Constróis

Constróis is a verb form in Portuguese. Specifically, it is the second-person singular present indicative form of the verb construir, meaning “you build.” It is used when the subject is the informal pronoun tu, and it appears in regions where the tú form remains common, such as continental Portugal and some parts of Brazil. In many Brazilian varieties, the informal tu is less common, and você constrói is more typical in the present tense.

Etymology and grammar notes: construir comes from Latin construirē, meaning to stack or lay together, and it follows the standard conjugation pattern of -ir verbs with some irregularities in certain forms. The present indicative forms include eu construo, tu constróis, ele constrói, nós construímos, vós construís, eles constroem. The form constróis is built from the stem constru- plus the second-person singular ending -óis.

Usage considerations: constróis is primarily encountered in written or spoken Portuguese that preserves the tú form. In Brazilian Portuguese, where você is more common, the corresponding present tense form is constrói. Care is needed to distinguish constróis from constrói (third-person singular) in both speech and writing.

Examples: Tu constróis uma casa com materiais reciclados. Se tu constróis com paciência, a obra fica melhor. Em variedades onde se usa você, dir-se-ia: Você constrói uma casa com materiais reciclados.

See also: construir, conjugação de verbos portugueses, português europeu, português brasileiro.