Which one should you use?
While pegar means to grasp or pick up, you should use levar when you mean to take something from one place to another, such as carrying or transporting an object to a destination. Additionally, capturar is the preferred term when 'take' refers to capturing someone or something.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, pegar is frequently used as a general term for 'take'. In Brazilian Portuguese, the word catar is also used informally when 'take' refers to picking up or gathering small objects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular past tense of pegar is peguei (I took/I grabbed), and the past participle is pegado (taken/grabbed).
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈɡa(ʁ)/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use pegar when they actually mean to transport an object to a destination. In those cases, use levar instead.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, pegar is often used as slang for starting a romantic or sexual encounter with someone.
- The word pegar originally comes from the Latin word picāre, which meant 'to smear with pitch'.
- When someone has a cold or the flu, Brazilians say they pegou um resfriado, literally 'took a cold'.
Examples in context
- Vou pegar meu carro.I'm going to take my car.This sentence shows the use of pegar regarding a car.Tatoeba #380568 by brauliobezerra, translation #2334 by CK
- Vamos pegar um trem.Let's take a train.This sentence shows the use of pegar regarding a train.Tatoeba #2456395 by MarlonX19, translation #279178 by CK
- Vamos pegar o metrô.Let's take the subway.This sentence shows the use of pegar regarding the subway.Tatoeba #5128903 by ToinhoAlam, translation #277075 by CK
- Por favor, pegue aquele livro na estante.Please, take that book from the shelf.
- Tome esse remédio depois das refeições.Take this medicine after meals.
- O caçador conseguiu capturar um pássaro raro.The hunter managed to take a rare bird.
- Tira essa mochila das costas, está te machucando.Take that backpack off your back, it's hurting you.
- Vou catar as moedas que estão no chão.I'm going to take the coins that are on the floor.
- Vou apanhar o autocarro para chegar à praia.I'm going to take the bus to get to the beach.
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Juliana are in the kitchen.
- GabrielVocê pode pegar o sal para mim?Can you grab the salt for me?
- JulianaClaro, estou pegando agora.Sure, I'm grabbing it now.
- GabrielObrigado, Juliana.Thanks, Juliana.
- JulianaDe nada, Gabriel.You're welcome, Gabriel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pegar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pegar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
