Trabalhar Conjugation in Portuguese
trabalhar means “to work” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 24 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It is the verb of working, used for jobs, for working in a place and for working on a task. It is completely regular, and it is one of the most frequent verbs in everyday Portuguese. This page gives you the complete conjugation of trabalhar — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.” — “I work in the office.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: trabalhar
- English: to work
- Verb type: Regular -ar verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: trabalhando
- Present participle: —
- Past participle: trabalhado
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ar verbs; pattern ar in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for trabalhar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read trabalhar in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about trabalhar
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ar pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle trabalhado. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is trabalhando and the past participle is trabalhado: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. There is no present participle form listed for this verb in the verified tables. If you know those two forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for trabalhar. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalho |
| tu | trabalhas |
| ele/ela | trabalha |
| nós | trabalhamos |
| vós | trabalhais |
| eles/elas | trabalham |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.” — “I work in the office”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhei |
| tu | trabalhaste |
| ele/ela | trabalhou |
| nós | trabalhámos |
| vós | trabalhastes |
| eles/elas | trabalharam |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu trabalhei no escritório ontem.” — “I worked in the office”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhava |
| tu | trabalhavas |
| ele/ela | trabalhava |
| nós | trabalhávamos |
| vós | trabalháveis |
| eles/elas | trabalhavam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu trabalhava no escritório antigamente.” — “I used to work in the office”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhara |
| tu | trabalharas |
| ele/ela | trabalhara |
| nós | trabalháramos |
| vós | trabalháreis |
| eles/elas | trabalharam |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu trabalhara no escritório antes do jantar.” — “I had worked in the office”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalharei |
| tu | trabalharás |
| ele/ela | trabalhará |
| nós | trabalharemos |
| vós | trabalhareis |
| eles/elas | trabalharão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu trabalharei no escritório amanhã.” — “I will work in the office”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalharia |
| tu | trabalharias |
| ele/ela | trabalharia |
| nós | trabalharíamos |
| vós | trabalharíeis |
| eles/elas | trabalhariam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu trabalharia no escritório um dia.” — “I would work in the office”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho trabalhado |
| tu | tens trabalhado |
| ele/ela | tem trabalhado |
| nós | temos trabalhado |
| vós | tendes trabalhado |
| eles/elas | têm trabalhado |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem trabalhado no escritório esta semana.” — “He has worked in the office”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha trabalhado |
| tu | tinhas trabalhado |
| ele/ela | tinha trabalhado |
| nós | tínhamos trabalhado |
| vós | tínheis trabalhado |
| eles/elas | tinham trabalhado |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha trabalhado no escritório antes do jantar.” — “I had worked in the office”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei trabalhado |
| tu | terás trabalhado |
| ele/ela | terá trabalhado |
| nós | teremos trabalhado |
| vós | tereis trabalhado |
| eles/elas | terão trabalhado |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei trabalhado no escritório até amanhã.” — “I will have worked in the office”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria trabalhado |
| tu | terias trabalhado |
| ele/ela | teria trabalhado |
| nós | teríamos trabalhado |
| vós | teríeis trabalhado |
| eles/elas | teriam trabalhado |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria trabalhado no escritório ontem.” — “I would have worked in the office”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhe |
| tu | trabalhes |
| ele/ela | trabalhe |
| nós | trabalhemos |
| vós | trabalheis |
| eles/elas | trabalhem |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu trabalhe no escritório.” — “It is important that I work in the office”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhasse |
| tu | trabalhasses |
| ele/ela | trabalhasse |
| nós | trabalhássemos |
| vós | trabalhásseis |
| eles/elas | trabalhassem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu trabalhasse no escritório.” — “It was important that I work in the office”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | trabalhar |
| tu | trabalhares |
| ele/ela | trabalhar |
| nós | trabalharmos |
| vós | trabalhardes |
| eles/elas | trabalharem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu trabalhar no escritório, é bom.” — “If I work in the office, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | trabalha |
| ele/ela | trabalhe |
| nós | trabalhemos |
| vós | trabalhai |
| eles/elas | trabalhem |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Trabalha no escritório!” — “Work in the office!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não trabalhes |
| ele/ela | não trabalhe |
| nós | não trabalhemos |
| vós | não trabalheis |
| eles/elas | não trabalhem |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não trabalhes no escritório.” — “Do not work in the office.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha trabalhado |
| tu | tenhas trabalhado |
| ele/ela | tenha trabalhado |
| nós | tenhamos trabalhado |
| vós | tenhais trabalhado |
| eles/elas | tenham trabalhado |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha trabalhado no escritório.” — “It is important that I have worked in the office”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse trabalhado |
| tu | tivesses trabalhado |
| ele/ela | tivesse trabalhado |
| nós | tivéssemos trabalhado |
| vós | tivésseis trabalhado |
| eles/elas | tivessem trabalhado |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse trabalhado no escritório.” — “It was important that I had worked in the office”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver trabalhado |
| tu | tiveres trabalhado |
| ele/ela | tiver trabalhado |
| nós | tivermos trabalhado |
| vós | tiverdes trabalhado |
| eles/elas | tiverem trabalhado |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver trabalhado no escritório, é bom.” — “If I have worked in the office, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | trabalhando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Trabalhando no escritório, aprendo muito.” — “While working in the office, I learn a lot.”
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | trabalhado |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho trabalhado no escritório esta semana.” — “I have worked in the office.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with trabalhar, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.” — “I work in the office”
- “Tu trabalhaste no escritório ontem.” — “You worked in the office”
- “Ele trabalhava no escritório antigamente.” — “He used to work in the office”
- “Eu trabalharei no escritório amanhã.” — “I will work in the office”
- “Tu trabalharias no escritório um dia.” — “You would work in the office”
- “Ele tem trabalhado no escritório esta semana.” — “He has worked in the office”
- “Eu tinha trabalhado no escritório antes do jantar.” — “I had worked in the office”
- “Tu terás trabalhado no escritório até amanhã.” — “You will have worked in the office”
- “É importante que eu trabalhe no escritório.” — “It is important that I work in the office”
- “Trabalha no escritório!” — “Work in the office!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu trabalhar no escritório.”
✓ Right: “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.”
The infinitive trabalhar never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form trabalho.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu trabalhas no escritório.”
✓ Right: “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.”
trabalhas is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with trabalho.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu trabalho no escritório ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu trabalhei no escritório ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito trabalhei for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou trabalhado no escritório.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho trabalhado no escritório esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of trabalhar is formed with ter plus the past participle trabalhado: the eu form is tenho trabalhado. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu trabalho no escritório.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu trabalhe no escritório.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use trabalhe here, not the indicative trabalho.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho trabalhando no escritório.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho trabalhado no escritório esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle trabalhado, not the gerund trabalhando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on trabalhar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of trabalhar in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) trabalhas
- B) trabalho
- C) trabalha
- D) trabalhamos
What is the ele/ela form of trabalhar in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) trabalhei
- B) trabalhaste
- C) trabalhou
- D) trabalhámos
What is the nós form of trabalhar in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) trabalhava
- B) trabalhavas
- C) trabalháveis
- D) trabalhávamos
What is the tu form of trabalhar in the Futuro do presente?
- A) trabalharás
- B) trabalharei
- C) trabalhará
- D) trabalharemos
What is the eu form of trabalhar in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) trabalharias
- B) trabalharia
- C) trabalharíamos
- D) trabalharíeis
What is the ele/ela form of trabalhar in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho trabalhado
- B) tens trabalhado
- C) tem trabalhado
- D) temos trabalhado
What is the ele/ela form of trabalhar in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) trabalhes
- B) trabalhemos
- C) trabalheis
- D) trabalhe
What is the eu form of trabalhar in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) trabalhasse
- B) trabalhasses
- C) trabalhássemos
- D) trabalhásseis
What is the gerund of trabalhar?
- A) trabalhado
- B) trabalhando
- C) trabalhar
- D) trabalho
What does trabalhar mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to work
- D) —
Answer key
- B) trabalho — the correct form is trabalho. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) trabalhou — the correct form is trabalhou. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) trabalhávamos — the correct form is trabalhávamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) trabalharás — the correct form is trabalharás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) trabalharia — the correct form is trabalharia. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem trabalhado — the correct form is tem trabalhado. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) trabalhe — the correct form is trabalhe. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) trabalhasse — the correct form is trabalhasse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) trabalhando — the correct form is trabalhando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to work — the correct form is to work. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does trabalhar mean in English?
trabalhar means “to work”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is trabalhar regular or irregular?
trabalhar is regular: it follows the ordinary -ar pattern in every tense. The gerund is trabalhando and the past participle is trabalhado.
What are the gerund and past participle of trabalhar?
The gerund is trabalhando — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is trabalhado — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho trabalhado.
Which auxiliary does trabalhar take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
trabalhar takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho trabalhado. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle trabalhado.
How do I say “I work” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu trabalho no escritório todos os dias.” — “I work in the office” The eu form of the present is trabalho, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of trabalhar — every tense of trabalhar in one place.
- Trabalhar in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Trabalhar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese present tense guide — the full guide to the present tense in Portuguese.
- Estar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Dar conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise trabalhar with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise trabalhar with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise trabalhar with the interactive tool.