Ao Encontro de vs. De Encontro a: Moving Toward or Colliding With?
Ao encontro de suggests movement toward or alignment with something; de encontro a suggests opposition or impact.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Ao encontro de can mean moving toward something or matching an expectation, request, or point of view. Its positive sense often appears in ir ao encontro de: the proposal meets what people need, or a person approaches someone.
Use ao encontro de for movement toward or agreement
Look for the idea of alignment or direction. The phrase can be literal, as when someone walks toward a friend, or figurative, as when a plan is in line with a goal.
A proposta vai ao encontro das necessidades da equipe.
The proposal meets the team’s needs.
Ela caminhou ao encontro dos amigos.
She walked toward her friends.
Essa mudança vem ao encontro do que os alunos pediram.
This change matches what the students asked for.
Use de encontro a for opposition or impact
De encontro a usually signals opposition, conflict, or physical impact. Bater de encontro à parede means hit against the wall; a decision that goes de encontro aos princípios da group conflicts with those principles.
A quick memory image helps: ao encontro moves toward a match; de encontro makes contact or creates a clash. If the sentence describes agreement, do not choose the collision phrase by accident.
A bicicleta foi de encontro ao portão.
The bicycle hit the gate.
A decisão vai de encontro aos nossos valores.
The decision goes against our values.
O comentário foi de encontro ao que ela havia explicado.
The comment contradicted what she had explained.
Put it into practice
Ao encontro de points toward a match or destination. De encontro a suggests a collision, contradiction, or conflict. Check whether the ideas align or clash.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The proposal meets the team’s needs”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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