Verb Etymology: Origins and Evolution

The etymology of Portuguese verbs reveals a fascinating journey through time, showing how our language evolved from Vulgar Latin and incorporated influences from diverse cultures. Understanding these origins enriches our understanding of the language and explains many apparent irregularities.

The Latin Heritage

From Latin to Portuguese

Portuguese, as a Romance language, inherited most of its verbs from Latin:

Phonetic Evolution

Latin	Portuguese	Changes
AMARE	amar	Loss of final -E
VENDERE	vender	Structure maintained
DORMIRE	dormir	Vowel change
FACERE	fazer	Palatalization of C

The Four Latin Conjugations

Latin had four conjugations that evolved into three in Portuguese:

1. -ARE → -AR: amare → amar
2. -ĒRE → -ER: habēre → haver
3. -ERE → -ER: vendere → vender
4. -IRE → -IR: dormire → dormir

Latin conjugations 2 and 3 merged in Portuguese.

Verbs of Latin Origin

Essential Verbs

SER and ESTAR (To Be)

SER comes from two Latin verbs:

• ESSE (to be, exist)
• SEDERE (to sit)

ESTAR comes from:

• STARE (to stand)

This division created Portuguese’s unique distinction between ser/estar.

TER and HAVER (To Have)

TER < TENERE (to hold, possess)

• Evolution: tenere → tẽer → teer → ter

HAVER < HABERE (to have, possess)

• Maintained auxiliary function
• Lost possessive meaning to TER

FAZER (To Do/Make)

FAZER < FACERE

• Latin: FACERE
• Archaic Portuguese: fazer
• Derivatives: desfazer (undo), refazer (redo), satisfazer (satisfy)

Irregular Verbs and Their Origins

IR (To Go)

Comes from three different Latin verbs:

• IRE: vou, vais, vai (I go, you go, he/she goes)
• VADERE: present forms
• ESSE: future forms (irei - I will go)

VER (To See)

VER < VIDERE

• Latin: VIDERE
• Archaic Port.: veer
• Modern: ver

PODER (Can/To Be Able)

PODER < Vulgar Latin POTERE

• Classical Latin: POSSE
• Semantic evolution: “to be capable”

Germanic Influences

Period of Invasions

Germanic peoples (Suevi and Visigoths) left marks on verbal lexicon:

Verbs of Germanic Origin

• GUARDAR < wardôn (to protect/keep)
• GANHAR < waidanjan (to obtain pasture/win)
• ROUBAR < raubôn (to plunder/steal)
• BRIGAR < brīkan (to break/fight)

Characteristics

These verbs generally express:

• Concrete actions
• Warrior concepts
• Practical activities

Arabic Influence

Moorish Period (711-1249)

The Arab presence left verbs related to:

Verbs of Arabic Origin

Verb	Arabic	Original Meaning
ALEIJAR	al-‘āha	to cause defect
AZUCRINAR	az-zuḥrīna	to bother
CIFRAR	ṣifr	to write in code
XINGAR	šatm	to insult

Semantic Areas

Arabic verbs concentrate on:

• Commerce and administration
• Construction and agriculture
• Social relations

Borrowings from Other Languages

From French

Medieval

• ARRANJAR < arranger (to arrange)
• EMPREGAR < employer (to employ)
• FORJAR < forger (to forge)

Modern

• DEBUTAR < débuter (to debut)
• MAQUIAR < maquiller (to make up)
• DELETAR < delete (via English)

From Italian

Mainly artistic terms:

• AQUARELAR < acquerellare (to watercolor)
• MODELAR < modellare (to model)
• SALTITAR < saltitare (to hop)

From English

Technology

• CLICAR < to click
• ESCANEAR < to scan
• INICIALIZAR < to initialize

Sports and Leisure

• SURFAR < to surf
• DRIBLAR < to dribble
• BLEFAR < to bluff

Verb Formation in Portuguese

By Derivation

Prefixation

• RE-: refazer (redo), rever (review), repensar (rethink)
• DES-: desfazer (undo), desmontar (disassemble), desligar (disconnect)
• EN-/EM-: encher (fill), empobrecer (impoverish), enriquecer (enrich)

Suffixation

• -IZAR: organizar (organize), modernizar (modernize)
• -ECER: amanhecer (dawn), envelhecer (age)
• -IFICAR: clarificar (clarify), purificar (purify)

By Conversion

Nouns → Verbs:

• MARTELO (hammer) → martelar (to hammer)
• TELEFONE (telephone) → telefonar (to telephone)
• E-MAIL → emailar (to email)

Adjectives → Verbs:

• LIMPO (clean) → limpar (to clean)
• CLARO (clear) → clarear (to clarify)
• NOVO (new) → renovar (to renew)

Semantic Evolution

Meaning Expansion

EMBARCAR (to embark)

• Original: to board a ship
• Current: to begin any journey

NAVEGAR (to navigate)

• Original: to travel by water
• Current: to browse the internet

Specialization

COLHER (to harvest)

• Latin COLLIGERE: to gather
• Current: to pick fruits

ROUBAR (to steal)

• Germanic: to take by force
• Current: to steal

Complete Change

FORMIDÁVEL (formidable)

• Original: terrible, fearsome
• Current: excellent, admirable

Brazilian vs. European Portuguese Verbs

Brazilian Creations

Brazilian Verb	Origin	European Portuguese
DELETAR	English delete	apagar
PRINTAR	English print	imprimir
STARTAR	English start	iniciar
CHECAR	English check	verificar

Semantic Divergences

PEGAR (to catch/take)

• Brazil: to hold, obtain (general)
• Portugal: more restricted use

BOTAR (to put)

• Brazil: to place (general)
• Portugal: more specific use

Etymological Curiosities

Verbs with Surprising Origins

TRABALHAR (to work)

• Latin TRIPALIARE
• TRIPALIUM: torture instrument
• Evolution: to torture → to make effort → to work

DERIVAR (to derive)

• DE + RIPA (river bank)
• Original: to deviate from river course
• Current: to originate

RESOLVER (to solve)

• RE + SOLVERE (to loosen)
• Original: to untie, undo knots
• Current: to solve problems

Etymological Families

Family of DUCERE (to lead)

• CONDUZIR < conducere (to conduct)
• DEDUZIR < deducere (to deduce)
• INDUZIR < inducere (to induce)
• PRODUZIR < producere (to produce)
• REDUZIR < reducere (to reduce)
• SEDUZIR < seducere (to seduce)
• TRADUZIR < traducere (to translate)

Family of PONERE (to put)

• COMPOR < componere (to compose)
• DEPOR < deponere (to depose)
• EXPOR < exponere (to expose)
• IMPOR < imponere (to impose)
• PROPOR < proponere (to propose)
• SUPOR < supponere (to suppose)

Verbal Neologisms

Digital Era

New verbs constantly emerge:

• GOOGLAR: to search on Google
• TWITTAR: to post on Twitter
• WHATSAPPEAR: to send WhatsApp message
• INSTAGRAMAR: to post on Instagram

Creation Processes

1. Direct borrowing: deletar (delete)
2. Portuguesization: tuitar (tweet)
3. Derivation: instagramável (instagrammable)
4. Composition: videoconferenciar (to videoconference)

Archaic Verbs

Lost in Time

Archaic Verb	Meaning	Replaced by
ASMAR	to estimate	achar, pensar (think)
BAFEJAR	to blow lightly	soprar (blow)
COIDAR	to think, care	cuidar, pensar (care, think)
DEPARTIR	to converse	conversar (converse)

Preserved in Literature

Some archaic verbs survive:

• In religious texts
• In classical poetry
• In fixed expressions
• In regional registers

Indigenous and African Influence

Verbs of Tupi Origin

• CUTUCAR < kutuk (to poke)
• ESCARAFUNCHAR < eskarafuña (to rummage)
• BAGUNÇAR < mbagasa (to mess up)

Verbs of African Origin

• COCHILAR < Kimbundu koxila (to nap)
• DENGAR < Kimbundu denga (to act coy)
• ZANGAR < Kimbundu zanga (to anger)

Practical Application

For Students

Knowing etymology helps to:

• Memorize irregular conjugations
• Understand word families
• Expand vocabulary
• Comprehend regional variations

For Teachers

Etymology allows:

• Explaining irregularities
• Connecting Portuguese with other languages
• Making teaching more interesting
• Developing linguistic awareness

Conclusion

The etymology of Portuguese verbs is a living testimony to our language’s history. Each verb carries within it centuries of evolution, cultural contacts, and adaptations. Understanding these origins not only enriches our linguistic knowledge but also connects us with the rich cultural tapestry that formed modern Portuguese. From Classical Latin to digital neologisms, verbs continue evolving, reflecting the communicative needs of each era.