
- In some contexts, ter sucesso can be used to describe a successful romantic 'hit' or 'approach' when flirting, moving beyond professional or task-based success.
Examples in context
- Você conseguirá um dia.You will succeed some day.This sentence shows the use of conseguir for future success.Tatoeba #1175363 by alexmarcelo, translation #66348 by CK
- Sem você, não conseguiremos.Without you we will not succeed.This sentence uses conseguir to express succeeding without someone's help.Tatoeba #5274211 by alexmarcelo, translation #5273855 by cliff900
- Tenho certeza que você conseguirá.I'm sure that you'll succeed.This sentence uses conseguir to express certainty about someone's future success.Tatoeba #1488223 by brauliobezerra, translation #1293311 by CK
- Espero ter êxito na minha carreiraI hope to succeed in my career
- Desejo-lhe sucesso no seu novo empreendimentoI wish you success in your new venture
- Ela conseguiu alcançar o sucesso profissionalShe managed to achieve professional success
- Espero que tudo dê certo!I hope everything works out!
- Aquele jogador brocou no jogo de ontem.That player killed it in yesterday's game.
- Ela arrebentou no palco!She rocked the stage!
- Espero ter êxito no exame amanhã.I hope to succeed in tomorrow's exam.
- O novo projeto da empresa está garantindo muito sucesso.The company's new project is ensuring great success.
- Se estudarmos juntos, com certeza vai dar certo!If we study together, it will surely work out!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “succeed” translations and entries conseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conseguir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
