The Simple Future - Vou, Vai, Vamos
The future that Brazilians actually use
Forget complicated conjugations. In Brazil, we use "vou + infinitive" for everything future. "Vou chegar" (I'm going to arrive), "Vamos sair" (We're going to leave). Easy, practical, and what you'll hear on every corner.
Essential Future Forms (15)
Vou
I'm going to
↻
Pronunciation: voh
Vou chegar
Você vai
You're going to
↻
Pronunciation: voh-SEH vigh
Você vai gostar
Ele/Ela vai
He/She's going to
↻
Pronunciation: EH-lee/EH-lah vigh
Ela vai esperar
Vamos
We're going to/Let's
↻
Pronunciation: VAH-moosh
Vamos lá!
Vocês vão
You all are going to
↻
Pronunciation: voh-SEHSH vãw
Vocês vão ver
Eles/Elas vão
They're going to
↻
Pronunciation: EH-leesh vãw
Eles vão chegar
Vou fazer
I'm going to do/make
↻
Pronunciation: voh fah-ZEHR
Common combo
Vou ser
I'm going to be
↻
Pronunciation: voh sehr
Future state
Vou ter
I'm going to have
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Pronunciation: voh tehr
Future possession
Vai dar
It's going to work
↻
Pronunciation: vigh dahr
It'll be fine
Vai chover
It's going to rain
↻
Pronunciation: vigh shoh-VEHR
Weather future
Vamos ver
We'll see/Let's see
↻
Pronunciation: VAH-moosh vehr
Common phrase
Não vou
I'm not going to
↻
Pronunciation: nãw voh
Negative future
Quando vai?
When will you?
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Pronunciation: KWAN-doo vigh
Future question
Onde vamos?
Where are we going?
↻
Pronunciation: OHN-jee VAH-moosh
Direction future
Two Ways to Say Future
Common (ir + infinitive): Vou chegar às três (I'm going to arrive at three)
Formal (future tense): Chegarei às três (I will arrive at three)
Use "vou + verb" 99% of the time. Save formal future for writing.
Time Expressions - When Things Happen
Essential time vocabulary for planning
In my van, everything is "em cinco minutos" (in five minutes) or "daqui a pouco" (in a bit). Learn these time words and you can schedule anything, promise anything, plan anything. Time is the language of travel.
Time Vocabulary (18)
Hoje
Today
↻
Pronunciation: OH-zhee
Vou hoje
Amanhã
Tomorrow
↻
Pronunciation: ah-mahn-YÃ
Vamos amanhã
Depois
After/Later
↻
Pronunciation: deh-POYSH
Vou depois
Logo
Soon
↻
Pronunciation: LOH-goo
Chego logo
Já
Already/Right away
↻
Pronunciation: zhah
Vou já
Agora
Now
↻
Pronunciation: ah-GOH-rah
Vamos agora
Daqui a pouco
In a bit
↻
dah-KEE ah POH-koo
Very common
Em breve
Soon/Shortly
↻
Pronunciation: ayn BREH-vee
Formal soon
Semana que vem
Next week
↻
seh-MAH-nah kee vayn
Future planning
Mês que vem
Next month
↻
mehsh kee vayn
Longer future
Às três
At three o'clock
↻
Pronunciation: ahsh trehsh
Specific time
Em cinco minutos
In five minutes
↻
ayn SEEN-koo mee-NOO-toosh
Short wait
Em uma hora
In one hour
↻
ayn OO-mah OH-rah
Time duration
Pela manhã
In the morning
↻
PEH-lah mahn-YÃ
Morning time
À tarde
In the afternoon
↻
ah TAR-jee
Afternoon time
À noite
At night
↻
ah NOY-chee
Evening time
Cedo
Early
↻
Pronunciation: SEH-doo
Bem cedo
Tarde
Late
↻
Pronunciation: TAR-jee
Muito tarde
Brazilian Time:
"Daqui a pouco" can mean 5 minutes or 30 minutes. "Logo" is sooner than "daqui a pouco." When Brazilians say exact times, they usually mean it. When they say "soon," be patient!
Transportation - Getting Around
Essential transport vocabulary
Every city has its transport. Rio has metro and buses. São Paulo adds trains. Everyone uses Uber. Learn these words and you can navigate any Brazilian city. Movement is freedom.
Transport Essentials (15)
Carro
Car
↻
Pronunciation: KAH-hoo
De carro
Ônibus
Bus
↻
Pronunciation: OH-nee-boosh
Pegar o ônibus
Metrô
Subway/Metro
↻
Pronunciation: meh-TROH
Linha do metrô
Táxi
Taxi
↻
Pronunciation: TAH-ksee
Chamar um táxi
Uber
Uber/Ride app
↻
Pronunciation: OO-behr
Pedir um Uber
Avião
Airplane
↻
Pronunciation: ah-vee-ÃW
Vou de avião
Trem
Train
↻
Pronunciation: trayn
Estação de trem
A pé
On foot
↻
Pronunciation: ah peh
Vou a pé
Parada
Stop (bus/train)
↻
Pronunciation: pah-RAH-dah
Próxima parada
Estação
Station
↻
Pronunciation: esh-tah-SÃW
Train/metro station
Aeroporto
Airport
↻
Pronunciation: ah-eh-roh-POR-too
Vou ao aeroporto
Passagem
Ticket
↻
Pronunciation: pah-SAH-zhayn
Comprar passagem
Ida e volta
Round trip
↻
EE-dah ee VOHL-tah
Return ticket
Direto
Direct/Non-stop
↻
Pronunciation: jee-REH-too
Voo direto
Trânsito
Traffic
↻
Pronunciation: TRAHN-zee-too
Muito trânsito
Planning & Intentions
Express your future plans
Every trip starts with a plan. "Quero ir" (I want to go), "Preciso chegar" (I need to arrive), "Posso buscar" (I can pick up). These combinations let you organize anything, promise anything, schedule anything.
Planning Expressions (12)
Quero ir
I want to go
↻
Pronunciation: KEH-roo eer
Desire + future
Preciso voltar
I need to return
↻
preh-SEE-zoo vohl-TAR
Necessity
Posso levar
I can take (you)
↻
POH-soo leh-VAR
Offering ride
Tenho que sair
I have to leave
↻
TEN-yoo kee sah-EER
Obligation
Espero chegar
I hope to arrive
↻
esh-PEH-roo sheh-GAR
Expectation
Planejo viajar
I plan to travel
↻
plah-NEH-zhoo vee-ah-ZHAR
Future plan
Prefiro partir
I prefer to leave
↻
preh-FEE-roo par-CHEER
Preference
Vou tentar
I'll try
↻
voh ten-TAR
Attempt
Vamos decidir
Let's decide
↻
VAH-moosh deh-see-JEER
Group decision
Pode ser
It could be/Maybe
↻
POH-jee sehr
Possibility
Talvez
Maybe
↻
tahl-VEHZ
Uncertainty
Com certeza
For sure
↻
kohm sehr-TEH-zah
Certainty
Making Promises
Weak promise: Vou tentar (I'll try)
Medium promise: Vou fazer (I'll do it)
Strong promise: Prometo que vou (I promise I will)
Use "vou tentar" when unsure. Brazilians understand.
Travel Vocabulary
Essential words for any journey
From Guarulhos airport to Cristo Redentor, these are the words every traveler needs. "Chegada" (arrival), "saída" (departure), "viagem" (trip) - master these and Brazil opens up to you.
Travel Essentials (15)
Viagem
Trip/Journey
↻
Pronunciation: vee-AH-zhayn
Boa viagem!
Chegada
Arrival
↻
Pronunciation: sheh-GAH-dah
Hora de chegada
Saída
Departure/Exit
↻
Pronunciation: sah-EE-dah
Hora de saída
Destino
Destination
↻
Pronunciation: desh-CHEE-noo
Final destination
Bagagem
Luggage
↻
Pronunciation: bah-GAH-zhayn
Check bagagem
Mala
Suitcase
↻
Pronunciation: MAH-lah
Uma mala grande
Caminho
Way/Path
↻
Pronunciation: kah-MEEN-yoo
No caminho
Rota
Route
↻
Pronunciation: HOH-tah
Melhor rota
Distância
Distance
↻
Pronunciation: jeesh-TAHN-see-ah
Qual distância?
Perto/Longe
Near/Far
↻
PEHR-too / LOHN-zhee
Distance measure
Rápido/Devagar
Fast/Slow
↻
HAH-pee-doo / deh-vah-GAR
Speed
Atraso
Delay
↻
Pronunciation: ah-TRAH-zoo
Com atraso
Horário
Schedule/Time
↻
Pronunciation: oh-RAH-ree-oo
Check horário
Reserva
Reservation
↻
Pronunciation: heh-ZEHR-vah
Fazer reserva
Confirmado
Confirmed
↻
kohn-feer-MAH-doo
Tudo confirmado
Complete Travel Phrases
Ready-to-use sentences for real trips
These phrases have saved thousands of trips. Practice them exactly as written - they work from São Paulo rush hour to Rio beaches. When you need to get somewhere, these get you there.
Essential Travel Sentences
Vou te buscar às três
I'll pick you up at three
↻
Planning pickup
Common promise
Vamos chegar em duas horas
We'll arrive in two hours
↻
Time estimate
Travel duration
Quanto tempo vai demorar?
How long will it take?
↻
Duration question
Essential query
Vou passar pelo centro
I'll go through downtown
↻
Route planning
Path description
A que horas você vai sair?
What time will you leave?
↻
Departure timing
Planning question
Vamos nos encontrar lá
Let's meet there
↻
Meeting arrangement
Common plan
Thiago's Navigation Tip:
Always confirm your destination: "É aqui?" (Is it here?). Brazilian addresses can be confusing. When giving directions, use landmarks: "depois do posto" (after the gas station) works better than street names.
Ready to Navigate Brazil's Future?
"Perfeito! Now you can talk about tomorrow, next week, next month - all your future plans in Portuguese. Remember, 'vou + verb' solves 90% of future situations. Keep it simple, keep it real. Every trip starts with 'Vamos?' Let's go!" - Thiago