parcelar

Senses

1. 1.

   to pay in installments

   to divide a payment into multiple parts over time

2. 2.

   to break down, to divide up

   to split something into smaller portions or parcels

Examples

• "Vou parcelar a compra do celular em 12 vezes sem juros."

  I'm going to pay for the phone in 12 interest-free installments.

• "É possível parcelar o pagamento do imposto em até 6 vezes."

  It's possible to pay the tax in up to 6 installments.

• "Prefiro parcelar no cartão de crédito do que pagar à vista."

  I prefer to pay in installments on the credit card rather than pay in full.

Usage

Very common in Brazilian commercial contexts, especially retail and banking. The most frequent collocation is "parcelar em X vezes" (to pay in X installments). Often contrasted with "pagar à vista" (to pay in full/cash). The noun form is "parcelamento" (installment plan).