envolvemos

Envolvemos is a Portuguese verb form, corresponding to the first-person plural of the present indicative of envolver. The verb envolver has two broad senses: physical, meaning to wrap, enclose, or envelop; and figurative, meaning to involve, implicate, or surround someone or something in a situation. For example, podemos dizer: “Nós envolvemos o presente com papel colorido” (physical) and “Nós envolvemos várias partes no acordo” (figurative).

Etymology and origin: envolver derives from Latin involvere, formed by in- (into, on) and volvere (to roll). The prefix assimilates to em- in Portuguese, yielding envol- as in envolver. The word has developed typical Portuguese verb endings from its Latin roots, with irregularities in some tenses.

Conjugation and tense notes: in the present indicative, the form is nós envolvemos (along with eu envolvo, tu envolves, ele envolve, vós envolveis, eles envolvem). The pretérito perfeito (past) for the same person also yields envolvemos in standard usage, which can create ambiguity with the present tense; context usually clarifies whether one means “we wrap/wrapped” or “we involve/were involved.” Other forms include eu envolvi, tu envolveste, ele envolveu, eles envolveram, etc.

Usage and nuance: physically wrapping objects (pacotes, presentes) and metaphorical use (involving people or elements in a project, or embroiling someone in a matter). The related noun is envolvimento, meaning involvement or entanglement.

See also: envolver (infinitive), envolvimento, envolvido.