Convidar vs. Chamar: Invite Someone or Ask Them to Come — Practice

Use convidar for an invitation

Convidar means to invite someone. The pattern is convidar alguém para + event or activity: convidar os amigos para jantar. It clearly communicates that the person is welcome to attend, although an invitation does not force them to accept.

For a polite invitation, add the event and time rather than relying on a vague ‘come over.’ This makes the plan easy to understand and respond to.

Use chamar when you call or ask someone to join

Chamar means to call, summon, or call someone over. In casual Brazilian Portuguese, chamar alguém para + activity can also mean invite someone: me chama para o próximo jogo (invite me to the next game). The context tells the listener whether you mean an invitation or simply getting attention.

If the plan is important or the invitation must be unmistakable, convidar is the more explicit choice. If you call a person by phone, say ligar para alguém; chamar alguém on its own can mean call out to or summon that person.

Remember: Convidar is the clear verb for invite. Chamar has broader meanings, including call or ask someone to join; include the event or situation to remove ambiguity.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I’m going to invite Júlia to the birthday party.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou convidar a Júlia para o aniversário.

2. They invited us to dinner on Saturday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Eles nos convidaram para jantar no sábado.

3. Can I invite one more person?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso convidar mais uma pessoa?

4. She invited me to have a coffee.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela me chamou para tomar um café.

5. The teacher called the students into the room.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O professor chamou os alunos para a sala.

6. I’m going to call the waiter over.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou chamar o garçom.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Convidar is the clear verb for invite. Chamar has broader meanings, including call or ask someone to join; include the event or situation to remove ambiguity.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Convidar vs. Chamar: Invite Someone or Ask Them to Come? lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.