When talking about the paranormal, cryptids, and UFO sightings, facts are often elusive.
The Conditional of Rumor
You likely already know the conditional tense as the way to express what you "would" do. However, Portuguese frequently uses the conditional for another very important purpose: to report unverified information, rumors, or allegations.
Known as the "conditional of rumor" (condicional de citação), this structure is heavily used in journalism, storytelling, and daily gossip. It distances the speaker from the truth of the statement, acting as the equivalent of the English words "allegedly," "reportedly," or "is said to."
In these sentences, estaria and seria do not mean "would be" as a hypothetical condition. Instead, they indicate that the speaker is simply passing along a claim made by someone else (e.g., "according to them" or "the newspaper alleges").
You can use the conditional with any verb to describe alleged actions or traits:
Continuous and Complex Rumors
The conditional of rumor can also be applied to ongoing actions using estar a + infinitive, or paired with other phrases to describe an alleged series of events.
Using the conditional this way is the perfect tool for discussing myths, legends, and unconfirmed sightings without committing to whether they are fact or fiction!