Receber
to receive / to get / to welcome
Presente
Current actions, habits, and general truths.
| eu | recebo | Eu recebo visitas com café e bolo — sem aviso prévio necessário. — I welcome guests with coffee and cake — no advance notice needed. |
| você/ele/ela | recebe | Ela recebe o feedback com uma abertura que admiro. — She receives feedback with an openness I admire. |
| nós | recebemos | Nós recebemos bem quem chega de coração aberto. — We welcome warmly whoever arrives with an open heart. |
| eles/elas | recebem | Eles recebem o salário no quinto dia útil. — They receive their salary on the fifth working day. |
I welcome each person who arrives as if it were the first time. My friend receives criticism as useful data — without defensiveness and without collapse. We receive news together and half the weight stays with each of us. Knowing how to receive is as important as knowing how to give.
Pret. Perfeito
Completed past actions — what happened.
| eu | recebi | Eu recebi uma carta que não esperava e mudou meu dia. — I received a letter I wasn't expecting and it changed my day. |
| você/ele/ela | recebeu | Ela recebeu a notícia com calma que surpreendeu a todos. — She received the news with a calm that surprised everyone. |
| nós | recebemos | Nós recebemos mais do que demos — e sabemos disso. — We received more than we gave — and we know it. |
| eles/elas | receberam | Eles receberam o prêmio com a humildade de quem merecia. — They received the prize with the humility of those who deserved it. |
The letter arrived on a Tuesday without warning. I received it with hands that trembled a little — it was the answer I had been waiting for for months. My sister received the same news from me and celebrated before I did. We received the result together and the tears were of relief. Those who received the news well were the ones who had rooted hardest.
Pret. Imperfeito
Ongoing or habitual past — what used to happen or was happening.
| eu | recebia | Eu recebia carta do meu avô toda quinzena — era o evento do mês. — I used to receive a letter from my grandfather every fortnight — it was the event of the month. |
| você/ele/ela | recebia | Ela recebia as pessoas como se tivessem sido esperadas há anos. — She used to welcome people as if they had been expected for years. |
| nós | recebíamos | Nós recebíamos visitas sem avisar — e era sempre festa. — We used to have guests without warning — and it was always a celebration. |
| eles/elas | recebiam | Eles recebiam menos mas partilhavam mais. — They used to receive less but share more. |
In childhood, I used to receive birthday presents that I opened in slow motion for pleasure. I used to receive the weekend visits as if they were a bank holiday. My grandmother used to welcome everyone at the door with a smile and the smell of food. We used to receive her love without knowing how to name it — but we felt everything.
Futuro Informal
Plans and intentions — "going to." The most common future form in spoken BR Portuguese.
| eu | vou receber | Vou receber o resultado da análise amanhã. — I'm going to receive the analysis result tomorrow. |
| você/ele/ela | vai receber | Ela vai receber a equipe na nova sede na segunda. — She's going to receive the team at the new headquarters on Monday. |
| nós | vamos receber | Vamos receber os visitantes internacionais com um jantar. — We're going to welcome the international visitors with a dinner. |
| eles/elas | vão receber | Eles vão receber o pagamento até sexta. — They're going to receive the payment by Friday. |
The international delegation arrives next week. I'm going to receive the group personally at the airport. My team is going to welcome the visitors at the headquarters with a careful presentation. We're going to welcome them in a way that makes them feel they've come to the right place. Those who are going to welcome well will create an impression that lasts.
Futuro Formal
Formal future — "shall/will." More common in writing than speech.
| eu | receberei | Receberei a notícia com serenidade — qualquer que seja. — I will receive the news with serenity — whatever it may be. |
| você/ele/ela | receberá | Ela receberá o diploma que tanto estudou. — She will receive the diploma she studied so hard for. |
| nós | receberemos | Receberemos os resultados no início do próximo mês. — We will receive the results at the start of next month. |
| eles/elas | receberão | Os participantes receberão certificado ao final do curso. — The participants will receive a certificate at the end of the course. |
The protocol was established: Guests will receive the welcome kit on arrival. We will receive each delegation with a personalised presentation. Participants will receive the materials before the sessions begin. I will personally receive the leaders of each group at the opening.
Condicional
Hypotheticals and polite requests — "would."
| eu | receberia | Eu receberia qualquer pessoa que chegasse de boa-fé. — I would welcome anyone who arrived in good faith. |
| você/ele/ela | receberia | Ela receberia melhor se tivesse mais espaço em casa. — She would host better if she had more space at home. |
| nós | receberíamos | Receberíamos mais visitas se morássemos mais perto do centro. — We would have more visitors if we lived closer to the centre. |
| eles/elas | receberiam | Eles receberiam mais apoio com uma comunicação mais clara. — They would receive more support with clearer communication. |
If the house were bigger, I would welcome more people more often. My friend would host better if host anxiety didn't take over. We would have more visitors if we lived closer to everyone. Cities would welcome immigrants better with more humane policies.
Receber across the tenses
A short story using receber in multiple tenses
Minha avó recebia a gente sempre como se tivesse nos esperado. Recebia com a mesa posta, o café quente, os olhos brilhando. Nós recebíamos esse acolhimento sem entender o tamanho dele na época.
Hoje eu recebo visitas pensando nela. Ontem recebi um amigo de surpresa e fiz café antes de qualquer conversa — aprendi com ela. Recebemos as pessoas assim, com o que temos e sem fazer conta.
No próximo natal, vou receber a família toda pela primeira vez na minha casa. Se der, receberei com o mesmo calor que ela sempre deu.
Perguntei a ela o segredo de receber bem. Ela olhou surpresa: Não tem segredo. Receberia qualquer um do mesmo jeito. A pessoa que chega merece o melhor que eu tenho — sempre.
My grandmother used to welcome us as if she had been expecting us. She used to receive us with the table set, the coffee hot, her eyes shining. We used to receive that warmth without understanding its size at the time. Today I welcome guests thinking of her. Yesterday I received a friend by surprise and made coffee before any conversation — I learned that from her. We welcome people like this, with what we have and without keeping score. Next Christmas, I'm going to receive the whole family at my home for the first time. If it works out, I will welcome them with the same warmth she always gave. I asked her the secret of welcoming well. She looked surprised: There's no secret. I would welcome anyone in the same way. The person who arrives deserves the best I have — always.
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