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A2 verb 11 دقيقة للقراءة

passar mal

أمثلة
الشرح passar mal in your Level:
At the absolute beginner level (A1), the phrase passar mal is introduced as a highly functional, essential survival vocabulary item. When you are just starting to learn Portuguese, you do not have the complex medical vocabulary required to describe specific symptoms like migraines, acid reflux, or vertigo. Instead, you need a simple, catch-all phrase that immediately communicates to native speakers that you are not feeling well and require assistance or a break. The construction is incredibly simple because it uses the regular verb passar. At this level, the focus is entirely on memorizing the first-person present tense form: 'Eu passo mal' (I feel sick) or the continuous form 'Eu estou passando mal' (I am feeling sick) which is very common in Brazil. You will also learn the basic infinitive form to use with auxiliary verbs, such as 'Eu vou passar mal' (I am going to feel sick). The grammar is straightforward: the subject is followed by the conjugated verb, and the adverb 'mal' remains completely unchanged. Teachers emphasize that this phrase should be used in emergencies or sudden discomfort, such as feeling dizzy in the hot sun or getting a stomachache after eating. It is taught alongside basic body parts and simple adjectives so that a beginner can point to their stomach and say the phrase, making their meaning perfectly clear to anyone trying to help them. Mastering this simple phrase at the A1 level provides a critical safety net for travelers and new learners navigating a Portuguese-speaking environment.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
As learners progress to the elementary level (A2), the understanding and application of passar mal expand significantly, particularly in the realm of talking about the past. At this stage, students learn the preterite (simple past) tense, which is absolutely crucial for this phrase because people most often talk about feeling sick after the event has already happened. You learn to say 'Eu passei mal' (I felt sick) or 'Ele passou mal' (He felt sick). This allows learners to tell simple stories or recount recent events, such as explaining why they missed class yesterday or describing a bad experience at a restaurant. The A2 level also introduces the use of basic conjunctions like 'porque' (because) and 'quando' (when), enabling students to provide reasons for their illness. For example, 'Eu passei mal porque comi muito' (I felt sick because I ate too much). Furthermore, learners begin to distinguish this phrase from 'estar doente' (to be sick). They learn that the former is for acute, sudden events like fainting or vomiting, while the latter is for ongoing states like having a cold. Pronunciation practice at this level focuses on ensuring the 'l' in 'mal' is pronounced correctly, often sounding like a 'u' or a dark 'l' depending on the dialect, to avoid confusion with other words. The ability to narrate past physical distress and provide simple reasons is a major milestone in A2 communicative competence.
At the intermediate level (B1), the grammatical complexity surrounding the phrase passar mal deepens, and learners are expected to use it across a wider variety of tenses and moods. A significant focus at this level is the future tense and the conditional mood. Students learn to make predictions and give warnings using the phrase. For instance, 'Se você não usar casaco, vai passar mal' (If you don't wear a coat, you will feel sick). The conditional is used for hypothetical situations or polite advice: 'Eu passaria mal se comesse isso' (I would feel sick if I ate that). Additionally, B1 learners are introduced to the imperfect tense to describe recurring sickness in the past: 'Quando eu era criança, passava mal no carro' (When I was a child, I used to feel sick in the car). This level also demands a richer vocabulary to accompany the phrase. Students learn to specify symptoms using phrases like 'ter tonturas' (to have dizziness) or 'ter náuseas' (to have nausea) in conjunction with the main phrase to provide a more detailed medical picture. The cultural context is also explored more deeply; learners understand that expressing sudden illness is an acceptable excuse in social situations and learn the polite responses to someone who says they are unwell, such as 'As melhoras!' (Get well soon!). By the end of B1, the phrase is fully integrated into the learner's active vocabulary, allowing for nuanced, multi-tense storytelling about health and well-being.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
Reaching the upper-intermediate level (B2) means that learners must master the use of passar mal within complex sentence structures, particularly those involving the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is a major hurdle in Portuguese, and this phrase provides excellent practice. Learners must use the present subjunctive after expressions of emotion, doubt, or desire. For example, 'Espero que você não passe mal durante a viagem' (I hope you don't feel sick during the trip) or 'Tenho medo de que ele passe mal' (I am afraid that he might feel sick). The past subjunctive is also heavily practiced in conditional sentences: 'Se eu tivesse comido aquilo, teria passado mal' (If I had eaten that, I would have felt sick). At this level, precision in language is paramount. Learners are expected to understand the subtle differences between this phrase and near-synonyms like 'indispor-se' or 'sentir-se mal', choosing the exact right phrase for the specific social or professional context. Furthermore, B2 students encounter figurative and idiomatic uses of the phrase in native media. They might hear someone say they felt sick from laughing too much or from hearing shocking news, moving beyond strict physical illness into the realm of emotional or hyperbolic expression. The ability to seamlessly integrate this phrase into complex, multi-clause sentences with correct mood selection demonstrates a high level of grammatical control and conversational fluency appropriate for a B2 speaker.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the advanced level (C1), the usage of passar mal is characterized by complete grammatical fluidity and a deep understanding of sociolinguistic nuances. C1 learners do not just use the phrase to describe basic illness; they use it creatively and idiomatically, much like a native speaker would. They easily employ the personal infinitive, a unique feature of Portuguese grammar, in sentences like 'O fato de eles passarem mal arruinou a festa' (The fact that they felt sick ruined the party). The phrase is used effortlessly in passive constructions, reported speech, and complex rhetorical structures. At this level, the focus shifts to register and tone. A C1 speaker knows exactly when to use the phrase for dramatic effect in an informal storytelling context and when to opt for a more clinical or formal alternative in a professional setting. They understand the cultural implications of the phrase in literature and journalism, recognizing it when reading complex texts or listening to fast-paced native debates. Additionally, C1 learners master the regional variations of the phrase. They understand that the continuous form 'passando mal' is standard in Brazil, while 'a passar mal' is the norm in Portugal, and they can adapt their own speech depending on their audience. The phrase becomes a tool for expressive, nuanced communication, allowing the advanced learner to convey extreme emotion, hyperbolic reactions, and detailed narratives with native-like proficiency and cultural sensitivity.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
At the mastery level (C2), the phrase passar mal is fully internalized, and its usage is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. A C2 user manipulates the phrase within the most complex and obscure grammatical structures Portuguese has to offer, such as the future subjunctive or the pluperfect tense, without hesitation. 'Quando ele passar mal, saberemos o que fazer' (When he feels sick, we will know what to do). The mastery is evident in the ability to play with the phrase, using it in puns, double entendres, or deep literary analysis. At this level, the learner understands the historical evolution of the phrase and its etymological roots, recognizing how the combination of the verb 'to pass' and the adverb 'badly' reflects a specific cultural worldview regarding health and time. C2 speakers can dissect the phrase's usage in classic Portuguese and Brazilian literature, analyzing how authors use it to build character or tension. They are also acutely aware of the minute semantic differences between this phrase and highly specific medical or psychological terminology. In conversation, they use the phrase with perfect intonation and timing, whether to express genuine medical concern, to deliver a punchline about laughing too hard, or to critically describe a poorly executed political event ('o projeto passou mal no parlamento' - used highly figuratively). The C2 level represents total ownership of the phrase, utilizing it as a flexible, powerful instrument of advanced linguistic expression.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل
أمثلة
The Portuguese phrase passar mal is an incredibly common and highly versatile expression that native speakers use on a daily basis to communicate physical discomfort, sudden illness, or a general feeling of being unwell. Literally translating to 'to pass badly', this expression is the go-to verb phrase when someone experiences a sudden drop in their physical well-being. Whether it is due to eating spoiled food, experiencing motion sickness, feeling dizzy from the intense summer heat, or simply feeling nauseous without a clear reason, this phrase perfectly captures that immediate sensation of sickness. In English, we might say 'to feel sick', 'to be unwell', or 'to faint', depending on the severity of the situation. The beauty of this phrase lies in its broad applicability. It does not require you to specify exactly what is wrong with you, which is highly convenient when you are suddenly overcome with a wave of nausea or dizziness and cannot articulate the precise medical issue.
Physical Illness
Used when someone is literally sick, such as having a stomachache, throwing up, or feeling completely exhausted and ill.

Eu comi muito e comecei a passar mal.

Furthermore, this expression is deeply embedded in the social fabric of Portuguese-speaking countries. When you are at a party, a family gathering, or a public event, and you suddenly feel a wave of discomfort, you simply tell your host or your friends that you are experiencing this. They will immediately understand that you need to sit down, drink some water, or perhaps go outside for some fresh air.
Emotional Distress
In some contexts, it can also be used figuratively to describe intense emotional shock or panic that manifests as physical discomfort.

Ao ver o acidente, ela começou a passar mal.

The flexibility of the phrase makes it an essential vocabulary item for any learner. You will hear it in hospitals, on public transportation, in schools, and in the workplace.
Extreme Laughter
Informally, young people might use it to say they laughed so hard that they felt physically weak or overwhelmed by the humor.

Essa piada foi tão boa que eu cheguei a passar mal de rir.

It is also important to distinguish this from simply being sick with a cold or a flu. If you have a chronic illness or a long-term cold, you would use different verbs like estar doente. This phrase is specifically reserved for acute, sudden, and temporary episodes of feeling unwell. It is the immediate reaction of the body to a negative stimulus.

Se você beber muito sob o sol quente, com certeza vai passar mal.

Ele teve que sair da sala porque estava a passar mal.

Mastering this phrase will significantly improve your ability to navigate emergency situations and communicate your basic physical needs effectively while traveling or living in a Portuguese-speaking environment. It is a fundamental building block of daily conversational fluency that you must absolutely memorize and practice repeatedly until it becomes completely natural to say.
Understanding how to construct sentences with the expression passar mal is critical for achieving fluency and sounding like a native speaker of Portuguese. The phrase relies on the verb passar, which is a regular verb ending in -ar. This means it follows the standard conjugation rules for its group, making it relatively straightforward to learn and apply across different tenses. The word mal functions as an adverb here, meaning badly, and it is invariable. It never changes its form, regardless of the gender or number of the subject.
Present Tense
Use the present tense to indicate that someone is currently experiencing physical discomfort or sickness right at this very moment.

Eu passo mal sempre que viajo de barco.

When you want to talk about the past, the preterite tense is the most common choice because feeling unwell is usually viewed as a completed event or a specific episode that happened at a definite point in time.
Past Tense
The preterite tense is used to report an incident where someone felt sick, such as after a meal or during a specific event.

Ontem, ela passou mal depois de comer aquele marisco.

Looking forward, the future tense is often used as a warning. If you see someone eating too much junk food or staying out in the freezing cold without a jacket, you can predict their impending sickness.
Future Tense
Use the future tense or the informal future (ir + infinitive) to warn someone about the consequences of their current actions.

Se você não beber água, vai passar mal durante a maratona.

Eles vão passar mal se continuarem a trabalhar sem descansar.

Nós passamos mal com a turbulência do avião.

It is highly recommended to practice these conjugations out loud. Try creating your own sentences describing times when you or someone you know felt unwell. This active practice will solidify the grammatical structure in your mind and ensure that you can retrieve the phrase effortlessly when a real-life situation demands it. The combination of the verb and the adverb is fixed, so you never have to worry about complex agreements, making it a very user-friendly expression for beginners and intermediate learners alike.
The expression passar mal is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking environments, and you will encounter it in a vast array of real-life situations. Because it is the standard way to express sudden physical distress, its usage spans across all social classes, age groups, and levels of formality. One of the most common places you will hear this phrase is in medical or emergency contexts. When you arrive at a hospital triage or a local clinic, the first thing a nurse or doctor might ask you is what happened, and responding with this phrase immediately signals that you are experiencing an acute health issue that requires attention.
Hospitals and Clinics
Medical professionals hear this constantly from patients describing the onset of their symptoms before a formal diagnosis is made.

Doutor, eu comecei a passar mal no meio da noite.

Another extremely common setting is public transportation. Whether you are on a crowded bus in São Paulo, a winding train ride in the Douro Valley, or a turbulent flight, motion sickness is a universal human experience. In these situations, passengers will use this phrase to alert others that they need a seat, some air, or a sick bag.
Public Transportation
Used to describe motion sickness, claustrophobia, or heat exhaustion while commuting in crowded or moving vehicles.

Por favor, abra a janela, estou a passar mal.

You will also hear this phrase frequently in restaurants, bars, and dinner parties. Food and drink are central to Portuguese and Brazilian cultures, and occasionally, overindulgence or a bad ingredient leads to an upset stomach.
Dining and Nightlife
Commonly used to express food poisoning, indigestion, or the negative physical effects of consuming too much alcohol.

Acho que a carne estava estragada, estou a passar mal.

Ele bebeu tanta cerveja que acabou por passar mal na rua.

Não vou comer mais, não quero passar mal amanhã.

Beyond these specific scenarios, the phrase appears heavily in television shows, soap operas (novelas), and movies to add dramatic tension. A character receiving shocking news might clutch their chest and use this phrase before fainting, creating a highly dramatic and memorable scene. By exposing yourself to these various contexts, you will develop a rich, intuitive understanding of exactly when and how to deploy this essential vocabulary in your own conversations.
When learning the phrase passar mal, English speakers often fall into a few predictable traps due to direct translation habits and subtle grammatical misunderstandings. The most frequent mistake is attempting to translate the English phrase 'to be sick' literally into Portuguese as 'ser doente' or 'estar doente' when referring to a sudden, acute feeling of nausea. While 'estar doente' is grammatically correct, it implies a longer-term illness like a cold, flu, or infection. It does not accurately convey the sudden, immediate distress of fainting or throwing up.
Wrong Verb Choice
Using 'estar doente' instead of the correct phrase when experiencing sudden nausea, dizziness, or food poisoning.

Eu comi peixe cru e agora estou a passar mal. (Correct)

Another major stumbling block is the confusion between the words 'mal' (badly) and 'mau' (bad). Because they sound identical in spoken Portuguese, learners often write 'passar mau'. This is a severe spelling and grammatical error. 'Mau' is an adjective that describes a masculine noun, whereas 'mal' is an adverb that modifies the verb 'passar'. You are describing how you are passing the time or the experience, which requires the adverbial form.
Spelling Confusion
Writing the phrase with an 'u' at the end instead of an 'l', which changes the grammatical function entirely and is incorrect.

Ele vai passar mal se continuar correndo. (Correct)

Additionally, learners sometimes try to make the word 'mal' plural when the subject is plural. They might say 'nós passamos males'. This is entirely incorrect because adverbs in Portuguese are invariable; they never change to match the plural subject.
Pluralization Error
Attempting to add an 'es' to the end of the adverb when talking about multiple people feeling sick.

Todos os alunos começaram a passar mal com o calor. (Correct)

As crianças vão passar mal no barco. (Correct)

Nós não queremos passar mal durante a viagem. (Correct)

By consciously avoiding these common pitfalls, you will greatly enhance the accuracy and natural flow of your spoken and written Portuguese. Always remember that the adverb is completely inflexible, and the phrase is strictly reserved for acute, sudden episodes of illness rather than prolonged sickness.
While passar mal is the most universal and common way to express sudden illness or discomfort, the Portuguese language offers a rich variety of similar words and alternative expressions that allow you to be more specific or to match the exact register of your conversation. Understanding these alternatives will greatly expand your vocabulary and allow you to express the nuances of physical distress with much greater precision. One very common alternative is the reflexive verb 'sentir-se mal'. This phrase is slightly more formal and focuses heavily on the internal sensation of the subject rather than the external event.
Sentir-se mal
To feel unwell. This is a direct synonym but sounds slightly more polite and is often used in professional or formal settings.

Com licença, estou a sentir-me mal e preciso de ir para casa, não quero passar mal aqui.

If the situation is more severe and involves a loss of consciousness, the verb 'desmaiar' is the exact term you need. While our main phrase can imply fainting, 'desmaiar' explicitly means to faint or pass out.
Desmaiar
To faint or lose consciousness completely. This is a specific symptom that often follows the initial feeling of sickness.

Ela começou a passar mal e depois acabou por desmaiar no chão.

For situations involving an upset stomach or nausea specifically, the word 'enjoado' (nauseous) is highly appropriate. If you are on a boat and feeling seasick, you are 'enjoado'.
Estar enjoado
To feel nauseous, sick to one's stomach, or motion sick. It is a specific type of feeling unwell.

Sempre fico enjoado e acabo por passar mal em viagens longas de carro.

Se você está indisposto, é melhor descansar para não passar mal mais tarde.

Adoecer é um processo mais longo do que simplesmente passar mal de repente.

Finally, 'estar indisposto' is a milder alternative. It translates to 'being indisposed' or 'feeling under the weather'. It is a polite excuse used when you want to cancel plans because you do not feel perfectly well, but you are not experiencing a severe, acute crisis. Knowing when to use the dramatic main phrase versus the milder 'indisposto' demonstrates a high level of cultural and linguistic competence.
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Eu vou passar mal.

I am going to feel sick.

Uses the auxiliary verb 'ir' (vou) plus the infinitive 'passar'.

2

Você vai passar mal?

Are you going to feel sick?

Simple question structure using the future with 'ir'.

3

Eu passo mal no barco.

I feel sick on the boat.

Present tense 'passo' indicating a general truth or habit.

4

Ele não quer passar mal.

He does not want to feel sick.

Negative sentence with the verb 'querer' (wants) and the infinitive.

5

Nós vamos passar mal.

We are going to feel sick.

Plural subject 'nós' with the auxiliary verb 'vamos'.

6

Ela passa mal com o calor.

She feels sick with the heat.

Present tense third person singular 'passa'.

7

Eu estou a passar mal.

I am feeling sick.

Continuous form using 'estar a' + infinitive (common in Portugal).

8

Eles vão passar mal hoje.

They are going to feel sick today.

Third person plural future construction.

1

Ontem, eu passei mal.

Yesterday, I felt sick.

Preterite (simple past) tense, first person singular 'passei'.

2

Ela passou mal na escola.

She felt sick at school.

Preterite tense, third person singular 'passou'.

3

Você passou mal ontem?

Did you feel sick yesterday?

Question in the preterite tense.

4

Nós passamos mal depois do jantar.

We felt sick after dinner.

Preterite tense, first person plural 'passamos'.

5

Eles passaram mal no avião.

They felt sick on the plane.

Preterite tense, third person plural 'passaram'.

6

Eu passei mal porque comi muito.

I felt sick because I ate too much.

Using the conjunction 'porque' to give a reason in the past tense.

7

Quando vi o sangue, passei mal.

When I saw the blood, I felt sick.

Using 'quando' to link two past events.

8

Ele nunca passou mal antes.

He never felt sick before.

Using the adverb 'nunca' (never) with the past tense.

1

Se comeres isso, vais passar mal.

If you eat that, you will feel sick.

First conditional sentence using present and future tenses.

2

Eu passava mal sempre que viajava.

I used to feel sick whenever I traveled.

Imperfect tense 'passava' indicating a repeated past action.

3

Eles passarão mal com este calor intenso.

They will feel sick with this intense heat.

Formal future tense 'passarão'.

4

Eu não passaria mal se bebesse água.

I would not feel sick if I drank water.

Conditional tense 'passaria'.

5

Acho que ela vai passar mal em breve.

I think she is going to feel sick soon.

Using 'achar que' (to think that) to express an opinion about the future.

6

Estávamos a passar mal durante a tempestade.

We were feeling sick during the storm.

Past continuous tense.

7

Ele disse que passou mal de manhã.

He said that he felt sick in the morning.

Reported speech using the past tense.

8

Para não passar mal, toma este comprimido.

In order not to feel sick, take this pill.

Using 'para não' + infinitive to express purpose.

1

Espero que não passes mal na viagem.

I hope you don't feel sick on the trip.

Present subjunctive 'passes' triggered by 'espero que'.

2

É possível que ele passe mal com a medicação.

It is possible that he feels sick from the medication.

Present subjunctive 'passe' triggered by 'é possível que'.

3

Se eu tivesse corrido mais, teria passado mal.

If I had run more, I would have felt sick

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