crónico
Overview
The Portuguese word 'crónico' (feminine 'crónica') directly translates to 'chronic' in English. It is primarily used to describe a disease or condition that is persistent, long-lasting, or constantly recurring, mirroring the English definition perfectly. This adjective is crucial in medical contexts to differentiate conditions that are acute (short-term and severe) from those that have a prolonged duration.
In medicine, a 'doença crónica' (chronic disease) refers to a health problem that requires ongoing management over years or decades. Examples include diabetes ('diabetes crónico'), hypertension ('hipertensão crónica'), asthma ('asma crónica'), and arthritis ('artrite crónica'). These conditions often do not have an immediate cure but can be managed to improve the patient's quality of life.
Beyond the strictly medical sense, 'crónico' can also be applied in more figurative or general contexts to describe situations or problems that are persistent or habitual. For instance, 'um problema crónico' refers to a recurring or long-standing problem in society, an organization, or even a personal habit. You might hear of 'desemprego crónico' (chronic unemployment) or 'falta crónica de recursos' (chronic lack of resources), indicating a persistent state of affairs.
It's important to note the nuance in such non-medical uses. While 'crónico' still implies persistence, the severity or impact might differ from a medical context. A 'mentiroso crónico' (chronic liar) describes someone who habitually lies, implying a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior rather than a health condition.
Grammatically, 'crónico' is an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So, 'doença crónica' (feminine singular) but 'problemas crónicos' (masculine plural). Its etymology traces back to the Greek 'chronos,' meaning time, which perfectly encapsulates the concept of duration inherent in the word.
أمثلة
Ele sofre de uma doença crónica.
healthHe suffers from a chronic illness.
O problema crónico da falta de água afeta a região.
environmentalThe chronic problem of water scarcity affects the region.
A sua dor de cabeça é crónica.
healthHer headache is chronic.
É um fumador crónico.
habitHe is a chronic smoker.
A situação de pobreza crónica exige soluções urgentes.
socialThe situation of chronic poverty demands urgent solutions.
تلازمات شائعة
يُخلط عادةً مع
أنماط نحوية
كيفية الاستخدام
ملاحظات الاستخدام
When using 'crónico' in Portuguese, it's essential to consider the context to ensure the correct nuance. In a medical context, it directly translates to 'chronic' and refers to conditions of long duration. For example, 'Ele sofre de asma crónica' (He suffers from chronic asthma). When applied to non-medical situations, it implies persistence or habitual recurrence, often with a negative connotation, indicating a problem that doesn't go away easily. For instance, 'A empresa tem um problema crónico de produtividade' (The company has a chronic productivity problem). The word typically precedes the noun it modifies, as in 'um problema crónico'. It can also be used as a noun, particularly in 'a crónica', referring to a column or regular feature in a newspaper or magazine, though this is a distinct usage and less directly related to the 'persisting' meaning. The pronunciation is /kɾɔ.ni.ku/ in European Portuguese and /kɾɔ.ni.kʊ/ in Brazilian Portuguese.
أخطاء شائعة
A common mistake is confusing 'crónico' with 'agudo' (acute). 'Crónico' refers to something long-lasting or recurring, while 'agudo' refers to something sudden, severe, and short-lived. For example, a 'dor crónica' is a chronic pain that lasts a long time, whereas a 'dor aguda' is a sharp, sudden pain.
نصائح
Etimologia e Uso
Erro Comum
Contextos Adicionais
أصل الكلمة
From Latin chronicus, from Ancient Greek χρονικός (khronikós, “of time”), from χρόνος (khrónos, “time”).
السياق الثقافي
The Portuguese word 'crónico' (feminine 'crónica') shares its etymological roots and primary medical meaning with the English 'chronic'. It is widely understood in the context of health to describe conditions that are long-lasting or recurring, such as 'dor crónica' (chronic pain) or 'doença crónica' (chronic illness). Beyond medicine, 'crónico' can also be used in a more figurative sense, similar to English, to describe persistent or habitual issues. For instance, one might speak of a 'problema crónico de trânsito' (chronic traffic problem) in a city, or a 'falta crónica de tempo' (chronic lack of time). This broader application highlights its integration into everyday Portuguese discourse, extending its use beyond purely medical or scientific contexts. It is a common term used across different social strata, understood by most speakers of Portuguese.
نصيحة للحفظ
Visualize a 'chronometer' (a device for measuring time) to remember 'crónico' relates to something persisting over a long 'time.'
الأسئلة الشائعة
4 أسئلةاختبر نفسك
A dor de cabeça ____ impede-o de trabalhar.
Ele sofre de uma tosse ____ que não passa.
A falta de sono pode levar à fadiga ____.
النتيجة: /3
Etimologia e Uso
Erro Comum
Contextos Adicionais
أمثلة
5 من 5Ele sofre de uma doença crónica.
He suffers from a chronic illness.
O problema crónico da falta de água afeta a região.
The chronic problem of water scarcity affects the region.
A sua dor de cabeça é crónica.
Her headache is chronic.
É um fumador crónico.
He is a chronic smoker.
A situação de pobreza crónica exige soluções urgentes.
The situation of chronic poverty demands urgent solutions.
محتوى ذو صلة
هذه الكلمة بلغات أخرى
مزيد من كلمات صحة
abaixar
A2To move (something) to a lower position.
abdómen
B1The part of the body between the chest and the pelvis; belly.
abdômen
A2The part of the body containing the digestive organs; the belly.
abortar
A2To terminate a pregnancy.
abstinência
A2The fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something.
abstinente
A2Refraining from an indulgence or pleasure.
acalmar-se
A2To become quiet and less agitated.
acamado
A2Bedridden; confined to bed by illness or infirmity.
acaso
A2By chance; perhaps.
acidentar
A2To have an accident; to experience an unfortunate incident.