How to Say ‘Who stays, stays, who left, goes goes’ in Portuguese
Quem ficar, ficou, quem foi, vai vai
KENG fee-KAR fee-KOO KENG foj vaj vaj
[KENG fee-KAR fee-KOO KENG foj vaj vaj]
💬 Usage Tip: After [quem], Portuguese often uses [ficar] for a general "whoever stays": [quem ficar]. In [quem foi], [foi] is from [ir] here, so it means "whoever went / left," not "who was."
Phrase Breakdown
Quem ficar, ficou
KENG fee-KAR fee-KOO
Words in this phrase
Quem
[KENG]
Whoever
Used to refer to an unspecified person or people.
Quem ficar verá.
Whoever stays will see.
ficar
[fee-KAR]
stay
Remain in the same place.
Precisamos ficar unidos.
We need to stay united.
ficou
[fee-KOO]
stayed
Past form of 'stay', indicating remaining in the same place.
Quem ficou fez a diferença.
Whoever stayed made a difference.
Quem foi, vai vai
KENG foj vaj vaj
Words in this phrase
quem
[KENG]
who
Used to ask or talk about which person or people.
Quem sabe, explica.
Who knows, explains.
foi
[foj]
went
Past form of 'go', indicating movement from one place to another.
Quem foi já voltou.
Whoever went has already returned.
vai
[vaj]
go
Repeat for emphasis on the action of going.
Vai vai, sem parar.
Go go, without stopping.
vai
[vaj]
go
Repeat for emphasis on the action of going.
Vai vai, sem parar.
Go go, without stopping.
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