Chegar em vs. Chegar a: Talk About Arriving in Brazil
Both chegar a and chegar em are heard in Brazil. Learn the traditional pattern and the common spoken usage without overcorrecting speakers.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Traditional grammar commonly pairs chegar with a when a destination follows: chegar ao aeroporto, chegar à cidade. The contraction depends on the article: a + o becomes ao, and a + a becomes à. You will often see this pattern in edited prose and formal contexts.
Recognize chegar a in careful or formal Portuguese
The destination helps you choose the contraction. A place name that normally takes no article may use just a: chegar a Brasília. With Rio de Janeiro, which commonly takes an article, speakers say chegar ao Rio de Janeiro.
Chegamos ao aeroporto antes do meio-dia.
We arrived at the airport before noon.
Ela chegou à estação de metrô.
She arrived at the metro station.
O voo chega a Brasília às dez.
The flight arrives in Brasília at ten.
Expect chegar em in everyday Brazilian speech
In Brazil, chegar em is extremely common in conversation: cheguei em casa, chegamos no hotel. It is natural to hear across the country. Some formal style guides prefer chegar a, so choose a or em with your audience and register in mind rather than treating everyday speakers as incorrect.
When you mean ‘arrive home,’ Brazilian Portuguese normally says chegar em casa, without an article before casa. In other casual phrases, contractions such as no hotel and na recepção are common.
Cheguei em casa e mandei uma mensagem.
I got home and sent a message.
A gente chegou no restaurante cedo.
We got to the restaurant early.
Você já chegou na praia?
Have you arrived at the beach yet?
Put it into practice
Use chegar a in careful writing if you are following traditional formal guidance. In everyday Brazilian conversation, chegar em is widespread and natural; listen for both.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The flight arrives in Brasília at ten”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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