exija

Exija is a form of the Portuguese verb exigir, meaning to demand or require. It corresponds to the third-person singular present subjunctive form (que ele/ela exija) and is also used as the affirmative imperative for você in many varieties of Portuguese.

Etymology and related forms: exigir derives from Latin exigere. Related words include exigência (demand, requirement) and exigente (demanding), all sharing the same root.

Usage: Exija appears in subordinate clauses with que to express demand, obligation, or insistence, as in “É crucial que ele exija padrões de qualidade” (It is crucial that he demand quality standards). It can also function as a formal imperative directed at the listener: “Exija uma explicação clara” (Demand a clear explanation).

Regional notes: In Brazilian Portuguese, exija is common in formal requests, contractual language, and regulatory contexts. In European Portuguese, it serves the same function, though tone and register may vary with regional usage. In informal speech, speakers may prefer alternative constructions or different moods, but exija remains a standard option in formal and semi-formal contexts.

See also: exigir; exigência; subjunctive mood; imperative mood; Portuguese grammar.