How to Say ‘Look Forward to’ in Portuguese: Mal Posso Esperar
Learn natural Brazilian Portuguese alternatives to the literal English phrase ‘look forward to.’
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Mal posso esperar means “I can’t wait.” It is an enthusiastic, common way to say you are looking forward to an event. Add para + infinitive or por + noun, depending on what follows.
Use mal posso esperar for eager anticipation
Mal posso esperar para conhecer sua família.
I’m looking forward to meeting your family.
Mal posso esperar pelas férias.
I can’t wait for the vacation.
Use estar animado for a positive tone
Estou animado or animada para… expresses that you feel excited about something ahead. Empolgado or empolgada is another natural option. Match the adjective ending to the speaker’s grammatical form.
Estamos animados para começar o curso.
We’re looking forward to starting the course.
Estou empolgada com o show de sábado.
I’m looking forward to Saturday’s concert.
Use ansioso carefully and avoid a literal translation
Estou ansioso para… can express eager anticipation, but ansioso also means anxious. Use animado or mal posso esperar if you want an unmistakably positive tone. English “look forward to” is not translated by looking physically forward.
Estou ansioso para receber notícias, mas também um pouco preocupado.
I’m eager to hear the news, but also a little worried.
A gente se vê amanhã. Mal posso esperar!
See you tomorrow. I can’t wait!
Put it into practice
Choose mal posso esperar or estar animado for positive anticipation; use ansioso when its extra nuance fits.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “We’re looking forward to starting the course”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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