esqueçamos

Esqueçamos is a Portuguese verb form that corresponds to the present subjunctive first-person plural of esquecer, the verb meaning "to forget." It is used to express a wish, possibility, doubt, or an exhortation for a group including the speaker, often in clauses introduced by que or in jussive constructions such as “Que esqueçamos os erros do passado” (Let us forget the mistakes of the past). In everyday speech, the same sense can be conveyed with “vamos esquecer” (let’s forget), but esqueçamos remains common in formal writing and in more literary or political rhetoric.

Grammatically, esqueçamos follows the regular subjunctive endings: eu esqueça, tu esqueças, ele esqueça, nós esqueçamos, vós esqueçais, eles esqueçam. The form is spelled with a cedilha (ç) before a to preserve the soft s sound before a, as required in Portuguese orthography.

Orthography and pronunciation notes: the cedilha in esqueçamos signals the s-sound before the letter a, aligning with Portuguese spelling rules. The stress generally falls on the third syllable, though pronunciation can vary slightly by dialect.

Usage context: esqueçamos appears in subordinate clauses that require the subjunctive, such as expressions of desire, necessity, or doubt (É importante que esqueçamos..., Que esqueçamos...). It can also function as an inclusive imperative, equivalent to “let us forget,” particularly in formal or rhetorical contexts.