seja

Seja is a form of the Portuguese verb ser in the present subjunctive. It is used to express wishes, doubts, possibilities, hypothetical states, or polite requests, and it often appears after the conjunction que to introduce a subjunctive clause. The same form serves for multiple persons in the present subjunctive, with vouched forms including seja (eu/ele), sejas (tu), sejamos (nós), sejais (vós), sejam (eles).

Etymology and grammar: seja comes from the Latin esse and is part of the broader system of the Portuguese subjunctive, which contrasts with the indicative mood. In practical usage, seja can introduce exhortations or hopes, as in que seja feito (let it be done) or que seja assim (let it be so). It also appears in fixed expressions and polite constructions, where the subjunctive mood signals a wish, a possibility, or a hypothetical condition rather than a definite fact.

Common phrases and usage: Se você quiser, seja rápido (If you want, be quick). Seja bem-vindo (Welcome). Seja como for (In any case). Que seja possível (May it be possible). Se isso for conveniente, seja ele avisado (If that is convenient, may he be notified). The form is versatile in formal and informal contexts and remains a core tool for expressing nuance in Brazilian and European Portuguese.

Pronunciation and form notes: in standard Brazilian Portuguese, seja is typically pronounced roughly as SEH-zha, with the 'j' sounding like the English s in measure. The form também serves as the base for related subjunctive forms such as sejas, sejamos, sejais, and sejam.