Ir vs. Vir in Portuguese: Go There or Come Here?
Ir usually moves away from the point of reference; vir moves toward the speaker, listener, or place being treated as the destination.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Ir means ‘to go.’ The point of view can be the speaker’s current place, the listener’s place, or another location already established in the conversation. Ask where the speaker is imagining the movement from.
Use ir when the movement is away from the reference point
The common future pattern vou + infinitive works with ir: vou ao mercado (I’m going to the market). The destination makes the movement easy to understand.
Vou para casa depois da aula.
I’m going home after class.
Você vai à festa hoje?
Are you going to the party today?
A gente foi ao centro de manhã.
We went downtown in the morning.
Use vir when the movement is toward the reference point
Vir means ‘to come.’ If a friend is already at your home and invites you there, they may ask você vem aqui? (are you coming over?). If you are at the destination and the other person is elsewhere, vir can describe their movement toward you.
The reference point can shift during a conversation, so listen for who is speaking and where each person will be. A destination such as aqui, aí, or lá often helps clarify the viewpoint.
Você vem jantar na minha casa?
Are you coming to have dinner at my place?
Pode vir aqui um instante?
Can you come here for a moment?
Quando você vier, me avisa.
Let me know when you come.
Put it into practice
Think about the point of reference: ir moves toward a destination from that viewpoint; vir moves toward the speaker, listener, or agreed destination.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I’m going home after class”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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