motivais

Motivais is a Portuguese verb form. It denotes the second-person plural present indicative of the verb motivar (to motivate) when used with the pronoun vós, in European Portuguese. The form is characteristic of varieties that retain the vós form and is relatively uncommon in everyday speech in many dialects; in Brazilian Portuguese the usual equivalent is vocês motivam.

Etymology and form: Motivar derives from Latin motivare, from motivus meaning moving or causing motion. The Portuguese verb paradigm produced the form motivais for the second-person plural in the present tense, reflecting historical use of the pronoun vós.

Usage and regional variation: The vós forms, including motivais, appear most often in formal writing, literature, religious contexts, or historical texts in Portugal. In contemporary spoken language, many speakers prefer the pronoun vocês and the corresponding verb form motivam or the simplified Brazilian Portuguese equivalents. Because of its association with the archaic or formal register, motivais is less common in everyday conversation outside of regions or contexts that preserve the traditional vós usage.

Example: Vós motivais a equipa a seguir o plano, mesmo diante de obstáculos. This illustrates how motivais is used in addressing a group with the vós form.