Peño

Peço is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Portuguese verb pedir, meaning I ask or I request. It is used in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese to express a direct request or an apology, often in polite or formal contexts. The verb pedir itself derives from Latin petere, meaning to seek or to go toward, and entered the Romance languages through Vulgar Latin.

Conjugation: In the present indicative, the forms are: eu peço, tu pedes, ele/ela pede, nós pedimos, vós pedis (rare in modern usage), vocês/eles/elas pedem. In Brazilian Portuguese, the second person singular commonly uses você pede rather than tu pedes; the vós form is mostly literary, regional, or archaic.

Usage notes: Peço appears in common expressions such as "Peço desculpa" or "Peço licença" to apologize or to request permission. It also introduces direct requests: "Peço a sua ajuda" and "Peço um favor." In Brazilian Portuguese, you may say "Peço desculpas" for the standard plural form. In formal writing, "Peço" can function as a courteous opener in letters or emails.

Related forms include "pedido" (noun: request), "pedir" (infinitive: to ask/to request), and "pedinte" (beggar/requester). Examples: "Peço desculpa pela demora." "Peço que me informe assim que possível."