questionar
questionar في 30 ثانية
- Questionar is a versatile Portuguese verb meaning to ask questions or to doubt something's validity.
- It is more formal and critical than 'perguntar', often used in legal, academic, or professional contexts.
- The reflexive form 'questionar-se' means to wonder or engage in self-reflection about one's choices.
- Commonly used to challenge authority, investigate crimes, or debate scientific and philosophical theories.
The Portuguese verb questionar is a multifaceted term that bridges the gap between simple inquiry and critical skepticism. At its core, it represents the act of putting something into question, whether that be a person's knowledge, the validity of a statement, or the necessity of an action. Unlike the simpler verb perguntar, which is used for everyday requests for information, questionar carries a weight of investigation and often, a challenge to authority or established truth. In a B1 level context, learners must distinguish between 'asking' and 'interrogating' or 'doubting'. When you question someone, you are often looking for a deeper justification rather than just a simple fact.
- Primary Meaning
- To subject someone to a series of questions to elicit information or a confession.
- Secondary Meaning
- To express doubt or lack of confidence in a theory, decision, or fact.
- Tertiary Meaning
- To debate or discuss a specific topic within a formal or academic framework.
O detetive decidiu questionar a testemunha sobre o que viu na noite do crime para encontrar inconsistências no seu relato.
In the context of critical thinking, questionar is the engine of progress. It is the verb of the scientist who doubts a previous finding and the citizen who asks why a law exists. It is not merely the act of opening one's mouth to speak; it is the act of opening one's mind to possibilities. In Portuguese culture, which can range from highly formal to deeply inquisitive, knowing when to use this verb is key to sounding sophisticated. It suggests that you are not just a passive recipient of information but an active participant in the discourse.
Não devemos apenas aceitar as regras; é importante questionar sua origem e seu propósito na sociedade atual.
Furthermore, the verb can be used reflexively in some contexts, though less commonly, to mean 'to ask oneself' (questionar-se). This internal dialogue is essential for self-improvement and philosophical growth. When you questionar-se, you are engaging in self-reflection, looking for the 'why' behind your own emotions and actions. This depth makes the word indispensable for literature and high-level conversation.
Muitos filósofos passam a vida a questionar a natureza da realidade e a existência do livre-arbítrio.
A empresa começou a questionar a eficácia do novo plano de marketing após a queda nas vendas mensais.
O aluno foi encorajado pelo professor a questionar as fontes de informação que encontrava na internet.
- Formal Usage
- Used in journalism and law to describe the act of seeking accountability.
- Everyday Usage
- Used when someone is being stubborn or challenging a friend's decision.
Using questionar correctly requires an understanding of its transitivity and its nuance compared to its synonyms. It is a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation straightforward, but its application is where the complexity lies. Generally, it is a transitive direct verb, meaning it takes an object directly without a preposition when you are questioning a thing or a person.
- Direct Object (Person)
- Questionar alguém (e.g., Questionar o suspeito).
- Direct Object (Concept)
- Questionar algo (e.g., Questionar a validade de um documento).
When you use it to mean 'to doubt', you are often questioning the 'veracidade' (truthfulness) or 'autoridade' (authority) of something. In these cases, the object is the thing being doubted. For example, 'Ele questionou a minha decisão' (He questioned my decision). Here, he isn't just asking what the decision is; he is suggesting the decision might be wrong. This is a crucial distinction for B1 learners who might be tempted to use 'perguntar' in this context.
Se você questionar o chefe de forma educada, ele poderá explicar os motivos da mudança.
In more advanced usage, you might see it in the passive voice: 'A decisão foi questionada por muitos' (The decision was questioned by many). This is common in news reporting. Also, the reflexive form 'questionar-se' is vital for expressing internal doubt. 'Eu me questiono se isso é verdade' (I wonder/question myself if this is true). This adds a layer of introspection to your Portuguese vocabulary that 'pensar' or 'achar' cannot provide.
É saudável questionar-se sobre os próprios preconceitos de vez em quando para evoluir como pessoa.
In terms of tense, it is frequently used in the Imperfeito (questionava) to describe ongoing doubt or a series of questions in the past, and in the Futuro do Pretérito (questionaria) for hypothetical challenges. For example, 'Eu questionaria o resultado se tivesse as provas' (I would question the result if I had the evidence). Mastering these shifts allows for precise communication in debates or professional settings.
- Collocation with Adverbs
- Frequently used with 'severamente', 'constantemente', or 'abertamente'.
- Prepositional Use
- While usually direct, you can use 'sobre' to specify the topic: 'Questionar alguém sobre algo'.
You will encounter questionar in various domains, primarily those involving critical thought, law, and media. In a news broadcast, you might hear a journalist say, 'A oposição decidiu questionar a nova lei no Supremo Tribunal'. This implies a formal legal challenge. In the workplace, a manager might say, 'Não estou aqui para questionar sua competência, mas para entender o processo'. This is a strategic use of the word to soften a critique while still seeking information.
Na entrevista, o jornalista não hesitou em questionar o político sobre as promessas não cumpridas.
In academic settings, questionar is the bread and butter of seminars and thesis defenses. Professors will encourage students to 'questionar os paradigmas estabelecidos'. Here, it isn't about being rude; it's about the scientific method. If you are watching a Portuguese or Brazilian crime drama (like 'Bom Dia, Verônica' or 'Glória'), you will hear police officers 'questionando os suspeitos' in interrogation rooms. The tone here is much more aggressive and pointed.
Social media is another hotbed for this verb. You'll see hashtags or comments where users 'questionam a atitude' of influencers or celebrities. It serves as a tool for social accountability. In literature, especially in existentialist works or modern prose, characters often 'se questionam' about the meaning of life or their place in the world. This variety of contexts shows that while the word is formal, its reach is universal across Portuguese-speaking societies.
O público começou a questionar a veracidade das imagens postadas nas redes sociais.
- TV News
- Reporting on government audits or public inquiries.
- Classrooms
- Encouraging students to think critically about history.
- Podcasts
- Hosts questioning guests about their life choices or expert opinions.
The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing questionar with perguntar. While both involve the act of asking, they are not interchangeable. If you ask someone for the time, you use 'perguntar'. If you ask someone why they were late for the fifth time this week, implying you don't believe their excuse, you use 'questionar'. Using 'questionar' for a simple direction ('Pode me questionar onde fica o banheiro?') is incorrect and sounds very strange to a native speaker.
Another common error is the addition of unnecessary prepositions. Many English speakers, thinking of 'question about', might say 'questionar sobre algo' when they simply mean 'to question something'. While 'questionar alguém sobre algo' is correct, 'questionar sobre a lei' (to question about the law) is often better phrased as 'questionar a lei' if you are challenging its validity. The direct object is much more powerful and common in Portuguese.
Errado: Eu questionei para ele se ele vinha.
Certo: Eu questionei a sua vinda (I questioned/doubted his coming) ou Eu perguntei se ele vinha.
Learners also struggle with the reflexive form. They might say 'Eu me pergunto' (I wonder) when they should say 'Eu me questiono' to indicate a deeper, more troubling doubt. 'Eu me pergunto se vai chover' is light and casual. 'Eu me questiono se escolhi a carreira certa' is deep and serious. Using the wrong one can misrepresent your emotional state or the gravity of the situation.
- Mistake 1
- Using 'questionar' for simple, non-critical questions.
- Mistake 2
- Treating it as an intransitive verb without a clear object of doubt.
- Mistake 3
- Confusing it with 'interrogar', which is much more formal and usually restricted to police/legal contexts.
To truly master questionar, one must understand its neighbors in the semantic field of inquiry. The most common relative is perguntar, the neutral 'to ask'. Then there is indagar, which is a more formal, literary way of saying 'to inquire' or 'to seek out'. Indagar suggests a search for knowledge that is less confrontational than questionar. For example, a researcher might 'indagar sobre os hábitos das formigas', but they would 'questionar a teoria da evolução'.
- Interrogar
- Much more formal, often used in police or military contexts. It implies a position of power over the person being asked.
- Duvidar
- Focuses purely on the lack of belief. You can 'duvidar de algo' without necessarily asking a question about it.
- Contestar
- To dispute or challenge. This is the next step after questioning; it is an active opposition.
Enquanto o detetive preferia interrogar os suspeitos, o psicólogo preferia apenas indagar sobre suas infâncias.
Another interesting synonym is sondar. This means 'to probe' or 'to sound out'. It is used when you are trying to find out information indirectly or subtly. 'Vou sondar o chefe para ver o que ele acha da ideia'. This is different from questionar, which is direct and often public. Understanding these distinctions allows a speaker to navigate social hierarchies and professional environments with much greater precision.
Lastly, discutir can sometimes overlap with questionar when it means to debate a point. However, discutir implies a two-way exchange, whereas questionar can be a one-way act of challenging a status quo. In a meeting, you might 'questionar os custos' and then 'discutir o orçamento' with the team. Each word adds a specific flavor to the action of seeking truth or clarity.
Não basta questionar o sistema; é preciso contestar as injustiças e propor soluções.
How Formal Is It?
مستوى الصعوبة
قواعد يجب معرفتها
Direct Object Pronouns (o, a, os, as)
Subjunctive Mood for doubt
Passive Voice construction
Reflexive Pronouns
Prepositional phrases with 'sobre'
أمثلة حسب المستوى
O aluno questiona o professor.
The student questions the teacher.
Present tense, 3rd person singular.
Eu questiono o preço da fruta.
I question the price of the fruit.
Present tense, 1st person singular.
Eles questionam muito.
They question a lot.
Present tense, 3rd person plural.
Você questiona as regras?
Do you question the rules?
Interrogative sentence.
Nós questionamos o caminho.
We question the path.
Present tense, 1st person plural.
Ela questiona o que vê.
She questions what she sees.
Relative clause with 'o que'.
O guia foi questionado.
The guide was questioned.
Passive voice, past tense.
Não me questione agora.
Don't question me now.
Imperative negative.
O cliente questionou o valor da conta.
The customer questioned the bill amount.
Pretérito Perfeito.
Vou questionar o médico sobre o remédio.
I'm going to question the doctor about the medicine.
Future with 'ir' + infinitive.
Ela sempre questiona as ordens do chefe.
She always questions the boss's orders.
Adverb of frequency 'sempre'.
Ninguém questionou a decisão ontem.
No one questioned the decision yesterday.
Negative pronoun 'ninguém'.
Precisamos questionar a segurança do local.
We need to question the safety of the place.
Modal verb 'precisar'.
Eles questionaram o atraso do ônibus.
They questioned the bus delay.
Pretérito Perfeito, 3rd person plural.
Você deve questionar se não entender.
You should question if you don't understand.
Conditional 'se' clause.
O jornal questionou o governo.
The newspaper questioned the government.
Direct object 'o governo'.
Eu me questiono se este é o melhor plano.
I question myself if this is the best plan.
Reflexive verb 'questionar-se'.
É importante questionar os fatos antes de acreditar.
It's important to question the facts before believing.
Infinitive as a subject.
O advogado questionou a testemunha por horas.
The lawyer questioned the witness for hours.
Duration 'por horas'.
Se você questionasse mais, saberia a verdade.
If you questioned more, you would know the truth.
Imperfect Subjunctive + Futuro do Pretérito.
A empresa está questionando os custos extras.
The company is questioning the extra costs.
Present Continuous (Gerúndio).
Muitos questionam a eficácia da nova vacina.
Many question the effectiveness of the new vaccine.
Indefinite pronoun 'muitos'.
Ela questionava tudo o que os pais diziam.
She used to question everything her parents said.
Pretérito Imperfeito.
Não há razão para questionar minha lealdade.
There is no reason to question my loyalty.
Prepositional phrase 'para questionar'.
O relatório questiona a sustentabilidade do projeto.
The report questions the sustainability of the project.
Abstract subject 'o relatório'.
A oposição vai questionar a legalidade da votação.
The opposition will question the legality of the vote.
Future tense with 'ir'.
Sempre que ele fala, alguém o questiona.
Whenever he speaks, someone questions him.
Conjunction 'sempre que'.
O juiz permitiu que o promotor questionasse o réu.
The judge allowed the prosecutor to question the defendant.
Subjunctive mood after 'permitir que'.
Questionar o status quo é essencial para a inovação.
Questioning the status quo is essential for innovation.
Latin expression 'status quo'.
Ela foi questionada severamente pela imprensa.
She was severely questioned by the press.
Passive voice with adverb 'severamente'.
Ninguém ousaria questionar sua autoridade.
No one would dare to question his authority.
Conditional 'ousaria'.
Ao questionar o método, descobrimos um erro grave.
By questioning the method, we discovered a serious error.
Temporal 'ao' + infinitive.
A tese questiona os fundamentos da física clássica.
The thesis questions the foundations of classical physics.
Academic register.
É imperativo questionar as narrativas históricas dominantes.
It is imperative to question dominant historical narratives.
Formal adjective 'imperativo'.
O filósofo questiona a própria essência do ser.
The philosopher questions the very essence of being.
Intensive pronoun 'própria'.
A auditoria questionou a origem dos fundos.
The audit questioned the origin of the funds.
Financial terminology.
Embora o questionassem, ele manteve sua posição.
Although they questioned him, he maintained his position.
Concessive 'embora' + subjunctive.
A obra questiona a moralidade da guerra moderna.
The work questions the morality of modern war.
Artistic critique.
Questionar-se é o primeiro passo para a sabedoria.
To question oneself is the first step to wisdom.
Reflexive infinitive as subject.
O artigo questiona a eficácia das políticas públicas.
The article questions the effectiveness of public policies.
Journalistic register.
A fenomenologia questiona a dicotomia entre sujeito e objeto.
Phenomenology questions the dichotomy between subject and object.
Highly specialized philosophical terminology.
Instigou-se o debate ao questionar a legitimidade do pleito.
The debate was instigated by questioning the legitimacy of the election.
Passive 'se' construction + formal 'pleito'.
Não cabe a nós questionar os desígnios do destino.
It is not for us to question the designs of fate.
Idiomatic 'não cabe a nós'.
A crítica questiona a verossimilhança da narrativa.
The critique questions the plausibility of the narrative.
Literary term 'verossimilhança'.
Questionar a ontologia da linguagem é tarefa árdua.
Questioning the ontology of language is an arduous task.
Metalinguistic usage.
O réu foi questionado acerca de suas motivações intrínsecas.
The defendant was questioned about his intrinsic motivations.
Formal preposition 'acerca de'.
Poder-se-ia questionar a validade de tal premissa.
One could question the validity of such a premise.
Mesoclisis 'Poder-se-ia'.
A descoberta questiona tudo o que sabíamos sobre o cosmos.
The discovery questions everything we knew about the cosmos.
Superlative scope.
المرادفات
الأضداد
تلازمات شائعة
العبارات الشائعة
يُخلط عادةً مع
Perguntar is for information; questionar is for doubt or investigation.
Interrogar is much more formal and usually implies a power imbalance (police/suspect).
Duvidar is the feeling of doubt; questionar is the action of asking because of that doubt.
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
سهل الخلط
أنماط الجُمل
كيفية الاستخدام
Essential for formal writing and critical discourse.
Questionar is often perceived as more aggressive than indagar.
High in written Portuguese, medium in spoken Portuguese.
نصائح
Level Up
Replace 'perguntar' with 'questionar' when writing formal emails to sound more professional.
Direct Object
Remember that 'questionar' usually takes a direct object. 'Questionar a lei', not 'questionar à lei'.
Social Media
Look for the verb in YouTube comments or Twitter threads to see how people challenge public figures.
Softening
Use 'Gostaria de questionar' to make a challenge sound more like a polite inquiry.
News Clues
When you hear 'questionar' on the news, pay attention to the 'who' and 'what' to find the core of the story.
Reflexive Power
Use 'questionar-se' in your journal to practice expressing deep thoughts and self-doubt.
Academic Texts
In academic papers, 'questionar' often introduces a gap in current knowledge.
The 'QU' sound
Don't pronounce the 'u' in 'que'. It's a hard 'K' sound like in 'key'.
Critical Thinking
Use this verb when you want to show you are thinking deeply about a topic.
Audits
In finance, 'questionar' is the standard word for an auditor looking into suspicious accounts.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of a 'Question' + 'ar' (verb ending). It's the act of making a question into a serious action.
أصل الكلمة
Latin 'quaestionare'
السياق الثقافي
Often appears in literature discussing post-colonial identity.
Commonly used in political activism and social media 'cancel culture'.
Used frequently in formal debates and high-level journalism.
تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية
سياقات واقعية
بدايات محادثة
"Você costuma questionar as notícias que lê?"
"Quando foi a última vez que você se questionou sobre sua carreira?"
"É difícil questionar um amigo quando ele está errado?"
"O que você gostaria de questionar ao presidente do seu país?"
"Você acha que as crianças questionam mais do que os adultos?"
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
Escreva sobre uma decisão que você questionou recentemente.
Quais são as três coisas que você mais questiona na sociedade?
Como você se sente quando alguém questiona sua autoridade?
Descreva um momento em que questionar algo mudou sua vida.
Se você pudesse questionar qualquer figura histórica, quem seria e o quê?
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةOnly if the question is serious or challenging. For 'What time is it?', use 'perguntar'.
Yes, it is very common in both Portugal and Brazil, especially in media and formal settings.
The most common noun is 'questionamento', which means the act of questioning.
Both are possible. 'Questionar algo' (challenge something) and 'Questionar alguém sobre algo' (ask someone about something).
Yes, in the reflexive form 'questionar-se' (e.g., Eu me questiono se...).
Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
It can, depending on the tone. It is more confrontational than 'perguntar'.
Yes, it is very appropriate for discussing strategies, costs, and decisions.
Questionar is asking/doubting; contestar is actively disputing or opposing.
The word is 'inquestionável'.
اختبر نفسك 180 أسئلة
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'questionar' allows you to move beyond simple information-seeking and enter the realm of critical thinking and formal debate in Portuguese, distinguishing between mere curiosity and analytical doubt.
- Questionar is a versatile Portuguese verb meaning to ask questions or to doubt something's validity.
- It is more formal and critical than 'perguntar', often used in legal, academic, or professional contexts.
- The reflexive form 'questionar-se' means to wonder or engage in self-reflection about one's choices.
- Commonly used to challenge authority, investigate crimes, or debate scientific and philosophical theories.
Level Up
Replace 'perguntar' with 'questionar' when writing formal emails to sound more professional.
Direct Object
Remember that 'questionar' usually takes a direct object. 'Questionar a lei', not 'questionar à lei'.
Social Media
Look for the verb in YouTube comments or Twitter threads to see how people challenge public figures.
Softening
Use 'Gostaria de questionar' to make a challenge sound more like a polite inquiry.
مثال
É saudável questionar as informações que recebemos.
محتوى ذو صلة
قواعد ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات academic
a despeito de
A2بالرغم من؛ على الرغم من. تعبير رسمي يستخدم لإظهار التباين أو التناقض.
a fim
A2تعبير يعني 'من أجل' أو 'بهدف'. بشكل غير رسمي، يعني 'يرغب في' أو 'معجب بـ'.
a saber
A2أي؛ وبالتحديد.
a título de exemplo
A2تعبير رسمي يعني 'على سبيل المثال'. يستخدم في السياقات الأكاديمية أو المهنية.
abordagem
A2النهج هو طريقة للتعامل مع شيء ما. يشير إلى الأسلوب أو الاستراتيجية المستخدمة. (النهج هو كيفية مواجهة موقف ما.)
abordar
B1يتناول موضوعاً أو يقترب من شخص.
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abreviatura
B1A shortened form of a word or phrase.
abstração
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstracto
B1موجود في الفكر أو كفكرة ولكن ليس له وجود مادي أو ملموس.