presentemente

Presentemente is a Portuguese adverb meaning “at present” or “currently.” It signals the present time or the current state of affairs and is often used to set the temporal context of a statement.

Etymology and register. Presentemente derives from Latin praesent- “being in sight or at hand.” In modern Portuguese it is considered formal or archaic in many varieties, and it is relatively uncommon in everyday speech. It tends to appear in formal writing, legal language, academic texts, historical works, or literary prose. In Brazilian Portuguese, the word can be encountered in stylistically elevated passages or in historical documents, but most contemporary discourse favors more colloquial alternatives such as agora, neste momento, or atualmente.

Usage notes. When used, presentemente generally appears in clauses that contrast the present with earlier times or emphasize the current situation. For example: Presentemente, a economia encontra-se estável. The word can convey continuity with the past up to the present moment, but it may sound less natural in casual conversation. Writers choose presentemente to evoke formality, precision, or a historical tone.

Relation to related terms. Presentemente is related to presente (the noun “the present”) and presente do indicativo in grammar, but it is distinct from forms used to indicate mere immediacy in speech. Synonyms in modern usage include atualmente and neste momento, while agora is commonly used in informal style.

See also. Presentemente may appear in discussions of Portuguese tense and aspect, historical French presentement, and comparisons of temporal adverbs across Romance languages.