Beyond the big regular patterns — quando, se, quem + future subjunctive — Portuguese has a category of frozen idiomatic expressions that lock the future subjunctive into fixed constructions. Phrases like seja como for ("however it may be"), venha o que vier ("come what may"), custe o que custar ("whatever the cost"), and onde quer que ("wherever") are delivered by native speakers as single units. A learner who can produce them sounds fluent immediately; a learner who can't will be obviously translating from English. This page collects the ones you will actually hear in Portugal.
Two families of frozen expressions
The expressions fall into two grammatical families:
- Concessive frames — X quer que ("whatever X") constructions, all indefinite and concessive.
- Reduplicated expressions — V-fut.subj + o que + V-fut.subj ("V-whatever-V"), all idiomatic.
Both families share the same underlying logic: the future subjunctive marks an indefinite scenario that the speaker is preemptively brushing aside. Seja como for = however things turn out to be, it doesn't matter. This is why the future subjunctive is the right tense — it describes a scenario in open, unresolved future terms.
Family 1: X quer que + future subjunctive
This family pairs an indefinite relative (quem, o que, onde, quando, como, qualquer) with quer que — a fossilized form of querer ("to want") plus que — and then takes the subjunctive on the main verb. The structure means X-ever, whatever X.
| Expression | Meaning | Verb mood in continuation |
|---|---|---|
| onde quer que | wherever | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| aonde quer que | to wherever | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| quem quer que | whoever | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| o que quer que | whatever | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| quando quer que | whenever | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| como quer que | however, in whatever manner | present subjunctive (modern EP) |
| qualquer que | whichever (of a set) | present subjunctive |
These are slightly more formal or emphatic than the bare quem / o que / onde + future subjunctive versions. The emphasis comes from the double marker: quer que adds a "no matter what, regardless" flavour.
Onde quer que estejas, espero que estejas bem.
Wherever you are, I hope you're well. (estejas is present subjunctive; the whole clause is an emphatic concessive)
Quem quer que venha, tratamos bem.
Whoever comes, we'll treat well.
Quando quer que precises, aqui estou.
Whenever you need me, I'm here.
Qualquer que seja a resposta, aceito-a.
Whichever the answer is, I accept it.
A subtle but important point about the verbs inside these phrases: many grammars present onde quer que estiveres as correct, but modern EP usage has shifted to onde quer que estejas (present subjunctive). Both are acceptable, but the present subjunctive is more natural in current speech. Stick with the present subjunctive unless you have a specific reason to reach for the future subjunctive version.
Family 2: the reduplicated construction
This is the most distinctively Portuguese category. The pattern is:
Verb (future subjunctive) + o que + same verb (future subjunctive)
or
Verb (present subjunctive) + o que + same verb (future subjunctive)
It produces come what may, cost what it may, come hell or high water — a specific rhetorical flourish that exists in English only in set phrases, but in Portuguese is a productive frame.
Seja como for — "however it may be / whatever the case"
Seja como for, vamos tentar.
However it may be, we'll try. / Whatever the case, we'll try.
Seja como for, amanhã resolvemos.
Whatever happens, we'll sort it out tomorrow.
This is possibly the most common idiomatic future-subjunctive phrase in the language. It opens or closes a statement, signalling regardless of the details, here's my conclusion. Use it casually and you will sound immediately Portuguese.
Seja quem for — "whoever it is / no matter who"
Seja quem for, não abras a porta.
Whoever it is, don't open the door.
Não faço exceções, seja quem for.
I don't make exceptions, no matter who it is.
Venha o que vier — "come what may"
Venha o que vier, estou pronto.
Come what may, I'm ready.
Vamos em frente, venha o que vier.
Let's press on, come what may.
Haja o que houver — "whatever happens / no matter what"
Built on haver ("to exist, there to be"). One of the most native-sounding expressions.
Haja o que houver, eu conto contigo.
Whatever happens, I'm counting on you.
Haja o que houver, não vou desistir.
No matter what, I won't give up.
Custe o que custar — "whatever the cost"
Vou terminar este projeto, custe o que custar.
I'm going to finish this project, whatever the cost.
Custe o que custar, temos de salvar a empresa.
Whatever the cost, we have to save the company.
Doa a quem doer — "regardless of who it hurts / however unpopular"
Built on doer ("to hurt"), with a dative pronoun. Slightly harsher and more confrontational; often used in political or moral contexts.
Vamos dizer a verdade, doa a quem doer.
We're going to tell the truth, regardless of who it hurts.
Vou investigar este caso, doa a quem doer.
I'll investigate this case, whoever it upsets.
Faça chuva ou faça sol — "come rain or shine"
Faça chuva ou faça sol, temos treino às seis.
Rain or shine, we have practice at six.
Abrimos todos os dias, faça chuva ou faça sol.
We're open every day, rain or shine.
Note the structure: faça here is the present subjunctive of fazer, not the future subjunctive. This is a slight inconsistency within the family, but native speakers use faça chuva ou faça sol reflexively and you should treat it as a frozen idiom.
Dê por onde der — "however it turns out"
Vou apresentar-me candidato, dê por onde der.
I'm running for office, however it turns out.
More literary and emphatic; less common in everyday speech than seja como for.
Diga o que disser — "whatever one says / whatever you say"
Diga o que disser, eu já decidi.
Whatever anyone says, I've already decided.
Diga o que disser a tua mãe, eu apoio-te.
Whatever your mother says, I support you.
Faças o que fizeres — "whatever you do"
Faças o que fizeres, não te arrependas.
Whatever you do, don't regret it.
Faças o que fizeres, pensa no futuro.
Whatever you do, think of the future.
Note the shift: with a specific addressee (tu), the first verb takes the second-person form (faças, present subjunctive) and the second verb takes the second-person future subjunctive (fizeres). This is the productive, non-idiomatic extension of the pattern.
The full frozen-phrase family — summary table
| Phrase | Literal structure | English idiom |
|---|---|---|
| seja como for | be-pres.subj how be-fut.subj | whatever the case, however things turn out |
| seja quem for | be-pres.subj who be-fut.subj | whoever it is, no matter who |
| seja o que for | be-pres.subj what be-fut.subj | whatever it is |
| venha o que vier | come-pres.subj what come-fut.subj | come what may |
| haja o que houver | have-pres.subj what have-fut.subj | whatever happens |
| custe o que custar | cost-pres.subj what cost-fut.subj | whatever the cost, no matter the price |
| doa a quem doer | hurt-pres.subj to who hurt-fut.subj | regardless of who it hurts |
| faça chuva ou faça sol | make-pres.subj rain or make-pres.subj sun | come rain or shine |
| dê por onde der | give-pres.subj by where give-fut.subj | however it turns out |
| diga o que disser | say-pres.subj what say-fut.subj | whatever one says |
| faças o que fizeres | do-pres.subj what do-fut.subj | whatever you do |
| digas o que disseres | say-pres.subj what say-fut.subj | whatever you say |
Why the mixed-mood pattern exists
A curious feature of these expressions: the first verb is usually the present subjunctive (seja, venha, haja, custe, doa, diga, faça) and the second is usually the future subjunctive (for, vier, houver, custar, doer, disser). Why?
The explanation is syntactic. The first verb is a main-clause subjunctive (a free-standing wish or concession — seja! "so be it!"); the second is a relative clause ("whoever, whatever, however") with an indefinite future referent, which triggers the future subjunctive. The two clauses combine into a single idiomatic phrase.
This is why seja como for and not for como for or seja como seja — the structure is baked in. Native speakers don't analyse this; they produce it as a frozen unit.
Productive extensions: the "X-ever you want" frame
One extension of the frozen family is productive: the second-person pattern V-subj (tu) + o que + V-fut.subj (tu). This produces the English "whatever you X" frame and is used constantly in everyday speech.
Faças o que fizeres, avisa-me primeiro.
Whatever you do, tell me first.
Digas o que disseres, não vou mudar de ideia.
Whatever you say, I won't change my mind.
Queiras o que quiseres, ajudo.
Whatever you want, I'll help.
Compres o que comprares, guarda o recibo.
Whatever you buy, keep the receipt.
This frame can be built with any verb. The first instance is in the present subjunctive (second-person tu), the second in the future subjunctive (second-person tu). Both are marked for the tu subject.
A dialogue full of frozen phrases
Two friends discussing a risky decision.
— Vou aceitar aquele trabalho no Porto, custe o que custar.
I'm going to take that job in Porto, whatever the cost.
— Mas a tua família? Seja como for, é longe.
But your family? Whatever the case, it's far.
— Haja o que houver, a gente dá-se bem à distância.
Whatever happens, we get along at a distance.
— Olha, faças o que fizeres, tens o meu apoio.
Look, whatever you do, you have my support.
— Obrigado. Venha o que vier, não me arrependo.
Thanks. Come what may, I don't regret it.
Five lines, five frozen expressions. This density is realistic when Portuguese speakers are being emphatic or dramatic.
Register notes
The frozen expressions are not all equally neutral:
- Seja como for — universally neutral, used by everyone.
- Venha o que vier — slightly literary / dramatic. Native speakers use it, but it marks the moment as emphatic.
- Haja o que houver — common, everyday.
- Custe o que custar — common, especially in news and political contexts.
- Doa a quem doer — emphatic and slightly confrontational; often in political or moral speech.
- Faça chuva ou faça sol — casual, everyday, almost cliché in spoken EP.
- Seja quem for — everyday.
- Dê por onde der — more literary / emphatic, rarer in casual speech.
None of them is strictly formal in the sense of being out of place in conversation — but venha o que vier and dê por onde der add rhetorical weight that not every sentence calls for.
Common mistakes
❌ Seja como é, vamos tentar.
Incorrect — the idiom is 'seja como for,' not 'seja como é.'
✅ Seja como for, vamos tentar.
Whatever the case, we'll try.
❌ Vir o que vir, estou pronto.
Incorrect — the idiom is 'venha o que vier,' with the present subjunctive in the first verb.
✅ Venha o que vier, estou pronto.
Come what may, I'm ready.
❌ Onde quer que estiveres, pensa em mim.
Dated or overcorrected — modern EP prefers the present subjunctive after 'onde quer que.'
✅ Onde quer que estejas, pensa em mim.
Wherever you are, think of me.
❌ Custa o que custa, faço.
Incorrect — the idiom is the subjunctive 'custe o que custar,' not the indicative.
✅ Custe o que custar, faço.
Whatever the cost, I'll do it.
❌ Faça chuva ou fazer sol, abrimos.
Incorrect — both verbs in this idiom are present subjunctive: 'faça chuva ou faça sol.'
✅ Faça chuva ou faça sol, abrimos.
Rain or shine, we're open.
Key takeaways
- Portuguese has two major families of frozen future-subjunctive expressions: X quer que (onde quer que, quem quer que...) and the reduplicated frame (seja como for, venha o que vier...).
- The reduplicated family typically mixes moods: present subjunctive in the first verb, future subjunctive in the second. This is idiomatic, not a productive rule.
- A handful of these — seja como for, haja o que houver, custe o que custar, faça chuva ou faça sol — are used constantly in everyday EP conversation. Learn them as set pieces.
- The second-person pattern faças o que fizeres / digas o que disseres is productive and can be extended to new verbs.
- Inside onde quer que, quem quer que, etc., modern EP prefers the present subjunctive for the embedded verb, not the future subjunctive.
Cross-references
- Future Subjunctive: Relative Clauses — the bare quem, o que, onde constructions.
- Future Subjunctive with Quando — temporal clauses.
- Future Subjunctive with Se — open conditionals.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive — choosing between the two.
- Subjunctive Mood: Overview — the bigger picture.
Related Topics
- Future Subjunctive with Quando and Temporal ConjunctionsB1 — How European Portuguese uses the future subjunctive (futuro do conjuntivo) after quando, assim que, logo que, enquanto, sempre que, mal, depois que, and até — the tense that anchors unrealised future events in time clauses.
- Future Subjunctive with Se (Open Conditionals)B1 — How European Portuguese builds open conditional sentences with se + future subjunctive, the three-way conditional typology (open / hypothetical / counterfactual), and why English speakers consistently get this wrong.
- Future Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Quem, O que, Onde)B2 — Using the future subjunctive after quem, o que, onde, como, and conforme — the construction European Portuguese uses for whoever, whatever, wherever, and however references to indefinite future participants.
- Future Subjunctive vs Present Subjunctive: Choosing the Right OneB2 — The decision framework for choosing between the future subjunctive and the present subjunctive in European Portuguese — trigger types, minimal pairs, and the crucial insight that only some contexts allow the future subjunctive.
- Subjunctive Mood OverviewB1 — What the conjuntivo is in European Portuguese, why it exists, and when the language requires it — a tour of irrealis across the present, imperfect, and future subjunctive