Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Revogar withdraws a valid rule or act; anular removes validity because the act or process cannot stand.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
revogar
to repeal or revoke
Use revogar for ending the future force of a valid law, rule, permission, or decision.
anular
to annul or invalidate
Use anular for declaring an act, result, or process invalid, often because of a defect.
How to choose
- revogar: Choose revogar if the sentence points to ending the future force of a valid law, rule, permission, or decision.
- anular: Choose anular if the sentence points to declaring an act, result, or process invalid, often because of a defect.
Examples
O município revogou o decreto anterior.
The municipality repealed the previous decree.
O tribunal anulou a votação por irregularidades.
The court annulled the vote because of irregularities.
Common trap
Legal effects, including whether they reach backward, depend on the jurisdiction. Use the exact procedural verb in legal contexts.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with revogar, then once with anular. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.