encaixamos

Encaixamos is the 1st person plural present indicative form of the Portuguese verb encaixar, meaning to fit, to place into a space, or to insert something into a slot. The form is used to indicate that we are fitting or placing items, parts, or elements in a given arrangement, position, or schedule.

Etymology and meaning: encaixar derives from the word caixa (box) with the en- prefix, originally referring to placing something into a box or a slot. Over time, its meanings broadened to include fitting pieces together, arranging components, or coordinating items within a plan or timetable. The sense can be physical (fitting parts together) or figurative (fitting events into a calendar, aligning elements in a project).

Usage: in everyday Portuguese, encaixamos is used for actions performed by a group. Examples include: Nós encaixamos as peças no soquete. We fitted the pieces into the socket. Nós encaixamos a reunião no calendário. We scheduled the meeting into the calendar. The past tense form is encaixámos, which carries the meaning “we fit/placed (them) yesterday” or similar, depending on context and dialect.

Conjugation note: encaixar is a regular -ar verb. Besides encaixamos (present), other forms include encaixo (I fit) and encaixei (I fit, past). The spelling with a diacritical mark in the past tense (encaixámos) differentiates the past tense from the present in standard Portuguese orthography.

See also: encaixar, encaixe, se encaixar.

This article provides a concise overview of the verb form encaixamos and its typical uses in Portuguese.