Vem vs. Vêm: Singular or Plural in Portuguese?
Vem has no circumflex for a singular subject; vêm uses the circumflex for a plural subject.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Vem is a present-tense form of vir used with você, ele, or ela. It means ‘comes’ or ‘is coming.’ Write it without a circumflex for a singular subject.
Use vem for a singular subject
The phrase vem de can identify someone’s origin or the source of an object: ela vem de Recife, o som vem da sala.
Ela vem de Recife.
She comes from Recife.
Você vem jantar conosco?
Are you coming to dinner with us?
O barulho vem da rua.
The noise is coming from the street.
Use vêm for a plural subject
Vêm is the present-tense form of vir for vocês, eles, and elas. The circumflex marks the plural subject. Compare ele vem at six with eles vêm at six.
This accent distinction parallels tem/têm: singular vem, plural vêm. Learn the pair with the subject pronouns you use most often in Brazilian Portuguese.
Meus amigos vêm amanhã.
My friends are coming tomorrow.
Vocês vêm de carro?
Are you all coming by car?
As notícias vêm de fontes diferentes.
The news comes from different sources.
Put it into practice
Write vem for você/ele/ela and vêm for vocês/eles/elas. The circumflex marks the plural form of vir.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Are you all coming by car”?
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