dividir

Dividir is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with core meanings related to separating something into parts, distributing portions, or sharing. It covers both literal splitting and more abstract notions of apportionment, such as dividing time, responsibilities, or costs. In mathematics the term specifically denotes the operation of division. Etymologically, dividir comes from Latin dividere, formed from a prefix meaning apart and a root associated with making parts.

In Spanish, dividir is a regular -ir verb in the present tense. Standard forms are divido, divides, divide, dividimos, dividís, dividen. It is widely used for mathematical division as well as for separating objects or responsibilities, as in dividir una torta (to divide a cake) or dividir las tareas (to divide the tasks). The noun forms related to division in Spanish are división (the act or result of dividing), dividendo (the dividend), divisor (the divisor), and cociente (the quotient).

In Portuguese, dividir is likewise a regular -ir verb. Present tense forms include eu divido, tu divides, ele divide, nós dividimos, vós dividís, eles dividem, with regional differences in the use of tu versus você. Portuguese uses division terminology such as dividendo, divisor, and quociente (quotient). The word also appears in everyday phrases meaning to share costs, split a bill, or allocate parts of an object or task.

Across both languages, dividir participates in a broader family of terms like divisão/divisão (division) and the related nouns for the components of division. It is commonly found in educational, mathematical, and practical contexts, as well as in expressions about fairness and distribution.