dobrar

Dobrar is a Portuguese verb with meanings tied to folding, bending, or doubling. It covers both physical actions, such as folding an item, and more abstract uses, like increasing or duplicating something. The sense of turning or changing direction is also common, as in turning a street corner. Dobrar is regular in its conjugation, belonging to the first conjugation of -ar verbs, and is widely used in both Brazilian and European Portuguese.

In practical usage, dobrar often describes folding or bending actions: “dobrar a roupa” (to fold the clothes), “dobrar a folha” (to fold the paper), or “dobrar o joelho” (to bend the knee). It can also denote turning, as in “dobrar a esquina” (to turn the corner). The sense of doubling or increasing is common in economic or quantitative contexts: “dobrar o valor” (to double the value) or “o preço dobrou” (the price doubled). Reflexive forms like “dobrar-se” can mean to bow, to yield, or to bend one’s posture, depending on context.

Grammar note: as a regular -ar verb, its principal forms follow standard patterns. Present indicative: eu dobro, tu dobras, ele dobra, nós dobramos, eles dobram. Pretérito perfeito: eu dobrei, tu dobraste, ele dobrou, nós dobramos, eles dobraram. Futuro: eu dobrarei, tu dobrarás, ele dobrará, nós dobraremos, eles dobrarão. Imperative afirmativo: (tu) dobra, (você) dobre, (nós) dobremos, (vós) dobrai, (vocês) dobrrem. Noun form with the same root, “dobra,” means a fold or crease.