Em Comum in Portuguese: Shared Interests, Mutual Friends and Common Ground

Name what is shared and who shares it

Priberam’s comum entry distinguishes the frequent or usual adjective from em comum, used for something shared with others. The reference was checked on October 21, 2026.

• Nós temos um interesse em comum. — “We have a shared interest.”
• Tenho muita coisa em comum com a Ana. — “I have a lot in common with Ana.”
• O que vocês têm em comum? — “What do you have in common?”

Ter introduces what is shared; com can identify the other person. Keep em comum together. In the plural vocês têm, the circumflex distinguishes têm from singular tem in writing. In conversation, the surrounding subject and situation help you identify who is included.

Compare a shared interest with a frequent event

• É comum estudar com música? — “Is it common to study with music?”
• Nós temos o gosto por música em comum. — “We share an interest in music.”
• Temos uma dúvida em comum. — “We have the same question.”

The first asks about frequency or what people usually do. The others connect particular people through something they share. A shared question might be unusual in the wider population. A frequent activity might not be one you and your friend both enjoy. Do not infer a personal connection from the adjective comum alone.

Original dialogue: find one connection without assuming the rest

A identifies one overlap and B asks a follow-up. Nothing in the exchange says they like the same dishes, share the same schedule or want to cook together immediately. The original dialogue gives you a way to keep learning about the person rather than turning one similarity into a complete assumption.

Amigos em comum are a shared connection

• Nós temos uma amiga em comum: a Paula. — “We have a mutual friend: Paula.”
• Você conhece a Paula de onde? — “How do you know Paula?”
• Não temos os mesmos gostos, mas temos alguns amigos em comum. — “We don’t have the same tastes, but we have some mutual friends.”

The friend is known to both people. You do not need a plural noun after the expression: uma amiga em comum works for one shared connection. Also, having mutual friends does not establish that everyone in the group is close. Ask how the person knows the friend if it is relevant and welcome.

You can use the expression beyond people: Esses dois textos têm um tema em comum — “These two texts have a theme in common.” Identify the shared theme before making claims that the texts say exactly the same thing. The pattern links a specific similarity, not total identity.

Practice: identify the common ground

1. Say you have a lot in common with someone called Ana.
2. Does é comum chover à tarde say two people share a hobby?
3. Complete Vocês ___ uma amiga em comum with ter.
4. Two people both enjoy cooking. Does that prove they like every same dish?
5. Say two texts share a theme without calling them identical.

Continue with real conversation practice

Use this activity in a short weekly Portuguese routine. The dialogues and exercises are original written practice. Try changing one detail and saying your own version aloud.

Continue with Real Life Portuguese for native Brazilian audio and everyday expressions. Choose a short exchange available in the app. Listen for the speaker’s intention, then use a pattern from this activity to prepare a reply that fits your own situation. Bruno Lopes is a co-founder of the app.