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Seguinte vs. próximo vs. que vem

Word practice demo
In Portuguese, the words seguinte, próximo, and que vem often translate to next or following in English, but they are used in different contexts. Understanding their nuances can help you choose the most appropriate term based on the situation.

Seguinte

B1
Seguinte is used to indicate something that comes directly after in an ordered series, focusing on sequential continuation. It is often used in formal or written contexts and emphasizes logical succession.
Na reunião, discutiremos os pontos seguintes.
(In the meeting, we will discuss the following points.)
Leia a frase seguinte com atenção.
(Read the following sentence carefully.)
Passe para a página seguinte.
(Turn to the following page.)

Próximo

A2
Próximo is used to refer to something that is close in spatial or temporal proximity. It emphasizes immediacy, often in everyday speech, and is frequently used to describe events or objects that come directly after the current one.
Podemos marcar a consulta para a próxima semana?
(Can we schedule the appointment for next week?)
Pegue o próximo ônibus que passar.
(Take the next bus that comes by.)
Na próxima página, há mais informações.
(On the next page, there is more information.)

Que vem

A2
Que vem literally translates to that comes and is most commonly used to refer to future time periods. It is more temporal in nature and used in everyday speech to talk about time frames like weeks, months, or years.
Vamos viajar no mês que vem.
(We are going to travel next month.)
O ano que vem será cheio de novidades.
(Next year will be full of news.)
Na semana que vem, teremos uma nova reunião.
(Next week, we will have a new meeting.)

Summary

Although seguinte, próximo, and que vem can all mean next or following, they are used in different contexts. Seguinte emphasizes logical order and sequence, often in formal or written contexts. Próximo highlights immediacy or closeness in time or space, and is commonly used in everyday situations. Que vem, on the other hand, is specifically temporal and generally refers to future periods like weeks, months, or years.