How do you translate the English verb ‘to become’ into Portuguese?

Short Answer: it depends

Long Answer: It is very helpful to examine 5 common applications of to become and the most appropriate counterparts in Portuguese.

1. To represent a long gradual change, or a change that results from a great intellectual effort, use the phrasal verb chegar a ser.

• Ele chegou a ser chefe da empresa He became the head of the company.

2. A very Brazilian way of saying ‘to become,’ and one that connotes an unexpected or even negative evolution, is virar.

• Você virou pão duro? Have you become a cheapskate?

3. An involuntary change of state suggests the use of the verb ficar.

• Eu fiquei envergonhado I became embarrassed.

4. For a voluntary change, or a change to which the subject has contributed, the best verb to use is tornar-se.

• Ela tornou-se uma excelente músico She became an excellent musician

5. When using the phrasal verb to become rich, or when speaking to professional change, use fazer-se.

• Vou me fazer bilionário escrevendo literatura infantil I am going to become a billionaire by writing childrens’ books.

adapted from ‘Um Passo Mais no Português Moderno’ by Francisco Cota Fagundes