Stir or stir? The verb “move” and all its conjugations are always written with the letter X. Portuguese language norms do not consider the written form with CH to be correct.
Read too:Way or geito: which is correct?
Summary about “mecher” and “messer”
The verb “mexer”, like all its conjugations, is written with the letter X.
The word “mecher”, written with the digraph CH, is not accepted by the grammar rules of the Portuguese language.
The verb “mexer” can mean “to mix”, “to move”, “to dance”, “to play”, “to have as an occupation”, “to provoke” etc.
The verb “mexer” is a regular verb in the 2nd conjugation.
Video lesson: “move” or “mecher”?
“Mecher” or “move”: which is right?
The verb “mexer” is written with the letter X, according to the grammar rules of the Portuguese language. The word “mecher”, written with the digraph CH, is not recognized by grammar. All verb forms related to “move” are also written with the letter X.
Uses of the verb “move”
The verb “move” can have several meanings, depending on the context. See some of them below.
Synonyms for “mix”
Can to mix the coffee for you?
I go to mix soup ingredients before serving.
Synonym for “move”
I am unable to mix my arm after the accident.
He moved the pieces on the board.
Synonym for “dance”
They moved the body to the rhythm of the music.
Even after hours of dancing, they still had the energy to if they move a little more.
Synonym for “touch” [with hands]
She doesn't stop to mix under the microscope, out of curiosity.
He moved in the ground to plant flowers in the garden.
Synonym for “have as an occupation”
My father shake with heavy load transport.
Since he was a child, he dreamed of to mix with technology.
Synonym for “provoke” (“make fun” or “flirt”)
It's wrong to mix with someone because of their appearance.
He liked to mix with her wearing her charming smile.
Read too: Under or below?
When should X be used in words?
The letter X can represent several different sounds in the Portuguese language, depending on the origin of the word. See some of them:
xaveco (CH sound)
It isxact (Z sound)
êxtase (S sound)
logx (CS sound)
When it comes to the sound of CH written with the letter X, there are some trends we can observe:
Feature |
Examples |
words of indigenous or African origin |
xingar, xara, xlove |
foreign words with Portuguese form |
xampu, Xangai |
CH sound after syllables with diphthong |
fatherxoh, feixand, froxO |
words that begin with the syllable ME- |
mexer, mexicano, mexerica |
words that begin with the syllable EN- |
enxada, enxlift, enxlove |
The conjugation of the verb “move”
The verb “move” has a conjugation regular — the standard conjugation for verbs in the Portuguese language. It is a 2nd conjugation verb, as it ends in -er.
Indicative mode | |||
gift |
past perfect |
imperfect past tense |
|
I |
I move |
I moved |
moved |
you |
move |
you moved |
mess |
he/she |
shake |
moved |
moved |
us |
we move |
we move |
we moved |
you |
move |
you moved |
you moved |
they |
move |
moved |
moved |
pluperfect past tense |
future of the present |
future tense |
|
I |
messed up |
I will move |
would move |
you |
mess |
you will move |
mess |
he/she |
messed up |
will move |
would move |
us |
we moved |
we will move |
we would move |
you |
stir |
you will move |
you would move |
they |
moved |
they will move |
would move |
Subjunctive mood | |||
gift |
imperfect past tense |
future |
|
I |
mix |
move |
to mix |
you |
stir |
move |
move |
he/she |
mix |
move |
to mix |
us |
let's move |
let's move |
let's move |
you |
mexais |
move |
move |
they |
stir |
move |
move |
Imperative mode | |
affirmative |
negative |
you move |
don't move you |
move you |
don't move you |
let's move |
let's not move |
I moved you |
don't move |
move yourselves |
don't move you |
Solved exercises about “moving” or “mecher”?
Question 1
Select the alternative that adequately completes the gaps in the following statement.
Don't stop _______ the pan to avoid burning the food. By the way, do you like _______ eggs?
A) stir; messed up.
B) stir; scrambled.
C) stir; scrambled.
D) stir; scrambled.
Response
Alternative D. The verb “mexer” and all its conjugations and nominal forms are written with the letter X, including “mexidos”.
Question 2
Select the alternative in which the letter X has the same sound in all words.
A) cup, rate, exam.
B) excellent, jaw, example.
C) sheriff, swear, swarm.
D) aid, example, shampoo.
Response
Only in alternative C do all words have the letter X representing the same sound: in this case, it is the sound similar to the digraph CH.
Sources:
PRIBERAM. Available in: https://dicionario.priberam.org/.
VOLP. Brazilian Academy of Letters. Available in: https://www.academia.org.br/nossa-lingua/busca-no-vocabulario.
