louvar

Louvar is a Portuguese verb meaning to praise, extol, or commend. It is used in both secular and religious contexts, often to express praise for achievements or for divine beings. In religious language, louvar is commonly used to address God, as in louvar a Deus or louvar ao Senhor, and it can also apply to praising a person or institution in secular speech.

Etymology and form: The verb derives from Latin laudare, to praise. Through the development of the Romance languages, it became Portuguese louvar, with the related noun louvor meaning praise. It is conjugated as a regular -ar verb: eu louvo, tu louvas, ele louva; nós louvamos, vós louvais, eles louvam. The gerund is louvando, and the past participle is louvado. In compound tenses, it uses auxiliary verbs, as in tenho louvado or tinha louvado.

Usage notes: While similar to elogiar in many contexts, louvar carries a sense of formal or devotional praise. The noun louvor denotes the act or result of praising, e.g., o louvor a Deus. In both Brazilian and European Portuguese, usage is broad, with stylistic preferences in liturgical writing.

Examples: Ela louva a Deus todos os dias. Os fiéis cantam para louvar ao Senhor. Ele louvou as realizações da equipe.

See also: louvor; elogiar; glorificar; laud.