Talk About Your Plans in Brazilian Portuguese
By Bruno Lopes · Brazilian Portuguese teacher
Host of I Speak Portuguese · Updated
Meet Bruno and the teaching teamUse vou + infinitive for an everyday plan
Brazilian Portuguese speakers commonly talk about a future intention with a form of ir followed by another verb in the infinitive. In English, this often maps to “going to.”
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vou estudar depois do trabalho. | I’m going to study after work. |
| A gente vai visitar meus pais no domingo. | We’re going to visit my parents on Sunday. |
| O que você vai fazer amanhã? | What are you going to do tomorrow? |
The form of ir changes with the subject: eu vou, você vai, a gente vai, and eles vão. The next verb stays in its dictionary form: estudar, visitar, or fazer.
Say what you want, and leave room for uncertainty
Quero + infinitive tells someone what you want to do. It is useful for sharing an intention, but it does not by itself mean the plan is settled:
- Quero aprender a cozinhar. — I want to learn how to cook.
- Acho que vou ficar em casa. — I think I’m going to stay home.
- Ainda não tenho certeza. — I’m not sure yet.
- Ainda não sei o que vou fazer. — I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.
You may also hear talvez eu vá (“maybe I’ll go”). For a simple first conversation, acho que vou… and ainda não sei are easy patterns to reuse.
Add a time phrase
A time marker makes your sentence easier to follow. Put it at the start or end of the sentence:
- amanhã — tomorrow
- hoje à noite — tonight
- na semana que vem — next week
- no fim de semana — on the weekend
- mais tarde — later
For example: No fim de semana, vou descansar. — “On the weekend, I’m going to rest.”
Practice: make a short plan
Read the exchange once, then replace the day and activity with your own plan:
A: O que você vai fazer no sábado?
A: What are you going to do on Saturday?
B: Acho que vou visitar uma feira. E você?
B: I think I’m going to visit a market. And you?
A: Ainda não sei. Talvez eu descanse em casa.
A: I don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll rest at home.
Now listen to the episode once for its overall topic. On a second pass, note any words you recognize about plans or activities, and check your guesses after listening. The prompts and examples on this page are original practice material, not quotations from the episode.
Keep the conversation moving
Choose one thing you plan to do this week and say it aloud with vou + infinitive. For practice with invitations and agreeing on a day, continue to our guide on inviting someone out in Portuguese.
Continue with daily Brazilian Portuguese practice in the Real Life Portuguese app, explore lessons with the teaching team, or join other learners in the I Speak Portuguese community.
Frequently asked questions
How do I talk about future plans in Brazilian Portuguese?
A common everyday pattern is ir + infinitive: Vou viajar means I'm going to travel. Add a time expression such as amanhã or no fim de semana to make the plan clearer.
Does quero + infinitive mean a confirmed plan?
No. Quero viajar means I want to travel, so it expresses a desire. Vou viajar usually presents an intention or plan, though context still matters.
How do I say I do not have plans yet in Portuguese?
You can say Ainda não tenho planos (I don't have plans yet) or Ainda não sei o que vou fazer (I don't know what I'm going to do yet).
