Portuguese Phrase
Tem que ver.
Meaning
Literally ‘(it) has to be seen’, this colloquial phrase is used to recommend something worth watching or experiencing – a movie, a show, a place, etc. It carries a friendly, enthusiastic tone.
When to use
Use it when you want to tell a friend that something is a must‑see, when you’re giving a recommendation, or when you’re expressing that an event is unavoidable and worth attending.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Temquever
Ter + que + infinitive
The construction ‘ter + que + infinitive’ expresses obligation or a strong recommendation, similar to ‘have to’ or ‘must’ in English.
3rd‑person singular of ter
‘Tem’ is the present‑tense 3rd‑person singular of ‘ter’. In informal speech it can be used impersonally, meaning ‘you/one has to…’.
Infinitive verb
‘Ver’ is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to see/watch’. The infinitive never changes for person or number.
🗨In Conversation
Já assistiu à série nova da Netflix?
Have you watched the new Netflix series?
Ainda não, tem que ver!
Not yet, you’ve got to see it!
✕Common Mistakes
Eu tem que ver.
‘Eu’ requires the first‑person form ‘tenho’. The correct sentence is ‘Eu tenho que ver.’
Eles tem que ver.
For plural subjects use ‘têm’ with a tilde. The correct form is ‘Eles têm que ver.’
Tem que ver---
Adding extra hyphens or punctuation changes the tone; keep it simple: ‘Tem que ver.’
↔Alternatives
É preciso ver.
It is necessary to see.
Deve ver.
You should see.
Vale a pena ver.
It’s worth seeing.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil the phrase is very informal and often spoken with a rising intonation to convey excitement. It’s common among friends, on social media, and in casual reviews. In more formal contexts you’d replace it with ‘É necessário ver’ or ‘Recomendo que veja’.