Report a problem
NEW LISTEN
• a2+
O que não suporto num restaurante
NEW FILL-IN
• b1
A blusa vai estar impecável
NEW COMPLETION
• b1
Quando a cabeça não para
NEW LISTEN
• b1
A blusa vai estar impecável
NEW FILL-IN
• a2
O relatório pode esperar
NEW ORDERING
• a2
O cabo do monitor
NEW LISTEN
• a2
O relatório pode esperar
NEW FILL-IN
• a2+
A encomenda que nunca mais chegava
NEW LISTEN
• a2+
A encomenda que nunca mais chegava
NEW COMPLETION
• a2+
Os meus avós
NEW FILL-IN
• a2
Sem ginásio, sem problemas
NEW FILL-IN
• b1
Diferente não quer dizer melhor
NEW IDIOM
• b1
Por uma unha negra
NEW LISTEN
• a2
Sem ginásio, sem problemas
NEW COMPLETION
• b1
Carro ou transporte público?
NEW FILL-IN
• a2+
Depois do trabalho
Your Portuguese Learning Library. One Read at a Time.
Built for the hard part of European Portuguese.
Best for learners A2 and up who can read the language but still struggle to follow real speech and sound natural.
No card required
Portuguese Defective Verbs
Defective verbs are verbs with incomplete conjugation. For instance, Portuguese defective verbs are only conjugated in the third 3-person (singular or plural).
Some defective verbs are commonplace, so you want to learn how to use them. But before we look at a few examples, I want you to be aware of something.
“Normal” verbs, in opposition to “defective” verbs, not only have complete conjugation but can also accommodate subject and object:
O Rafael come a sopa.
Rafael eats the soup.
In the example above, Rafael is the subject (with agency), comer is the verb (action), and sopa is the object (recipient of the action performed by the subject).
As you’ll soon see, we use defective verbs when there’s no subject or agent (like Rafael above). Instead, something will happen to someone – the person involved is the recipient, not the agent.
Thus, in the examples below, we’ll be using object pronouns (-me, -te, -lhe, -nos, -vos, -lhes) instead of subject pronouns (eu, tu, ela, nós, vocês, elas).
It’s always easier with concrete examples. Read on.
Apetecer
This is how we say that we fancy something or we are in the mood to do something:
A: Apetece–te um gelado?
B: Nem por isso. Apetece–me mais um sumo de laranja.
A: Do you fancy an ice cream?
B: Not really. I’m more in the mood for orange juice.
Calhar
Calhar bem is Portuguese for ‘come in handy’. Calhar mal is the opposite:
A: Não vai haver jogo de futebol este sábado.
B: Calha-nos bem porque este fds não estamos cá.
A: There’s no soccer match this Saturday.
B: That’s actually good because we’re not here this weekend.
Acontecer
Things happen to people… and so people are recipients of what happens to them.
A: Sabes o que nos aconteceu?
B: Não. O que é que vos aconteceu?
A: Do you know what happened to us?
B: No. What happened to you?
Doer
In English you say, My throat aches as if you and your throat have agency and choose to be in pain. But in Portuguese, we and our throats just fall victim to pain:
A: Dói-me a garganta.
B: Toma este xarope e vais ver que ficas melhor.
A: My throat hurts.
B: Take this syrup and you’ll feel better.
Custar
We are also in an object position when we use the verb custar:
A: Quanto lhes custou a casa?
B: Custou-lhes uma fortuna.
A: How much did the house cost them?
B: It cost them a fortune.
Vir
Some verbs are usually “normal” – they accommodate subject, verb, and object. Depending on the context, however, they can be used defectively. Vir is one such verb:
A: Tens alguma ideia?
B: Não me vem nada à cabeça
A: Do you have any ideas?
B: Nothing comes to mind
Real European Portuguese is harder than the textbook
If you can read Portuguese but real speech is still hard to follow, Portuguesepedia is built for that gap. A deep library of real EP audio, organized by level and topic, with AI-powered practice built in.
No card required.
What learners say
I love the mix of formats. The listening pieces, short reads, exercises, and idioms cover different angles, so I don't get stuck doing the same thing. It keeps me coming back.
~ Olivia ~
It doesn’t feel like studying in the boring sense. The tone is light, but the practice is solid, and I’ve noticed I can put sentences together more easily.
~ Giulia ~
Everything feels well put together. I'll listen to something at my level, check a quick explanation when I'm confused, and then do a practice exercise. Everything I need is in one place and easy to find.
~ Liam ~
Portuguese used to feel messy, like I was putting in effort but not getting results. With Portuguesepedia, I can focus on what I actually need, and I’ve started noticing real improvement week by week.
~ Ebba ~
Something clicked after a few weeks. Real Portuguese started making more sense — not just on paper, but when I'm actually listening. I hadn't felt that kind of progress before.
~ Maria ~
I’d been trying to learn Portuguese for years, but I never felt confident using it. Textbooks were too much, and speaking classes made me freeze. With Portuguesepedia, things finally started to make sense.
~ Emely ~
