Portuguese Frequency Words: Sempre, Geralmente, Às Vezes, and Nunca — Practice

Learn the everyday frequency scale

Sempre means always, geralmente means usually or generally, às vezes means sometimes, and nunca means never. These words help you describe how often something happens while keeping the rest of the sentence simple.

You can use them with familiar present-tense verbs. A gente geralmente almoça em casa (We usually eat lunch at home) describes a routine; às vezes signals that the action happens on some occasions, not all the time.

Put the frequency word near the verb

Frequency words often appear before the main verb, but sentence rhythm and emphasis can move them. A common pattern is subject + frequency word + verb: Ela raramente chega atrasada (She rarely arrives late). Às vezes can also begin the sentence.

Never uses não in some common Brazilian Portuguese expressions: Eu nunca como carne and Eu não como carne. The first means I never eat meat; the second usually means I don’t eat meat. The exact implication depends on context, so do not add nunca automatically when you only mean a general preference.

Make a routine sound specific

Add a time or situation so the listener knows what the habit refers to: aos sábados (on Saturdays), depois do trabalho (after work), or quando chove (when it rains). You can then ask another person about their routine with Você costuma…? (Do you usually…?).

Remember: Choose three frequency words and describe three habits that are true for you. Add a day, place, or time to make each sentence concrete.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I always drink coffee in the morning.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eu sempre tomo café de manhã.

2. We usually come back by bus.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente geralmente volta de ônibus.

3. Sometimes I work from home.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Às vezes, trabalho de casa.

4. He almost always replies quickly.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ele quase sempre responde rápido.

5. We rarely watch television.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Raramente assistimos televisão.

6. I never wake up before six.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eu nunca acordo antes das seis.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Choose three frequency words and describe three habits that are true for you. Add a day, place, or time to make each sentence concrete.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Portuguese Frequency Words: Sempre, Geralmente, Às Vezes, and Nunca lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.