governar

Go v o r n a r is a Portuguese verb meaning to govern, to rule, or to administer. It denotes the exercise of authority over a political unit, an organization, a territory, or a process. The term is commonly used in political, administrative, and organizational contexts, and can also imply managerial oversight of systems and resources.

Origin and usage: The verb is regular in the -ar conjugation and is derived from Latin gubernare, itself from Greek κυβερνάω, meaning to steer or pilot. It is transitive, taking a direct object: governar um país, governar uma empresa, governar uma região. The related noun governo refers to the government, while governança or governance denotes the broader concept of governing structures and practices. Regional variation exists, with Brazil often favoring você as the second-person form and Portugal frequently using tu in informal speech.

Conjugation and examples: In Brazilian Portuguese, the present indicative forms include eu governo, você governa, ele governa, nós governamos, vocês governam. Examples: Ele governa o país; ela governa a empresa. The pretérito perfeito (past) forms are eu governei, você governou, nós governámos, vocês governaram. The pretérito imperfeito (imperfect) forms are eu governava, você governava, ele governava, nós governávamos, vocês governavam. The verb is typically used with direct objects and can describe political leadership, administrative management, or the regulation of processes.

See also: governança, governo, governante.