Emprestar vs. Pegar Emprestado: Lend or Borrow in Portuguese
Emprestar can describe lending and, in some contexts, borrowing. Pegar emprestado makes the borrower’s action explicit.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
When you lend an item, emprestar is followed by the thing and often the person who receives it: emprestar o livro para alguém (lend the book to someone). Context and the direction of the exchange help listeners understand who has the item now.
Use emprestar to offer something temporarily
You can make the return expectation clear by naming a day or time. This is useful for books, chargers, tools, and other things you expect to get back.
Posso emprestar meu guarda-chuva para você.
I can lend you my umbrella.
Ela me emprestou um livro de receitas.
She lent me a cookbook.
Você pode me emprestar sua caneta até o fim da aula?
Can you lend me your pen until the end of class?
Say pegar emprestado when you want to borrow
Pegar emprestado makes the borrower’s action explicit: posso pegar seu carregador emprestado? (Can I borrow your charger?). You can also use pedir emprestado to ask for an item to borrow. These are practical choices when the direction might otherwise be unclear.
With money, use a precise phrase and state the amount and repayment plan. The verb alone does not set terms, and borrowed money can carry expectations that should be discussed clearly.
Posso pegar sua bicicleta emprestada amanhã?
Can I borrow your bike tomorrow?
Preciso pedir um livro emprestado à biblioteca.
I need to borrow a book from the library.
Vou devolver o cabo na sexta-feira.
I’ll return the cable on Friday.
Put it into practice
Emprestar covers a temporary loan, and context can leave the direction implicit. Use pegar emprestado or pedir emprestado to make it clear that you are borrowing.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I need to borrow a book from the library”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.