Coloque

Coloque is a Portuguese verb form derived from colocar, meaning to put or to place. In standard grammar, coloque functions as the present subjunctive form and as the formal imperative for the pronoun você (and for ele/ela in certain constructions). It is used to issue polite instructions, requests, or hypothetical statements, depending on the sentence structure.

Etymology traces colocar to the Latin collocare, meaning to place together. The modern form coloque aligns with the subjunctive and formal-imperative endings found in Portuguese for verbs ending in -ar, and it appears in both Brazilian and European Portuguese.

Usage in contemporary Portuguese varies by context. In manuals, recipes, directions, and formal notices, coloque is common as a directive: “Coloque o leite no recipiente e mexa.” In hypothetical or dependent clauses, it appears as the present subjunctive: “Se você coloque a peça correta, o mecanismo funcionará.” Informally, speakers often use the more casual tu-forms (coloca) in regions where the informal imperative is preferred, while coloque remains standard for você.

Coloque is not used as a standalone noun or proper name in standard Portuguese. It is primarily a grammatical form and an instruction word. Related terms include colocar (to place), colocação (placement or positioning), and the broader category of imperative and subjunctive verb forms.