See, Look, and Watch in Portuguese: Ver, Olhar, or Assistir?
Ver is broad seeing, olhar focuses attention, and assistir is commonly used for watching a film or show.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Ver is the broad verb for seeing something and can also mean watching a film or event. Its present forms include vejo and vê, and its past form is vi.
Use ver for seeing or watching
Vi a Ana no mercado.
I saw Ana at the market.
Vamos ver um filme hoje à noite.
Let’s watch a movie tonight.
Use olhar when you direct your eyes
Olhar means to look or look at something intentionally. It is commonly followed by para before the thing or person you are looking at.
Olha para aquele prédio antigo.
Look at that old building.
Ela olhou pela janela.
She looked out the window.
Use assistir for a show or event
In Brazil, assistir is often used for watching television, a film, or a performance. In careful standard usage it commonly takes a: assistir a um filme. Everyday speech also varies, so listen for both patterns.
Assistimos à final em casa.
We watched the final at home.
Você já assistiu a essa série?
Have you watched this series yet?
Put it into practice
Use ver for seeing broadly, olhar for directing your gaze, and assistir for watching a program or event.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Look at that old building”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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