How to Say ‘Look Forward to’ in Portuguese: Mal Posso Esperar — Practice

Use mal posso esperar for eager anticipation

Mal posso esperar means “I can’t wait.” It is an enthusiastic, common way to say you are looking forward to an event. Add para + infinitive or por + noun, depending on what follows.

Use estar animado for a positive tone

Estou animado or animada para… expresses that you feel excited about something ahead. Empolgado or empolgada is another natural option. Match the adjective ending to the speaker’s grammatical form.

Use ansioso carefully and avoid a literal translation

Estou ansioso para… can express eager anticipation, but ansioso also means anxious. Use animado or mal posso esperar if you want an unmistakably positive tone. English “look forward to” is not translated by looking physically forward.

Remember: Choose mal posso esperar or estar animado for positive anticipation; use ansioso when its extra nuance fits.

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’m looking forward to meeting your family.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Mal posso esperar para conhecer sua família.

2. I can’t wait for the vacation.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Mal posso esperar pelas férias.

3. We’re looking forward to starting the course.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estamos animados para começar o curso.

4. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s concert.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou empolgada com o show de sábado.

5. I’m eager to hear the news, but also a little worried.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou ansioso para receber notícias, mas também um pouco preocupado.

6. See you tomorrow. I can’t wait!

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A gente se vê amanhã. Mal posso esperar!

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 mal posso esperar or estar animado for positive anticipation; use ansioso when its extra nuance fits.

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 How to Say ‘Look Forward to’ in Portuguese: Mal Posso Esperar 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.