Atingiram

Atingiram is the third-person plural form of the Portuguese verb atingirei? No, the correct form is atingiram, which functions as a conjugated verb. It represents the pretérito perfeito do indicativo (simple past) for the subject eles, elas, or vocês in Brazilian and European Portuguese. In practical terms, atingiram is used to express that a group completed the action of reaching, hitting, or achieving something in the past.

The verb atingir has multiple senses. It can denote a physical act of striking an object or target (atingiram o alvo). It can also mean reaching or attaining a goal or measurement (atingiram a meta). In a figurative sense, it can imply affecting or impacting someone or something (as notícias que atingiram muitos leitores). The range of meanings makes atingir a versatile verb, with atingiram serving as the past-tense form for plural subjects.

Etymology traces atingir to older Romance roots, with cognates in other Iberian languages. The sense evolution includes both literal and figurative uses, expanding from “to touch” or “to reach” to various figurative expressions in contemporary Portuguese.

Usage notes: atingiram is appropriate in narrative or analytic prose when referring to actions completed by a group. It does not stand alone as a noun; its meaning depends on the surrounding direct object or complement. For non-past references, other tense forms of atingir are used (e.g., atingem, atingiam, atingiram). English equivalents include “they hit,” “they reached,” or “they achieved,” depending on context.

See also: Atingir, Portuguese verbs, Brazilian Portuguese grammar.