Portuguese Future Tense Explained
Master the Portuguese future tense to talk about plans, make promises, and discuss the future with your partner. Learn both formal and informal ways.
Talking about the future is essential in any relationship. From making plans for tomorrow to discussing dreams for years ahead, the Portuguese future tense helps you share your hopes and intentions with your partner. Portuguese offers multiple ways to express the future, each with its own flavor.
The Informal Future: Ir + Infinitive
Frase para aprender
Vou te amar para sempre
I am going to love you forever
[ voh tch ee ah-MAHR pah-RAH SEM-pree ]
Usa ir + infinitivo para planes, promesas e intenciones en el portugués cotidiano. Si quieres sonar natural en una conversación, esta suele ser la opción más segura.
In spoken Portuguese, the most common way to express the future is using the verb "ir" (to go) followed by an infinitive. This is similar to English "going to."
ir (present)
to go
| eu | vou | |
| você/ele/ela | vai | |
| nós | vamos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | vão |
Pronunciation: EH-oo voh fah-ZEHR
"Eu vou fazer o jantar hoje. (I am going to make dinner today.)"
Pronunciation: nohsh VAH-moosh vee-ah-ZHAHR
"Nós vamos viajar para Portugal no próximo ano. (We are going to travel to Portugal next year.)"
Everyday Usage
In Brazilian Portuguese, the "ir + infinitive" construction dominates in conversation. The simple future tense (falarei, comerei) sounds very formal or literary in everyday speech. Use "ir + infinitive" with friends and your partner.
The Simple Future Tense
The simple future tense is formed by adding endings to the infinitive. It sounds more formal and is used in writing, news, and formal speech.
falar (future)
will speak
| eu | falarei | |
| você/ele/ela | falará | |
| nós | falaremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | falarão |
comer (future)
will eat
| eu | comerei | |
| você/ele/ela | comerá | |
| nós | comeremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | comerão |
partir (future)
will leave
| eu | partirei | |
| você/ele/ela | partirá | |
| nós | partiremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | partirão |
Irregular Future Verbs
Some common verbs have irregular stems in the simple future:
fazer (future)
will do/make
| eu | farei | |
| você/ele/ela | fará | |
| nós | faremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | farão |
dizer (future)
will say
| eu | direi | |
| você/ele/ela | dirá | |
| nós | diremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | dirão |
trazer (future)
will bring
| eu | trarei | |
| você/ele/ela | trará | |
| nós | traremos | |
| vocês/eles/elas | trarão |
Making Plans with Your Partner
Pronunciation: oo kee VAH-moosh fah-ZEHR ah-mah-NYAH
"Amor, o que vamos fazer amanhã? Tenho o dia livre. (Love, what are we going to do tomorrow? I have the day free.)"
Pronunciation: voh chee boos-KAHR ahz OY-too
"Não se preocupe. Vou te buscar às oito em ponto. (Do not worry. I will pick you up at eight sharp.)"
Pronunciation: VAH-moosh noosh en-kon-TRAHR noo hehs-tow-RAHN-chee
"Pode ser assim. Vamos nos encontrar no restaurante às sete. (That works. We will meet at the restaurant at seven.)"
Making Promises
The Weight of Promises
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, promises are taken seriously. Using the future tense to make a commitment carries emotional weight. When you say "Vou te fazer feliz," you are making a heartfelt promise.
Pronunciation: voh chee fah-ZEHR feh-LEEZ
"Prometo. Vou te fazer feliz pelo resto da nossa vida. (I promise. I am going to make you happy for the rest of our lives.)"
Pronunciation: NOON-kah voh chee day-SHAHR
"Aconteça o que acontecer, nunca vou te deixar. (Whatever happens, I will never leave you.)"
Pronunciation: SEM-pree voh esh-TAHR ow SEH-oo LAH-doo
"Nos bons e maus momentos, sempre vou estar ao seu lado. (In good times and bad, I will always be by your side.)"
Discussing Future Dreams
Pronunciation: oom JEE-ah VAH-moosh moh-RAHR ZHOON-toosh
"Estou animado. Um dia vamos morar juntos numa casa bonita. (I am excited. One day we will live together in a beautiful house.)"
Pronunciation: VAH-moosh kons-troo-EER OO-mah fah-MEE-lee-ah
"Quando estivermos prontos, vamos construir uma família. (When we are ready, we are going to build a family.)"
Pronunciation: teh-REH-moosh OO-mah VEE-dah LEEN-dah ZHOON-toosh
"Tenho certeza. Teremos uma vida linda juntos. (I am certain. We will have a beautiful life together.)"
Asking About Future Plans
Pronunciation: oo kee voh-SEH vah-ee fah-ZEHR noo feen deh seh-MAH-nah
"Amor, o que você vai fazer no fim de semana? Podemos sair? (Love, what are you going to do on the weekend? Can we go out?)"
Pronunciation: KWAN-doo VAH-moosh noosh vehr deh NOH-voo
"Já estou com saudade. Quando vamos nos ver de novo? (I already miss you. When are we going to see each other again?)"
Pronunciation: voh-SEH vah-ee poh-DEHR veer
"A festa é sábado. Você vai poder vir? (The party is Saturday. Will you be able to come?)"
The future tense allows you to dream together, make plans, and commit to your partner in Portuguese. Practice using ir + infinitive for everyday plans and the simple future for more formal moments, and soon talking about the future will feel natural.
Mini-practice: rewrite these ideas two ways - vou falar com você and falarei com você; vamos viajar amanhã and viajaremos amanhã. The meaning is similar, but the tone changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I best remember the irregular future verbs in Portuguese?
Create flashcards with the irregular verbs and their future tense conjugations. Focus on the stem changes that occur in the future tense. Use mnemonic devices to help you remember the irregular forms. Practice using the irregular verbs in context through sentences and conversations. Couples can test each other on the irregular verbs.
When is it more appropriate to use the informal future (ir + infinitive) versus the simple future tense?
The informal future (ir + infinitive) is generally used for plans that are more immediate or certain, while the simple future tense is used for more distant or uncertain plans. The informal future is also more common in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the context when choosing which tense to use. Couples can practice creating sentences using both tenses to illustrate the difference.
How can I practice discussing future dreams and aspirations with my partner in Portuguese?
Start by sharing simple dreams and goals, such as 'Eu quero viajar para o Brasil um dia' (I want to travel to Brazil one day). Gradually increase the complexity of your conversations. Use the future tense to express your hopes and aspirations. Listen actively to your partner's dreams and offer encouragement. Couples can create a shared vision board with images and phrases representing their future dreams.
What are some common phrases for making promises in Portuguese?
You can say 'Eu prometo' (I promise) or 'Juro' (I swear). To make a stronger promise, you can say 'Eu prometo de coração' (I promise with all my heart). Use these phrases sincerely and only when you truly intend to keep your promise. Your partner will appreciate your honesty and commitment.
How can I ask my partner about their future plans in Portuguese?
You can ask 'O que você vai fazer no futuro?' (What are you going to do in the future?) or 'Quais são seus planos para o futuro?' (What are your plans for the future?). Listen attentively to their response and show genuine interest in their plans. Offer your support and encouragement. Asking open-ended questions will encourage your partner to share more details.
