هذه الصفحة بلغتك
English فارسی Deutsch Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português 中文 हिन्दी
B1 verb 12 دقيقة للقراءة

desesperar-se

أمثلة
الشرح desesperar-se in your Level:
At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn basic emotions like 'feliz' (happy) or 'triste' (sad). The verb 'desesperar-se' is quite advanced for this stage, but you can understand it as a very strong version of 'triste'. Imagine you are very, very sad and you don't know what to do—that is 'desespero'. Although you won't use this word often in your own speaking yet, you might see it in simple stories or hear it in dramatic songs. Focus on the fact that it is an '-ar' verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'estudar'. If you want to say 'I am desperate' in a very simple way, you might say 'Estou muito preocupado' (I am very worried), but knowing 'desesperar-se' helps you understand when someone is feeling much worse than just worried. Think of it as 'super-sad' or 'no-hope-left'. At this level, don't worry too much about the reflexive 'se' pronoun rules; just recognize the word as meaning 'to lose hope'. You might see it in a phrase like 'Não se desespere' which means 'Don't worry too much' or 'Don't lose hope'. Learning this word early gives you a glimpse into the more intense emotional vocabulary of Portuguese. It's a big word for a big feeling. Even if you can't conjugate it perfectly, knowing that 'desespero' means 'despair' will help you understand many emotional conversations and song lyrics. Remember, in Portuguese, we often use reflexive verbs to describe how we feel inside, and 'desesperar-se' is one of the most intense ones you will encounter as you progress in your studies.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the A2 level, you are starting to use more reflexive verbs like 'levantar-se' (to get up) or 'chamar-se' (to be called). You can now begin to understand how 'desesperar-se' works. It means 'to fall into despair' or 'to become desperate'. At this stage, you should practice using it in the present tense and the simple past. For example, 'Eu me desespero quando perco minhas chaves' (I despair when I lose my keys). Notice the 'me' before the verb—this is common in Brazilian Portuguese. In Portugal, you would more likely hear 'Desespero-me'. You can use this word when talking about stressful situations, like exams or travel problems. It's a step above 'estar preocupado' (to be worried). When you use 'desesperar-se', you are telling the listener that the situation feels very serious to you. You might also encounter the imperative form: 'Não se desespere!' which is a common way to comfort someone. It's like saying 'Don't panic!'. Try to remember that the root of the word is 'espera' (wait/hope). The prefix 'des-' usually means 'not' or 'opposite'. So, 'des-esperar' literally means the opposite of having hope or waiting patiently. This makes it easier to memorize. At A2, you should also notice that we often use 'com' after the verb: 'Ele se desesperou COM o trânsito' (He despaired WITH the traffic). This is a helpful pattern to learn. Even if you still find the reflexive pronouns a bit tricky, try to use this word in your writing to express strong emotions. It will make your Portuguese sound more descriptive and less like a beginner's. Practice saying the word out loud—'de-zes-pe-RAR-se'—to get used to the rhythm of the reflexive ending.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
As a B1 learner, you are expected to handle more complex emotional descriptions, and 'desesperar-se' is a perfect word for this level. It moves beyond simple states of being into the realm of reactions to difficult circumstances. You should be able to conjugate it in various tenses, including the imperfect ('Eu me desesperava') and the future ('Eu me desesperarei'). At this level, you start to see the difference between 'desesperar' (to wait impatiently or to cause despair) and the reflexive 'desesperar-se' (to fall into despair). Most of the time, when you are talking about someone's feelings, you will use the reflexive form. You can use it to describe historical events, news stories, or personal anecdotes. For example, 'Quando a empresa faliu, os funcionários desesperaram-se' (When the company went bankrupt, the employees fell into despair). This shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship in your storytelling. You should also be comfortable with pronoun placement in negative sentences: 'Ela não se desesperou, apesar do problema' (She didn't despair, despite the problem). This is a key B1 grammar point. Additionally, you can start using the noun 'desespero' alongside the verb to add variety to your speech. The word 'desesperar-se' is also very common in Portuguese literature and music, which you are likely starting to explore more deeply at this level. When you hear it in a fado song or a Brazilian MPB track, pay attention to the context. Is the singer despairing over love, fate, or the state of the world? Understanding this word helps you connect with the 'soul' of the Portuguese language, which often values the expression of deep, sometimes tragic, emotions. Practice using it with the subjunctive too: 'Espero que você não se desespere' (I hope you don't despair).
At the B2 level, your use of 'desesperar-se' should be nuanced and grammatically precise. You should understand the subtle differences in register and how the word's meaning can shift slightly depending on the context. For instance, you can use it hyperbolically in informal settings ('Eu me desespero com essa internet lenta!') or literally in formal or literary contexts ('A população desesperou-se diante da catástrofe'). You should also be proficient in using the verb in more complex grammatical structures, such as with the personal infinitive or in conditional sentences: 'Se eles tivessem chegado mais tarde, ter-se-iam desesperado' (If they had arrived later, they would have despaired). Note the mesoclisis used in European Portuguese here—this is a high-level feature you should recognize, even if you don't use it often in speech. At B2, you should also be able to compare 'desesperar-se' with its synonyms like 'angustiar-se', 'aflija-se', and 'desanimar-se'. You know that 'desesperar-se' implies a more frantic, total loss of hope compared to the others. You can use it to discuss social issues, such as 'O desemprego leva muitas pessoas a desesperarem-se' (Unemployment leads many people to despair). This level of expression allows you to participate in debates and more serious conversations. You should also be aware of the idiomatic uses and how the word appears in different dialects. In Brazil, 'se desesperar' is the standard, while in Portugal, 'desesperar-se' is the rule. Being able to switch between these or at least recognize them is a sign of a B2 learner's growing flexibility. You can also use the past participle 'desesperado' as an adjective ('Estou desesperado!') to describe a current state, which is very common in high-stress situations.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the C1 level, you have a deep, intuitive grasp of 'desesperar-se' and can use it with the same flexibility as a native speaker. You understand its philosophical and existential connotations. In a literary analysis or a formal essay, you might use 'desesperar-se' to describe a character's internal conflict or a society's reaction to an era of uncertainty. You are comfortable with all forms of pronoun placement, including the most formal ones used in European Portuguese legal or academic texts. You can also identify when the verb is used transitively without the reflexive pronoun to mean 'to lose patience' or 'to wait with great anxiety', a nuance that is often lost on lower-level learners. For example, 'Desespero por notícias tuas' (I am desperately waiting for news from you). This non-reflexive use is more poetic and specific. Your vocabulary is rich enough that you can choose 'desesperar-se' specifically for its intensity, contrasting it with 'sucumbir ao desânimo' or 'entregar-se à melancolia'. You can also use the word in complex metaphorical ways, such as 'O projeto desesperou-se perante a falta de verbas', personifying the project to show it reached a point of no return. At this level, you also understand the cultural weight of 'desespero' in the Portuguese-speaking world, perhaps linking it to the concept of 'saudade' or the tragic themes in the works of writers like Camilo Castelo Branco or Clarice Lispector. You can use the verb in sophisticated structures like 'Oxalá não se venha a desesperar' (I hope he doesn't come to despair), showing mastery of compound tenses and the subjunctive. Your ability to use 'desesperar-se' in the right context, with the right tone, and the right grammar marks you as a highly proficient user of the language.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the C2 level, 'desesperar-se' is a tool in your linguistic arsenal that you use with absolute precision and stylistic flair. You can weave it into high-level discourse, whether it's a philosophical treatise, a legal argument, or a piece of creative writing. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its cognates in other Romance languages, which helps you appreciate its unique 'Portuguese' flavor. You can use it to explore the finest shades of human emotion, perhaps using it in a sentence like 'O ser humano, ao confrontar o absurdo da existência, tende a desesperar-se, a menos que encontre um sentido transcendente'. Here, the verb is used to discuss existentialist philosophy with ease. You are also a master of the verb's syntax, effortlessly using mesoclisis, proclisis, and enclisis to match the desired rhythm and register of your prose. You might even use the verb in archaic or highly stylized ways for effect, such as in a pastiche of 19th-century literature. Furthermore, you can identify and use the noun 'desesperação' as a more archaic or specific alternative to 'desespero' when the context calls for it. You understand how 'desesperar-se' interacts with other complex verbs and how it can be modified by a wide range of adverbs to create subtle shifts in meaning ('desesperar-se silenciosamente', 'desesperar-se convulsivamente'). For a C2 learner, this word is no longer just a vocabulary item; it is a part of your ability to express the totality of the human experience in Portuguese. You can discuss the 'estética do desespero' in cinema or literature, and use the verb to describe the most profound movements of the human soul with total confidence and native-like nuance.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
أمثلة

The Portuguese verb desesperar-se is a powerful reflexive verb that captures the profound human experience of losing hope, becoming frantic, or falling into a state of utter desperation. At its core, it is the act of being overcome by desespero (despair). Unlike the simple English 'to despair,' the reflexive form in Portuguese emphasizes that this is an internal process or a state that the subject enters into, often as a reaction to overwhelming circumstances. It is a B1-level word because it moves beyond basic emotions like 'sad' or 'angry' into more complex psychological territory. You will encounter this word in literature, news reports about crises, and in everyday conversations when people describe moments of high stress or emotional breaking points.

Emotional Depth
It describes a loss of patience or hope so severe that the person no longer knows what to do.

Ao ver as chamas subirem, o homem começou a desesperar-se, pois não encontrava a saída.

In a modern context, desesperar-se is frequently used to describe the feeling of being overwhelmed by technology, bureaucracy, or traffic. For instance, one might say they 'despaired' when their computer crashed before saving a long document. However, its most poignant use remains in the realm of deep personal struggle. It is important to distinguish between the transitive desesperar (to drive someone else to despair) and the reflexive desesperar-se (to fall into despair oneself). The reflexive 'se' is crucial here as it points the action back to the subject, indicating an internal transformation from hope to hopelessness. This nuance is vital for English speakers who are used to 'despair' acting as both a noun and a verb without reflexive markers.

Não vale a pena desesperar-se por causa de pequenos problemas cotidianos.

Register and Tone
While common in speech, it carries a weight of seriousness and is often found in dramatic storytelling.

A mãe desesperou-se quando perdeu o filho de vista no mercado.

Culturally, the concept of 'desespero' is often contrasted with 'esperança' (hope). In Portuguese philosophy and literature, particularly in the works of existentialist-leaning writers, desesperar-se is seen as a natural, albeit painful, part of the human condition. It is not just about being 'upset'; it is about the temporary or permanent collapse of one's optimistic outlook. When using this word, you are signaling a high intensity of emotion. If you just want to say someone is a bit worried, use preocupar-se. If they are slightly annoyed, use irritar-se. Reserve desesperar-se for when the situation feels truly critical or the emotional response is extreme.

É humano desesperar-se diante de uma perda irreparável.

Social Context
Used in news to describe people in disaster zones or economic crises.

Os investidores desesperaram-se com a queda repentina da bolsa.

Mastering desesperar-se requires an understanding of reflexive verb conjugation and pronoun placement. Since it is a regular -ar verb, the endings are predictable, but the pronoun me, te, se, nos, vos must always match the subject. In the present tense, for example: 'Eu me desespero' (I despair), 'Tu te desesperas' (You despair), 'Ele se desespera' (He despairs). Note that in Brazilian Portuguese, the proclitic position (pronoun before the verb) is dominant in almost all contexts, whereas in European Portuguese, the enclitic position (pronoun after the verb) is the standard for affirmative sentences that do not start with a negative or a relative pronoun.

Negative Sentences
When a negative word like 'não', 'nunca', or 'jamais' is used, the pronoun always moves before the verb.

Não te desesperes, tudo vai correr bem no final.

When using desesperar-se with an infinitive, such as after another verb, the pronoun can be attached to either. For example, 'Vou me desesperar' or 'Vou desesperar-se' (though the latter is rare in speech). In formal writing, especially in Portugal, you will see 'desesperar-me-ei' (future mesoclisis), though this is extremely formal and almost never used in spoken language. For learners, focusing on the simple past (pretérito perfeito) is essential because despair is often a reaction to a specific event: 'Ela se desesperou quando viu a nota da prova' (She despaired when she saw the test grade).

Nós nos desesperamos ao perceber que estávamos perdidos na floresta.

Subjunctive Mood
Often used after expressions of fear or hope: 'Tenho medo que ele se desespere'.

É importante que você não se desespere durante a entrevista de emprego.

Another common pattern is using the verb in the gerund form to describe an ongoing state of falling into despair: 'Ele estava se desesperando com a demora do resultado'. This implies a gradual process of losing one's cool. In contrast, the imperative 'Não se desespere!' is a very common way to tell someone to 'Calm down' or 'Don't lose hope' in a high-stakes situation. It is more intense than 'Calma' or 'Não te preocupes'. It suggests that the person is on the verge of a breakdown.

Eles desesperaram-se completamente ao saberem da notícia trágica.

Interrogative Use
Asking about someone's state: 'Por que você está se desesperando tanto?'.

Vocês se desesperariam se perdessem o passaporte no exterior?

You will hear desesperar-se in a variety of real-world settings, ranging from the highly dramatic to the slightly hyperbolic. In Portuguese television dramas (telenovelas), this verb is a staple. Characters are constantly se desesperando over lost loves, financial ruin, or family secrets. In these contexts, the word is often delivered with great emotional emphasis. For example, a character might scream, 'Eu estou me desesperando!' when they feel they have reached the end of their rope. It provides a linguistic marker for a character's peak emotional distress, making it a key word for understanding the emotional arc of a story.

News Media
Journalists use it to describe the plight of refugees, victims of natural disasters, or people facing extreme economic hardship.

As famílias desesperam-se à espera de notícias sobre os desaparecidos.

In everyday spoken language, particularly in Brazil, the verb is sometimes used hyperbolically. A student might say, 'Eu me desespero com tanta matéria para estudar' (I despair with so much material to study). While the student isn't literally losing all hope for their life, they are using the word to express a high level of stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed. In Portugal, the usage tends to remain a bit more literal and serious, though the hyperbolic use is not unknown. Listening to Portuguese podcasts or radio talk shows, you might hear experts discussing the 'desespero' of a certain social group, using the reflexive verb to describe their collective state of mind.

Muitos jovens desesperam-se com a falta de oportunidades no mercado de trabalho.

Literature and Poetry
Classic Portuguese literature is filled with characters who 'desesperam-se' in the face of fate or unrequited love.

O poeta desesperou-se perante a efemeridade da vida e da beleza.

In a medical or psychological context, doctors might use this verb to describe a patient's reaction to a diagnosis. It is a formal way to denote a psychological crisis. If you are watching a Portuguese movie, look for scenes where the music swells and a character is alone; this is usually the moment they se desesperam. Understanding this word helps you tap into the emotional frequency of the Portuguese-speaking world, where expressing deep feelings is often more linguistically direct than in some other cultures. Whether it is a football fan despairing over a lost game or a citizen despairing over political news, the word is a constant companion in the landscape of Portuguese expression.

Não há necessidade de desesperar-se; sempre há uma solução alternativa.

Sports Commentary
Commentators often say a team 'desesperou-se' after conceding a late goal, leading to poor tactical choices.

A equipa desesperou-se nos minutos finais e acabou por perder o jogo.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using desesperar-se is omitting the reflexive pronoun. In English, 'to despair' is not reflexive, so learners often say 'Eu desespero' instead of 'Eu me desespero'. While 'Eu desespero' can technically mean 'I am in a state of despair' in some literary contexts, it sounds incomplete or slightly off in standard conversation. The reflexive pronoun 'se' (or its variants) is what gives the verb its 'falling into' or 'becoming' quality. Without it, the verb can sometimes be mistaken for its transitive usage, meaning to make someone else desperate, which would require an object.

Pronoun Misplacement
Another common error is placing the pronoun in the wrong position, especially in negative sentences or with certain adverbs.

Errado: Não desespere-se. Correto: Não se desespere.

Confusing desesperar-se with perder a esperança is not exactly a mistake, but it's a matter of intensity. Perder a esperança is a more literal 'to lose hope,' while desesperar-se carries a more visceral, emotional, and sometimes frantic connotation. Using desesperar-se for a minor inconvenience, like being five minutes late for a movie, can sound overly dramatic unless you are intentionally being hyperbolic. It is better to use ficar preocupado or ficar chateado for smaller issues. Also, be careful with the preposition that follows: it's usually 'com' or 'diante de', not 'de' as in some other European languages.

Errado: Ele se desesperou da notícia. Correto: Ele se desesperou com a notícia.

Conjugation Errors
Learners sometimes forget to change the reflexive pronoun to match the subject (e.g., using 'se' for 'eu').

Errado: Eu se desespero. Correto: Eu me desespero.

Finally, avoid overusing the verb. Because it is so emotionally charged, using it too often in a single conversation can make you sound like you are constantly in a state of crisis. Portuguese has many shades of 'worry' and 'upset'. Use angustiar-se for deep anxiety, afligir-se for being troubled, or desanimar-se for becoming discouraged. By choosing the right level of intensity, your Portuguese will sound much more natural. Also, pay attention to the difference between European and Brazilian pronoun placement rules, as using the 'wrong' one won't make you incomprehensible, but it will immediately mark you as a foreigner or as someone using a different dialect than the one expected in that specific region.

Errado (em Portugal): Se desespere não. Correto (em Portugal): Não se desespere.

Hypercorrection
Sometimes students try to use mesoclisis (desesperar-se-á) in casual speech, which sounds bizarrely formal.

Evite: Desesperar-me-ei se não passar. Prefira: Vou me desesperar se não passar.

When you want to express feelings related to despair but 'desesperar-se' feels too strong or not quite right, Portuguese offers a rich palette of alternatives. Understanding these nuances will greatly enhance your expressive capabilities. For instance, angustiar-se is related to 'angústia' (anguish). It describes a tight, painful feeling in the chest or soul, often caused by uncertainty or a deep-seated fear. While 'desesperar-se' is more about the loss of hope and the resulting frantic state, 'angustiar-se' is about the internal suffering and anxiety that often precedes or accompanies despair.

Desesperar-se vs. Angustiar-se
Desesperar-se is more outward and frantic; angustiar-se is more internal and heavy.

Ele angustiou-se com o silêncio da namorada, mas não chegou a desesperar-se.

Another useful alternative is desanimar-se. This is much lighter than despairing. It simply means 'to become discouraged' or 'to lose heart'. If you fail a quiz, you might desanimar-se, but you probably won't desesperar-se. It's a loss of motivation rather than a loss of all hope. On the other hand, afligir-se means 'to be afflicted' or 'to be deeply troubled'. It is often used in more formal or religious contexts to describe someone who is suffering or worried about a particular problem or person.

Não se aflija com as críticas, pois elas fazem parte do crescimento.

Desesperar-se vs. Desalentar-se
Desalentar-se is to lose 'alento' (breath/courage), similar to becoming dejected.

Após várias tentativas frustradas, o inventor desalentou-se.

If the despair leads to visible agitation, you might use agoniar-se. This implies a state of agony or extreme restlessness. It is very common in Brazil to say someone is 'agoniado' when they are anxious and can't sit still. In contrast, resignar-se is the opposite of despairing in a frantic way; it means to accept a difficult situation without further struggle. While 'desesperar-se' is an active loss of hope, 'resignar-se' is a passive acceptance of a bad fate. Choosing between these words allows you to describe the exact flavor of emotional distress someone is experiencing.

Em vez de desesperar-se, ele decidiu resignar-se à sua nova realidade.

Summary Table
Desesperar-se (Panic/Hopeless) | Angustiar-se (Internal Pain) | Desanimar-se (Discouraged) | Aflija-se (Troubled).

O segredo é não desanimar-se nem desesperar-se perante os obstáculos.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Eu não quero me desesperar hoje.

I don't want to despair today.

A1 students should notice the 'me' before the verb (proclisis).

2

Você se desespera com o dever de casa?

Do you despair with the homework?

Simple question using the present tense.

3

Não se desespere, por favor.

Don't despair, please.

Imperative form used for giving comfort.

4

Ele se desespera quando o ônibus atrasa.

He despairs when the bus is late.

Third person singular in the present tense.

5

Nós não nos desesperamos no trânsito.

We don't despair in traffic.

Reflexive pronoun 'nos' matches 'nós'.

6

Ela se desespera com o frio.

She despairs with the cold.

Using 'com' to show the cause of despair.

7

Por que você se desespera tanto?

Why do you despair so much?

Interrogative sentence with 'por que'.

8

Eles se desesperam sem café.

They despair without coffee.

Simple present tense with a plural subject.

1

Eu me desesperei quando perdi o meu celular.

I despaired when I lost my cell phone.

Simple past (pretérito perfeito) of a reflexive verb.

2

Ela se desesperou ao ver a chuva.

She despaired upon seeing the rain.

Using 'ao + infinitive' to mean 'upon doing something'.

3

Vocês se desesperaram com a notícia ontem?

Did you all despair with the news yesterday?

Question in the past tense for 'vocês'.

4

O cão se desespere quando o dono sai.

The dog despairs when the owner leaves.

Present tense used for a habitual action.

5

Nós nos desesperamos porque estávamos perdidos.

We despaired because we were lost.

Compound sentence with 'porque' and the past tense.

6

Não vale a pena desesperar-se por isso.

It's not worth despairing over that.

Infinitive with reflexive pronoun (European style).

7

Ele se desesperava toda vez que tinha uma prova.

He used to despair every time he had a test.

Imperfect tense (pretérito imperfeito) for habitual past actions.

8

Se você se desesperar, não vai conseguir pensar.

If you despair, you won't be able to think.

Future subjunctive in a conditional clause.

1

É normal desesperar-se diante de uma crise tão grande.

It is normal to despair in the face of such a big crisis.

Infinitive used as a subject/complement.

2

Muitas pessoas se desesperam com a falta de emprego.

Many people despair with the lack of jobs.

Generic subject 'muitas pessoas' with the present tense.

3

Espero que ele não se desespere com o resultado.

I hope he doesn't despair with the result.

Present subjunctive used after a verb of wishing ('espero que').

4

Ela estava se desesperando com a demora do médico.

She was despairing with the doctor's delay.

Past continuous using 'estar' + gerund.

5

Se nós nos desesperarmos, perderemos o controle da situação.

If we despair, we will lose control of the situation.

First person plural of the future subjunctive.

6

Eles se desesperaram ao perceber que o voo tinha partido.

They despaired upon realizing the flight had left.

Reflexive verb followed by 'ao' + infinitive.

7

Nunca me desesperei tanto quanto naquele dia.

I never despaired as much as on that day.

Negative word 'nunca' pulls the pronoun to the proclitic position.

8

Você acha que eles se desesperariam se soubessem a verdade?

Do you think they would despair if they knew the truth?

Conditional tense ('desesperariam') in a hypothetical question.

1

O investidor desesperou-se ao ver a queda das ações.

The investor despaired upon seeing the fall of the stocks.

European Portuguese enc

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

محتوى ذو صلة

هل كان هذا مفيداً؟

التعليقات (0)

تسجيل الدخول للتعليق
لا توجد تعليقات بعد. كن أول من يشارك أفكاره!