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B1 adverb 9 Min. Lesezeit

covardemente

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At level A1, you probably won't use the word 'covardemente' very often because it is a long and complex adverb. However, you should understand its root: 'covarde'. A 'covarde' is someone who is very scared and runs away from things. You might hear it in simple stories or cartoons. Think of it as 'very scared-ly'. If a character in a movie runs away when they should stay and help, they are acting 'covardemente'. At this level, just focus on the idea that it is the opposite of 'bravo' (brave) or 'corajoso'. Remember that words ending in '-mente' in Portuguese are like words ending in '-ly' in English. They tell us 'how' someone does something. So, 'covardemente' tells us the person did something because they were a coward.

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At level A2, you can start to recognize 'covardemente' as an adverb of manner. You should know that it comes from 'covarde'. In Portuguese, we use it to describe actions that are not brave. For example, if someone doesn't want to tell the truth because they are afraid, you could say they are acting 'covardemente'. It is a strong word, so be careful! You will see it in simple news reports or stories. A good way to remember it is to compare it to 'corajosamente' (bravely). If you know 'corajosamente', 'covardemente' is just the opposite. You might also see the phrase 'com covardia', which means the same thing but is sometimes easier to say for beginners.

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At level B1, you should be able to use 'covardemente' to describe specific behaviors in social or political contexts. This is the level where you understand that 'covardemente' isn't just about being afraid; it's about a lack of honor. You might use it to discuss a character in a book or a news event. For example, 'O vilão fugiu covardemente' (The villain fled cowardly). You should also notice how the word is formed: the adjective 'covarde' (which is the same for men and women) plus the suffix '-mente'. At this level, you can start using it in your writing to show a more advanced vocabulary and to express your opinion about people's actions.

At level B2, you should understand the emotional and moral weight 'covardemente' carries in Portuguese culture. It is frequently used in journalism to describe crimes against defenseless people. You should be able to distinguish it from 'medrosamente' (fearfully). While 'medrosamente' describes a feeling, 'covardemente' describes a character flaw. You can use it to add emphasis to your arguments in debates or essays. For instance, you might argue that a government acted 'covardemente' by not protecting its citizens. You should also be comfortable with its placement in a sentence, usually after the verb, but sometimes at the beginning for dramatic effect.

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At level C1, you should be familiar with the nuances of 'covardemente' in literature and formal discourse. You understand that it can be used to describe not just physical actions, but also intellectual or moral failures. For example, 'Ele se omitiu covardemente diante do debate' (He cowardly failed to participate in the debate). You should also be aware of more sophisticated synonyms like 'pusilanimemente' or 'vilmente' and know when to choose 'covardemente' over them for the best rhetorical impact. Your use of the word should reflect an understanding of Lusophone values regarding honor, courage, and the 'guerreiro' (warrior) archetype.

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At level C2, you have a complete mastery of 'covardemente'. You can use it with precision in legal, philosophical, or highly literary contexts. You might explore the etymology of the word (from the Latin 'cauda', meaning tail, as in 'turning tail') to add depth to your analysis of a text. You understand how the word has been used historically in Portuguese and Brazilian politics to shame opponents. You can use it in complex sentence structures, such as 'Tendo agido covardemente durante toda a sua vida, o personagem viu-se finalmente confrontado com a sua própria insignificância.' At this level, the word is a tool for subtle psychological and moral characterization.

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Covardemente is a Portuguese adverb meaning 'cowardly'.
It is used to criticize actions that lack courage or honor.
It is formed by adding '-mente' to the adjective 'covarde'.
Commonly found in news, literature, and moral debates.

The Portuguese adverb covardemente is the direct equivalent of the English 'cowardly' or 'in a cowardly manner.' It is derived from the adjective and noun covarde, which refers to someone who lacks courage or who acts with excessive fear, particularly when faced with danger or difficulty. In the Lusophone world, the term carries a heavy moral weight. It is not merely a description of fear—which is often seen as a natural human emotion—but rather a judgment on one's character. To act covardemente is to fail a moral test, often by choosing the easy path of betrayal or abandonment when others depend on you.

Moral Implication: In Portuguese, describing an action as being done covardemente implies that the person had an opportunity to be brave or honorable but chose to act out of self-interest and fear instead. It is frequently used in legal and journalistic contexts to describe attacks where the victim had no chance to defend themselves.

O traidor abandonou seus companheiros covardemente durante a noite.

Translation: The traitor abandoned his companions cowardly during the night.

When you use this word, you are often expressing indignation. It is a word of condemnation. For example, if a politician avoids a difficult question by lying, critics might say they acted covardemente. It suggests a lack of 'espinha dorsal' (backbone). In everyday conversation, it might be used less severely to describe a friend who 'chickened out' of a social obligation, but its primary home is in the realm of ethics and bravery. You will find it in historical texts describing those who collaborated with oppressors or in modern news reporting on street crimes where an armed person attacks an unarmed one.

Contextual Nuance: While 'medrosamente' describes doing something while feeling fear, covardemente describes the character of the action itself. One can be 'medroso' (fearful) but still act 'corajosamente' (bravely). However, acting covardemente is almost always seen as a choice to succumb to fear at the expense of honor.

Ele se escondeu covardemente enquanto os outros enfrentavam o perigo.

The word is also used in literature to highlight the flaws of a protagonist or the villainy of an antagonist. In the works of famous Portuguese-speaking authors like Machado de Assis or Eça de Queirós, characters who act covardemente are often those who are overly concerned with social status and lack the internal strength to do what is right. It is a word that probes the psychological depth of human weakness.

Using covardemente requires an understanding of adverbial placement in Portuguese. Typically, adverbs of manner like this one follow the verb they modify. This creates a rhythmic emphasis on the action being criticized. For instance, in the sentence 'Ele fugiu covardemente' (He fled cowardly), the adverb provides the 'how' of the fleeing, immediately painting a picture of a shameful retreat.

Placement after the Verb: This is the most common position. It emphasizes the manner of the action. Example: 'O exército retirou-se covardemente.' (The army retreated cowardly.)

Não podemos aceitar que ele se comporte covardemente diante da injustiça.

However, for stylistic or emphatic reasons, especially in written Portuguese, the adverb can sometimes be placed at the beginning of the sentence to set the tone. 'Covardemente, o criminoso atacou a vítima pelas costas.' (Cowardly, the criminal attacked the victim from behind.) In this case, the word acts as a modifier for the entire situation, signaling the speaker's judgment before the action is even described.

In Passive Constructions: It can be used to describe actions in the passive voice: 'A decisão foi tomada covardemente por trás de portas fechadas.' (The decision was taken cowardly behind closed doors.)

A mentira foi espalhada covardemente para destruir sua reputação.

Another common usage is in the context of 'attacking' or 'striking.' Phrases like 'atacar covardemente' or 'agredir covardemente' are staples in Portuguese news headlines when reporting on unprovoked violence or domestic abuse. It highlights the disparity in power between the perpetrator and the victim. It is also used in political discourse to describe 'golpes' (coups) or 'traições' (betrayals) that occur without public transparency.

In contemporary Portuguese society, you are likely to hear covardemente in several distinct environments. First and foremost is the news and journalism. When a crime involves a vulnerable victim—such as an elderly person or a child—reporters and police spokespeople often use this adverb to emphasize the brutality and lack of honor in the act. It serves to galvanize public opinion against the perpetrator.

Media Usage: 'O suspeito agrediu a idosa covardemente para roubar sua bolsa.' (The suspect cowardly assaulted the elderly woman to steal her purse.) This language is standard in 'jornais policiais' (crime news).

Muitos críticos afirmam que o governo agiu covardemente ao não enfrentar a crise.

Secondly, you will hear it in political debates. Politicians use it to attack their opponents' integrity. If a leader avoids a debate or fails to take a stand on a controversial issue, they are accused of acting covardemente. In this context, it is a tool for political shaming, suggesting that the opponent is unfit for leadership because they lack the 'coragem' (courage) required by the office.

Literature and Cinema: In films and books, particularly those dealing with historical struggles like the resistance against dictatorships in Brazil or Portugal, 'covardemente' is used to describe informants and those who chose safety over justice.

No filme, o personagem é morto covardemente por uma emboscada.

Lastly, in personal disputes, though less frequent than the adjective 'covarde', the adverb is used when someone wants to specifically describe an action. 'Você me ligou para terminar o namoro? Que coisa feita covardemente!' (You called me to break up? What a cowardly thing to do!) Here, it emphasizes the method of the action—avoiding a face-to-face confrontation—rather than just the person's character.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing covardemente with medrosamente. While both relate to fear, their usage is quite different. Medrosamente is simply the manner of being afraid (e.g., walking fearfully into a dark room). It is a neutral description of an internal state. Covardemente, however, is a moral judgment. You wouldn't say a child walked 'covardemente' into a dark room; you would say 'medrosamente' because the child isn't failing a moral duty.

Mistake: Over-formalization: Learners often think that because it's a long word ending in '-mente', it is always formal. While it is used in formal writing, it is very common in emotional, everyday speech when expressing anger or betrayal.

Errado: Ele tremeu covardemente de frio. (Wrong: He shook cowardly from the cold.)

Correct: Ele tremeu de frio. (Fear/cowardice doesn't apply to physical sensations like cold.)

Another error is the incorrect formation of the adverb. Some learners might try to say 'covardamente' because they assume adverbs always end in '-amente'. However, the suffix is -mente, and it attaches to the feminine form of the adjective. Since 'covarde' ends in 'e', it is the same for both genders, and the resulting word is 'covardemente'.

Confusing with 'com covardia': While 'agiu covardemente' and 'agiu com covardia' mean the same thing, 'com covardia' is often preferred in spoken Brazilian Portuguese because it feels slightly less 'heavy' or 'bookish' than the long adverb.

Ele evitou o confronto covardemente. (Correct and impactful.)

Finally, don't use 'covardemente' to describe something that is simply 'shy' or 'introverted'. Shyness is timidez. Using 'covardemente' for a shy person would be a severe and inappropriate insult, as it implies they are intentionally failing a moral obligation to be brave.

To enrich your Portuguese, it is helpful to know synonyms and related terms that can replace covardemente depending on the level of intensity you want to convey. If you want to describe someone who is simply acting out of fear without the moral judgment, medrosamente is your best bet. If you want to be even more insulting, you might use vilmente.

Covardemente vs. Vilmente: While 'covardemente' focuses on the lack of courage, 'vilmente' focuses on the despicableness or 'vile' nature of the act. A betrayal is often 'vilmente' executed.

O espião agiu vilmente, vendendo segredos de estado.

Another interesting alternative is pusilanimemente. This is a very high-level, academic word. It comes from 'pusilânime' (weak-willed). It is rarely heard in conversation but appears in formal literature and legal texts to describe a profound and pathetic lack of spirit or resolve. In contrast, ignobilmente (ignobly) suggests that the action was beneath the dignity of a human being.

Antonyms: The most direct antonym is corajosamente (bravely) or bravamente (valiantly). Using these provides a sharp contrast to the negative connotations of cowardice.

Ao contrário do seu irmão, ele enfrentou o leão corajosamente.

Finally, consider traiçoeiramente (treacherously). While 'covardemente' implies fear, 'traiçoeiramente' implies a breach of trust. Often, an action can be both: 'Ele o atacou covarde e traiçoeiramente.' This double adverbial phrase is common in dramatic storytelling to emphasize the total lack of honor in a character's actions.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

Because 'covarde' comes from 'tail', the word literally describes someone who 'turns tail' and runs away from a fight.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ku.vɐɾ.dɨˈmẽ.tɨ/

US /ko.vaʁ.deˈmẽ.tʃi/

The primary stress is on the penultimate syllable 'men'.

Reimt sich auf

infelizmente rapidamente corajosamente contentemente claramente livremente fortemente novamente

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing '-mente' as /ment/ (English-like). It must end in a vowel sound.
Stress on the 'var' syllable. Remember that '-mente' adverbs always shift stress to the suffix.
Mixing the European /tɨ/ with the Brazilian /tʃi/ in the same sentence.
Forgetting the nasalization of the 'en' in 'mente'.
Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k' sound (correct) but failing to close the 'o' in European Portuguese.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Easy to recognize because of the -mente suffix and common root.

Schreiben 4/5

Requires correct spelling and understanding of moral nuances.

Sprechen 5/5

A long word that can be a tongue-twister for beginners.

Hören 3/5

Clear pronunciation, usually emphasized in speech.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

medo coragem forte fraco covarde

Als Nächstes lernen

vilmente traiçoeiramente bravamente audaciosamente temerariamente

Fortgeschritten

pusilanimidade abjeção ignomínia vilania

Wichtige Grammatik

Adverb formation with -mente

covarde -> covardemente; feliz -> felizmente

Adverbial placement after the verb

Ele correu covardemente.

Nasalization of 'en' in Portuguese

The 'en' in 'mente' is a nasal vowel /ẽ/.

Use of 'com' + abstract noun as adverbial phrase

Agiu com covardia = Agiu covardemente.

Uniform adjectives in '-e'

'Covarde' does not change for gender, so the adverb is always 'covardemente'.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Ele fugiu covardemente.

He fled cowardly.

Simple verb + adverb construction.

Não seja covarde, não aja covardemente.

Don't be a coward, don't act cowardly.

Imperative mood.

O gato saiu covardemente da sala.

The cat left the room cowardly.

Subject + verb + adverb + complement.

Ele se escondeu covardemente.

He hid cowardly.

Reflexive verb 'se esconder'.

Ela gritou e correu covardemente.

She screamed and ran cowardly.

Compound action.

O menino agiu covardemente com o amigo.

The boy acted cowardly with his friend.

Preposition 'com' used for the target of the action.

Eles saíram covardemente antes do fim.

They left cowardly before the end.

Plural subject.

Você está agindo covardemente.

You are acting cowardly.

Present continuous tense.

O ladrão atacou a mulher covardemente.

The thief attacked the woman cowardly.

Standard SVO structure with adverbial modifier.

Ele não quis lutar e fugiu covardemente.

He didn't want to fight and fled cowardly.

Negative 'não' with infinitive 'lutar'.

Muitos soldados abandonaram o posto covardemente.

Many soldiers abandoned the post cowardly.

Quantifier 'muitos' with plural noun.

Ela mentiu covardemente para não ser punida.

She lied cowardly so as not to be punished.

Conjunction 'para' expressing purpose.

O político evitou a pergunta covardemente.

The politician avoided the question cowardly.

Direct object 'a pergunta'.

Eles se calaram covardemente diante do erro.

They kept quiet cowardly in the face of the error.

Reflexive 'se calar'.

O cachorro latiu, mas depois fugiu covardemente.

The dog barked, but then fled cowardly.

Adversative conjunction 'mas'.

Não podemos agir covardemente agora.

We cannot act cowardly now.

Modal verb 'poder' in the negative.

O agressor aproveitou-se da fraqueza da vítima e a golpeou covardemente.

The attacker took advantage of the victim's weakness and struck her cowardly.

Pronominal verb 'aproveitar-se' followed by 'de'.

Covardemente, ele enviou uma mensagem para terminar o relacionamento.

Cowardly, he sent a message to end the relationship.

Adverb at the beginning for emphasis.

A empresa demitiu os funcionários covardemente, sem aviso prévio.

The company fired the employees cowardly, without prior notice.

Prepositional phrase 'sem aviso prévio'.

Ele se recusou a defender o amigo, agindo covardemente.

He refused to defend his friend, acting cowardly.

Gerund 'agindo' as a secondary clause.

A imprensa criticou o ministro por ter recuado covardemente.

The press criticized the minister for having retreated cowardly.

Compound infinitive 'por ter recuado'.

É triste ver alguém de quem gostamos agir tão covardemente.

It is sad to see someone we like act so cowardly.

Relative clause 'de quem gostamos'.

O exército inimigo retirou-se covardemente após o primeiro ataque.

The enemy army withdrew cowardly after the first attack.

Reflexive 'retirou-se'.

Ele sempre fala mal dos outros, mas apenas covardemente pelas costas.

He always speaks ill of others, but only cowardly behind their backs.

Idiomatic expression 'pelas costas'.

O réu foi condenado por ter assassinado covardemente o seu rival desarmado.

The defendant was convicted for having cowardly murdered his unarmed rival.

Past participle 'condenado' in a passive sense.

Muitos consideram que o governo se omitiu covardemente durante a crise sanitária.

Many consider that the government cowardly failed to act during the health crisis.

Subordinate clause starting with 'que'.

A traição foi planejada covardemente durante meses por aqueles que ele mais confiava.

The betrayal was cowardly planned for months by those he trusted most.

Passive voice 'foi planejada'.

Não se pode permitir que a justiça seja ignorada tão covardemente.

One cannot allow justice to be ignored so cowardly.

Impersonal 'se' construction.

O autor descreve como o protagonista cedeu covardemente às pressões sociais.

The author describes how the protagonist cowardly yielded to social pressures.

Verb 'ceder' followed by 'a'.

Ele preferiu calar-se covardemente a enfrentar as consequências de seus atos.

He preferred to keep quiet cowardly rather than face the consequences of his acts.

Comparative structure 'preferir... a...'.

A agressão, praticada covardemente, gerou revolta em toda a comunidade.

The assault, practiced cowardly, generated outrage in the whole community.

Appositive phrase 'praticada covardemente'.

O capitão abandonou o navio covardemente, deixando os passageiros à própria sorte.

The captain abandoned the ship cowardly, leaving the passengers to their own fate.

Gerund 'deixando' showing simultaneous action.

A história julgará aqueles que se esconderam covardemente sob o manto da neutralidade.

History will judge those who cowardly hid under the cloak of neutrality.

Future tense 'julgará' for prophetic tone.

Covardemente, a oposição evitou o debate direto, preferindo ataques anônimos na rede.

Cowardly, the opposition avoided direct debate, preferring anonymous online attacks.

Adverbial start and participial phrase.

O intelectual foi acusado de ter capitulado covardemente diante do regime autoritário.

The intellectual was accused of having cowardly capitulated before the authoritarian regime.

Verb 'capitular' in the perfect infinitive.

A decisão de cancelar o projeto foi comunicada covardemente por um e-mail impessoal.

The decision to cancel the project was cowardly communicated via an impersonal email.

Passive voice with agent of the passive.

Ele agiu covardemente ao não assumir a paternidade da obra que tanto elogiara.

He acted cowardly by not assuming the paternity of the work he had praised so much.

Pluperfect indicative 'elogiara' (literary).

A corrupção se alastra covardemente quando os bons se calam.

Corruption spreads cowardly when good people remain silent.

Temporal clause with 'quando'.

O réu implorou por misericórdia, após ter agido covardemente durante o crime.

The defendant begged for mercy after having acted cowardly during the crime.

Prepositional phrase 'após ter agido'.

Sentia que estava a trair os seus princípios ao aceitar covardemente aquela proposta.

He felt he was betraying his principles by cowardly accepting that proposal.

Infinitive construction 'estava a trair' (European Portuguese).

A pusilanimidade do caráter manifestou-se quando ele, covardemente, renegou a sua fé.

The pusillanimity of character manifested itself when he, cowardly, disowned his faith.

Intercalated adverb between commas.

É um ato que ressoa covardemente através das gerações, maculando o nome da família.

It is an act that resonates cowardly through generations, tainting the family name.

Present participle 'maculando'.

O estratagema foi urdido covardemente nas sombras, longe do escrutínio público.

The stratagem was cowardly woven in the shadows, far from public scrutiny.

Past participle 'urdido' (woven/plotted).

Ao esquivar-se covardemente do seu dever cívico, ele demonstrou a sua verdadeira natureza.

By cowardly dodging his civic duty, he demonstrated his true nature.

Gerundial infinitive 'Ao esquivar-se'.

A narrativa explora como o medo pode levar um homem íntegro a agir covardemente.

The narrative explores how fear can lead an upright man to act cowardly.

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive 'levar'.

Covardemente, os conspiradores aguardaram o momento de maior vulnerabilidade do rei.

Cowardly, the conspirators awaited the king's moment of greatest vulnerability.

Superlative 'maior vulnerabilidade'.

Não houve honra na vitória, pois foi conquistada covardemente através do suborno.

There was no honor in the victory, as it was cowardly conquered through bribery.

Causal conjunction 'pois'.

A sua omissão, embora silenciosa, gritava covardemente aos ouvidos dos injustiçados.

His omission, though silent, screamed cowardly into the ears of the wronged.

Oxymoron 'omissão... gritava'.

Häufige Kollokationen

atacar covardemente

fugir covardemente

agir covardemente

mentir covardemente

esconder-se covardemente

recuar covardemente

calar-se covardemente

agredir covardemente

trair covardemente

omitir-se covardemente

Häufige Phrasen

Agiu covardemente.

— He/she acted cowardly. A short, sharp accusation.

Quando questionado, ele agiu covardemente e não respondeu.

Foi atacado covardemente.

— He was attacked in a cowardly way. Used when the victim was defenseless.

O idoso foi atacado covardemente no parque.

Fugiu covardemente da raia.

— He cowardly avoided the challenge/fight. 'Fugir da raia' is an idiom for backing out.

Na hora do debate, ele fugiu covardemente da raia.

Não seja covarde, não aja covardemente.

— Don't be a coward, don't act cowardly. An exhortation to bravery.

A mãe disse ao filho: não aja covardemente com seus colegas.

Um crime cometido covardemente.

— A crime committed in a cowardly manner. Common in legal reports.

O tribunal considerou que foi um crime cometido covardemente.

Esconder-se covardemente atrás de alguém.

— To cowardly hide behind someone else. Implies using others for protection.

Ele se esconde covardemente atrás da autoridade do pai.

Retirar-se covardemente do campo.

— To cowardly withdraw from the field. Can be literal or metaphorical.

O time retirou-se covardemente após o primeiro gol.

Calar-se covardemente.

— To remain silent in a cowardly way. Implies a moral failure to speak up.

As testemunhas calaram-se covardemente.

Um ataque covardemente planejado.

— An attack cowardly planned. Emphasizes the premeditation of a dishonorable act.

Foi um ataque covardemente planejado pela milícia.

Comportar-se covardemente.

— To behave cowardly. A general description of behavior.

Ele costuma comportar-se covardemente em situações de estresse.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

covardemente vs medrosamente

Medrosamente is just being afraid; covardemente is being a coward (moral failure).

covardemente vs timidamente

Timidamente is being shy; covardemente is being cowardly. Don't confuse shyness with lack of honor.

covardemente vs vagarosamente

They sound similar to beginners, but vagarosamente means 'slowly'.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"meter o rabo entre as pernas"

— To put one's tail between one's legs. Closely related to the etymology of 'covarde'.

Depois de ser desmascarado, ele saiu com o rabo entre as pernas, agindo covardemente.

informal

"fugir da raia"

— To back out of a commitment or challenge.

Ele sempre foge da raia covardemente quando o trabalho fica difícil.

informal

"pelas costas"

— Behind someone's back. Often used with 'covardemente'.

Ele só fala covardemente pelas costas dos outros.

neutral

"jogar a pedra e esconder a mão"

— To throw the stone and hide the hand. To do something bad and pretend you didn't.

Ele jogou a pedra e escondeu a mão, agindo covardemente contra o vizinho.

neutral

"amarelar"

— To turn yellow (to chicken out).

Ele amarelou covardemente na hora de pular de paraquedas.

slang

"dar para trás"

— To go back on one's word.

Ele deu para trás covardemente no último minuto.

informal

"vender-se por trinta moedas de prata"

— To sell oneself for thirty pieces of silver. A biblical reference to betrayal.

Ele vendeu-se covardemente por trinta moedas de prata ao trair o sócio.

literary

"ser um Maria vai com as outras"

— To be a person who just follows others (no backbone).

Ele age covardemente como um Maria vai com as outras.

informal

"tirar o corpo fora"

— To take one's body out (to avoid responsibility).

Quando a polícia chegou, ele tratou de tirar o corpo fora covardemente.

informal

"ficar em cima do muro"

— To stay on the fence (not choosing a side).

O político ficou em cima do muro covardemente durante a votação.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

covardemente vs medrosamente

Both relate to fear.

Medrosamente describes the feeling of fear (neutral). Covardemente describes a shameful action (negative).

Ele tremeu medrosamente (He shook fearfully). Ele mentiu covardemente (He lied cowardly).

covardemente vs vilmente

Both are negative adverbs for bad actions.

Vilmente means 'vilely' or 'despicably'. It's even stronger and more formal than covardemente.

Ele traiu o país vilmente.

covardemente vs traiçoeiramente

Cowardice and betrayal often go together.

Traiçoeiramente focus on the 'trap' or 'betrayal' aspect. Covardemente focus on the lack of courage.

O inimigo atacou traiçoeiramente.

covardemente vs furtivamente

Both can involve hiding.

Furtivamente means 'stealthily' or 'secretly' (neutral). Covardemente is always negative.

O gato moveu-se furtivamente.

covardemente vs poltronamente

Both mean cowardly.

Poltronamente is very archaic and literary. You will almost never hear it in modern speech.

O fidalgo fugiu poltronamente.

Satzmuster

Sujeito + Verbo + covardemente.

O homem fugiu covardemente.

Sujeito + Verbo + Objeto + covardemente.

Ele abandonou o amigo covardemente.

Covardemente, + Sujeito + Verbo.

Covardemente, ela mentiu para o chefe.

Sujeito + foi + Particípio + covardemente.

A vítima foi atacada covardemente.

Ao + Infinitivo + covardemente, + Sujeito + ...

Ao agir covardemente, ele perdeu o respeito de todos.

Sujeito + Verbo + de forma + covardemente (incorrect) -> de forma covarde.

Ele agiu de forma covarde. (Note: 'forma' takes the adjective).

Não apenas + Verbo, + mas + Verbo + covardemente.

Não apenas falhou, mas falhou covardemente.

Ação + que + se + Verbo + covardemente.

Uma traição que se consumou covardemente.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

covardia (cowardice)

covarde (coward - person)

Verben

acovardar (to make someone a coward or to become one)

acovardar-se (to become frightened/cowardly)

Adjektive

covarde (cowardly)

acovardado (frightened/cowering)

Verwandt

medo

temor

receio

pânico

pusilanimidade

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in journalism and literature; moderate in daily speech.

Häufige Fehler

Saying 'Ele é covardemente'. → Ele é covarde.
You use adjectives with 'ser' (to be) to describe people. You use adverbs to describe actions.
Using 'covardemente' for physical fear (like being afraid of heights). → Ele tem medo de altura.
Cowardice is a moral failure, not a physical phobia.
Spelling it 'covardamente'. → Covardemente.
The suffix is -mente, and the adjective is covarde.
Using it as a synonym for 'quietly'. → Silenciosamente.
Just because someone is quiet doesn't mean they are acting cowardly.
Pronouncing the 'e' at the end like the 'e' in 'pet'. → Pronounce it like /i/ (BR) or /ɨ/ (PT).
Final unstressed 'e' in Portuguese usually changes its sound.

Tipps

Suffix Power

Remember that '-mente' is your best friend for turning adjectives into adverbs. If you know 'covarde', you now know 'covardemente'.

The Honor Code

In Portuguese-speaking cultures, courage is highly valued. Using 'covardemente' is a serious way to say someone has failed socially.

Adverb Placement

Put it after the verb for a natural flow: 'Ele agiu covardemente'.

Nasal Sounds

The 'en' in 'mente' is nasal. Don't pronounce the 'n' fully; just let the air go through your nose.

Fear vs. Cowardice

Don't use it for someone who is just scared of spiders. Use it for someone who betrays a friend out of fear.

Stylistic Variety

Switch between 'covardemente' and 'com covardia' to make your writing more interesting.

Watch the News

Listen for this word in Brazilian 'jornais policiais' to hear it used in its most common real-world context.

Learn the Opposite

Always learn 'corajosamente' alongside 'covardemente' to have the full spectrum of description.

Tail Metaphor

Remember the dog with its tail between its legs to understand the deep meaning of 'covarde'.

Handle with Care

This is a high-intensity word. Use it only when you really mean to criticize someone's character.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a COWARD who is MENTE-ally (mentally) weak. COVARDE + MENTE = COVARDEMENTE.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a dog with its tail (cauda) between its legs, sneaking away from a challenge. That 'tail-down' manner is covardemente.

Word Web

covardia medo traição fuga vilão fraqueza sombra atacar pelas costas

Herausforderung

Try to use 'covardemente' in a sentence describing a villain in a movie you recently watched. Then, try to use its antonym 'corajosamente' for the hero.

Wortherkunft

From the Portuguese adjective 'covarde' + the adverbial suffix '-mente'. 'Covarde' comes from the Old French 'couard', which is derived from the Latin 'cauda', meaning 'tail'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The original metaphor refers to an animal (like a dog) that puts its tail between its legs when it is afraid or defeated.

Romance (Latin root via Old French).

Kultureller Kontext

This is a very strong insult. Calling someone's actions 'covardemente' can lead to serious conflict.

English speakers might use 'cowardly' more as an adjective, whereas Portuguese speakers frequently use the adverbial form to describe the specific nature of an act.

The phrase 'Os bons se calam covardemente' (The good remain silent cowardly) is often attributed to various thinkers to describe social apathy. In the movie 'Tropa de Elite', the term is used to describe corrupt police actions. Historical accounts of the death of Tiradentes often mention those who betrayed him covardemente.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

News/Crime

Ataque covardemente executado
Vítima agredida covardemente
Assassinado covardemente
Crime praticado covardemente

Politics

Omitir-se covardemente
Recuar covardemente
Trair covardemente o povo
Atacar a oposição covardemente

Relationships

Terminar covardemente por mensagem
Mentir covardemente
Esconder a verdade covardemente
Abandonar o parceiro covardemente

History/War

Retirada covardemente
Rendição covardemente
Colaborar covardemente
Desertar covardemente

Sports

Jogar covardemente (defensively/scared)
Fugir do jogo covardemente
Simular falta covardemente
Desistir covardemente

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você acha que ele agiu covardemente naquela situação?"

"Por que algumas pessoas preferem mentir covardemente a dizer a verdade?"

"Qual foi o ato mais covardemente que você já viu em um filme?"

"É possível agir covardemente e depois se tornar um herói?"

"Você concorda que atacar alguém desarmado é agir covardemente?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva uma situação em um livro onde um personagem agiu covardemente e como isso mudou a história.

Reflita sobre a diferença entre sentir medo e agir covardemente.

Escreva sobre um momento histórico em que uma decisão foi tomada covardemente.

Como você reagiria se alguém o acusasse de agir covardemente?

Pense em um vilão de cinema. Ele é mau ou apenas age covardemente?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, it is a strong moral condemnation. If you say someone acted 'covardemente', you are saying they lack honor and courage.

Usually, no. It's better to use 'medrosamente' (fearfully) for children, as 'covardemente' implies a level of adult moral responsibility.

They mean the same thing. 'Covardemente' is a single adverb, while 'com covardia' is a prepositional phrase. 'Com covardia' is slightly more common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

It is always 'covardemente'. The suffix '-mente' is added to the adjective 'covarde', which ends in 'e'.

In most parts of Brazil, the '-te' at the end sounds like 'tchi' (as in 'cheese').

It is most common in news reporting, especially when describing crimes against defenseless people.

Yes, adverbs are invariable. It works for men, women, and plural groups.

Not necessarily. It can mean acting out of self-interest to avoid a difficult but correct path, even if the person isn't physically shaking with fear.

Yes, in Brazil you might hear 'na crocodilagem' or 'amarelando' to describe similar behaviors.

Only if you are describing a situation where someone else acted unethically, but be careful as it is a very strong word.

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