ir
/ˈi(ʁ)/
The English phrase "to go" is translated to Portuguese as ir.
You can use it in common phrases such as ir ao cinema to mean "to go to the cinema" or ir para casa to mean "to go home".
Meaning: served in a takeout container (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈi(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- The Portuguese verb ir is a 'suppletive' verb, meaning it is actually a mashup of different Latin roots. While most of its forms come from the Latin 'ire', some forms actually come from the completely different Latin verbs 'vādere' and 'esse'.
- While English speakers use 'to go' for physical movement, Portuguese speakers often use ir to mean 'to become' or 'to get' when describing a change in state, such as ir ficando for 'to become/get increasingly'.
- Portuguese speakers often use ir to express the future tense, as in vou estudar for 'I will study', rather than the formal future conjugation.
Examples in context
- É hora de ir.It is time to go.This sentence shows how to express that it is time to go using ir.Tatoeba #1298588 by alexmarcelo, translation #1871929 by AsliAbbasi
- Tom tem de ir.Tom has to go.This sentence demonstrates using ir to express necessity.Tatoeba #4945480 by ajdavidl, translation #2649188 by CK
- Eu não quis ir.I didn't want to go.This sentence illustrates using ir to express a lack of desire.Tatoeba #2471665 by MarlonX19, translation #2011477 by CK
- Eu vou ao cinema amanhã.I am going to the movies tomorrow.
- Você vai à reunião de negócios?Are you going to the business meeting?
- Ele vai à praia todos os fins de semana.He goes to the beach every weekend.
- Por favor, dirija-se ao balcão de informações.Please go to the information desk.
- Os convidados devem dirigir-se à sala principal.The guests should go to the main room.
- Vou embora agora.I'm leaving now.
- Ela foi embora cedo.She left early.
- Pode cair fora daqui.You can get lost.
- 2094 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Lucas are ordering food at a cafe.
- MarianaVocê quer comer aqui ou prefere para ir?Do you want to eat here or do you prefer it to go?
- LucasEu prefiro para ir, por favor.I prefer it to go, please.
- MarianaTudo bem, vou pedir para ir então.All right, I will order it to go then.
- LucasObrigado, Mariana!Thank you, Mariana!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
