Acolher

Acolher is a Portuguese verb that means to welcome or receive someone with hospitality, to host or shelter someone, and more broadly to accept or embrace a proposal, idea, or situation. It conveys a sense of warmth, protection, and inclusion, often implying active care for the person being received.

Usage and nuance: Acolher is used with direct objects such as alguém, visitantes, refugiados, or convite (for example, acolher alguém, acolher visitas, acolher refugiados, acolher um convite). It also forms the noun acolhimento, referring to the act or process of welcoming. In everyday language, acolher often emphasizes hospitality and protection more than the more neutral receber, while aceitar corresponds more to accepting a proposal or idea.

Conjugation and grammar: Acolher is a regular -er verb. Present indicative forms include eu acolho, tu acolhes, ele acolhe, nós acolhemos, vós acolheis, eles acolhem. Other tenses follow the standard -er conjugation pattern, such as eu acolhi (preterite), eu acolhia (imperfect), and eu acolherei (future). Subjunctive present forms are que eu acolha, que tu acolhas, que ele acolha, que nós acolhamos, que vós acolhais, que eles acolham.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is native to the Lusophone world, with cognates in Galician (acolher) and Spanish (acoger). It is linked to older Romance roots associated with reception and shelter. Related terms include acolhimento (the act of welcoming) and acolhida (the act of receiving someone).

See also: acolhimento, acolhida, receber, aceitar.