Moving to a new country guarantees one specific conversation you’ll have frequently: the “backstory” chat. People are just inevitably going to ask what your life looked like before you arrived. You want to say simple things like “I used to drive everywhere” or “I used to work in sales.”
This moment often leads to a mental block. We might try to translate “used to” word-for-word and end up sounding like “usado a” … which is, of course, wrong.
Portuguese handles this concept differently than English. Once you embrace that difference, explaining your “old life” becomes one of the easiest parts of conversation.
(If you are still trying to grasp the general “vibe” of this tense, check out my breakdown on how to think about using the Imperfect tense).
The “Costumava” Routine
When you type “I used to go” into a translator app, you usually get “(Eu) Costumava ir.” I used to think this was a “textbook trap” that sounded too robotic, but I’ve learned better since moving to Lisbon. While the Imperfect tense (like Eu ia) is the short and sweet way, the verb costumar is actually very common for describing regular habits or specific eras of your life. It’s not formal—it’s just a way to emphasize that something was a consistent routine.
Using the imperfect tense is the local way to keep things short and natural.
In Portuguese, the “used to” can be built directly into the verb, but using costumava adds that extra layer of “I did this regularly.”
| English | The Short Way | The Routine Way |
|---|---|---|
| I used to go | Eu ia | Eu costumava ir |
| I used to eat | Eu comia | Eu costumava comer |
Real-Life Context:
- A: “Como é que ias para a escola nos Estados Unidos?” (How did you use to go to school in the US?)
- B: “Antes, eu costumava ir de autocarro, mas às vezes o meu pai levava-me.” (Before, I used to go by bus, but sometimes my dad would take me.)
[!tip] The “Used To” Shortcut Whenever you want to say “I used to [verb],” you can often forget the words “used to” entirely. Just conjugate the main verb in the Imperfect.
- “I used to eat” → Comia
- “I used to live” → Vivia
- “I used to be” → Era
This method is cleaner, faster, and sounds authentic.
[!warning] Pro Tip: “Used To” vs. “Usually” This is a common confusion. While we use costumava for the past, we use the verb costumar constantly in the present to mean “usually.”
- Past (Used to): “Eu ia lá.” (I used to go there).
- Present (Usually): “Eu costumo ir lá.” (I usually/tend to go there).
The Trap: Never say “Eu uso ir” or “Eu usado ir” for “I use(d) to go.” These are literal translation errors.
The Magic Formula: “Antes vs. Agora”
Selling the contrast between your old life and your new life in Portugal requires anchoring your timeline. I rely on two power words to do this effectively:
- Antes (Before / Back in the day)
- Agora (Now)
You might also hear Dantes. Just know that Dantes is simply a contraction of de + antes. It’s extremely common in spoken Portuguese when referring to “back in the days” or your previous life.
When telling a story about your past life before moving here, use this formula: “Antes [Imperfect], mas agora [Present].”
| Timeframe | Example Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Antes | Antes, eu vivia em Londres… | Before, I lived in London… |
| Agora | …mas agora vivo no Porto. | …but now I live in Porto. |
Another common example: “Antigamente, eu ia para o trabalho de carro, mas agora vou de metro.” (Back in the day, I used to go to work by car, but now I go by metro.)
Anchoring your story with ‘Antes’ and ‘Agora’ makes the timeline instantly clear.
A Helpful Example
This offers a practical way to “feel” the difference between what we used to do (Imperfect) and what we do now (Present).
Since we live in the 21st century, let’s look at how technology has changed our habits.
| Topic | Old School (Antes/Antigamente) | New School (Agora) |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Antigamente, as pessoas usavam mapas. | Agora, usam o Google Maps. |
| Music | Antes, nós ouvíamos CDs no carro. | Mas agora usamos o Spotify. |
| Contact | Antigamente, nós ligávamos aos amigos. | Agora, só mandamos mensagens. |
Build your own list to practice. Think about what you fazias (used to do) back in your home country versus what you fazes (do) now.
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Past Intentions: “Eu Ia” vs. “Eu Estava Para”
One specific “used to” implies a failed plan or a past intention. This is for moments when you want to say, “I was going to go, but…”
In Portuguese, the Imperfect of Ir (to go) handles the basic “I was going to” perfectly. However, if you want to sound even more like a local for those “I was just about to” moments, try estava para.
- “Eu ia ao supermercado, mas começou a chover.” (I was going to the supermarket, but it started raining.)
- “Eu estava para te ligar agora mesmo, mas fiquei sem bateria!” (I was just about to call you right now, but I ran out of battery!)
Use ‘Eu ia’ or ‘Eu estava para’ when the plan was solid, but life got in the way.
Real-Life Context:
- A: “Ainda vens ao jantar?” (Are you still coming to dinner?)
- B: “Desculpa, eu ia sair de casa agora, mas o meu senhorio apareceu sem avisar.” (Sorry, I was going to leave the house now, but my landlord showed up without warning.)
[!warning] Watch Your Pronunciation Be careful with ia (I was going / I used to go). It is pronounced “Ee-ya” (two distinct beats).
Don’t slur it into “Yah.” You must distinguish it clearly from fui (I went - Simple Past).
- Eu ia = I was on my way / I used to go regularly.
- Eu fui = I went (and arrived/finished).
How to Form These Verbs
You likely grasp the concept now, but you might still need the mechanics of conjugating ia, vivia, or comia.
I intentionally left the heavy charts out of this article to prioritize the usage first. If you feel ready to memorize the endings (which are surprisingly regular), the next guide covers the specifics.
👉 Deep Dive: The "No-Stress" Guide to Imperfect Conjugations
Frequently Asked Questions
[!faq]- Can I ever use “costumava”? Absolutely. It is perfectly acceptable for everyday conversation, especially when you want to emphasize a repetitive habit. While the Imperfect tense (e.g., Eu ia) is shorter, costumava is a great default for describing your lifestyle in a previous era.
[!faq]- Is “Dantes” better than “Antes”? Not necessarily. Antes is the standard word for “before.” Dantes is a very common spoken contraction (de + antes). Use Antes as your default, but don’t be surprised when you hear Dantes constantly in casual chats.
[!faq]- How do I say “I didn’t use to”? You can simply add não before the verb in the Imperfect (e.g., Eu não gostava de peixe). However, for habits, using não costumava is often clearer and sounds more natural. For example: “Eu não costumava comer peixe” (I didn’t use to eat fish/I didn’t eat it very often).
[!faq]- Does “Eu ia” always mean a failed plan? No. Context clarifies it. “Eu ia à beach todos os dias” means “I used to go to the beach every day” (habit). “Eu ia à praia, mas choveu” means “I was going to the beach, but it rained” (intention).
