cair
Irregular Hiatus & Vowel Shift Level A2 ⭐ #42 Most CommonEnglish translation: to fall / to drop
Present (Presente)
Falling now.
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| eu | caio | |
| tu | cais | |
| ele/ela/você | cai | |
| nós | caímos | |
| vós | caís | |
| eles/elas/vocês | caem |
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Frequently Asked Questions: CAIR
Is "cair" a regular or irregular verb in Portuguese? ▾
"cair" is classified as a Irregular Hiatus & Vowel Shift verb in Portuguese. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "eu caio (hiatus accentuation: caí, caímos)". Present: eu caio, tu cais, ele cai, nós caímos, vós caís, eles caem. The tonic -i- takes an acute accent when forming a hiatus with preceding vowels: caí, caído. Notice the accent mark on the tonic i in preterite: caí, caíste, caiu.
What does "cair" mean in English? ▾
In English, "cair" translates primarily to "to fall / to drop". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.
What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "cair"? ▾
A frequent error is saying "Ele caeu da cadeira" instead of "Ele caiu da cadeira". Why? In preterite 3rd person singular, cair takes -iu: caiu.
What are common idioms or expressions with "cair"? ▾
A popular idiom is "Cair a ficha" which means "To finally understand / the penny drops" (e.g. "Só agora é que me caiu a ficha sobre o que aconteceu.").
How can I practice and memorize "cair" conjugations? ▾
Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.
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Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks
Test your understanding of 'cair' across tenses
What is the 1st person singular present indicative of cair?
Other Important Portuguese Verbs to Study
to be (permanent / identity)
to be (state, mood, location)
to have / possess
to go
to do / to make
to say / tell
to see / watch
can / to be able to
to know (facts, skills)
to want / to love
to come
to speak / to talk
to hear / to listen
to bring
to ask for / to order / to request
to feel / to regret / to hear
to stay / to remain / to become / to be located
to sleep
to open / to unlock
to arrive / to reach
to pass / to spend (time) / to happen
to take / to carry / to take away
to go up / to climb / to rise
to go down / to descend
to write
to achieve / to manage to / to get
to lose / to miss
to smile
to leave / to break
to put / to place
to know / to meet (people, places)