Portuguese Phrase
A gente usa o Zoom para chamadas de vídeo.
Meaning
This sentence means "We use Zoom for video calls." It uses the informal collective pronoun "a gente" and the verb "usar" in the present tense to describe a habitual action.
When to use
Use this phrase when talking about the tools your team or group uses for online meetings, especially in casual conversation with friends, coworkers, or classmates.
✦Grammar Breakdown
AgenteusaoZoomparachamadasdevídeo
A gente
"A gente" is an informal first‑person plural pronoun equivalent to "nós" but it takes third‑person singular verb forms.
Verb conjugation
With "a gente", use the third‑person singular present indicative (e.g., "usa", "faz").
Preposition para + noun
"Para" introduces purpose or destination; here it means "for".
Compound noun "chamadas de vídeo"
A noun phrase where "de" links two nouns, similar to English "video calls".
🗨In Conversation
A gente usa o Zoom para chamadas de vídeo.
We use Zoom for video calls.
Legal! Eu prefiro o Google Meet, mas o Zoom funciona bem.
Cool! I prefer Google Meet, but Zoom works well.
✕Common Mistakes
A gente usamos o Zoom para chamadas de vídeo.
"A gente" takes third‑person singular verbs, so the correct form is "usa".
A gente usa os Zooms para chamadas de vídeo.
Zoom is a proper noun; do not add an -s for plural.
A gente usa o Zoom para chamadas de video.
The word "vídeo" needs an accent on the "e" and the preposition "de" is required.
↔Alternatives
Nós usamos o Zoom para videochamadas.
We use Zoom for video calls.
A gente utiliza o Zoom para chamadas de vídeo.
We use Zoom for video calls.
Usamos o Zoom para fazer chamadas de vídeo.
We use Zoom to make video calls.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "a gente" is extremely common in spoken Portuguese and even appears in informal writing. It sounds friendly but is still considered less formal than "nós". When speaking with a business client or in a formal presentation, switch to "nós" (e.g., "Nós usamos o Zoom..."). Also, Zoom became a household name during the pandemic, so most Brazilians instantly understand the reference.