Lembrar vs. Recordar: Say ‘Remember’ Naturally in Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use lembrar in common Brazilian patterns
Lembrar means remember or remind. In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, a very common pattern for remembering something is lembrar de + noun or infinitive: lembrar do compromisso, lembrar de ligar. The pronominal form lembrar-se de is also correct and may sound more formal or careful in some contexts.
Lembrar can also take a direct object without de: lembrei o nome (I remembered the name). To say that one thing reminds you of another, use me lembra: essa música me lembra a infância (this song reminds me of childhood).
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Lembrei de comprar leite. | I remembered to buy milk. |
| Você se lembra desse restaurante? | Do you remember this restaurant? |
| O cheiro do café me lembra minha avó. | The smell of coffee reminds me of my grandmother. |
Use recordar for a similar, often more formal choice
Recordar also means to remember or recall. It appears in Brazil, but lembrar is generally more frequent in everyday conversation. You can say recordar algo or recordar-se de algo; the exact construction depends on the sentence and register.
When speaking casually, choose the pattern you can use smoothly and consistently. When writing, remember the preposition in recordar-se de and check whether the verb is being used with a direct object or as a pronominal verb.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Recordo com carinho as viagens da infância. | I remember the childhood trips fondly. |
| Ela se recorda de todos os detalhes. | She remembers all the details. |
| Não consigo recordar o endereço. | I can’t recall the address. |
Remember: Lembrar is the everyday default for ‘remember’ in Brazilian Portuguese; lembrar de and lembrar-se de are common patterns. Recordar is a useful alternative, often more formal in tone.
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.
I remembered to buy milk.
Show a Portuguese answer
Lembrei de comprar leite.
Do you remember this restaurant?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você se lembra desse restaurante?
The smell of coffee reminds me of my grandmother.
Show a Portuguese answer
O cheiro do café me lembra minha avó.
I remember the childhood trips fondly.
Show a Portuguese answer
Recordo com carinho as viagens da infância.
She remembers all the details.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ela se recorda de todos os detalhes.
I can’t recall the address.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não consigo recordar o endereço.
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.
Lembrar is the everyday default for ‘remember’ in Brazilian Portuguese; lembrar de and lembrar-se de are common patterns. Recordar is a useful alternative, often more formal in tone.
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 Lembrar vs. Recordar: Say ‘Remember’ Naturally in Portuguese 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.
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