Ter vs Haver: How to Say "There Is" in Portuguese

Wondering how to say there is in Portuguese? Here's the short answer: the textbook verb is HAVER ("há muita gente"), but in everyday Brazilian Portuguese we almost always use TER instead, so you'll hear "tem muita gente" way more often. That's the whole ter vs haver story in one sentence, and it works exactly the same for there are in Portuguese.

The tricky part for English speakers is that TER also means "to have", so tem in Portuguese can mean "he has" or "there is" depending on the context, while há in Portuguese only means "there is". In this lesson I'll show you how ter and haver in Portuguese really work in conversation, when the verb haver in Portuguese sounds too formal, and when EXISTIR is a good third option.

You'll also learn how to say ago in Portuguese with the há vs faz trick ("há dois dias", "faz dois dias"), plus the super common "faz tempo!" (it's been a while!), and the difference between AJA and HAJA, two words that sound exactly the same. Hit play on the video, take notes, and say each sentence out loud.

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Video: TER or HAVER, which one should you use in Portuguese?

The verbs TER and HAVER in Portuguese

A gente vs Há gente

Sentences with TER and HAVER

Don't sound too formal (and avoid Portuñol)

HÁ vs FAZ: how to say "ago" in Portuguese (HAVER and FAZER)

Video: TER or HAVER, which one should you use in Portuguese?

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The verbs TER and HAVER in Portuguese

Write down these sentences so you never forget the right way to use TER and HAVER.

A gente vs Há gente

They sound almost identical (the H in Portuguese is always silent, like in the English word "hour"), but these 4 sentences have completely different meanings.

A gente tá com fome. (people / as pessoas)
A gente tá com fome. (we / nós)
A agente tá com fome (the female agent)
Há gente com fome (there are people)

How to use "a gente" and "as pessoas" in Portuguese

Sentences with TER and HAVER

Há possibilidade de você me ajudar com isso?
Ele disse que não houve nenhum jeito de fechar negócio com o cliente.
Havia uma pessoa interessada em alugar seu apartamento mas você não estava aqui pra negociar.

Don't sound too formal (and avoid Portuñol)

My advice: use TER whenever you can. Here in Brazil, HAVER sounds more formal, closer to something you'd read in a newspaper than something you'd hear at a barbecue with friends.

9 tips to avoid speaking Portuñol (the Spanish and Portuguese mix).

Different ways to use JEITO in Portuguese.

Now the same sentences with the verb TER:

Tem possibilidade de você me ajudar com isso?
Ele disse que não teve nenhum jeito de fechar negócio com o cliente.
Tinha uma pessoa interessada em alugar seu apartamento mas você não esteve aqui pra negociar.

I could also use EXISTIR (to exist). Check out how the sentences would look:

Existe possibilidade de você me ajudar com isso?
Ele disse que não existiu nenhum jeito de fechar negócio com o cliente.
Existia uma pessoa interessada em alugar seu apartamento mas você não esteve aqui pra negociar.

Words and expressions about money in Portuguese.

HÁ vs FAZ: how to say "ago" in Portuguese (HAVER and FAZER)

Faz quanto tempo que você tá morando no Brasil?
Há quanto tempo que você tá por aqui na cidade?
- Já faz uns 10 dias / Há uns 10 dias

Brazilian culture curiosities (according to foreigners)

Heads-up: Don't say "Há quatro dias atrás"

When you say "Há quatro dias / Faz quatro dias", it's already clear you're talking about the past, because HÁ and FAZ already do the job of "ago". Adding "atrás" is like saying "four days ago back" in English.