At the A1 level, 'destruir' is introduced as a basic verb for 'to break' something completely. Learners focus on simple physical objects. You might use it to talk about toys being destroyed or a piece of paper being torn up. The focus is on the present indicative and the concept of something being 'gone' or 'broken' beyond use. Vocabulary is kept concrete: houses, cars, toys. Phrases like 'Não destruir' (Do not destroy) are common in simple instructions.
At A2, learners begin to use 'destruir' in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to describe events. This is where you might describe the aftermath of a storm or an accident. You start to see the word in simple news clips or weather reports. The learner understands the difference between 'quebrar' (to break) and 'destruir' (to destroy) in terms of intensity. You also begin to see the passive form 'foi destruído' (was destroyed) in simple contexts.
In B1, the use of 'destruir' expands to more abstract concepts. A learner can talk about 'destruir o ambiente' (destroying the environment) or 'destruir a saúde' (destroying health). The focus shifts toward social issues and personal consequences. You also learn to conjugate it in the Imperfect and Future tenses, allowing for more complex storytelling. The metaphorical use of 'destruir planos' (destroying plans) becomes a part of the learner's repertoire.
At the B2 level, learners use 'destruir' with nuances of register. They can distinguish between 'aniquilar', 'arrasar', and 'destruir'. They understand the slang use (Brazilian 'destruir' as 'to be amazing'). They can discuss economic destruction or the 'destruction of evidence' in a legal sense. Complex sentence structures using the subjunctive ('Espero que não destruam...') are expected here. The word is used to build arguments about history, politics, and sociology.
C1 learners use 'destruir' with precision in professional and academic settings. They can discuss 'creative destruction' in economics or 'deconstruction' in literary theory. They use the word to describe the breakdown of complex systems, like 'destruir a democracia' or 'destruir a coesão social'. They are comfortable with all irregular forms and can use the word in sophisticated literary metaphors. The focus is on the impact and the rhetorical power of the word.
At C2, the speaker uses 'destruir' with native-level intuition. They can play with the word's meaning in poetry, use it in highly technical legal documents, or employ it in subtle irony. They understand the etymological roots and how they relate to other Latin-based languages. They can use the word to describe the most minute philosophical destructions or the grandest cosmic events. The usage is flawless, and the speaker can explain the cultural weight the word carries in different Lusophone countries.

destruir في 30 ثانية

  • Destruir is a core Portuguese verb meaning 'to destroy' or 'to ruin' completely, used for both physical objects and abstract concepts like trust.
  • It is a slightly irregular -ir verb, changing 'u' to 'ó' in the present tense (e.g., ele destrói) which is crucial for pronunciation.
  • Commonly found in news reports about disasters, sports commentary for big wins, and songs about heartbreak or emotional devastation.
  • Synonyms include 'aniquilar' for total erasure and 'arrasar' for leveling buildings or performing exceptionally well in slang contexts.

The Portuguese verb destruir is a powerful and evocative word that translates directly to 'to destroy' in English. At its core, it refers to the act of putting an end to the existence of something by damaging or attacking it. However, its usage spans a vast spectrum from physical demolition to abstract emotional devastation. Understanding 'destruir' requires recognizing that it is not just about physical objects; it is about the total cessation of a state, a structure, or even a feeling.

Physical Destruction
This is the most literal use. It involves buildings, objects, or nature. For example, a fire destroying a forest or a wrecking ball destroying a house. In these contexts, the word implies that the object can no longer function or exist in its previous form.

O fogo conseguiu destruir toda a floresta em poucas horas.

Abstract and Emotional Contexts
Portuguese speakers frequently use 'destruir' to describe the ruining of reputations, dreams, relationships, or arguments. If someone 'destroys' your argument in a debate, they have rendered it invalid. If a betrayal 'destroys' a person, it means they are emotionally shattered.

Aquela mentira acabou por destruir a confiança entre eles.

In contemporary slang, particularly in Brazil, 'destruir' can also take on a hyperbolic positive meaning, similar to the English slang 'to kill it' or 'to crush it'. If someone performs exceptionally well on stage, a friend might say 'Você destruiu!', meaning you were incredibly good. However, this is highly contextual and should be used with caution in formal settings. The word also appears frequently in news reports concerning natural disasters (catástrofes naturais), wars (guerras), and economic crises (crises económicas). Because it is a strong verb, it carries a weight of finality. When you say something is destroyed, you are emphasizing that the loss is significant and perhaps irreversible. This makes it a key vocabulary word for news, literature, and intense personal conversations.

Environmental Impact
In discussions about climate change, 'destruir' is the standard verb for the loss of habitats. 'Destruir o planeta' (to destroy the planet) is a common rallying cry in environmental activism.

Não podemos permitir que a poluição continue a destruir os oceanos.

O exército inimigo tentou destruir a ponte principal.

As críticas severas podem destruir a autoestima de uma criança.

Using 'destruir' correctly involves mastering its slightly irregular conjugation and understanding its syntactic role. As a transitive verb, it almost always requires a direct object—the thing being destroyed. In Portuguese, the conjugation of 'destruir' follows the pattern of verbs ending in -uir, which means it undergoes a vowel change in certain forms of the present tense.

Present Tense Conjugation
Eu destruo, Tu destróis, Ele/Ela/Você destrói, Nós destruímos, Vós destruís, Eles/Elas/Vocês destroem. Note the change from 'u' to 'o' in the singular and third-person plural forms. This is a common stumbling block for learners.

Ele destrói tudo o que toca.

Past Tense Usage
In the Pretérito Perfeito (Simple Past), 'destruir' is used to describe completed acts of destruction. 'Eu destruí' (I destroyed). It is often paired with adverbs like 'completamente' or 'totalmente' to emphasize the extent of the damage.

A tempestade destruiu o telhado da casa.

The Passive Voice
Destruir is frequently used in the passive voice, especially in news reporting. 'Foi destruído' (was destroyed). This shifts the focus from the agent of destruction to the victim or the object itself.

O documento foi destruído por engano.

When using 'destruir' in a metaphorical sense, the structure remains the same. You can 'destruir uma ideia' (destroy an idea) or 'destruir uma chance' (destroy a chance). It is also common to see it in the infinitive after auxiliary verbs like 'querer', 'poder', or 'ir'. 'Vou destruir este papel' (I am going to destroy this paper). In Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear 'destruir com' more colloquially to mean 'to make a mess of' or 'to ruin someone's day'. For example, 'A notícia destruiu com o meu humor' (The news ruined my mood). Understanding these nuances allows you to transition from simple physical descriptions to complex emotional expressions. Always remember that 'destruir' is a strong word; if you just mean 'to break' a small glass, 'partir' or 'quebrar' is usually more appropriate. 'Destruir' implies a level of wreckage that is hard to come back from.

Eles pretendem destruir as provas do crime.

The word 'destruir' is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking societies, appearing in diverse contexts from the evening news to sports commentary and pop music. Its dramatic weight makes it a favorite for media headlines and storytelling. If you tune into a Portuguese news channel like SIC or a Brazilian one like Globo, you will inevitably hear 'destruir' in the context of 'desastres naturais' (natural disasters). Whether it's a 'terramoto' (earthquake) in Turkey or 'inundações' (floods) in Rio Grande do Sul, the verb is used to quantify the damage to infrastructure and lives.

In Sports Commentary
Sports announcers use 'destruir' to describe a dominant performance. If a football team wins 5-0, the commentator might say 'Eles destruíram o adversário' (They destroyed the opponent). Here, it signifies a total lack of competition.

O avançado destruiu a defesa contrária com três golos.

In Music and Literature
Fado and Bossa Nova lyrics often use 'destruir' to talk about heartbreak. A 'coração destruído' (destroyed heart) is a common trope for someone suffering from 'saudade' or a lost love.

A letra da música fala sobre como a distância pode destruir um amor.

In the corporate world, 'destruir' is used in the context of 'destruição criativa' (creative destruction), a term from economics describing how new innovations replace old ones. You might also hear it in legal contexts, such as 'destruir provas' (destroying evidence), which is a serious crime. On social media, particularly on YouTube or TikTok, 'destruir' is used in the titles of 'debunking' videos. A title like 'Cientista destrói mitos sobre a dieta' (Scientist destroys myths about the diet) is a classic example of clickbait that utilizes the word's aggressive and definitive nature. Whether you are reading a history book about the Roman Empire 'destroying' Carthage or a modern blog post about how 'stress destroys health' (o stress destrói a saúde), the word serves as a fundamental building block for expressing negative impact and total transformation. It is a word that demands attention because it signifies the end of something.

O documentário mostra como o plástico está a destruir a vida marinha.

Nas notícias, disseram que o bombardeamento destruiu o hospital.

Learning 'destruir' comes with a few pitfalls, primarily related to its conjugation and its confusion with similar verbs. Because Portuguese has many verbs that mean 'to break' or 'to ruin', choosing 'destruir' when it's too intense is a common error for English speakers who might use 'destroy' more casually.

Conjugation Errors: The 'U' to 'O' Shift
Many learners try to conjugate it regularly as 'eu destruo, tu destruis, ele destrui'. This is incorrect. The correct forms are 'tu destróis' and 'ele destrói'. Forgetting the accent or the vowel change makes the word sound incorrect and can lead to misunderstandings.

Errado: Ele destrui o carro. Correto: Ele destrói o carro.

Confusing with 'Estragar'
In English, we might say 'You destroyed my phone' if it has a cracked screen. In Portuguese, if the phone still works but is just damaged, you should use 'estragar'. Using 'destruir' implies the phone is in pieces or completely non-functional. 'Estragar' is for spoiling or damaging; 'destruir' is for annihilation.

A chuva estragou o meu cabelo (The rain ruined my hair - correct). A chuva destruiu o meu cabelo (The rain destroyed my hair - sounds like your hair fell out!).

Another mistake is the misuse of the preposition 'com'. While in English we 'destroy something', in some Portuguese dialects, especially in informal Brazilian Portuguese, people say 'destruir com algo'. However, in formal writing, 'destruir' is purely transitive. 'Ele destruiu a cidade' is better than 'Ele destruiu com a cidade'. Additionally, learners often forget that 'destruir' is an -ir verb, so in the Pretérito Perfeito, the first person singular ends in -í (Eu destruí). Without the accent, it's not a valid word. Finally, be careful with the word 'destrutivo' (adjective). It follows the same logic: something 'destrutivo' causes 'destruição'. Don't confuse it with 'distrativo' (distracting), which sounds similar but has a completely different meaning. Mastery of 'destruir' requires attention to these small phonetic and semantic details that separate a beginner from a fluent speaker.

Não confunda: destruir (destroy) com distrair (distract).

O furacão destruiu a vila (Correct past tense). O furacão destruio a vila (Incorrect spelling).

Portuguese is rich with synonyms for 'destruir', each offering a slightly different nuance or level of formality. Choosing the right one can make your speech sound more natural and precise. Depending on whether you are talking about a physical object, a feeling, or a social structure, you might want to consider these alternatives.

Arrasar
Literally 'to raze' or 'to level to the ground'. It is often used for buildings or cities. In slang, it means to do something extremely well ('to slay').

O terramoto arrasou o centro histórico.

Aniquilar
To annihilate. This is much stronger than 'destruir' and implies total erasure, often used in military or scientific contexts.

A nova arma pode aniquilar exércitos inteiros.

Estragar / Ruinar
'Estragar' is 'to spoil' or 'to break' (less intense). 'Ruinar' is 'to ruin' (often used for finances or plans).

When comparing 'destruir' to 'quebrar', the difference is scale. You 'quebra' a glass, but you 'destrói' a building. When comparing it to 'desmontar' (to disassemble), 'destruir' is violent and unplanned, while 'desmontar' is careful. In academic writing, you might see 'desconstruir' (to deconstruct), which is a specific philosophical term that shouldn't be confused with the physical act of destruction. Another interesting word is 'liquidar', which means 'to liquidate' or 'to finish off' something, often used in business or for getting rid of an enemy. Understanding these synonyms allows you to tailor your Portuguese to the specific intensity of the situation. For instance, if a project failed, saying it was 'destruído' sounds very dramatic, whereas saying it was 'arruinado' sounds like a financial or logistical failure. If you want to describe a forest after a fire, 'devastada' is much more poetic and descriptive than simply 'destruída'. These nuances are what make a speaker sound truly advanced.

A inflação arruinou a economia do país.

O vento forte danificou as janelas, mas não as destruiu.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The root '-struir' is the same as in 'construct' and 'structure'. So, 'destruir' is literally 'un-structuring' something.

دليل النطق

UK /dɨʃ.tɾu.ˈiɾ/
US /des.tɾu.ˈiɾ/
The stress is on the last syllable: des-tru-IR.
يتقافى مع
construir possuir fluir concluir incluir excluir substituir evoluir
أخطاء شائعة
  • Pronouncing 'destrói' with a closed 'o' (like 'go') instead of an open 'o' (like 'boy').
  • Stressing the second syllable instead of the third.
  • Forgetting the 'sh' sound for 's' in Portugal.
  • Pronouncing the 'u' and 'i' as a single diphthong instead of two syllables in the infinitive.
  • Misplacing the accent in 'destruí' (past) vs 'destruir' (infinitive).

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 1/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like 'destroy' in English.

الكتابة 3/5

Difficult due to the u->ó vowel shift in present tense and accents.

التحدث 3/5

Requires practice with the 'u' and 'i' sounds and the open 'ó'.

الاستماع 2/5

Generally clear, but can be confused with 'distrair'.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

Quebrar Fazer Casa Fogo Grande

تعلّم لاحقاً

Construir Reconstruir Danificar Arrasar Devastar

متقدم

Aniquilar Exterminar Obsolescência Binarismo Desconstrução

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Verbs ending in -uir (like destruir, construir) change 'u' to 'ó' in the 2nd and 3rd person singular present indicative.

Eu destruo, Tu destróis, Ele destrói.

The past participle of 'destruir' is 'destruído'.

O prédio foi destruído.

Accent marks are mandatory on 'í' to distinguish past tense from other forms.

Eu destruí (Past) vs Destruir (Infinitive).

Transitive verbs like destruir require a direct object without a preposition in formal Portuguese.

Destruir a casa (not destruir da casa).

Negative Imperative for 'tu' uses the present subjunctive form.

Não destruas (Don't destroy).

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

O gato quer destruir o papel.

The cat wants to destroy the paper.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

2

Não destruas o meu brinquedo!

Don't destroy my toy!

Negative imperative (tu).

3

Eu destruo a caixa velha.

I destroy the old box.

Present indicative first person.

4

A criança destrói o castelo de areia.

The child destroys the sandcastle.

Present indicative third person (vowel shift u->ó).

5

Nós não queremos destruir nada.

We don't want to destroy anything.

Negative sentence with 'nada'.

6

Você destrói as flores?

Do you destroy the flowers?

Simple question in present tense.

7

Eles destroem o muro.

They destroy the wall.

Present indicative third person plural.

8

Para destruir, use as mãos.

To destroy, use your hands.

Infinitive used as a purpose clause.

1

O vento destruiu a minha tenda ontem.

The wind destroyed my tent yesterday.

Pretérito Perfeito (Simple Past).

2

O cão destruiu os sapatos do pai.

The dog destroyed the father's shoes.

Possessive 'do pai'.

3

Eles destruíram a ponte velha no ano passado.

They destroyed the old bridge last year.

Pretérito Perfeito plural.

4

A chuva pode destruir a colheita.

The rain can destroy the harvest.

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.

5

O fogo destruiu três casas na rua.

The fire destroyed three houses on the street.

Number agreement 'três casas'.

6

Eu destruí as cartas antigas.

I destroyed the old letters.

First person past tense with accent 'í'.

7

A máquina destruiu o disco rígido.

The machine destroyed the hard drive.

Direct object 'o disco'.

8

Não foi possível destruir o vírus.

It was not possible to destroy the virus.

Impersonal expression 'foi possível'.

1

A poluição está a destruir a camada de ozono.

Pollution is destroying the ozone layer.

Present continuous (Portugal style: estar a + inf).

2

O escândalo destruiu a carreira do político.

The scandal destroyed the politician's career.

Metaphorical use of 'destruir'.

3

Se continuarmos assim, vamos destruir o planeta.

If we continue like this, we are going to destroy the planet.

Future with 'ir' + conditional 'se'.

4

A inveja pode destruir uma boa amizade.

Envy can destroy a good friendship.

Abstract noun 'inveja' as subject.

5

O exército destruiu as comunicações do inimigo.

The army destroyed the enemy's communications.

Military context.

6

Eles destruíram os meus planos de viagem.

They destroyed my travel plans.

Plural direct object.

7

O terramoto destruiu grande parte da cidade.

The earthquake destroyed a large part of the city.

Quantifier 'grande parte de'.

8

É preciso destruir as barreiras entre as pessoas.

It is necessary to destroy the barriers between people.

Impersonal phrase 'é preciso'.

1

A crítica severa destruiu a confiança da equipa.

The harsh criticism destroyed the team's confidence.

Emotional impact context.

2

O governo quer destruir o monopólio das empresas.

The government wants to destroy the companies' monopoly.

Economic/Political context.

3

Duvido que eles destruam os documentos hoje.

I doubt that they will destroy the documents today.

Present Subjunctive 'destruam' after 'duvidar'.

4

A nova tecnologia destruiu o mercado de CDs.

New technology destroyed the CD market.

Creative destruction concept.

5

O vício acabou por destruir a sua vida pessoal.

Addiction ended up destroying his personal life.

Compound verb 'acabou por destruir'.

6

As provas foram destruídas antes do julgamento.

The evidence was destroyed before the trial.

Passive voice 'foram destruídas'.

7

O atleta destruiu o recorde mundial de maratona.

The athlete destroyed the world marathon record.

Hyperbolic use in sports.

8

A praga destruiu toda a plantação de café.

The pest destroyed the entire coffee plantation.

Agricultural context.

1

A desinformação visa destruir a coesão social.

Disinformation aims to destroy social cohesion.

Sociological context.

2

O autor tenta destruir as convenções literárias clássicas.

The author tries to destroy classical literary conventions.

Artistic/Literary context.

3

Se não tivéssemos agido, o fogo teria destruído tudo.

If we hadn't acted, the fire would have destroyed everything.

Conditional perfect 'teria destruído'.

4

A sua arrogância acabou por destruir qualquer hipótese de acordo.

His arrogance ended up destroying any chance of an agreement.

Nuanced personality trait as subject.

5

Eles tentaram destruir a reputação do cientista com mentiras.

They tried to destroy the scientist's reputation with lies.

Reputational context.

6

O império romano destruiu Cartago completamente.

The Roman Empire destroyed Carthage completely.

Historical context.

7

É imperativo que não destruamos o habitat natural do lince.

It is imperative that we do not destroy the lynx's natural habitat.

Subjunctive 'destruamos' after 'é imperativo'.

8

A guerra destruiu o tecido moral daquela sociedade.

War destroyed the moral fabric of that society.

Philosophical/Abstract use.

1

A obsolescência programada destrói a sustentabilidade a longo prazo.

Planned obsolescence destroys long-term sustainability.

Technical/Economic jargon.

2

O niilismo propõe destruir todos os valores tradicionais.

Nihilism proposes to destroy all traditional values.

Philosophical context.

3

O cancro começou a destruir os tecidos saudáveis do órgão.

The cancer began to destroy the healthy tissues of the organ.

Medical/Biological context.

4

A recessão destruiu biliões de euros em valor de mercado.

The recession destroyed billions of euros in market value.

Financial context.

5

A sua obra visa destruir o binarismo de género.

Their work aims to destroy gender binarism.

Sociopolitical/Academic context.

6

O tempo acabará por destruir até as montanhas mais altas.

Time will eventually destroy even the highest mountains.

Poetic/Existential context.

7

A decisão judicial destruiu os alicerces da acusação.

The judicial decision destroyed the foundations of the prosecution.

Legal metaphor.

8

O bombardeamento de saturação destruiu a infraestrutura logística.

Saturation bombing destroyed the logistical infrastructure.

High-level military terminology.

تلازمات شائعة

Destruir provas
Destruir a carreira
Destruir o ambiente
Destruir esperanças
Destruir completamente
Destruir a reputação
Destruir por completo
Destruir a saúde
Destruir o inimigo
Destruir um recorde

العبارات الشائعة

Destruir com tudo

— To destroy everything or to do something with great intensity.

Ele entrou na sala e destruiu com tudo.

Auto-destruir

— To self-destruct.

A mensagem vai se auto-destruir em 5 segundos.

Destruir a paciência

— To make someone lose their patience completely.

Este barulho está a destruir a minha paciência.

Destruir o silêncio

— To break the silence in a loud or sudden way.

Um grito destruiu o silêncio da noite.

Destruir um mito

— To debunk a myth.

O vídeo serve para destruir mitos urbanos.

Destruir o coração

— To break someone's heart deeply.

A partida dela destruiu o meu coração.

Destruir a economia

— To cause a financial collapse.

A guerra destruiu a economia local.

Destruir o futuro

— To ruin someone's prospects.

Uma má decisão pode destruir o teu futuro.

Destruir a evidência

— To get rid of proof.

Eles queimaram os papéis para destruir a evidência.

Destruir a concorrência

— To outperform all competitors.

A nova loja destruiu a concorrência no bairro.

يُخلط عادةً مع

destruir vs Distrair

Sounds similar but means 'to distract'.

destruir vs Destituir

Means 'to dismiss' or 'to remove from office'.

destruir vs Desistir

Means 'to give up'.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"Destruir a casa"

— To party very hard or make a huge mess.

Os miúdos destruíram a casa enquanto os pais estavam fora.

Informal
"Destruir com a vida de alguém"

— To ruin someone's life.

Aquelas acusações destruíram com a vida dele.

Colloquial
"Destruir o esquema"

— To ruin a plan or a 'setup'.

A polícia chegou e destruiu o esquema deles.

Slang
"Destruir na pista"

— To dance exceptionally well.

Ela destruiu na pista de dança ontem à noite.

Slang
"Destruir os sonhos"

— To crush someone's aspirations.

Não deixes que ninguém destrua os teus sonhos.

Literary
"Destruir a moral"

— To demotivate someone completely.

O insulto destruiu a moral do grupo.

Neutral
"Destruir a loiça toda"

— To make a scene or to do something very impactful (Portugal).

Ele chegou ao debate e destruiu a loiça toda.

Informal
"Destruir de vez"

— To destroy once and for all.

Temos de destruir este problema de vez.

Neutral
"Destruir por dentro"

— To be emotionally hollowed out.

A tristeza está a destruí-lo por dentro.

Poetic
"Destruir a imagem"

— To ruin a public persona.

O vídeo destruiu a imagem da marca.

Neutral

سهل الخلط

destruir vs Estragar

Both mean 'ruin' or 'break'.

Estragar is for minor damage or spoiling food/mood. Destruir is for total annihilation.

A chuva estragou a festa, mas o furacão destruiu a cidade.

destruir vs Quebrar

Both involve breaking.

Quebrar is for physical breaking (a glass, a bone). Destruir is for structures or concepts.

Eu quebrei o copo, mas o martelo destruiu a mesa.

destruir vs Arrasar

Often used as synonyms.

Arrasar specifically implies leveling to the ground or doing something perfectly in slang.

O exército arrasou a vila.

destruir vs Devastar

Similar intensity.

Devastar is more common for nature or emotional landscapes.

A doença devastou a população.

destruir vs Aniquilar

Both mean destroy.

Aniquilar is more absolute and formal, used in sci-fi or military contexts.

A bomba aniquilou a base.

أنماط الجُمل

A1

Eu quero destruir [Object].

Eu quero destruir a caixa.

A2

[Subject] destruiu [Object] ontem.

O cão destruiu o tapete ontem.

B1

É perigoso destruir [Abstract Noun].

É perigoso destruir a natureza.

B2

Se [Subject] [Subjunctive], vai destruir tudo.

Se ele beber muito, vai destruir tudo.

C1

A intenção é destruir [Complex Noun].

A intenção é destruir o sistema atual.

C2

O [Noun] foi destruído pela [Cause] sistemática.

O ecossistema foi destruído pela exploração sistemática.

B1

Eles estão a destruir [Object].

Eles estão a destruir a floresta.

A2

Não destruas o [Object]!

Não destruas o meu livro!

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

destruição (destruction)
destruidor (destroyer)
destrutibilidade (destructibility)

الأفعال

destruir (to destroy)
autodestruir-se (to self-destruct)

الصفات

destrutivo (destructive)
destruído (destroyed)
indestrutível (indestructible)

مرتبط

estrutura
construtor
instruir
obstruir
reconstruir

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Very common in news, media, and dramatic storytelling.

أخطاء شائعة
  • Ele destrui o brinquedo. Ele destrói o brinquedo.

    Learners often forget the vowel shift from 'u' to 'ó' in the present tense.

  • A chuva destruiu o meu dia. A chuva estragou o meu dia.

    'Destruir' is too intense for a bad day. 'Estragar' (to ruin/spoil) is better.

  • Eu destrui as provas ontem. Eu destruí as provas ontem.

    Missing the accent on the final 'i' in the past tense first person.

  • Eles destruiram a casa. Eles destruíram a casa.

    The past tense third person plural needs the accent on the 'í'.

  • O fogo destruiu com a floresta. O fogo destruiu a floresta.

    In formal Portuguese, 'destruir' is transitive and doesn't need 'com'.

نصائح

Vowel Shift

Remember the u -> ó shift in the present tense. It only happens in the 'boot' forms (eu, tu, ele, eles). Nós and Vós stay with 'u'.

Intensity

Don't use 'destruir' for a minor scratch. It's a high-intensity word for total loss.

Open O

The 'ó' in 'destrói' is open like the 'o' in 'pot'. Don't close it like 'boat'.

Accents Matter

The accent on 'destruí' (past) is vital. Without it, the word is grammatically incomplete in that tense.

Social Success

In Brazil, use 'destruir' to compliment a friend's performance, but keep it to informal situations.

Environment

Use 'destruir' when talking about environmental protection; it's the standard verb for habitat loss.

Evidence

The phrase 'destruir provas' is a set legal collocation you will hear in crime dramas.

Metaphor

In poetry, 'destruir' is often paired with 'alma' (soul) or 'sonhos' (dreams).

Destruir vs Arrasar

'Arrasar' is often more physical (leveling a city), while 'destruir' is more general.

Passive Voice

Practice 'foi destruído' for news-style Portuguese. It's very common.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of a 'Destroyer' ship. In Portuguese, it is a 'Destruidor'. The verb is 'Destruir'.

ربط بصري

Imagine a giant wrecking ball hitting a wall with the word 'DESTRUIR' painted on it.

Word Web

Fogo Guerra Ruína Bomba Fim Morte Caos Quebrar

تحدٍّ

Try to conjugate 'destruir' in the present tense three times without looking. Remember: Eu destruo, Tu destróis...

أصل الكلمة

From Latin 'destruere', which is the opposite of 'struere' (to build).

المعنى الأصلي: To pull down or demolish a structure.

Romance (Latin-based).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful using this word about people's appearances or work unless you are being hyperbolic in a friendly way, as it can be very offensive.

English speakers often over-use 'destruir' for small things where 'quebrar' (break) or 'estragar' (ruin) would be better.

The song 'Destruir' by various Brazilian artists. Historical accounts of the 'Destruição de Lisboa' (1755). The concept of 'Destruição Criativa' in economic textbooks.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Natural Disasters

  • O furacão destruiu tudo.
  • A inundação destruiu as casas.
  • O sismo destruiu a ponte.
  • O fogo destruiu a mata.

Personal Relationships

  • Ela destruiu o meu coração.
  • A mentira destruiu a confiança.
  • Não destruas a nossa amizade.
  • O ciúme destrói relações.

Office/Work

  • Destruir os documentos velhos.
  • Ele destruiu a minha ideia.
  • O erro destruiu o projeto.
  • Destruir a base de dados.

Sports

  • Eles destruíram o recorde.
  • O time destruiu o rival.
  • Ele destruiu no jogo.
  • Destruir a defesa.

Daily Life

  • O gato destruiu o sofá.
  • Destruir a caixa.
  • Não destruas o brinquedo.
  • O sol destruiu a pintura.

بدايات محادثة

"O que é que o fogo destruiu no incêndio de ontem?"

"Achas que a tecnologia vai destruir os livros de papel?"

"Como podemos evitar destruir o nosso planeta?"

"Alguma vez o teu animal de estimação destruiu algo importante?"

"Qual foi o recorde que aquele atleta destruiu?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Escreve sobre uma vez que algo que valorizavas foi destruído por acidente.

Como te sentes quando vês as notícias sobre a guerra a destruir cidades?

Achas que é mais fácil construir ou destruir uma reputação? Porquê?

Descreve um momento em que sentiste que 'destruíste' (tiveste muito sucesso) numa tarefa.

O que farias se alguém tentasse destruir os teus planos para o futuro?

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

No, it is slightly irregular in the present tense. Verbs ending in -uir change the 'u' to 'ó' in the 2nd and 3rd person singular (tu destróis, ele destrói) and the 3rd person plural (eles destroem). This change is important for both spelling and pronunciation.

Use 'quebrar' for smaller objects like glasses, plates, or toys that can be broken into pieces. Use 'destruir' for larger-scale damage, like a building being demolished, or for abstract things like reputations and lives. 'Destruir' is much stronger than 'quebrar'.

Yes, in Brazilian slang, 'Você destruiu!' is like saying 'You killed it!' or 'You crushed it!'. However, this is very informal. In Portugal, you might hear 'partir a loiça toda' for a similar meaning, though 'destruir' is also becoming common in younger circles.

The verb is 'auto-destruir-se'. For example: 'A bomba vai se auto-destruir' (The bomb will self-destruct). It is used just like in English for technology or metaphorical self-sabotage.

'Destruí' (with an accent) is the first person singular of the past tense: 'I destroyed'. 'Destruir' (without an accent) is the infinitive form: 'to destroy'. The pronunciation of 'destruí' ends in a sharp, stressed 'ee' sound.

Usually no. For food, we use 'estragar' (to spoil) or 'apodrecer' (to rot). However, you could say a pest 'destruiu a plantação' (destroyed the plantation), but you wouldn't say the milk 'destruiu' in the fridge.

Absolutely. It is very common to say 'destruir o coração' (break the heart) or 'destruir a confiança' (destroy trust). It conveys a very deep sense of emotional pain.

The noun is 'destruição' (destruction). For example: 'A destruição foi total' (The destruction was total). A person who destroys is a 'destruidor'.

It is regular in the future: eu destruirei, tu destruirás, ele destruirá, nós destruiremos, vós destruireis, eles destruirão. Or more commonly: eu vou destruir.

Yes, it is one of the most frequent verbs in news reporting, especially when covering natural disasters, wars, or economic crises. You will see it in headlines daily.

اختبر نفسك 200 أسئلة

writing

Write a sentence using 'destruir' in the present tense about a cat.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The fire destroyed the house.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about how humans are destroying the planet.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Use 'destruir' in the passive voice.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about destroying evidence.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Don't destroy your dreams.'

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using the future tense of 'destruir'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Use 'destruir' in a sports context.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'destruição'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'I destroyed the letters.'

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using the subjunctive 'destruam'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Describe a storm destroying something.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Use 'destruir' metaphorically for a feeling.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about 'creative destruction'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The bomb will self-destruct.'

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence using 'destrutivo'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Use 'destruir' in the first person plural past tense.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Lies destroy relationships.'

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about a record being destroyed.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Describe a dog destroying a toy.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce the word: destruir.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce the 3rd person singular: destrói.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'I destroyed the paper' in Portuguese.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'Don't destroy the environment' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'destruição'.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'The fire destroyed the house' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'indestrutível'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'He destroys everything' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'destruíram' vs 'destruirão'.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'The dog destroyed my shoes' in Portuguese.

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'destrutivo'.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'They destroyed the bridge' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'autodestruição'.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'Lies destroy trust' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'destruímos'.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'I want to destroy this box' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Pronounce 'destruas'.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'The storm destroyed the roof' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'The scandal destroyed his career' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say 'You destroyed it! (Success)' in Portuguese.

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and write: 'O fogo destruiu a casa.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

What did the dog do? (Audio: O cão destruiu o tapete.)

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Is it past or present? (Audio: Ele destrói tudo.)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and write: 'Não destruas o ambiente.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

What is the subject? (Audio: O terramoto destruiu a vila.)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Write the noun you hear: 'destruição'.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Is it singular or plural? (Audio: Eles destruíram a ponte.)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

What was destroyed? (Audio: A tempestade destruiu a colheita.)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and write: 'Eu destruí os papéis.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Identify the verb: 'destruiremos'.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Is this a command? (Audio: Destruam as provas!)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

What is the adjective? (Audio: É um comportamento destrutivo.)

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صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and write: 'A mentira destruiu a amizade.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

What was broken? (Audio: O gato destruiu o vaso.)

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and write: 'Este material é indestrutível.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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