Portuguese Future Tense: Vou Fazer vs. Farei in Brazilian Portuguese
Use vou + infinitive for many everyday plans, and recognize the simple future in formal writing, predictions, and other contexts.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Brazilian speakers commonly use a conjugated form of ir followed by an infinitive to talk about a planned or expected future action. Match ir to the subject, then leave the second verb in its infinitive form: vou falar, você vai falar, a gente vai falar, nós vamos falar.
Use ir plus an infinitive for everyday plans
This pattern is useful because you only change ir when the subject changes. Learn it with a real plan, such as what you will eat, where you are going, or whom you are going to call. The exact timing comes from the context and words such as amanhã (tomorrow) or mais tarde (later).
Vou estudar português depois do trabalho.
I’m going to study Portuguese after work.
A gente vai jantar com a Ana amanhã.
We’re going to have dinner with Ana tomorrow.
Eles vão chegar mais tarde.
They are going to arrive later.
Recognize the simple future endings
The simple future is formed by adding endings to the infinitive: falar becomes falarei (I will speak), falará (he/she/you will speak), and falaremos (we will speak). You will encounter these forms in writing and in some kinds of speech, but in everyday conversation many Brazilians prefer the ir + infinitive construction.
The simple future can also sound more formal or emphatic in some contexts. This is a tendency rather than a fixed rule. Pay attention to the setting and the speaker, and learn a form as part of the sentence where you heard it.
Amanhã falarei com a equipe.
Tomorrow I will speak with the team.
O relatório mostrará os resultados.
The report will show the results.
Um dia, nós visitaremos Salvador.
One day, we will visit Salvador.
Choose the pattern that fits what you want to say
For an ordinary conversation about a plan, vou + infinitive is a natural place to start. Learn the simple future so you can recognize it in signs, articles, announcements, and more formal speech. Both patterns point to the future, but the emphasis and register can differ.
Brazilian Portuguese can also use the present tense with a future time expression when the plan is clear: “Amanhã eu trabalho” can mean “I work tomorrow.” Use the time word and situation to remove ambiguity.
A gente vai conversar depois.
We’re going to talk later.
O evento começará às oito.
The event will begin at eight.
Amanhã eu trabalho de casa.
I’m working from home tomorrow.
Put it into practice
Say three true plans with vou, a gente vai, or nós vamos, then find one sentence with a simple-future verb and notice where you encountered it. Connect this guide to the Real Life Portuguese article on weekend plans and ask I Speak Portuguese teachers how register shifts in your examples.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The event will begin at eight”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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