to need in Portuguese

You need to learn Portuguese.
You have to learn Portuguese.

Just as in English, there are two ways to express need in Brazilian Portuguese. Each has its own specific way of being used.

(1) precisar

PRECISAR = to need.
Precisar is one of several verbs that almost always need a "de" after it unless it's followed by a verb. Here it is follwed by another verb:

The translation is straight-forward:
Preciso = I need
comprar = to buy
protetor solar = sunscreen

Now, without the verb following it:

The translation reveals the difference:
Preciso = I need
de = of
protetor solar = sunscreen
agora! = now!

In Portuguese when you need something, you need of something: você precisa de alguma coisa.

Let's look at two more examples.

Precisar NOT followed another verb:

Precisar followed by another verb:

Não preciso me drogar para ser um gênio;
Não preciso ser um gênio para ser humano;
Mas preciso do seu sorriso para ser feliz.

Charles Chaplin

(2) ter + que

TER QUE means to have to. Literally, to have that. QUE of course can have different meanings. It often translates as that, but here it means to. You always need to include the que when saying, to have to.

I have to go to the supermarket today.

Once you've got this down you can really do a lot with it!

Related Posts