The Portuguese verb "poder" means "to be able to" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "poder" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "poder" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | posso |
| tu | you (informal) | podes |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | pode |
| nós | we | podemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | podeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | podem |
Você pode abrir a porta?
Can you open the door?
How to Conjugate "poder" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | pude |
| tu | you (informal) | pudeste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | pôde |
| nós | we | pudemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | pudestes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | puderam |
Ele pôde terminar o projeto.
He was able to finish the project.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | podia |
| tu | you (informal) | podias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | podia |
| nós | we | podíamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | podíeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | podiam |
Você podia falar mais devagar.
You could speak more slowly.
How to Conjugate "poder" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | poderei |
| tu | you (informal) | poderás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | poderá |
| nós | we | poderemos |
| vós | you all (formal) | podereis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | poderão |
Ele poderá vir à reunião.
He will be able to come to the meeting.
How to Conjugate "poder" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | poderia |
| tu | you (informal) | poderias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | poderia |
| nós | we | poderíamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | poderíeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | poderiam |
Ela poderia vir connosco.
She could come with us.
Frequently Asked Questions About "poder"
Is "poder" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Poder" is an irregular Portuguese verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "poder" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "poder" means "to be able to" in English.
How do you conjugate "poder" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → posso, tu → podes, ele/ela/você → pode, nós → podemos, vós → podeis, eles/elas/vocês → podem.
How many tenses does "poder" have in Portuguese?
"Poder" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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