في 15 ثانية
- A polite way to say 'I advise against this.'
- Used to steer people away from bad decisions gracefully.
- Sounds professional, authoritative, and caring all at once.
المعنى
It is a polite but firm way to say 'I wouldn't recommend that' or 'I advise against it.' You use it when you want to steer someone away from a bad choice without being overly aggressive.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6At a restaurant
Desaconselho o peixe hoje, não está muito fresco.
I advise against the fish today; it isn't very fresh.
In a business meeting
Desaconselho investir nesse projeto sem mais dados.
I advise against investing in this project without more data.
Texting a friend about a bad idea
Amigo, desaconselho totalmente você mandar essa mensagem.
Buddy, I totally advise against you sending that message.
خلفية ثقافية
In Portugal and Brazil, giving unsolicited advice is common among friends, but in professional circles, 'desaconselho' is the preferred diplomatic tool. It stems from the Latin 'consilium', showing a long history of formal counsel. It is particularly popular in legal and medical contexts where precision matters.
The 'Soft' Warning
If you want to sound even more polite, add 'Eu' at the start: 'Eu desaconselho...' It makes the opinion feel more personal and less like a direct order.
Don't over-use it
If you use this for every tiny thing, you'll sound like a grumpy bureaucrat. Save it for things that actually matter.
في 15 ثانية
- A polite way to say 'I advise against this.'
- Used to steer people away from bad decisions gracefully.
- Sounds professional, authoritative, and caring all at once.
What It Means
Desaconselho is the first-person singular form of the verb desaconselhar. It is the direct opposite of giving a recommendation. When you say this, you are providing a professional or personal warning. It suggests that a specific course of action will lead to trouble. It is more sophisticated than just saying 'don't do that.' It implies you have thought about the consequences for them.
How To Use It
You use it as a standalone verb followed by the action. For example: Desaconselho essa viagem agora. Use it when someone asks for your opinion on a plan. It sounds authoritative but remains respectful. You can also use it with a reflexive pronoun like me desaconselharam (they advised me against it). It is a great way to sound like a native speaker who knows their boundaries.
When To Use It
Use it in professional settings when a colleague has a risky idea. It works perfectly at a restaurant if the waiter knows a dish isn't fresh. Use it with friends when they want to text an ex at 2 AM. It is ideal for travel advice or financial warnings. It fits any time you want to play the 'voice of reason.'
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for very trivial, tiny things. If someone picks a blue pen over a black one, desaconselho is too heavy. Avoid using it in a heated argument where you want to be blunt. In those cases, não faça isso (don't do that) is better. It is not for casual slang-heavy chats with teenagers. They might think you sound like a university professor or a lawyer.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture often values 'educação' (politeness and social grace). Directly saying 'No' or 'That is stupid' can be seen as rude. Desaconselho allows for a 'soft no.' It frames the rejection as a piece of helpful advice rather than a command. It shows you care about the other person's outcome. It reflects a culture that prefers diplomatic communication over direct confrontation.
Common Variations
You will often hear the noun form: Isso é desaconselhável (That is inadvisable). In more casual settings, people might say Eu não recomendo (I don't recommend). If they want to be stronger, they might say Sou totalmente contra (I am totally against it). However, desaconselho remains the gold standard for a polite, expert-sounding warning.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase sits in the formal-to-neutral range. It is highly effective in professional settings to show authority without being rude.
The 'Soft' Warning
If you want to sound even more polite, add 'Eu' at the start: 'Eu desaconselho...' It makes the opinion feel more personal and less like a direct order.
Don't over-use it
If you use this for every tiny thing, you'll sound like a grumpy bureaucrat. Save it for things that actually matter.
The Waiter Secret
In Portugal, if a waiter says 'Desaconselho' regarding a dish, listen to them! It's a subtle cultural cue that the kitchen is having a bad day with that specific ingredient.
أمثلة
6Desaconselho o peixe hoje, não está muito fresco.
I advise against the fish today; it isn't very fresh.
The waiter is being honest and helpful.
Desaconselho investir nesse projeto sem mais dados.
I advise against investing in this project without more data.
A professional warning based on logic.
Amigo, desaconselho totalmente você mandar essa mensagem.
Buddy, I totally advise against you sending that message.
Using 'totalmente' adds emphasis to a personal warning.
Desaconselho viajar para a serra com este nevoeiro.
I advise against traveling to the mountains with this fog.
A safety-related recommendation.
Desaconselho abrir a geladeira, algo morreu lá dentro.
I advise against opening the fridge; something died in there.
Using a formal word for a gross, everyday situation.
Desaconselho o consumo de álcool com este remédio.
I advise against consuming alcohol with this medicine.
Standard medical advice context.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the correct form to tell a friend you don't recommend a specific movie.
Eu ___ ver esse filme, é muito ruim!
The first-person singular 'desaconselho' matches 'Eu' and indicates a negative recommendation.
Complete the sentence to sound professional in a meeting.
___ a mudança de fornecedor neste momento.
'Desaconselho' is the most professional way to express disagreement with a plan.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of Advising Against Something
Blunt and direct
Não faz isso!
Standard recommendation
Não recomendo.
Professional counsel
Desaconselho.
Where to use Desaconselho
Financial Advice
Bad investments
Health/Safety
Dangerous weather
Social Life
Bad dating choices
Workplace
Risky strategies
بنك التمارين
2 تمارينEu ___ ver esse filme, é muito ruim!
The first-person singular 'desaconselho' matches 'Eu' and indicates a negative recommendation.
___ a mudança de fornecedor neste momento.
'Desaconselho' is the most professional way to express disagreement with a plan.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIt means 'I advise against it.' It is the opposite of 'aconselho' (I advise/recommend).
Not necessarily, but it sounds a bit serious. Using it with friends often implies you are giving them 'expert' or very sincere advice, like Desaconselho esse corte de cabelo (I advise against that haircut).
Yes, it is perfect for professional emails. For example: Desaconselho a assinatura do contrato antes da revisão.
You would say Ele me desaconselhou (Brazil) or Ele desaconselhou-me (Portugal).
'Não recomendo' is more common and neutral. 'Desaconselho' feels more like a formal warning or professional judgment.
Yes, 'desaconselhamento' is the act of advising against something, though it is rarely used in conversation.
Yes! It's a very common way for staff to steer you away from a dish that isn't at its best.
Yes, the meaning is identical, though the placement of pronouns (me, te, lhe) will follow regional rules.
Spelling it with a 'z' instead of 's'. Remember it comes from 'conselho' (advice), which is always with 's'.
Absolutely. If a friend is about to do something obviously stupid, saying a very formal Desaconselho can be quite funny.
عبارات ذات صلة
Não recomendo
I don't recommend (neutral)
É uma furada
It's a trap/bad idea (slang)
Melhor não
Better not (informal)
Cuidado
Careful/Watch out
