convém

Convém is a Portuguese verb form used to express that something is advisable, convenient, or appropriate. It is the third-person singular present indicative form of the verb convier (to be suitable or advantageous). The construction is impersonal: the sentence does not require an explicit subject. It can be followed by an infinitive, as in “Convém estudar antes de tomar uma decisão,” or by a clause introduced by que, as in “Convém que você compareça à reunião.” In the latter case, the verb in the subordinate clause is typically in the subjunctive mood.

Origin and meaning: Convém derives from Latin convenire, meaning to come together or to be fitting. In Portuguese, the sense of suitability or advantage is preserved, giving rise to the fixed impersonal use of convier in the form convém. Related words include conveniente (adjective) and the verb convier itself, which share the same semantic field of suitability or usefulness.

Usage notes: Convém is common in formal or written Portuguese, including guidelines, recommendations, and official communications. It can sound slightly pretentious in very casual speech, where alternatives such as é conveniente or é apropriado may be preferred. When used with que, the clause expresses a recommendation or obligation for the subject of the subordinate clause.

Examples:

- Convém revisar o relatório antes de enviá-lo. (It is advisable to review the report before sending it.)

- Convém que todos participem da reunião. (It is advisable that everyone participate in the meeting.)

- Convém lembrar que o prazo termina amanhã. (It is advisable to remember that the deadline ends tomorrow.)