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A2 noun 11 Min. Lesezeit

dengue

A tropical viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever and pain.

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'dengue' is a sick feeling caused by a mosquito. Think of it as a very bad 'gripe' (flu) that you get in hot weather. You should learn the phrase 'Eu estou com dengue' (I have dengue) and 'O mosquito da dengue' (The dengue mosquito). It is a feminine word, so we say 'a dengue'. In Brazil, you will see this word on posters with a picture of a mosquito and a red 'X' over it. This means 'No dengue!' or 'Stop dengue!'. You don't need to know the medical details yet, just that it is a common illness and you should avoid standing water to stay safe. If you feel 'dor de cabeça' (headache) and 'febre' (fever), you might tell a doctor 'Acho que estou com dengue' (I think I have dengue).

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At the A2 level, you should be able to describe the symptoms and the basic prevention of 'dengue'. You know it's a feminine noun ('a dengue') and that it's transmitted by the 'picada' (bite) of a mosquito. You can say things like: 'A dengue dá febre e dor no corpo' (Dengue gives fever and body pain). You should also learn the word 'água parada' (standing water), because everyone says 'Não deixe água parada para não pegar dengue'. You might hear this word in simple news reports or from neighbors. You can participate in basic conversations about health, such as: 'Muitas pessoas no meu bairro estão com dengue' (Many people in my neighborhood have dengue). You should also be aware that there is a vaccine, called 'vacina contra a dengue'.

At the B1 level, you can discuss 'dengue' in the context of public health and environment. You understand that it is a recurring problem in tropical climates. You can explain the cycle: 'O mosquito se reproduz na água limpa e parada' (The mosquito reproduces in clean, standing water). You can use more complex verbs like 'combater' (to combat) and 'prevenir' (to prevent). You might read a short article about a 'surto de dengue' (dengue outbreak) and understand the main points. You can also distinguish between 'dengue' and other similar diseases like Zika. You should be comfortable using the word in professional settings if you work in health or social services. You understand that 'a dengue' is a serious issue that requires 'conscientização' (awareness) from the whole community.

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At the B2 level, you can have a detailed conversation about the epidemiological impact of 'dengue'. You can talk about the 'incidência' (incidence) of the disease and the 'campanhas de vacinação' (vaccination campaigns). You understand the difference between 'dengue clássica' and 'dengue hemorrágica'. You can express opinions on why the disease is hard to eradicate, mentioning factors like 'urbanização desordenada' (disordered urbanization) and 'mudanças climáticas' (climate change). You can follow TV news reports that use technical terms like 'sorotipos' (serotypes) or 'agentes de endemias' (endemic agents). You can also use the word metaphorically or understand it in more complex literary contexts, though the medical meaning remains primary.

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At the C1 level, you can analyze the socio-economic consequences of 'dengue' in Lusophone countries. You can read complex scientific papers or government reports about 'políticas públicas de saúde' (public health policies) regarding the disease. You understand the nuances of the word's history and its etymology. You can debate the effectiveness of different 'estratégias de controle vetorial' (vector control strategies). You are aware of the secondary meaning of 'o dengue' (masculine) as coyness/affection and can use it correctly in a romantic or literary context without confusing it with the disease. Your vocabulary includes related terms like 'nebulização' (fumigation/fogging) and 'transmissão transovariana' (transovarian transmission).

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At the C2 level, you possess a near-native understanding of 'dengue' in all its dimensions. You can write academic essays on the history of 'dengue' in the 20th century in Brazil, discussing how it shaped urban planning and public health law. You understand regional variations in how the word is used and the cultural metaphors associated with it. You can follow high-level medical conferences on 'imunologia da dengue' (dengue immunology). You can use the word with absolute precision in any register, from a casual conversation with a child to a formal legal or medical deposition. You are also fully aware of the linguistic evolution of the word and its place in the broader Portuguese lexicon of tropical medicine.

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dengue in 30 Sekunden

Dengue is a tropical viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever and severe pain.
In Portuguese, it is a feminine noun ('a dengue') and is a major public health topic.
Prevention focuses on eliminating standing water where the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds.
Symptoms include high fever, headache, and joint pain, often called 'break-bone fever'.

The word dengue refers to a viral disease that is a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially in Brazil and other Lusophone countries in Africa and Asia. In Portuguese, it is typically used as a feminine noun, a dengue, although you may occasionally encounter the masculine form in older literature or specific regional dialects. The disease is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and the word is most frequently heard during the summer and rainy seasons when mosquito populations peak. For a Portuguese learner, understanding 'dengue' is not just about medical vocabulary; it is about understanding a significant part of the social and civic life in Brazil. Every year, massive government campaigns use this word to mobilize the population to eliminate standing water, which serves as the breeding ground for the vector. The term carries a sense of collective urgency and caution.

Clinical Context: In a medical setting, 'dengue' is used to diagnose a specific set of symptoms including high fever, retro-orbital pain (pain behind the eyes), and joint pain. Doctors will often distinguish between 'dengue clássica' and 'dengue hemorrágica', the latter being a more severe and potentially fatal form of the disease.

A prefeitura iniciou uma campanha contra a dengue no bairro.

Translation: The city hall started a campaign against dengue in the neighborhood.

Beyond the medical definition, the word 'dengue' is integrated into daily conversations about weather and domestic chores. People will often remind each other: 'Não deixe água parada por causa da dengue' (Don't leave standing water because of dengue). It is a word that bridges the gap between private domestic habits and public health safety. Interestingly, the word also has a completely different secondary meaning in Portuguese as a masculine noun (o dengue), referring to a state of being coy, affectionate, or having a certain 'charm' or 'whining' quality, often used with children or romantic partners. However, in 99% of modern contexts, especially in news and health, it refers to the disease. The disease itself is often nicknamed 'febre quebra-ossos' (break-bone fever) because of the intense bone and muscle pain it causes, but 'dengue' remains the standard, formal, and most common name used by everyone from scientists to children in school.

Social Responsibility: The word is often paired with 'combate' (combat) or 'prevenção' (prevention), highlighting that dealing with dengue is seen as a 'war' against the mosquito vector.

Muitas pessoas ficaram doentes com a dengue este ano.

Translation: Many people got sick with dengue this year.

In summary, 'dengue' is a word that resonates with the reality of living in a tropical climate. It appears in newspapers, on television warnings, in school curriculum, and in hospital triage rooms. For the learner, mastering this word includes knowing its feminine gender (a dengue), its association with the mosquito, and its role as a catalyst for community action. It is one of the most important health-related nouns you will learn in Portuguese.

Using the word dengue correctly in Portuguese requires attention to gender and prepositional use. As established, it is a feminine noun. Therefore, you must use feminine articles and adjectives: a dengue, esta dengue, dengue grave. When talking about someone having the disease, the most common verb is estar com (to be with) or pegar (to catch/get). For example, 'Ele está com dengue' (He has dengue) or 'Ela pegou dengue na viagem' (She caught dengue on the trip). It is less common to use 'ter' (to have) in this specific medical context, although it is not strictly incorrect.

Common Verb Pairings: Verbs like 'combater' (to combat), 'prevenir' (to prevent), 'transmitir' (to transmit), and 'erradicar' (to eradicate) are frequently used alongside 'dengue'.

O governo investe milhões para combater a dengue.

Translation: The government invests millions to combat dengue.

When discussing the cause of the disease, the word is often linked to 'mosquito' or 'picada' (bite). You will see phrases like 'picada do mosquito da dengue' (bite of the dengue mosquito). In educational contexts, you will find 'focos de dengue', which refers to locations where mosquito larvae are growing. Sentence structures often follow a cause-and-effect pattern: 'A água parada atrai a dengue' (Standing water attracts dengue). While technically the water attracts the mosquito which then brings the dengue, this shorthand is very common in everyday speech.

Formal vs. Informal Usage: In formal reports, you'll see 'casos de dengue' (dengue cases) or 'incidência de dengue' (dengue incidence). Informally, people might simply say 'A dengue está brava este ano' (Dengue is 'angry'/severe this year).

Não podemos facilitar com a dengue; qualquer recipiente com água é um perigo.

Translation: We can't let our guard down with dengue; any container with water is a danger.

Another important grammatical aspect is the use of 'contra' (against). Because dengue is viewed as an adversary, we use 'vacina contra a dengue' (vaccine against dengue) or 'remédio para dengue' (medicine for dengue). Note that 'para' is used for the purpose of treating it, while 'contra' is for prevention. When writing about the symptoms, you would say: 'Os sintomas da dengue incluem febre e dor no corpo' (The symptoms of dengue include fever and body pain). By practicing these various structures, you will be able to discuss health, prevention, and personal well-being naturally in Portuguese.

You will encounter the word dengue in a variety of real-life settings in Portuguese-speaking countries. One of the most common places is on the news. During the first few months of the year (the Southern Hemisphere summer), news anchors frequently report on 'o aumento dos casos de dengue' (the increase in dengue cases). These reports are often accompanied by graphics showing maps of the most affected regions. You will also hear it in public service announcements (PSAs) on the radio, television, and even via loudspeakers on 'carros de som' (sound cars) that drive through neighborhoods in smaller towns.

In the Neighborhood: Neighbors often discuss 'dengue' when they see someone leaving old tires or open water tanks in their yards. It is a topic of community gossip and concern.

O vizinho pegou dengue e ficou de cama por uma semana.

Translation: The neighbor caught dengue and was bedridden for a week.

In schools, children are taught about the 'ciclo da dengue' (dengue cycle) from a very young age. You might see posters made by students with drawings of the mosquito and crossed-out water bottles. In hospitals and 'Postos de Saúde' (health clinics), there are often separate queues or areas for those presenting 'sintomas de dengue'. Hearing the word in these contexts is a sign of the medical system managing a seasonal surge. You will also hear it in pharmacies, where people ask for 'repelente contra a dengue' (repellent against dengue) or 'paracetamol para a dengue' (since aspirin is avoided due to the risk of hemorrhage).

Workplace Conversations: It is a common reason for medical leave. A colleague might say: 'O João não veio hoje, ele está com suspeita de dengue' (João didn't come today; he's a suspected dengue case).

Cuidado com os vasos de plantas, eles podem juntar dengue.

Translation: Be careful with the plant pots; they can gather/breed dengue.

Finally, the word appears frequently in social media campaigns. Hashtags like #CombateADengue or #ForaDengue trend during outbreaks. Influencers and celebrities often use their platforms to remind followers to check their backyards. Thus, whether through a scientific report, a neighbor's warning, or a government billboard, 'dengue' is a word that permeates the auditory and visual landscape of Portuguese-speaking tropical life.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with the word dengue is confusing its gender. While many diseases in Portuguese are feminine (a gripe, a pneumonia, a malária), learners often default to the masculine because 'dengue' ends in 'e'. However, when referring to the disease, it is almost exclusively feminine: a dengue. Saying 'o dengue' for the illness is technically acceptable in some dictionaries but sounds very unnatural and dated to a modern Brazilian ear. Another common error is confusing the disease with the vector. You don't 'kill the dengue'; you 'kill the mosquito'. You 'combat the dengue' as a phenomenon, but you 'eliminate the focus' (breeding site).

The 'Dengue' vs. 'Dengoso' Confusion: As mentioned before, 'o dengue' (masculine) refers to coyness. If you say 'Ele tem muito dengue', you are saying he is very affectionate/coy, not that he is sick. To say he is sick, use 'Ele está com dengue'.

Mistake: Eu peguei o dengue.
Correct: Eu peguei a dengue.

Another mistake involves the treatment of the word in plural forms. While 'as dengues' is grammatically possible when referring to the different strains of the virus, it is rarely used in common speech. People usually say 'os tipos de dengue' or 'as variantes da dengue'. Learners also often confuse 'dengue' with other similar-sounding words or related diseases like 'zika' or 'chikungunya'. While they are all transmitted by the same mosquito, they are different words. Don't use 'dengue' as a generic term for any mosquito-borne illness.

Spelling Errors: Some learners try to spell it as 'dengi' or 'dengue' without the 'u'. Remember that in Portuguese, 'gue' makes a hard 'g' sound (like in 'game'), and the 'u' is silent.

A dengue é perigosa, não o mosquito em si, mas o vírus que ele carrega.

Translation: Dengue is dangerous, not the mosquito itself, but the virus it carries.

Lastly, be careful with the pronunciation of the final 'e'. In many Brazilian accents, the final 'e' sounds like an 'ee' (den-gee), but in formal speech or other dialects, it might be a softer 'eh' or nearly silent. However, never pronounce the 'u' (it is not 'den-gway'). Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Portuguese sound much more authentic and precise when discussing health topics.

While dengue is a very specific medical term, there are several related words you should know to expand your vocabulary. If you want to talk about being sick in a more general sense, you might use virose. In Brazil, 'virose' is a catch-all term for any viral infection that hasn't been specifically diagnosed yet. Often, before a blood test confirms it is dengue, a doctor might say you have a 'virose'. Another related term is febre (fever), which is the primary symptom. You might also hear moléstia or enfermidade in more formal or academic contexts to refer to the disease.

Dengue vs. Outras Arboviroses: Dengue is often grouped with 'Zika' and 'Chikungunya'. While the symptoms overlap, 'dengue' is the most well-known and historically prevalent in Brazil.

O médico disse que pode ser dengue ou apenas uma virose forte.

Translation: The doctor said it could be dengue or just a strong viral infection.

In terms of adjectives, someone who has dengue is said to be dengoso (only in the affectionate sense!) or more accurately doente com dengue. There isn't a single adjective that means 'dengue-stricken' like there is for 'flu-like' (gripal). Instead, we use the noun with a preposition: 'estado dengoso' is almost never used for the disease; instead, we use 'quadro de dengue' (clinical picture of dengue). If you are talking about the mosquito, you use vetor (vector) or transmissor (transmitter).

Comparison of Terms

Dengue: The specific disease.
Gripe: Influenza (often confused by symptoms).
Virose: Any generic virus.
Malária: Another mosquito-borne disease, but different vector and symptoms.

A dengue hemorrágica é a forma mais severa da enfermidade.

Translation: Hemorrhagic dengue is the most severe form of the illness.

When discussing prevention, instead of 'dengue', you might hear about 'saneamento básico' (basic sanitation) or 'limpeza urbana' (urban cleaning). These are the structural solutions to the 'dengue' problem. In scientific literature, you will see 'DENV' (Dengue Virus). For a learner, knowing these synonyms and contextual words helps you navigate a conversation about health without getting stuck on just one word. It allows you to describe the situation, the feelings, and the solutions more fluently.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Neutral

Informell

Child friendly

Umgangssprache

Wusstest du?

The disease was nicknamed 'break-bone fever' by Benjamin Rush in 1780, but the name 'dengue' only became globally popular in the 19th century.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈdɛŋɡeɪ/

US /ˈdɛŋɡi/

The stress is on the first syllable: DEN-gue.

Reimt sich auf

entregue pegue segue chegue negue regue alegue navegue

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'u' (it is not den-gway).
Putting the stress on the last syllable.
Pronouncing the 'g' like a 'j' (it's a hard 'g' as in 'get').
Thinking the 'ue' is a diphthong like in 'blue'.
Confusing the final 'e' with a nasal sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

The word is easy to recognize but requires context to distinguish from the 'coyness' meaning.

Schreiben 3/5

The 'ue' ending can be tricky for spelling, and the feminine gender is often forgotten.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is simple once you realize the 'u' is silent.

Hören 2/5

Clearly pronounced in media and daily life.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

doença mosquito febre dor água

Als Nächstes lernen

sintoma prevenção vacina epidemia saneamento

Fortgeschritten

arbovirose sorotipo vetor hemorrágico endemia

Wichtige Grammatik

Feminine nouns ending in 'e'

A dengue, a febre, a gripe (Most diseases are feminine).

Silent 'u' after 'g'

Dengue, guerra, guitarra (The 'u' is only pronounced if it has a trema - which no longer exists in PT-BR).

Preposition 'com' for illnesses

Estou com dengue (Not 'Eu tenho uma dengue' usually).

Contraction 'à' with 'combate'

Combate à dengue (Combate a + a dengue).

Adjectives matching disease gender

Dengue grave, dengue forte.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

A dengue é uma doença.

Dengue is a disease.

Uses the feminine article 'A'.

Eu estou com dengue.

I have dengue.

Uses the prepositional phrase 'estar com'.

Cuidado com a dengue!

Watch out for dengue!

Imperative 'Cuidado' followed by 'com'.

O mosquito transmite a dengue.

The mosquito transmits dengue.

Subject-Verb-Object structure.

A dengue dá febre.

Dengue gives (causes) fever.

Verb 'dar' used in the sense of 'to cause symptoms'.

Não pegue dengue.

Don't catch dengue.

Negative imperative.

A dengue dói muito.

Dengue hurts a lot.

Verb 'doer' (to hurt).

Onde está a dengue?

Where is the dengue?

Question form.

A dengue é transmitida pelo mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Passive voice: 'é transmitida'.

Precisamos eliminar a água parada contra a dengue.

We need to eliminate standing water against dengue.

Use of 'contra' to indicate prevention.

Ela teve dengue no ano passado.

She had dengue last year.

Past tense 'teve' (from ter).

Os sintomas da dengue são fortes.

The symptoms of dengue are strong.

Plural noun 'sintomas'.

Você já tomou a vacina da dengue?

Have you already taken the dengue vaccine?

Present perfect sense using 'já' + past tense.

Muitos vizinhos estão com dengue agora.

Many neighbors have dengue now.

Adjective 'muitos' matching 'vizinhos'.

A dengue não passa de pessoa para pessoa.

Dengue does not pass from person to person.

Negative structure 'não passa de... para'.

O repelente ajuda a evitar a dengue.

Repellent helps to avoid dengue.

Verb 'ajudar a' followed by infinitive.

A prefeitura lançou uma campanha de combate à dengue.

The city hall launched a campaign to combat dengue.

Contraction 'à' (a + a) used with 'combate'.

É importante conscientizar a população sobre a dengue.

It is important to make the population aware about dengue.

Impersonal 'É importante' + infinitive.

O número de casos de dengue aumentou neste verão.

The number of dengue cases increased this summer.

Compound noun 'casos de dengue'.

A dengue pode ser confundida com uma gripe forte.

Dengue can be confused with a strong flu.

Passive voice 'pode ser confundida'.

Se você tiver febre alta, procure um médico devido à dengue.

If you have a high fever, see a doctor due to dengue.

Future subjunctive 'tiver'.

A limpeza do quintal é fundamental para prevenir a dengue.

Cleaning the backyard is fundamental to prevent dengue.

Adjective 'fundamental'.

Existem quatro tipos diferentes de vírus da dengue.

There are four different types of dengue virus.

Verb 'existir' in the plural.

A dengue hemorrágica requer hospitalização imediata.

Hemorrhagic dengue requires immediate hospitalization.

Specific medical term 'dengue hemorrágica'.

A incidência da dengue está ligada ao saneamento básico precário.

The incidence of dengue is linked to poor basic sanitation.

Abstract noun 'incidência'.

O governo federal distribuiu novos testes rápidos para a dengue.

The federal government distributed new rapid tests for dengue.

Adjective 'rápidos' modifying 'testes'.

Pesquisadores estudam a eficácia da nova vacina contra a dengue.

Researchers are studying the effectiveness of the new dengue vaccine.

Verb 'estudar' in the present indicative.

A proliferação do mosquito da dengue é favorecida pelo calor excessivo.

The proliferation of the dengue mosquito is favored by excessive heat.

Noun 'proliferação'.

Houve uma queda significativa nos óbitos por dengue este mês.

There was a significant drop in deaths from dengue this month.

Verb 'haver' in the past (houve).

A dengue é considerada uma doença negligenciada em algumas regiões.

Dengue is considered a neglected disease in some regions.

Participle 'considerada' used as an adjective.

É preciso monitorar os focos de dengue para evitar epidemias.

It is necessary to monitor dengue breeding sites to avoid epidemics.

Infinitive 'monitorar' after 'É preciso'.

A imunidade contra a dengue é específica para cada sorotipo.

Immunity against dengue is specific to each serotype.

Technical term 'sorotipo'.

A gestão pública enfrenta desafios complexos no controle da dengue.

Public management faces complex challenges in controlling dengue.

Formal register 'gestão pública'.

A urbanização acelerada contribui para a endemicidade da dengue.

Accelerated urbanization contributes to the endemicity of dengue.

Suffix '-idade' forming an abstract noun.

A análise filogenética do vírus da dengue revelou novas linhagens.

Phylogenetic analysis of the dengue virus revealed new lineages.

Scientific terminology.

O impacto econômico da dengue reflete-se no absenteísmo laboral.

The economic impact of dengue is reflected in workplace absenteeism.

Reflexive verb 'refletir-se'.

A resistência do mosquito aos inseticidas dificulta o combate à dengue.

The mosquito's resistance to insecticides makes the fight against dengue difficult.

Noun 'resistência' followed by 'aos'.

A dengue não deve ser subestimada, dadas as suas possíveis complicações.

Dengue should not be underestimated, given its possible complications.

Passive voice 'deve ser subestimada'.

A cooperação internacional é vital para erradicar a dengue globalmente.

International cooperation is vital to eradicate dengue globally.

Adverb 'globalmente'.

A patogênese da dengue envolve uma resposta imune complexa.

The pathogenesis of dengue involves a complex immune response.

Medical term 'patogênese'.

A onipresença da dengue no imaginário tropical molda comportamentos sociais.

The omnipresence of dengue in the tropical imaginary shapes social behaviors.

High-level abstract vocabulary.

A retórica política muitas vezes instrumentaliza os surtos de dengue.

Political rhetoric often instrumentalizes dengue outbreaks.

Verb 'instrumentalizar' in a political context.

A dengue atua como um marcador de desigualdade socioespacial.

Dengue acts as a marker of socio-spatial inequality.

Sociological terminology.

A variabilidade climática exacerba a vulnerabilidade às epidemias de dengue.

Climate variability exacerbates vulnerability to dengue epidemics.

Verb 'exacerbar'.

A literatura médica contemporânea debate a virulência das cepas de dengue.

Contemporary medical literature debates the virulence of dengue strains.

Collective noun 'cepas' (strains).

A mitigação da dengue exige uma abordagem transdisciplinar robusta.

Dengue mitigation requires a robust transdisciplinary approach.

Noun 'mitigação'.

A subjetividade do paciente com dengue é frequentemente negligenciada no diagnóstico.

The subjectivity of the dengue patient is often neglected in the diagnosis.

Philosophical/Medical overlap.

A dengue transita entre a emergência sanitária e a banalidade cotidiana.

Dengue fluctuates between a sanitary emergency and everyday banality.

Complex verb 'transitar' used metaphorically.

Häufige Kollokationen

combate à dengue

foco de dengue

casos de dengue

sintomas de dengue

vacina da dengue

surto de dengue

mosquito da dengue

dengue hemorrágica

prevenção da dengue

teste de dengue

Häufige Phrasen

Dengue mata

Guerra contra a dengue

Época de dengue

Suspeita de dengue

Fora dengue

Agente da dengue

Dengue clássica

Zap da dengue

Ciclo da dengue

Kit dengue

Wird oft verwechselt mit

dengue vs o dengue

Masculine form means affection or coyness, not the disease.

dengue vs dengo

A noun meaning affection, related to the masculine 'dengue'.

dengue vs zika

A different disease transmitted by the same mosquito.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Estar com o dengue"

Wait! This is the masculine version. It means to be acting coy or whiny.

Pare de estar com o dengue e venha comer.

informal/affectionate

"Fazer um dengue"

To act in a charming or affectionate way to get something.

Ela fez um dengue para o pai comprar o brinquedo.

informal

"Ter dengue"

In the masculine sense, to be a person who is naturally charming or coy.

Aquele menino tem um dengue que encanta a todos.

informal

"Dengue de criança"

The specific type of whining or seeking affection children do when tired.

Isso é só dengue de criança, ela precisa dormir.

informal

"Criar dengue"

In a health context, to allow mosquito breeding sites to form.

Deixar garrafas abertas é criar dengue no quintal.

neutral

"Dengue brava"

A very severe case of the disease (colloquial).

Peguei uma dengue brava que me deixou dez dias de cama.

slang/informal

"Pegar de jeito"

Often used with dengue to mean it hit the person very hard.

A dengue me pegou de jeito desta vez.

informal

"Dengue no pé"

Not a standard idiom, but used regionally to describe the 'break-bone' pain in the legs.

Sinto a dengue no pé, não consigo nem andar.

regional/informal

"Limpar a dengue"

Short for cleaning up mosquito focuses.

Sábado é dia de limpar a dengue.

informal

"Voz de dengue"

A whiny or coy tone of voice (masculine sense).

Não fale com essa voz de dengue comigo.

informal

Leicht verwechselbar

dengue vs Dengue

Gender change changes meaning.

A dengue (feminine) is the disease. O dengue (masculine) is a charming/coy behavior.

A dengue me adoeceu, mas o dengue do meu filho me alegrou.

dengue vs Gripe

Similar initial symptoms.

Gripe usually includes respiratory issues (cough, runny nose), while dengue does not.

Estou com febre, mas não tenho tosse, então deve ser dengue.

dengue vs Malária

Both are mosquito-borne.

Malária is caused by a parasite and a different mosquito (Anopheles).

Na Amazônia, há risco tanto de dengue quanto de malária.

dengue vs Dengo

Sounds almost identical.

Dengo is the noun for the act of being affectionate.

Ele está fazendo dengo para ganhar um doce.

dengue vs Virose

Generic vs. specific.

Virose is any virus; dengue is a specific one.

Toda dengue é uma virose, mas nem toda virose é dengue.

Satzmuster

A dengue é [adjective].

A dengue é ruim.

Eu estou com [disease].

Eu estou com dengue.

É necessário [verb] a dengue.

É necessário combater a dengue.

O aumento da dengue deve-se a [cause].

O aumento da dengue deve-se ao calor.

A despeito da dengue, a população [action].

A despeito da dengue, a população não se cuida.

A dengue reverbera como um [metaphor].

A dengue reverbera como um sintoma do descaso público.

O mosquito da dengue [verb] [object].

O mosquito da dengue pica as pessoas.

Não deixe [noun] por causa da dengue.

Não deixe água parada por causa da dengue.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in tropical countries, especially during summer.

Häufige Fehler

O dengue (when referring to the disease) → A dengue
Learners often think words ending in 'e' are masculine, but 'dengue' is feminine in the context of the illness.
Dengue é contagioso → A dengue não é contagiosa
Dengue is not spread between people; it requires a mosquito vector. Also, the adjective must be feminine (contagiosa).
Eu tenho dengue → Eu estou com dengue
While 'ter' is understood, 'estar com' is the idiomatic way to describe suffering from a temporary condition or illness.
Pronouncing 'Den-gway' → Den-gee (or Den-geh)
The 'u' is silent in the 'gue' syllable in Portuguese.
Matar a dengue → Combater a dengue / Matar o mosquito
You can't 'kill' a disease directly; you combat the disease or kill the vector (mosquito).

Tipps

Gender Tip

Always remember 'A Dengue'. Think of 'A Doença' (The Disease) to remember it is feminine.

No Water

The most important phrase to know is 'Não deixe água parada'. It shows you understand the culture of prevention.

Medication Caution

In Portuguese, we say 'Não tome AAS' (Aspirin) if you suspect dengue. This is a common medical warning.

Community Talk

Asking 'Como está a dengue por aqui?' is a great way to start a conversation with neighbors about local safety.

Silent U

Never pronounce the 'u'. It's 'Deng-e', like the start of 'guess'.

Related Words

Learn 'repelente' (repellent) and 'tela' (screen) as they are the best tools to fight the mosquito.

Summer Warning

In Brazil, January to March is 'Dengue Season'. Be extra careful with your vocabulary and your health then.

Watch the News

News reports on dengue are great for listening practice because they use clear, repetitive language.

Use 'Combate'

When writing about the disease, the word 'combate' (combat) sounds much more natural than 'luta' (fight).

Double Meaning

If someone says a baby has 'muito dengue', they mean the baby is cute and seeks attention, not that it's sick!

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'DEN-gue' as a 'DEN' of mosquitoes that give you a 'GUE' (bad) time. Or remember that 'Dengue' rhymes with 'entregue' (delivered) - the mosquito 'delivers' the virus.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a mosquito wearing a tiny crown (because it's the 'king' of tropical diseases) biting a person who then turns into a skeleton (to represent 'break-bone' fever).

Word Web

mosquito febre água parada Brasil repelente dor vírus vacina

Herausforderung

Try to explain to a friend (in Portuguese) three things you must do in your house to prevent 'a dengue' using the word at least three times.

Wortherkunft

The origin of the word 'dengue' is somewhat debated. Most linguists believe it comes from the Spanish word 'dengue', which originally meant fastidiousness or coyness. It was applied to the disease because the stiff, self-conscious gait of the sufferers (due to joint pain) resembled a coy or affected posture.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Fastidiousness, coyness, or affected behavior.

Romance (via Spanish). Some suggest a Swahili origin ('ki denga pepo'), but the Spanish path is more widely accepted for the Portuguese term.

Kultureller Kontext

When discussing dengue with someone who has had it, be empathetic; it is a very painful experience and can be traumatic if it was the hemorrhagic type.

English speakers often mispronounce it as 'den-gway'. In English, 'dengue' is a technical medical term, but in Portuguese, it's a word everyone knows and uses daily.

The song 'Dengosa' by various Samba artists (referring to the coy meaning). Government campaigns featuring the character 'Mosquito da Dengue'. News coverage of the 2024 record-breaking dengue outbreak in Brazil.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At the Doctor

Acho que estou com dengue.
Quais são os riscos da dengue?
Preciso fazer o exame de dengue?
É dengue hemorrágica?

Neighborhood Cleanup

Cuidado com a água parada!
Vamos eliminar os focos de dengue.
O agente da dengue já passou aqui?
Tire a água dos pratinhos de planta.

News Report

O número de casos de dengue subiu.
A vacinação contra a dengue começou.
Estado de emergência devido à dengue.
Novas variantes da dengue identificadas.

Pharmacy

Você tem repelente para dengue?
Qual remédio posso tomar para dengue?
Não tome aspirina se suspeitar de dengue.
Tem teste rápido de dengue?

School

Hoje vamos aprender sobre a dengue.
Desenhe o mosquito da dengue.
Como a dengue é transmitida?
A dengue é perigosa.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você já teve dengue alguma vez na vida?"

"Como está a situação da dengue no seu bairro?"

"Você acha que as campanhas contra a dengue são eficazes?"

"O que você faz para se proteger da dengue no verão?"

"Você já tomou a nova vacina contra a dengue?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva como você se sentiria se pegasse dengue e o que faria para se recuperar.

Escreva sobre a importância da comunidade se unir para combater a dengue.

Como o clima do seu país influencia a presença de doenças como a dengue?

Crie um roteiro para um pequeno vídeo educativo sobre a prevenção da dengue.

Reflita sobre como a saúde pública pode melhorar o combate à dengue nas grandes cidades.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Não, a dengue não é transmitida de pessoa para pessoa. A única forma de contágio é através da picada do mosquito Aedes aegypti infectado. Por isso, não há perigo em tocar ou estar perto de alguém doente. O foco deve ser sempre eliminar o mosquito.

Para a doença, o gênero é feminino: a dengue. Embora alguns dicionários aceitem o masculino, no Brasil e no uso comum moderno, usa-se exclusivamente o feminino. O masculino 'o dengue' refere-se a um comportamento dengoso ou afetuoso.

Os sintomas mais comuns incluem febre alta súbita, dor de cabeça forte (especialmente atrás dos olhos), dores musculares e nas articulações, além de manchas vermelhas pelo corpo. Se houver sangramentos, é sinal de alerta para a forma hemorrágica.

Sim, existem quatro sorotipos do vírus da dengue. Quando você pega um, fica imune a ele, mas ainda pode pegar os outros três. Geralmente, a segunda infecção por um tipo diferente aumenta o risco de desenvolver a dengue hemorrágica.

Pronuncia-se /'dẽ.gi/ em português do Brasil. O 'u' é totalmente mudo. O 'en' é uma vogal nasal e o 'e' final costuma soar como 'i'. Não diga 'den-gway', pois os nativos não entenderão.

Sim, atualmente existem vacinas disponíveis tanto na rede pública (para grupos específicos) quanto na rede privada no Brasil. A vacinação é uma ferramenta importante, mas não substitui a necessidade de eliminar os criadouros do mosquito.

Água parada é qualquer água acumulada em recipientes que não se movimenta, como em pneus, vasos de plantas, garrafas ou caixas d'água abertas. É o local ideal para o mosquito da dengue depositar seus ovos.

A aspirina e outros anti-inflamatórios não esteroides podem aumentar o risco de hemorragia, o que é perigoso em casos de dengue. O medicamento recomendado para dor e febre geralmente é o paracetamol ou a dipirona, sob orientação médica.

É o Aedes aegypti, um mosquito pequeno, escuro e com listras brancas nas patas e no corpo. Ele tem hábitos diurnos e vive preferencialmente dentro ou perto das casas humanas.

A principal diferença é que a gripe geralmente causa sintomas respiratórios como tosse, dor de garganta e coriza. A dengue foca em dores no corpo, dor nos olhos e não apresenta sintomas respiratórios na maioria dos casos.

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