descobrir

Senses

1. 1.

   to discover; to find out

   to come upon or learn something previously unknown

2. 2.

   to uncover; to reveal

   to expose or make visible something that was hidden

3. 3.

   to realize; to notice

   to perceive or become aware of something

4. 4.

   to expose oneself

   to leave oneself unprotected or vulnerable (reflexive use)

Examples

• "Descobri um ótimo restaurante perto de casa."

  I discovered an excellent restaurant near my house.

• "Ela descobriu que o namorado era infiel."

  She found out that her boyfriend was unfaithful.

• "Não se descubra! Fique sob o telhado."

  Don't expose yourself! Stay under the roof.

Usage

Descobrir is one of the most common verbs in Brazilian Portuguese. It combines the sense of empirical discovery (descobri um café ótimo) with cognitive realization (descobri a verdade). The reflexive form descobrir-se means to expose oneself or become unguarded, often used in contexts of revealing secrets or compromising one's position. Common past participle: descoberto.