At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic meaning of 'esgotar', which is 'to sell out' or 'to run out of something'. You will mostly see this word in shops or online stores. For example, if you see 'Esgotado' next to a shirt you like, it means you cannot buy it because they have none left. It is important to recognize the word on signs and labels. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just remember that 'esgotado' means 'sold out'. You might also hear it in simple sentences about being very tired, like 'Estou esgotado' (I am very tired), though 'muito cansado' is more common at this stage. Think of it as a 'red light' word—it means something has stopped or is gone. Beginners should practice recognizing the past participle 'esgotado' as an adjective first. This helps in navigating daily life in a Portuguese-speaking country, especially during sales or when booking tickets for popular events. It is a vital survival word for any traveler.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'esgotar' as a verb in simple sentences. You should be able to say things like 'A bateria esgotou' (The battery ran out) or 'O leite esgotou' (The milk ran out). You are learning that this verb is used when a supply reaches zero. You also start to use the reflexive form 'esgotar-se' to talk about things running out on their own. For example, 'O tempo está a esgotar-se' (Time is running out). At this stage, you should also distinguish between 'esgotado' (sold out/exhausted) and 'cansado' (tired). Using 'esgotado' shows a higher level of Portuguese because it implies a more extreme state. You should practice the present and past tenses of the verb. For instance, 'Eu esgotei o meu dinheiro' (I used up my money). This level is about moving from passive recognition to active, simple usage in daily contexts like shopping, technology, and personal energy levels.
At the B1 level, you can use 'esgotar' in more abstract and professional contexts. You might talk about 'esgotar a paciência' (exhausting patience) or 'esgotar um assunto' (exhausting a topic). You understand that 'esgotar' implies a thoroughness that other verbs lack. You can participate in discussions about work-life balance and use the term 'esgotamento' (burnout). You also become more comfortable with the reflexive usage in different tenses, including the future and the conditional. For example, 'Se eu trabalhar tanto, vou me esgotar' (If I work so much, I will exhaust myself). You are able to use the verb to describe environmental issues, like the depletion of natural resources. This level requires you to understand the nuance that 'esgotar' is not just about finishing, but about the complete consumption of a resource. You should be able to explain *why* something is 'esgotado' using connectors like 'porque' or 'devido a'.
At the B2 level, you use 'esgotar' with precision in complex sentences. You can handle the nuances between 'esgotar', 'exaurir', and 'consumir'. You use 'esgotar' to describe exhaustive research or a comprehensive analysis of a situation. For example, 'O relatório esgotou todas as possibilidades de erro' (The report exhausted all possibilities of error). You are also familiar with idiomatic expressions and can use the word in formal writing, such as essays or business emails. You understand the passive voice constructions, such as 'Os recursos foram esgotados pela indústria' (The resources were depleted by industry). At this stage, you can use the verb to discuss psychological states in depth, distinguishing between physical fatigue and mental 'esgotamento'. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use 'esgotar' as a way to emphasize the finality and totality of an action. You should also be able to use the word in the subjunctive mood to express doubts or wishes, like 'Espero que a água não se esgote' (I hope the water doesn't run out).
At the C1 level, 'esgotar' is a tool for stylistic variety and precise communication. You use the verb in its most formal and literary senses. You might discuss how a specific literary movement 'esgotou a sua estética' (exhausted its aesthetic). You are capable of using 'esgotar' in legal, academic, or philosophical debates to mean that a line of reasoning has been pursued to its absolute limit. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and can use it to create vivid imagery in your writing. You can seamlessly switch between the literal meaning (depleting a well) and the metaphorical meaning (depleting a person's soul or a country's potential). Your usage of the reflexive and non-reflexive forms is flawless, and you can use the word to convey subtle irony or emphasis. For example, 'Ele esgotou o dicionário para me insultar' (He exhausted the dictionary to insult me). At this level, you are also aware of regional variations in how the word is used across the Lusophone world.
At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'esgotar'. You can use it to discuss the 'esgotamento' of philosophical paradigms or the 'esgotamento' of a historical era. You use the word in highly nuanced ways, perhaps in poetry or complex technical documents, where the choice of 'esgotar' over a synonym carries specific weight. You are able to analyze the word's role in the Portuguese language and how it reflects cultural attitudes toward resources and energy. You can use the verb in complex structures involving multiple clauses and sophisticated grammar, such as the 'infinitivo pessoal' or rare subjunctive forms. You understand the word's potential for double entendre and can use it to produce sophisticated humor or critique. For a C2 speaker, 'esgotar' is not just a verb; it is a concept of finality, entropy, and completeness that you can weave into the most demanding linguistic tasks with the ease of a native scholar.

esgotar in 30 Sekunden

  • Esgotar means to exhaust or deplete resources completely.
  • It is commonly used to mean 'sold out' in commercial contexts.
  • It describes extreme physical or mental fatigue (burnout).
  • It can also mean covering a topic thoroughly in academic settings.
The Portuguese verb esgotar is a powerful and versatile word that translates most directly to 'to exhaust', 'to deplete', or 'to sell out'. It is a regular -ar verb that carries significant weight in both physical and metaphorical contexts. Historically, the word is built upon the root 'gota' (drop), suggesting a process where something is drained or removed drop by drop until absolutely nothing is left. In everyday life, you will encounter this word in three primary domains: commerce, physical/mental health, and environmental resources.
Commercial Depletion
In a retail or event context, 'esgotar' signifies that an item is sold out. When a concert is 'esgotado', it means every single ticket has been purchased. You will often see signs in shop windows or on websites saying 'Produto esgotado' (Product sold out).

Os ingressos para o festival de música costumam esgotar em poucos minutos após o início das vendas.

Physical and Mental State
When applied to people, 'esgotar' describes a state of total fatigue. It is the root of the noun 'esgotamento', which is the Portuguese term for 'burnout'. If you say 'Eu me esgotei no trabalho', you are expressing that you have given every ounce of energy you had to your job, leaving you empty.

Depois de correr a maratona, o atleta sentiu que as suas energias iriam esgotar-se completamente.

Resource Management
In environmental or economic discussions, 'esgotar' refers to the consumption of finite resources. For instance, 'esgotar as reservas de petróleo' means to use up the oil reserves. It implies a point of no return where the supply is gone.

Se não mudarmos nossos hábitos, vamos esgotar os recursos naturais do planeta muito em breve.

A paciência da professora começou a esgotar devido ao barulho constante na sala de aula.

Precisamos encontrar uma solução antes que o tempo se venha a esgotar.

Furthermore, 'esgotar' can be used in academic or intellectual contexts to describe the exhaustive treatment of a subject. When a scholar 'esgota um tema', they have researched and discussed it so thoroughly that there is virtually nothing new left to say. This demonstrates the transition from a physical emptying to a conceptual completion. Whether you are talking about a bank account, a battery, or a topic of conversation, 'esgotar' serves as the definitive verb for reaching the absolute end of a supply or capacity. It is a word that communicates finality and, often, the need for replenishment or rest. In the modern world, especially with the rise of 'burnout' culture, 'esgotar' has become a central term in discussions about mental health and work-life balance in Portuguese-speaking societies.
Using esgotar correctly requires understanding its transitivity and its reflexive forms. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object—the thing being used up. For example, 'Esgotei o meu saldo' (I used up my balance). In this structure, the subject is the agent causing the depletion. However, 'esgotar' is frequently used in the passive voice or as an intransitive verb in commercial settings. When a salesperson says 'O livro esgotou', they are saying the book (subject) has sold out.
Transitive Usage
Here, you specify what is being exhausted. It could be a physical resource, an abstract concept, or a person's energy. 'O excesso de trabalho esgotou o funcionário' (Excessive work exhausted the employee).

Não podemos esgotar toda a água do reservatório durante a seca.

Reflexive Usage (Esgotar-se)
This is used when the subject is the one becoming exhausted. It is very common for personal feelings or natural processes. 'As possibilidades esgotaram-se' (The possibilities exhausted themselves/ran out).

Sinto que a minha criatividade vai se esgotar se eu não tirar férias logo.

Participle as Adjective (Esgotado)
The past participle 'esgotado' functions as an adjective meaning 'exhausted' or 'sold out'. 'Estou esgotado' (I am exhausted). 'O estoque está esgotado' (The stock is sold out).

Depois de uma semana de provas, os alunos estavam completamente esgotados.

Infelizmente, o modelo de celular que você procura já está esgotado em todas as nossas lojas.

O debate foi longo, mas eles não conseguiram esgotar o assunto.

When constructing sentences, pay attention to the tense. Because 'esgotar' often refers to a completed state (it is gone), the preterite perfect ('esgotou') is very frequent. However, the present tense is used for ongoing processes of depletion, such as 'O planeta esgota seus recursos'. In the future, it serves as a warning: 'Se continuarmos assim, vamos esgotar tudo'. The verb follows the standard conjugation for -ar verbs: eu esgoto, tu esgotas, ele/ela esgota, nós esgotamos, vós esgotais, eles/elas esgotam. Mastering 'esgotar' allows you to describe limitations, endings, and the physical reality of scarcity in a way that 'acabar' or 'terminar' cannot quite match.
You will hear esgotar in a variety of real-world scenarios, from the mundane to the professional. In a shopping mall, you might overhear a disappointed shopper saying, 'Queria aquela blusa, mas já esgotou'. In this context, it is the standard way to say something is out of stock. On the news, journalists frequently use the word when reporting on environmental crises, such as 'A seca pode esgotar o fornecimento de água na região'. It carries a sense of urgency and gravity.
In the Workplace
Colleagues might use it to describe their workload. 'Esta reunião esgotou a minha paciência' (This meeting exhausted my patience). It is a common way to express frustration or the limit of one's tolerance.

O projeto foi tão exigente que acabou por esgotar toda a equipa de design.

In Entertainment
Radio announcers or social media influencers will use 'esgotado' to create 'FOMO' (fear of missing out). 'Corra para garantir o seu, pois os ingressos estão quase esgotados!' (Run to guarantee yours, because tickets are almost sold out!).

O show da cantora pop em Lisboa teve os bilhetes esgotados em menos de uma hora.

In Technical/Scientific Contexts
Scientific documentaries or articles about the universe often use 'esgotar' when discussing fuel or energy. 'Quando o sol esgotar o seu hidrogénio, ele se tornará uma gigante vermelha'.

A bateria do meu computador está prestes a esgotar-se, preciso do carregador.

O autor tentou esgotar todas as fontes históricas antes de escrever a biografia.

Não deixe que as pequenas preocupações do dia a dia venham a esgotar a sua alegria.

In academic circles, you might hear a professor say, 'Não pretendo esgotar o assunto nesta aula', meaning they don't intend to cover every single detail of the topic in one session. This highlights the word's association with completeness and thoroughness. Whether you're at a concert, in a science lab, or just chatting with a tired friend, 'esgotar' is the go-to verb for describing the end of a supply, whether that supply is physical, emotional, or intellectual.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with esgotar is confusing it with 'gastar' (to spend/wear out) or 'acabar' (to finish). While they share some semantic space, the nuances are critical. 'Gastar' is used specifically for money or the gradual wearing down of an object (like shoes). 'Esgotar' is the total depletion. If you 'gasta' money, you still have some left until you 'esgota' your account.
Esgotar vs. Gastar
Use 'gastar' for the act of spending or using. Use 'esgotar' for the result when everything is gone. Mistake: 'Eu esgotei dinheiro no shopping' (Sounds like you emptied every cent). Correct: 'Eu gastei dinheiro no shopping'.

É possível esgotar as economias de uma vida inteira em poucos meses de má gestão.

Esgotar vs. Acabar
'Acabar' is a general verb for 'to end'. 'Esgotar' is specific to resources. You 'acaba' a movie, but you 'esgota' the popcorn. Mistake: 'O filme esgotou' (Unless you mean the tickets for the movie sold out). Correct: 'O filme acabou'.

Muitos alunos cometem o erro de tentar esgotar o livro todo em uma única noite de estudo.

Reflexive Pronoun Omission
In Portuguese, when talking about yourself becoming exhausted, the reflexive pronoun is often mandatory. Saying 'Eu esgotei' sounds incomplete. It should be 'Eu me esgotei' or 'Eu esgotei-me'.

Ao tentar agradar a todos, ela acabou por esgotar-se emocionalmente.

Não confunda esgotar (deplete) com engarrafar (to bottle up), embora soem vagamente parecidos para iniciantes.

O estoque de paciência dele parece nunca esgotar, o que é impressionante.

Another common error is using 'esgotar' for 'to drain' in a plumbing sense. While related to 'gota' (drop), you would use 'drenar' or 'escoar' for water in a pipe. 'Esgotar' is more about the supply than the physical flow. Finally, remember that 'esgotado' is not just 'tired' (cansado); it's 'dead tired' or 'burnt out'. Using it for a slight yawn is an overstatement. By avoiding these pitfalls, you will use 'esgotar' with the precision of a native speaker, accurately conveying the finality of a resource reaching its end.
To enrich your Portuguese vocabulary, it is helpful to know synonyms and related terms for esgotar. Depending on the context, you might choose a word that is more formal, more casual, or more specific to the type of resource being used up.
Exaurir
This is a highly formal synonym for 'esgotar'. It is often used in medical or scientific literature. 'Exaurir as possibilidades' sounds more sophisticated than 'esgotar as possibilidades'.

O esforço contínuo pode exaurir as forças de qualquer ser humano.

Consumir
'Consumir' means 'to consume'. While 'esgotar' emphasizes the end of the supply, 'consumir' emphasizes the process of using it. 'O fogo consumiu a casa' (The fire consumed the house).

A preocupação constante costuma consumir muita energia mental.

Vender tudo / Acabar o estoque
In commerce, instead of saying 'esgotou', you can say 'vendeu tudo' (sold everything) or 'o estoque acabou' (the stock finished). These are slightly more descriptive but less concise than 'esgotou'.

Eles conseguiram vender tudo o que produziram para a feira de artesanato.

Não podemos deixar a esperança se esvair, mesmo em tempos difíceis.

O debate acadêmico serve para aprofundar o conhecimento, não necessariamente para esgotá-lo.

É necessário terminar a tarefa antes que o prazo se esgote.

Another alternative is 'secar' (to dry up). This is used literally for liquids or figuratively for inspiration or money. 'A fonte de dinheiro secou' (The money source dried up) is a common idiom that functions similarly to 'esgotou'. For physical tiredness, 'estoirado' (slang, meaning 'popped/burst') or 'moído' (meaning 'ground up') are colorful alternatives to 'esgotado'. Understanding these synonyms allows you to tailor your speech to the specific intensity and formality of the situation. While 'esgotar' is the most versatile, 'exaurir' brings class, and 'secar' brings a vivid image of a desert, each adding a different flavor to your Portuguese communication.

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

O café esgotou.

The coffee ran out.

Simple past (Pretérito Perfeito) of esgotar.

2

O bilhete está esgotado.

The ticket is sold out.

Esgotado used as an adjective with the verb estar.

3

Eu estou esgotado hoje.

I am exhausted today.

Esgotado used as an adjective for physical state.

4

A loja esgotou o pão.

The shop ran out of bread.

Transitive usage: Subject + Verb + Object.

5

Esgotado!

Sold out!

Common label used in commerce.

6

A bateria do celular esgotou.

The cell phone battery ran out.

Intransitive usage for technology.

7

Não temos mais, esgotou.

We don't have any more, it's sold out.

Short conversational form.

8

O estoque esgotou ontem.

The stock ran out yesterday.

Use of the time adverb 'ontem'.

1

Nós esgotamos a água da garrafa.

We used up the water in the bottle.

First person plural conjugation.

2

O tempo para o teste esgotou.

The time for the test ran out.

Subject 'o tempo' with the verb esgotar.

3

Ela se esgotou na academia.

She exhausted herself at the gym.

Reflexive form 'se esgotar'.

4

Os livros de história esgotaram rápido.

The history books sold out quickly.

Plural subject and verb.

5

Você esgotou o seu crédito?

Did you use up your credit?

Question form in the past tense.

6

A paciência dele vai esgotar.

His patience is going to run out.

Future construction with 'ir + infinitive'.

7

O sabão esgotou no supermercado.

The soap ran out at the supermarket.

Standard intransitive usage.

8

Eles esgotaram as energias na festa.

They used up their energy at the party.

Metaphorical use for energy.

1

Precisamos evitar que os recursos se esgotem.

We need to prevent resources from running out.

Present subjunctive 'esgotem' after 'evitar que'.

2

O autor esgotou o tema no seu novo livro.

The author exhausted the theme in his new book.

Abstract usage meaning 'to cover thoroughly'.

3

Trabalhar sem descanso pode esgotar qualquer um.

Working without rest can exhaust anyone.

Infinitive form used as a consequence.

4

A minha paciência com ele esgotou-se.

My patience with him has run out.

Reflexive form with 'se' in European Portuguese style.

5

O orador esgotou o tempo limite do discurso.

The speaker used up the speech time limit.

Transitive usage with 'o tempo'.

6

Se continuarmos assim, o dinheiro vai se esgotar.

If we continue like this, the money will run out.

Conditional sentence with future reflexive.

7

As vagas para o curso já estão esgotadas.

The spots for the course are already taken/sold out.

Plural feminine adjective 'esgotadas'.

8

O solo esgotou-se devido à agricultura intensiva.

The soil became depleted due to intensive agriculture.

Reflexive form for natural processes.

1

A retórica do político parece ter se esgotado.

The politician's rhetoric seems to have exhausted itself.

Compound infinitive 'ter se esgotado'.

2

Esgotamos todas as vias legais de recurso.

We have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal.

Formal usage in a legal context.

3

O sucesso repentino esgotou a privacidade da atriz.

The sudden success exhausted the actress's privacy.

Abstract transitive usage.

4

É imperativo não esgotar as reservas estratégicas.

It is imperative not to deplete the strategic reserves.

Formal impersonal construction.

5

O filósofo tentou esgotar a questão do livre-arbítrio.

The philosopher tried to exhaust the question of free will.

Intellectual usage of the verb.

6

A bateria social dela se esgota rapidamente em festas.

Her social battery runs out quickly at parties.

Modern metaphorical usage.

7

Esgotado pelo cansaço, ele adormeceu na mesa.

Exhausted by fatigue, he fell asleep at the table.

Participial phrase acting as an adverbial clause.

8

O modelo econômico atual pode se esgotar em breve.

The current economic model may exhaust itself soon.

Reflexive future possibility.

1

A investigação esgotou todas as pistas possíveis.

The investigation exhausted all possible leads.

High-level transitive usage.

2

A paciência pública esgotou-se perante tanta corrupção.

Public patience ran out in the face of so much corruption.

Reflexive usage with abstract collective noun.

3

Não se pode esgotar a riqueza de uma obra literária.

One cannot exhaust the richness of a literary work.

Impersonal 'se' with infinitive.

4

O solo, outrora fértil, esgotou-se por falta de rotação.

The soil, once fertile, became depleted for lack of rotation.

Literary structure with apposition.

5

Esgotaram-se os adjetivos para descrever tamanha beleza.

Adjectives have run out to describe such beauty.

Passive reflexive construction.

6

A empresa esgotou o seu capital intelectual em projetos fúteis.

The company exhausted its intellectual capital on futile projects.

Business metaphor.

7

O debate não esgotou a complexidade do fenômeno social.

The debate did not exhaust the complexity of the social phenomenon.

Formal academic usage.

8

Sinto que esgotei o meu repertório de desculpas.

I feel like I've exhausted my repertoire of excuses.

First person perfect tense with abstract object.

1

A ontologia heideggeriana não esgota a questão do Ser.

Heideggerian ontology does not exhaust the question of Being.

Highly academic/philosophical usage.

2

Esgotar-se-á a fonte da juventude se não a preservarmos?

Will the fountain of youth run dry if we don't preserve it?

Future mesoclitic form (Portuguese from Portugal).

3

A tese esgota a exegese do texto bíblico em análise.

The thesis exhausts the exegesis of the biblical text under analysis.

Technical academic terminology.

4

O artista esgotou a paleta de cores primárias na sua fase azul.

The artist exhausted the primary color palette in his blue phase.

Artistic metaphorical usage.

5

Haverá um ponto em que a paciência divina se esgotará.

There will be a point where divine patience will run out.

Theological/literary context.

6

A exploração desenfreada esgotou o manancial de recursos.

Unbridled exploration exhausted the source of resources.

Sophisticated vocabulary (manancial, desenfreada).

7

Esgotadas as instâncias ordinárias, recorreu-se ao Supremo.

Having exhausted the ordinary instances, they appealed to the Supreme Court.

Ablative absolute construction (Esgotadas as...).

8

O gênio não se esgota em uma única obra-prima.

Genius is not exhausted in a single masterpiece.

Reflexive usage in a philosophical statement.

Häufige Kollokationen

Esgotar a paciência
Esgotar os recursos
Esgotar o estoque
Esgotar as possibilidades
Esgotar o assunto
Esgotar as energias
Esgotar o saldo
Esgotar o tempo
Esgotar as forças
Esgotar a capacidade

Häufige Phrasen

Está esgotado

— It is sold out or someone is very tired.

O livro que você quer está esgotado.

Esgotar-se em

— To result in or be limited to a certain outcome.

A conversa esgotou-se em promessas.

Até esgotar

— Until it runs out.

Vamos lutar até esgotar as nossas forças.

Produto esgotado

— Product out of stock.

Vi um aviso de produto esgotado no site.

Paciência esgotada

— No more patience left.

Estou com a paciência esgotada hoje.

Recursos esgotáveis

— Finite resources that can run out.

O petróleo é um recurso esgotável.

Esgotamento nervoso

— A nervous breakdown or extreme stress.

Ele teve um esgotamento nervoso por causa do trabalho.

Vagas esgotadas

— No more spots available (for a course/event).

As vagas para o workshop estão esgotadas.

Edição esgotada

— Out of print edition of a book.

Esta é uma edição esgotada e muito rara.

Sentir-se esgotado

— To feel completely spent or exhausted.

Sinto-me esgotado depois de tanta preocupação.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Esgotar o cálice"

— To endure a suffering to the very end.

Ele teve que esgotar o cálice da amargura.

Literary
"Esgotar a fonte"

— To use up the primary source of something.

Se você pedir dinheiro todo dia, vai esgotar a fonte.

Informal
"Esgotar o latim"

— To talk a lot or use all your arguments without success.

Já esgotei o meu latim tentando convencê-lo.

Informal
"Esgotar as baterias"

— To use up all one's energy.

Aquelas férias esgotaram as minhas baterias.

Informal
"Esgotar o crédito"

— To lose someone's trust or favor.

Ele esgotou o seu crédito comigo após aquela mentira.

Neutral
"Esgotar o estoque de paciência"

— To become extremely annoyed after a long time.

Meu estoque de paciência esgotou hoje cedo.

Informal
"Esgotar as velas"

— To use all means possible to achieve something.

Esgotamos as velas para chegar a tempo.

Rare/Archaic
"Esgotar o poço"

— To take everything someone has to offer.

A empresa esgotou o poço de criatividade do designer.

Metaphorical
"Esgotar a cota"

— To reach the maximum allowed limit.

Você já esgotou a sua cota de erros por hoje.

Neutral
"Esgotar o fôlego"

— To run out of breath or energy to continue.

O maratonista esgotou o fôlego no último quilômetro.

War das hilfreich?
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!