obrigar

Obrigar is a Portuguese verb of the first conjugation that means to compel, oblige, or force someone to do something. It is used in legal, moral, and social contexts and is typically followed by an infinitive introduced by a or by a clause with que, as in obrigar alguém a fazer algo or obrigar que alguém faça algo.

Etymology: obrigar comes from Latin obligare, with the prefix ob- meaning toward and ligare meaning to bind. It is cognate with Spanish obligar and French obliger, reflecting common Romance roots for force or constraint.

Conjugation: as a regular -ar verb, its forms follow standard patterns. Present indicative: eu obrigo, tu obrigas, ele obriga, nós obrigamos, vós obrigáis, eles obrigam. The preterite is eu obriguei, tu obrigaste, ele obrigou, nós obrigámos, vós obrigastes, eles obrigaram. The past participle is obrigado (masculine) or obrigada (feminine); gerund is obrigando. In many varieties, especially Brazilian Portuguese, the second-person forms are less common, with vocábulos like você obrigou used in place of tu obrigas.

Usage: the core construction is to obrigar alguém a fazer algo. It can also appear with a subordinate clause or in passive-like expressions such as ser/estar obrigado a fazer algo. The noun form is obrigação; the adjective is obrigado/obrigada, meaning obliged or indebted. The verb conveys a strong sense of obligation or coercion, rather than mere suggestion.

Examples: A lei obriga os cidadãos a pagar impostos. Os pais obrigam os filhos a estudarem. Fui obrigado a comparecer ao juízo. Ela ficou obrigada a cumprir o acordo.