What Does Pegar Mean in Portuguese? Catch, Grab, Take, and More — Practice

Use pegar for taking or grabbing something

Pegar can mean to pick up, take, or grab an object. The surrounding noun and situation help you understand which English verb fits.

In a request, say what you want someone to pick up and where. Use por favor to make it courteous.

Use pegar for catching transport

In conversation, pegar a bus or train means to catch or take it. Brazilians commonly say pegar o ônibus when talking about taking the bus.

This sense appears in practical travel phrases. For ticket and stop questions, see our guide to Portuguese on buses and the metro.

Learn common expressions as complete phrases

Pegar uma gripe means to catch a cold or flu-like illness. Pegar sol means to get sun exposure. These expressions are not interchangeable with the literal meaning of pegar in every sentence.

If an unfamiliar use appears, note the whole phrase and the situation. Compare the verb with levar or trazer only when the sentence gives you enough context.

Remember: Record three full phrases with pegar and label the meaning from context: get an object, take transport, or appear in a common expression.

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. Could you get my bag?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode pegar minha bolsa?

2. I’m going to get a glass of water.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou pegar um copo de água.

3. Pick up the receipt on the table.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pegue o recibo na mesa.

4. I’m going to catch the eight o’clock bus.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou pegar o ônibus das oito.

5. Where do I catch the metro?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Onde eu pego o metrô?

6. Do you take this train every day?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pega esse trem todos os dias?

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.

Record three full phrases with pegar and label the meaning from context: get an object, take transport, or appear in a common expression.

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 What Does Pegar Mean in Portuguese? Catch, Grab, Take, and More 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.