possuír

Possuír is a Portuguese verb meaning to possess or to own. It is used as a transitive verb with a direct object and can denote material ownership as well as abstract possession (possuir direitos, uma ideia, uma qualidade). In everyday speech, many speakers prefer synonyms such as ter or deter, but possuír remains common in formal, literary, or legal contexts.

Etymology and variants

The verb derives from Latin possidere, via Old French posséder, and entered Portuguese through Romance-language contact. In some orthographies and dialects, possuír appears as an alternative spelling, but possuí r is the standard form in most modern usage. The meaning is essentially the same in both spellings.

Conjugation and usage

Possuír conjugates as a regular -ir verb in many tenses, with the usual stem possu-. Core forms include the infinitive possessir or possuír; the gerund possuindo; and the past participle possuído. Key indicative forms (varieties can differ slightly by dialect) illustrate its use:

- Present: eu possuo; tu possuis; ele possui; nós possuímos; vós possuís; eles possuem.

- Preterite and imperfect disclose typical -ir patterns, with forms such as possuí, possuíste, possuíram; and possuía, possuías, possuíamos, etc.

- Future and subjunctive forms follow expected -ir verb patterns, e.g., possuirei, possuirás, possuirá; que eu possua, que tu possuas, que ele possua.

See also

For contrast, use of ter as a more common everyday alternative, and possuí- relates to possessory or legal contexts where precise ownership is discussed.