tratar
/tɾaˈta(ʁ)/
The English verb 'treat' is translated to Portuguese as tratar.
As a verb, tratar means to handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way. You can also use the phrase tratar por to describe the way you address someone, such as using a specific title or name (e.g., 'tratar por você').
Meaning: to handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the word miminho is used to refer to a treat or something that brings pleasure.
How does it change in a sentence?
When tratar means 'to deal with a matter' or 'to be about a subject', it is used with the preposition de.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾaˈta(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- To 'treat someone to a meal' is not done with tratar but with pagar, as the Portuguese focus on the act of paying rather than the act of treating.
- The Portuguese verb tratar shares its DNA with the English word 'track', as both stem from the Latin root for dragging or pulling something along.
- In some contexts, tratar is used to describe the act of 'fixing' or 'preparing' something, such as tratar a terra meaning to prepare the soil for planting.
Examples in context
- Ele não pode me tratar assim.He can't treat me like that.This sentence is useful for expressing how someone is treated using tratar.Tatoeba #3812449 by piterkeo, translation #3809145 by Hybrid
- Faça o favor de tratar o gato bem.Please treat the cat well.This sentence is useful for giving instructions on how to treat an animal using tratar.Tatoeba #1790721 by alexmarcelo, translation #1789299 by Spamster
- Essa é uma maneira boa de tratar um amigo.That's a fine way to treat a friend.This sentence is useful for describing a good way to treat a person using tratar.Tatoeba #2418893 by MarlonX19, translation #2252998 by _undertoad
- Minha avó sempre me dá um mimo delicioso quando a visito.My grandmother always gives me a delicious treat when I visit her.
- Depois de estudar muito para minha prova, decidi me dar uma pequena recompensa.After studying hard for my exam, I decided to give myself a little treat.
- Vamos ao cinema? Eu compro os ingressos, e você compra o lanchinho!Shall we go to the movies? I'll buy the tickets, and you buy the treats!
- Na festa de aniversário, as crianças se deliciaram com diversas guloseimas.At the birthday party, the children indulged in different treats.
- Hoje comprei um miminho para comer no cinema.Today, I bought a treat to have at the movies.
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are discussing a problem at work.
- GabrielMariana, como você vai tratar esse problema?Mariana, how are you going to handle this problem?
- MarianaEu vou tratar de tudo com calma.I will deal with everything calmly.
- GabrielObrigado, você sempre sabe como tratar as coisas.Thanks, you always know how to handle things.
- MarianaDe nada, Gabriel.You're welcome, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “treat” translations and entries tratar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tratar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
