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A2 noun #11,000 am häufigsten 11 Min. Lesezeit

barranco

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Erklärung barranco in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'barranco' as a simple noun for a physical object in nature. Think of it as a 'big wall of dirt' or a 'steep bank' next to a road or a river. You don't need to worry about the complex idioms yet. Focus on using it with basic verbs like 'to see' (ver) or 'to be' (estar). For example, 'Eu vejo o barranco' (I see the bank). It is a masculine word, so always use 'o' or 'um'. It's helpful to learn this word early because it appears in many pictures of landscapes and rural areas in Brazil and Portugal. Just remember: it's made of earth, not rock. If you see a steep hill made of soil, that is your 'barranco'.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'barranco' in more descriptive sentences and learn its first common idiom. You should be able to describe where something is located using prepositions like 'no' (in/on) or 'perto do' (near the). This is also the perfect time to learn the phrase 'aos trancos e barrancos'. Even if you don't use it yourself yet, you will hear it when people talk about doing something difficult. You should also know that 'barranco' is often used when talking about driving safety—cars can 'cair no barranco' (fall down the embankment) if the road is slippery. You are moving beyond just seeing the object to understanding its role in a story or a situation.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'barranco' in various contexts, including environmental and safety discussions. You can describe the consequences of heavy rain, such as 'o barranco deslizou' (the bank slid/collapsed). You should understand the difference between 'barranco' and its synonyms like 'encosta' (slope) or 'ribanceira' (large bank). At this stage, you should also be able to use the idiom 'aos trancos e barrancos' naturally in conversation to describe your progress in learning Portuguese or a project at work. You understand that the word carries a sense of ruggedness and physical challenge.

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At the B2 level, you can use 'barranco' with more sophisticated grammar and vocabulary. You might discuss urban planning issues, such as the risks of building houses on a 'barranco' in informal settlements. You understand the nuances of technical terms like 'talude' (man-made embankment) versus the natural 'barranco'. Your use of the idiom 'aos trancos e barrancos' is nuanced; you can use it to add flavor to your storytelling. You also recognize the word in literature or song lyrics, where it might be used to evoke a specific rural or 'sertanejo' atmosphere. You are capable of explaining the dangers and the beauty of these landforms in detail.

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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of 'barranco' and its place in the Portuguese language. You can use it metaphorically in professional or academic settings to describe a precarious situation. You are aware of regional variations in how the word is used or pronounced across different Lusophone countries. You can read complex news articles or geological reports that use 'barranco' in a technical sense without hesitation. You understand the historical and social implications of the word, especially in the context of Brazilian geography and its impact on infrastructure and social inequality. You can debate the merits of different engineering solutions to prevent 'desmoronamento de barrancos'.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'barranco' is equivalent to that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate the word's etymology and its subtle use in high literature to create imagery. You can use the idiom 'aos trancos e barrancos' with perfect timing and irony. You are sensitive to the rhythmic qualities the word brings to poetry or prose. You can navigate the most technical discussions involving soil mechanics or civil engineering where 'barranco' might be mentioned. For you, the word is not just a label for a piece of land, but a versatile tool for expression that carries centuries of cultural and physical history.

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barranco in 30 Sekunden

A 'barranco' is a steep embankment or cliff made of earth, common in rural and roadside landscapes.
It is a masculine noun (o barranco) and is frequently associated with soil erosion and landslides.
The idiom 'aos trancos e barrancos' is widely used to describe overcoming obstacles with great difficulty.
It differs from 'penhasco' or 'falésia' because it is primarily composed of soil rather than solid rock.

The Portuguese word barranco is a noun that primarily refers to a steep embankment, a cliff made of earth, or a ravine. For an English speaker, the best way to visualize a barranco is to imagine a roadside where the land has been cut away, leaving a vertical or near-vertical wall of soil and clay. Unlike a rocky cliff (often called a penhasco), a barranco is typically associated with earth, dirt, and erosion. It is a fundamental word in Portuguese because of the country's (and Brazil's) diverse topography, where hills and valleys are common. You will encounter this word frequently in rural settings, hiking adventures, and unfortunately, in news reports regarding heavy rains and landslides.

Physical Description: A barranco is characterized by its steepness and its composition. It is usually composed of sedimentary layers, clay, or loose soil. Because it is not solid rock, it is susceptible to the elements. When you walk along a river, the high banks that hem the water in are often referred to as barrancos.
Safety and Hazards: In a practical sense, a barranco represents a potential danger. If you are driving on a narrow mountain road, the barranco is the steep drop-off or the rising wall of dirt beside you. Signs might warn of perigo de desmoronamento (danger of collapse) of a barranco after a storm.

O carro derrapou na lama e quase caiu no barranco.

Translation: The car skidded in the mud and almost fell down the embankment.

Beyond the physical, barranco appears in one of the most common idiomatic expressions in Portuguese: aos trancos e barrancos. This phrase is used to describe doing something with great difficulty, through many obstacles, or in a clumsy, haphazard way. It evokes the image of a wagon or a person stumbling over bumps (trancos) and falling down small slopes (barrancos) but eventually making it to the destination. It is the linguistic equivalent of saying 'by fits and starts' or 'muddling through'.

Eles terminaram o projeto aos trancos e barrancos.

Translation: They finished the project by fits and starts (with much struggle).

Synonym Comparison: While barranco is the general term, ribanceira suggests a much larger, more imposing cliff-like bank, often by a river. Encosta is more neutral, simply meaning 'slope' or 'hillside'. Use barranco when focusing on the steep, earthy edge.

As crianças desceram o barranco para pegar a bola.

Translation: The children went down the bank to get the ball.

In summary, barranco is a word that bridges the gap between geography and daily life. Whether you are warning someone about a dangerous edge on a trail or describing a chaotic but successful work week, this word provides the necessary imagery. It conveys a sense of earthiness and verticality that is essential for describing the Lusophone landscape.

Using barranco correctly involves understanding its prepositional pairings and the contexts of movement. Most often, you will see it paired with verbs like cair (to fall), descer (to descend), subir (to climb), or beirar (to border). Because it is a masculine noun (o barranco), it combines with prepositions to become no barranco (in/on the bank), do barranco (from/of the bank), and pelo barranco (through/by the bank).

Describing Location: When something is situated at the edge of a slope, we use à beira do barranco. This can be literal or metaphorical, similar to being 'on the edge of a precipice'.

A casa foi construída perigosamente à beira do barranco.

Translation: The house was built dangerously on the edge of the bank.

In a geological or environmental context, barranco is the subject of erosion. You might say the rain is 'eating' the bank. This uses the verb corroer or desgastar. If the bank collapses entirely, the verb is desmoronar.

A chuva forte fez o barranco desmoronar sobre a estrada.

Translation: The heavy rain made the embankment collapse onto the road.

When discussing sports or outdoor activities like mountain biking or motocross, the barranco is a technical feature. Riders might 'cut' through a bank or use it as a ramp. In these cases, the word takes on a more dynamic, active role in the sentence.

O ciclista saltou pelo barranco para ganhar tempo.

Translation: The cyclist jumped through the embankment to save time.

Metaphorical Use: If someone's life or a project is 'falling down the bank' (indo para o barranco), it means it is failing or heading toward disaster. This is less common than 'ir para o ralo' (going down the drain) but still understood.

Se não economizarmos, nossa empresa vai acabar no barranco.

Translation: If we don't save money, our company will end up in the ditch/ruined.

Finally, in the context of construction and civil engineering, barranco refers to the sides of an excavation. Workers must ensure the barranco is shored up (escorado) to prevent accidents. This technical usage is vital for safety protocols in Portuguese-speaking workplaces.

You are most likely to hear the word barranco in three specific environments: the evening news, rural communities, and casual conversations about life's struggles. Its presence in these areas highlights its importance in both the physical and social landscape of Portuguese-speaking countries.

News and Weather Reports: During the rainy season in Brazil (usually December through March), news anchors frequently use barranco when reporting on landslides. You'll hear phrases like 'queda de barranco' or 'deslizamento de barranco' causing road closures. It is a word associated with the power of nature and the vulnerability of infrastructure.

A defesa civil alertou para o risco de novos barrancos cederem na região serrana.

Translation: Civil defense warned of the risk of more embankments giving way in the mountain region.

In rural areas, the barranco is a landmark. Directions are often given based on natural features. 'Siga pela estrada até aquele barranco vermelho' (Follow the road until that red bank). It is part of the daily vocabulary of farmers, hikers, and people living in the 'interior'. For them, a barranco isn't just a hazard; it's a boundary, a place to find shade, or a spot for a shortcut.

Sentamos no barranco para descansar e olhar o rio.

Translation: We sat on the bank to rest and look at the river.

In literature and music, especially in Brazilian Sertanejo or Moda de Viola, the barranco often symbolizes the ruggedness of country life. It appears in lyrics describing the hardship of working the land or the beauty of the riverbank. It evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more grounded existence.

O violeiro cantava à sombra do barranco enquanto o sol se punha.

Translation: The guitar player sang in the shade of the bank as the sun set.

Social Context: In urban areas, barranco might be heard in discussions about urban planning and 'favelas'. Many informal settlements are built on steep barrancos, making them vulnerable during storms. Thus, the word often carries a heavy social and political weight regarding housing safety.

Whether in a technical engineering meeting or a casual chat at a bar, barranco is a versatile word that captures both the physical reality of the terrain and the metaphorical struggle of progress. Learning it allows you to describe the world with more precision and emotional resonance.

For English speakers, the word barranco presents a few pitfalls, mostly related to its specific physical definition and its phonetic similarity to other words. Avoiding these mistakes will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.

Confusing with 'Barraca': Because they both start with 'barra-', learners often mix up barranco (embankment) with barraca (tent or stall). Saying 'Eu dormi no barranco' (I slept on the embankment) when you mean 'Eu dormi na barraca' (I slept in the tent) could lead to some very confused looks!

Cuidado! Não confunda barranco (geografia) com barraca (camping).

Translation: Careful! Don't confuse 'barranco' (geography) with 'barraca' (camping).

Another mistake is using barranco for every kind of cliff. If the cliff is made of solid rock, especially by the sea, the correct word is falésia or despenhadeiro. Using barranco for the White Cliffs of Dover would sound strange because barranco implies earth and soil, not massive limestone rock faces.

As falésias do Algarve são lindas, mas não são chamadas de barrancos.

Translation: The cliffs of Algarve are beautiful, but they aren't called 'barrancos'.

In the idiom aos trancos e barrancos, beginners often try to translate it literally as 'by bumps and banks', which makes no sense in English. Conversely, trying to force an English idiom like 'through thick and thin' into Portuguese by using barranco is also incorrect. Aos trancos e barrancos is specifically about the struggle of the process, not the loyalty of a relationship.

Não diga 'pelo grosso e fino', use aos trancos e barrancos para falar de dificuldades.

Translation: Don't say 'through thick and thin', use 'aos trancos e barrancos' to talk about difficulties.

Gender Errors: Barranco is masculine. A common mistake is thinking it might be feminine because many geographic features like montanha or serra are feminine. Always use o barranco, um barranco, and esse barranco.

Finally, watch out for the pronunciation of the double 'r'. In many Portuguese dialects, the 'rr' in barranco is a guttural sound like the 'h' in 'house' or a raspy sound in the back of the throat. Pronouncing it with a tapped English 'r' will make the word hard to recognize for native speakers.

While barranco is a versatile term, Portuguese offers a rich vocabulary for slopes and elevations. Choosing the right one depends on the size, composition, and context of the land feature you are describing.

Ribanceira: A ribanceira is essentially a very large barranco. It implies a high, steep bank, often one that drops down into a river or a deep valley. If a car falls off a ribanceira, it is a much more serious accident than falling off a simple barranco.
Encosta: This is the most general term for a 'slope' or 'hillside'. An encosta can be gentle or steep, covered in grass or bare earth. Use this when you aren't specifically highlighting the vertical, eroded nature of a barranco.
Talude: This is a technical, engineering term. A talude is a man-made slope, such as the inclined surface of an earthwork or an embankment created during road construction. Engineers 'stabilize' a talude, whereas nature 'creates' a barranco.

A ribanceira do rio era tão alta que dava vertigem.

Translation: The river's high bank was so tall it caused vertigo.

For steeper, rockier drops, you have precipício (precipice) and abismo (abyss). These suggest a much more dramatic and dangerous height than a barranco. If you are standing at the top of a mountain looking down thousands of feet, you are at a precipício.

O caminho passava por um precipício estreito.

Translation: The path went through a narrow precipice.

Lastly, consider declive and aclive. Declive is a downward slope, while aclive is an upward slope. These are formal terms often used in descriptions of terrain or in real estate. They focus on the angle of the land rather than the physical 'wall' of earth that a barranco represents.

O terreno tem um declive suave em direção ao mar.

Translation: The land has a gentle downward slope towards the sea.

By mastering these distinctions, you can describe landscapes with the nuance of a native speaker, moving from the simple 'hill' to the specific 'eroded earthy embankment'.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word is so descriptive of the Iberian landscape that it has been adopted into several other languages in geological contexts.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /baˈʁɐ̃.ku/

US /baˈʁɐ̃.ku/

The stress is on the second syllable: ba-RRAN-co.

Reimt sich auf

branco manco tranco banco tamanco ancora estanco franco

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'rr' as an English 'r' (tapped or retroflex).
Failing to nasalize the 'an' syllable.
Pronouncing the final 'o' as a hard 'oh' instead of a soft 'u'.
Putting the stress on the first syllable.
Confusing the 'b' sound with a 'p' sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize in context, especially in nature descriptions.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires remembering the double 'rr' and masculine gender.

Sprechen 4/5

The guttural 'rr' and nasal 'an' can be tricky for English speakers.

Hören 3/5

Clear sound, but watch out for regional accents affecting the 'rr'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

terra estrada alto cair rio

Als Nächstes lernen

ribanceira deslizamento erosão encosta precipício

Fortgeschritten

geomorphology sedimentação solapamento talude intemperismo

Wichtige Grammatik

Double 'RR' Pronunciation

ba-RRAN-co (Strong guttural sound).

Nasal Vowels (AN)

barrANco (The 'n' is not fully pronounced; it nasalizes the 'a').

Masculine Noun Agreement

O barranco alto (Article and adjective must be masculine).

Preposition Contractions

No barranco (em + o), Do barranco (de + o).

Idiomatic Non-Literalism

Aos trancos e barrancos (Cannot be translated word-for-word).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

O gato está no barranco.

The cat is on the bank.

Uses the contraction 'no' (em + o).

Eu vejo um barranco alto.

I see a high bank.

Adjective 'alto' follows the noun.

O barranco é de terra.

The bank is made of earth.

Uses 'de' to indicate composition.

Tem flores no barranco.

There are flowers on the bank.

'Tem' used as 'there is/are' in informal Brazilian Portuguese.

O barranco fica perto do rio.

The bank is near the river.

'Perto de' requires contraction with 'o rio'.

Não suba no barranco!

Don't climb on the bank!

Imperative negative form.

O carro parou antes do barranco.

The car stopped before the bank.

'Antes de' + 'o' becomes 'antes do'.

O barranco é muito inclinado.

The bank is very steep.

Adverb 'muito' modifying the adjective 'inclinado'.

Nós descemos o barranco com cuidado.

We went down the bank carefully.

Preterite tense of 'descer'.

O projeto está indo aos trancos e barrancos.

The project is going by fits and starts.

Introduction of a common idiom.

Cuidado para não cair no barranco.

Be careful not to fall down the bank.

'Para não' indicates purpose/precaution.

O barranco caiu por causa da chuva.

The bank fell because of the rain.

'Por causa de' indicates cause.

Eles pescam sentados no barranco.

They fish sitting on the bank.

Present tense, plural subject.

A estrada tem muitos barrancos dos lados.

The road has many banks on the sides.

Plural of 'barranco'.

Eu vi um coelho correndo pelo barranco.

I saw a rabbit running through the bank.

Use of 'pelo' (per + o) for movement through a space.

O barranco é vermelho e seco.

The bank is red and dry.

Two adjectives connected by 'e'.

A erosão está destruindo o barranco do rio.

Erosion is destroying the river bank.

Present continuous tense.

Conseguimos terminar a obra aos trancos e barrancos.

We managed to finish the work despite many difficulties.

Idiom used in a professional context.

O caminhão ficou preso na beira do barranco.

The truck got stuck on the edge of the bank.

Passive-like structure with 'ficar'.

É perigoso caminhar aqui quando o barranco está úmido.

It's dangerous to walk here when the bank is damp.

Impersonal 'É perigoso' + infinitive.

O governo precisa estabilizar os barrancos da cidade.

The government needs to stabilize the city's embankments.

Infinitive after 'precisa'.

A vegetação ajuda a segurar a terra no barranco.

Vegetation helps hold the soil on the bank.

Subject-verb agreement with 'ajuda'.

O barranco serve como uma barreira natural.

The bank serves as a natural barrier.

'Serve como' indicates function.

Muitas casas foram construídas sobre o barranco.

Many houses were built on top of the bank.

Passive voice 'foram construídas'.

O deslizamento do barranco bloqueou a rodovia principal.

The landslide of the embankment blocked the main highway.

Compound noun phrase as subject.

A vida dele seguiu aos trancos e barrancos após o divórcio.

His life went on with great difficulty after the divorce.

Metaphorical use of the idiom.

Engenheiros avaliaram a inclinação do barranco para evitar riscos.

Engineers evaluated the slope of the bank to avoid risks.

Preterite of 'avaliar'.

A força da enxurrada cavou um enorme barranco no terreno.

The force of the flash flood dug a huge ravine in the land.

Transitive use of 'cavar'.

O barranco era composto por camadas de argila e areia.

The bank was composed of layers of clay and sand.

Passive description with 'era composto'.

Apesar do perigo, ele saltou o barranco para salvar o cão.

Despite the danger, he jumped over the bank to save the dog.

'Apesar de' expressing concession.

O sol batia forte no barranco, criando sombras profundas.

The sun beat strongly on the bank, creating deep shadows.

Imperfect tense for descriptive background.

O terreno acidentado era cheio de barrancos e valas.

The rugged terrain was full of banks and ditches.

Adjectives describing 'terreno'.

A contenção de barrancos é um desafio constante para a prefeitura.

The containment of embankments is a constant challenge for the city hall.

Formal administrative vocabulary.

A economia do país caminha aos trancos e barrancos, sem estabilidade.

The country's economy is moving along fitfully, without stability.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

O autor descreve o barranco como uma cicatriz na paisagem rural.

The author describes the bank as a scar on the rural landscape.

Literary simile/metaphor.

Houve um desmoronamento súbito do barranco devido à saturação do solo.

There was a sudden collapse of the bank due to soil saturation.

Technical cause-and-effect language.

A topografia local, marcada por barrancos íngremes, dificulta o acesso.

The local topography, marked by steep banks, makes access difficult.

Appositive phrase describing topography.

É imperativo que se faça o reflorestamento do barranco para evitar a erosão.

It is imperative that the reforestation of the bank be done to prevent erosion.

Subjunctive mood after 'é imperativo que'.

O barranco desabou, soterrando parte da plantação de café.

The bank collapsed, burying part of the coffee plantation.

Gerund 'soterrando' expressing consequence.

A luz crepuscular conferia ao barranco uma tonalidade quase mística.

The twilight light gave the bank an almost mystical hue.

Sophisticated descriptive verbs.

A instabilidade geomorfológica do barranco exige intervenções de engenharia pesada.

The geomorphological instability of the embankment requires heavy engineering interventions.

Highly technical terminology.

A democracia brasileira consolidou-se aos trancos e barrancos ao longo das décadas.

Brazilian democracy has consolidated itself fitfully over the decades.

Idiom applied to macro-historical processes.

O estrato sedimentar visível no barranco revela milênios de história geológica.

The sedimentary stratum visible in the bank reveals millennia of geological history.

Scientific register.

A precariedade das habitações erguidas sobre o barranco é um reflexo da desigualdade social.

The precariousness of the dwellings built on the embankment is a reflection of social inequality.

Sociological analysis.

O rio, em seu curso impetuoso, solapava a base do barranco incessantemente.

The river, in its impetuous course, undermined the base of the bank incessantly.

Use of literary and precise verbs like 'solapar'.

A narrativa avança aos trancos e barrancos, espelhando a confusão mental do protagonista.

The narrative advances fitfully, mirroring the protagonist's mental confusion.

Literary criticism context.

O licenciamento ambiental foi obtido aos trancos e barrancos, sob forte pressão política.

The environmental licensing was obtained with great difficulty, under strong political pressure.

Idiom used in a complex bureaucratic context.

O desnível abrupto do barranco impunha um limite intransponível à exploração daquela vertente.

The abrupt drop of the bank imposed an insurmountable limit on the exploration of that slope.

Precise and formal vocabulary.

Synonyme

ribanceira encosta talude declive despenhadeiro barreira grotão precipício

Gegenteile

planície planalto vale depressão

Häufige Kollokationen

beira do barranco

queda de barranco

descer o barranco

subir o barranco

barranco de terra

barranco do rio

estabilizar o barranco

cair no barranco

barranco íngreme

beirar o barranco

Häufige Phrasen

Na beira do barranco

— Literally on the edge of an embankment, or metaphorically in a precarious situation.

A empresa está na beira do barranco financeiro.

Olhar para o barranco

— To look at the slope or bank.

Ficamos olhando para o barranco para ver se havia ninhos.

Escalar o barranco

— To climb up the steep bank.

Ele teve que escalar o barranco para sair do buraco.

Cuidado com o barranco

— A common warning about a steep drop or unstable edge.

Cuidado com o barranco, o chão está mole!

Lá no barranco

— Over there at the bank (pointing to a location).

Deixei minhas ferramentas lá no barranco.

Abaixo do barranco

— Below the embankment.

Tem um córrego logo abaixo do barranco.

Acima do barranco

— Above the embankment.

A casa fica logo acima do barranco.

Ao longo do barranco

— Along the side of the bank.

Caminhamos ao longo do barranco por uma hora.

Proteção do barranco

— Protection or shoring for the bank.

A proteção do barranco falhou durante a enchente.

Barranco alto

— A tall/high embankment.

Aquele barranco alto bloqueia a vista.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

barranco vs barraca

A tent or stall. Phonetically similar but completely different meaning.

barranco vs barriga

Belly. Also starts with 'barri-', can be confused by very early learners.

barranco vs banco

Bank (money) or bench. 'Barranco' is specifically the earthy embankment.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Aos trancos e barrancos"

— To do something with great difficulty, in a clumsy way, or through many obstacles.

Aprendi português aos trancos e barrancos.

Very Common / Informal

"Beira de barranco"

— Used to describe something or someone in a very unstable or dangerous position.

Aquele negócio é beira de barranco, pode falir a qualquer momento.

Informal

"Cair no barranco"

— To fail miserably or to have a major accident (often literal but can be metaphorical).

Se ele não mudar, vai acabar caindo no barranco.

Neutral

"Empurrar para o barranco"

— To push someone toward failure or a difficult situation.

Ele foi empurrado para o barranco pelos próprios sócios.

Informal

"Segurar o barranco"

— To try to prevent a disaster or to maintain a difficult situation.

Estou aqui tentando segurar o barranco sozinho.

Informal

"Dormir no barranco"

— To be homeless or in a very poor state (rare/regional).

Depois de perder tudo, ele acabou dormindo no barranco.

Informal

"Pular o barranco"

— To take a risk or a leap of faith (context dependent).

Ele resolveu pular o barranco e abrir a própria empresa.

Informal

"Lutar no barranco"

— To struggle in a disadvantaged position.

O time estava lutando no barranco para não ser rebaixado.

Informal

"Viver no barranco"

— To live in a precarious or dangerous place.

Muitas famílias ainda vivem no barranco sem segurança.

Neutral/Social

"Sair do barranco"

— To overcome a difficult or 'low' period.

Finalmente consegui sair do barranco e arrumar um emprego.

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

barranco vs ribanceira

Both mean earthy banks.

Ribanceira is much larger and steeper, often associated with high river banks.

O caminhão caiu na ribanceira profunda.

barranco vs encosta

Both refer to slopes.

Encosta is a general term for any side of a hill; barranco is specifically steep and earthy.

A encosta estava cheia de grama verde.

barranco vs talude

Technical synonyms.

Talude is used in engineering for man-made slopes; barranco is more natural and common.

O engenheiro mediu a pressão no talude.

barranco vs precipício

Both involve drops.

Precipício is a sheer, often rocky drop of great height; barranco is earthy and usually shorter.

O alpinista quase caiu no precipício.

barranco vs barreira

In some contexts, they are interchangeable.

Barreira is a wall of earth that 'blocks' something; barranco is the landform itself.

A barreira caiu e fechou a estrada.

Satzmuster

O [noun] está no barranco.

O cachorro está no barranco.

Cuidado com o [noun] no barranco.

Cuidado com o carro no barranco.

O barranco [verb] por causa da chuva.

O barranco caiu por causa da chuva.

Estamos indo aos trancos e barrancos com [noun].

Estamos indo aos trancos e barrancos com as aulas.

A [noun] do barranco é um problema [adjective].

A estabilidade do barranco é um problema grave.

O rio [verb] a base do barranco.

O rio corrói a base do barranco.

Aos trancos e barrancos, a [abstract noun] se [verb].

Aos trancos e barrancos, a paz se manteve.

O [noun] sedimentar do barranco revela [noun].

O perfil sedimentar do barranco revela o passado.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

barranqueira

barranquismo

Verben

embarrancar

desembarrancar

Adjektive

barranquento

barranquenho

Verwandt

barro

barreira

barraca

barriga

tranco

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in daily speech and media.

Häufige Fehler

Eu dormi no barranco. → Eu dormi na barraca.
Confusing 'barranco' (embankment) with 'barraca' (tent).
O barranco é feita de pedra. → O barranco é feito de terra.
Gender disagreement ('feita' vs 'feito') and incorrect material ('pedra' vs 'terra').
Nós fomos aos trancos e os barrancos. → Nós fomos aos trancos e barrancos.
Adding an unnecessary 'os' inside the fixed idiom.
A falésia de terra caiu. → O barranco de terra caiu.
Using 'falésia' (coastal rock cliff) for a simple earthy bank.
O barranco é muito alta. → O barranco é muito alto.
Gender disagreement with the adjective.

Tipps

Roadside Awareness

When driving in Brazil, if you see a sign that says 'Cuidado: Barranco', it means there is a steep drop-off or an unstable wall of earth next to the road.

Natural Context

Associate 'barranco' with 'terra' (earth) to distinguish it from 'penhasco' (rocky cliff).

Master the Idiom

Use 'aos trancos e barrancos' to sound more like a native speaker when describing a struggle.

Gender Check

Always use masculine articles (o/um) with 'barranco'.

The Guttural RR

Practice the double 'r' in the back of your throat to make the word recognizable.

Landslide Warnings

In news reports, 'deslizamento de barranco' is a serious term. Pay attention to it during the rainy season.

Technical Term

If you are in a professional setting, 'talude' is a more precise term for a man-made barranco.

Spelling Tip

Remember the double 'r'. One 'r' would change the sound and the word.

Urban Sensitivity

Understand that 'morar no barranco' often implies living in a vulnerable, low-income area.

Rural Hobby

If someone invites you to 'pescar no barranco', you'll be fishing from the shore, not a boat.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Bank' of 'Rain' (bar-ran-co). When it rains, the bank (barranco) gets muddy and falls.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a red clay wall next to a river with a small 'banco' (bench) sitting on top of the 'barranco'.

Word Web

terra rio estrada perigo queda chuva erosão lama

Herausforderung

Try to use the phrase 'aos trancos e barrancos' in three different sentences today: one about work, one about a hobby, and one about your day.

Wortherkunft

The word likely comes from the pre-Roman Iberian substrate, possibly related to 'barro' (mud/clay). It is shared with Spanish 'barranco'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A deep break or cleft in the earth caused by water.

Romance (Iberian branch).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful using it when discussing landslides in Brazil, as it is a sensitive topic involving loss of life and housing inequality.

English speakers might use 'embankment', 'ravine', or 'ditch' depending on the size, but 'barranco' covers all these earthy slopes.

The song 'Trancos e Barrancos' by various Sertanejo artists. News reports on 'deslizamentos' in Petrópolis. Geographical descriptions in the works of Guimarães Rosa.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Driving/Traffic

Cuidado com o barranco.
O carro caiu no barranco.
O barranco deslizou na pista.
Desvio pelo barranco.

Nature/Hiking

Subir o barranco.
Beira do barranco.
Barranco do rio.
Sentar no barranco.

Construction

Escorar o barranco.
Nivelar o barranco.
Cavar o barranco.
Contenção de barranco.

Weather/Disasters

Risco de queda de barranco.
O barranco cedeu.
Desmoronamento de barranco.
Solo encharcado no barranco.

General Life (Idiomatic)

Indo aos trancos e barrancos.
Vencemos aos trancos e barrancos.
Tudo aos trancos e barrancos.
Levando aos trancos e barrancos.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você já viu um barranco deslizar durante a chuva?"

"Como você descreveria um barranco para alguém que nunca viu um?"

"Você acha que é perigoso morar perto de um barranco?"

"Alguma vez você já fez algo 'aos trancos e barrancos'?"

"Qual é a diferença entre um barranco e uma montanha para você?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva uma viagem onde você viu muitos barrancos na estrada.

Escreva sobre um projeto que você terminou aos trancos e barrancos.

Quais são os perigos de construir casas em barrancos nas grandes cidades?

Imagine que você está pescando em um barranco. O que você vê e sente?

Relate uma situação em que você teve que subir um barranco difícil.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, primarily. It refers to slopes made of earth, clay, or soil. If it's solid rock, words like 'falésia' or 'penhasco' are much more appropriate.

You use it as an adverbial phrase to describe how an action was performed. For example: 'Eu terminei a lição aos trancos e barrancos' means you finished it with many interruptions and difficulties.

Yes, it is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries, though the frequency and specific types of landscapes might vary.

The plural is 'barrancos'. You just add an 's' at the end.

It is masculine: 'o barranco'. This is important for adjective agreement, like 'barranco alto'.

No, that would be a 'buraco' or 'vala'. A 'barranco' is a vertical elevation or a drop-off, not a hole you fall into from level ground.

It refers to a landslide or the collapse of an earthy embankment, often caused by rain.

Absolutely. It is one of the most common ways to describe the steep sides of a river bed.

It is neutral. It can be used in casual conversation, literature, and news reports. However, 'talude' is the preferred formal term in engineering.

The idiom combines 'trancos' (jolts/bumps) and 'barrancos' (banks/slopes) to create a vivid image of a bumpy, difficult journey.

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