obrigam

Obrigam is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Portuguese verb obrigar, which means to oblige, force, or compel. As a transitive verb, obrigar requires a direct object that is being forced and is typically followed by a clause introduced by a or by an infinitive to specify the action demanded. For example: Eles obrigam as pessoas a cumprir as regras.

In use, obrigar conveys a sense of coercion or formal obligation, depending on context. It can express strong coercion in everyday speech or the imposition of duties in legal, administrative, or organizational language. Common constructions include obrigar alguém a fazer algo (to force someone to do something) and as regras obrigam a apresentação de documentos (the rules require the presentation of documents).

Etymology and related forms: obrigar derives from Latin obligare, formed with the prefix ob- plus ligare “to bind,” reflecting the original sense of binding someone to an obligation. Related forms include the noun obrigação (obligation) and the adjective obrigado (obliged) or, in the masculine plural, obrigados. The verb’s present tense paradigm includes: eu obrigo, tu obrigas, ele obriga, nós obrigamos, vocês obrigam, eles obrigam (with vós forming observed mainly in European Portuguese). The passive or impersonal constructions can express duty without specifying the actor, as in os alunos são obrigados a entregar o relatório.

See also: obrigar, obrigação, obrigado, obrigatoriamente.