Conhecemos

Conhecemos is a Portuguese verb form derived from conhecer. It functions as the first-person plural in two closely related tenses: the present indicative and the pretérito perfeito (simple past). The base meaning of conhecer is to know, be familiar with, or to meet someone for the first time. In use, conhecer can describe knowledge of people, places, or things, as well as the act of meeting someone.

In the present tense, the standard forms are: eu conheço, tu conheces, ele conhece, nós conhecemos, vós conheceis, eles conhecem. The form nós conhecemos also appears in the pretérito perfeito (simple past), so the same spelling can indicate either present or past, depending on context and time reference. The pretérito perfeito of to know is: eu conheci, tu conheceste, ele conheceu, nós conhecemos, vós conhecestes, eles conheceram. This dual spelling for present and past is a notable feature of the verb and can require attention to time adverbs or surrounding discourse.

Usage notes: conhecer is transitive and typically takes a direct object, such as pessoas, lugares, ou coisas. It often contrasts with saber, which denotes knowledge of facts or information rather than familiarity. Common collocations include conhecer alguém (to know/meet someone), conhecer um lugar (to be acquainted with a place), and conhecer bem (to know well).

Etymology and related forms: conhecer comes from Latin cognoscere, sharing cognate forms with other Romance languages, such as conocer in Spanish and conoscere in Italian. Related words include conhecido (known) and conhecimento (knowledge).

Overall, conhecer and its forms, including conhecemos, express familiarity, acquaintance, or the act of meeting, with distinctions largely guided by context and temporal reference.