Precisar de vs. Precisar + Verb: Say What You Need in Portuguese
Say preciso de ajuda but preciso sair: the next word determines whether de appears after precisar.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
When you need a person or thing, use precisar de + noun. The de combines with articles in familiar ways: de + o becomes do and de + a becomes da.
Use precisar de before a noun
The meaning is close to ‘need’ or ‘require.’ Add por favor or a short explanation to make a request more considerate.
Preciso de ajuda com esta mala.
I need help with this suitcase.
Ela precisa do endereço completo.
She needs the full address.
A gente precisa de mais tempo.
We need more time.
Connect directly to an infinitive for an action
When the thing you need is an action, precisar commonly connects directly to the infinitive: preciso sair (I need to leave), precisa ligar (needs to call). No de is needed in this pattern.
Listen for what follows the verb. A noun usually takes de; a second verb in the infinitive usually follows without it.
Preciso sair antes das seis.
I need to leave before six.
Você precisa confirmar a reserva.
You need to confirm the reservation.
Eles precisam conversar com a gerente.
They need to speak with the manager.
Put it into practice
Use precisar de + noun, and precisar + infinitive for an action: preciso de um carro, preciso ir.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I need to leave before six”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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