Push vs. Puxar: Don’t Mix Up These Portuguese Verbs — 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.
Empurrar means push; puxar means pull
Puxar can trick English speakers because it resembles push. In Portuguese, puxar means to pull or draw something toward you. The usual verb for push is empurrar. A helpful memory cue is a door: puxe means pull; empurre means push.
Both verbs are regular -ar verbs, so you can use them with everyday objects, doors, drawers, and simple instructions.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Empurre a porta para abrir. | Push the door to open it. |
| Puxe a gaveta devagar. | Pull the drawer slowly. |
| Você pode empurrar a mesa um pouco? | Can you push the table a little? |
Notice which way the object moves
If the action moves something away from the person applying force, empurrar is a useful starting point. If it brings or draws the object toward that person, use puxar. Some actions depend on the scene, so picture the movement rather than translating from the first letter of the English word.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Puxe a cadeira para perto da mesa. | Pull the chair closer to the table. |
| Empurre o carrinho pelo corredor. | Push the cart down the aisle. |
Remember: Use empurrar for push and puxar for pull. When you see these verbs on a door or hear them in an instruction, follow the direction of movement.
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.
Push the door to open it.
Show a Portuguese answer
Empurre a porta para abrir.
Pull the drawer slowly.
Show a Portuguese answer
Puxe a gaveta devagar.
Can you push the table a little?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você pode empurrar a mesa um pouco?
Pull the chair closer to the table.
Show a Portuguese answer
Puxe a cadeira para perto da mesa.
Push the cart down the aisle.
Show a Portuguese answer
Empurre o carrinho pelo corredor.
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.
Use empurrar for push and puxar for pull. When you see these verbs on a door or hear them in an instruction, follow the direction of movement.
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 Push vs. Puxar: Don’t Mix Up These Portuguese Verbs 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.
Browse all learning guides
