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A1 verb #4,000 am häufigsten 8 Min. Lesezeit

Piorar

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Erklärung Piorar in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'piorar' is taught as a basic action verb to describe simple changes in state. Students learn it primarily in the context of weather and health. At this stage, the focus is on the present tense and simple future (using 'ir' + 'piorar'). A1 learners should be able to say 'The weather is getting worse' (O tempo vai piorar) or 'I am getting worse' (Eu estou piorando). It is often introduced alongside its opposite, 'melhorar', to help students build a basic vocabulary of contrasts. The main goal for A1 is to recognize the word in simple sentences and use it to express basic negative changes in their immediate environment or physical well-being. Understanding that it is a regular -ar verb is also a key milestone for A1 students, as it reinforces their knowledge of fundamental conjugation patterns. They should practice using it in short, three-word sentences to build confidence before moving to more complex structures. For instance, 'A dor piorou' (The pain worsened) is a perfect A1 sentence.

At the A2 level, learners begin to use 'piorar' in a wider variety of contexts, including social situations and daily routines. They start to move beyond just health and weather, applying the verb to things like traffic, service quality, and simple academic performance. A2 students should be comfortable using 'piorar' in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to describe things that have already gotten worse. They also begin to use the transitive form, where someone or something makes another thing worse: 'O barulho piorou meu sono.' At this level, students are expected to use the verb in slightly longer sentences and with common adverbs like 'muito' (much) or 'um pouco' (a little). They also learn the common phrase 'para piorar as coisas' (to make matters worse) as a way to connect ideas in a story. The focus shifts from simple recognition to active production in more descriptive narratives about their day-to-day lives.

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By the B1 level, students should be able to use 'piorar' to discuss more abstract concepts, such as the economy, political situations, or complex emotions. They start to understand the nuance between 'piorar' and its more formal counterpart 'agravar'. B1 learners should be able to use the verb in the subjunctive mood to express fears or possibilities: 'Eu tenho medo que a situação piore' (I'm afraid the situation might get worse). They also begin to encounter 'piorar' in news articles and longer texts, requiring them to understand its meaning in various registers. At this stage, students should be able to discuss cause and effect using 'piorar,' explaining why a certain action led to a deterioration. For example, 'A falta de diálogo piorou o relacionamento entre os vizinhos.' Their use of the verb becomes more integrated into their overall ability to argue a point or describe a sequence of events with more sophistication and grammatical accuracy.

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At the B2 level, 'piorar' is used with high frequency and precision. Learners can distinguish between different shades of meaning and choose 'piorar' over more specific verbs like 'deteriorar' or 'exacerbar' when appropriate. They are comfortable using the verb in complex grammatical structures, including conditional sentences: 'Se tivessem investido mais, a crise não teria piorado tanto.' B2 students can also use 'piorar' in professional contexts, such as describing a decline in market share or a worsening of workplace morale. They understand the idiomatic uses of the word and can use it to add emphasis or color to their speech. At this level, the learner is expected to handle the verb fluently in both spoken and written Portuguese, showing an awareness of how it interacts with different prepositions and objects. They can also identify when 'piorar' is being used sarcastically or metaphorically in literature or media.

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At the C1 level, learners use 'piorar' as part of a rich and varied vocabulary. They can employ it in academic writing, formal presentations, and deep philosophical discussions. C1 students understand the subtle social implications of using 'piorar' versus more technical terms. They can use the verb to describe systemic failures, historical declines, and complex psychological states. At this stage, the focus is on stylistic variety—knowing when 'piorar' is the most impactful choice and when a more obscure synonym would be better suited to the tone of the text. They are also adept at using the noun form 'piora' (worsening/decline) in formal contexts. C1 learners can analyze how 'piorar' is used in different Lusophone cultures (Brazil vs. Portugal vs. Angola) and understand any regional nuances in its application. Their command of the verb is near-native, allowing them to use it effortlessly in any context without hesitation.

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At the C2 level, the learner has a complete, nuanced mastery of 'piorar'. They can use it in highly sophisticated ways, such as in legal arguments where the 'aggravation' of a crime is discussed, or in high-level scientific discourse regarding the 'deterioration' of a process. A C2 speaker can play with the word, using it in puns, complex metaphors, and creative writing to evoke specific moods. They have an intuitive sense of the verb's rhythm and how it fits into the overall prosody of a sentence. They can also discuss the etymology of the word and its relationship to other Romance languages. At this ultimate level, 'piorar' is no longer just a vocabulary item; it is a versatile tool that the speaker can manipulate to express the finest shades of meaning, from the slightest dip in quality to a catastrophic and irreparable collapse of a system. Their usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

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Piorar in 30 Sekunden

Piorar is the Portuguese verb meaning 'to worsen' or 'to get worse.'
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate for beginners.
It can be used for health, weather, economy, and general situations.
The opposite of piorar is melhorar, which means 'to improve.'

The Portuguese verb piorar is a fundamental word that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, it means 'to worsen' or 'to get worse.' It is the direct opposite of the verb melhorar (to improve). In everyday conversation, Brazilians and Portuguese speakers use piorar to describe a variety of deteriorating conditions, ranging from the weather turning sour to a patient's health declining.

General Context: Used when a situation, condition, or quality moves from a better state to a less desirable one. It can be used both transitively (something worsens something else) and intransitively (something simply gets worse on its own).

O tempo começou a piorar logo depois do almoço.

Health and Well-being: When someone is sick and their symptoms become more severe, we use piorar. For example, 'A febre piorou' (The fever got worse).

Se você não descansar, sua gripe pode piorar.

Economic and Social Contexts: In news reports, you will frequently hear about the economy (a economia), inflation (a inflação), or traffic (o trânsito) getting worse. It is a staple of journalistic Portuguese.

As previsões indicam que a inflação pode piorar no próximo trimestre.

Não tente consertar isso sozinho, você pode piorar as coisas.

Infelizmente, o estado do paciente voltou a piorar durante a noite.

Understanding piorar is essential because it allows you to express negative changes and concerns effectively. Whether you are discussing a bad mood, a broken car, or a complex political crisis, this verb provides the necessary linguistic tool to convey deterioration.

Using piorar correctly involves understanding its two main grammatical roles: as an intransitive verb (where the subject gets worse) and as a transitive verb (where the subject makes something else worse). This flexibility is key to its frequent use in Portuguese.

Intransitive Use: In this form, the subject is the thing that is deteriorating. No direct object is needed. For example: 'A situação piorou' (The situation worsened). This is very common for discussing weather, health, and general circumstances.

A comida aqui costumava ser boa, mas ultimamente piorou muito.

Transitive Use: Here, an agent acts upon an object to make it worse. For example: 'As mentiras pioraram a relação' (The lies worsened the relationship). This usage is essential when assigning cause or blame for a decline in quality.

Suas críticas constantes só servem para piorar o clima na equipe.

Conjugation Patterns: As a regular -ar verb, it follows the standard pattern: eu pioro, você piora, nós pioramos, eles pioram. In the past tense: eu piorei, você piorou, nós pioramos, eles pioraram.

Eu achei que as coisas iam melhorar, mas elas pioraram.

Se você continuar gritando, só vai piorar a situação.

A chuva piorou o tráfego na avenida principal.

By mastering these two structures, you can describe both the natural decay of a situation and the specific actions that lead to a negative outcome. Remember that piorar is often followed by the preposition 'com' (with) when explaining the cause: 'A situação piorou com a chegada da crise'.

The word piorar is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking cultures. You will encounter it in news broadcasts, medical consultations, casual venting sessions with friends, and even in literature. Its frequency stems from the human tendency to discuss problems and negative changes.

News and Media: Journalists use piorar to report on economic downturns, rising crime rates, or deteriorating infrastructure. Headlines like 'A crise econômica pode piorar' are very common.

O telejornal informou que as condições das estradas tendem a piorar com o inverno.

Medical Settings: In a hospital or clinic, doctors and nurses use this verb to track a patient's progress. If a treatment isn't working, the patient might say, 'Eu piorei desde ontem' (I've gotten worse since yesterday).

Perdi o ônibus e, para piorar, começou a chover muito forte.

Social and Personal Life: When complaining about service at a restaurant or a change in a friend's behavior, piorar is the go-to verb. It's a key part of the vocabulary for expressing dissatisfaction.

O atendimento nesta loja piorou muito desde que mudaram o gerente.

O desempenho do time piorou no segundo tempo do jogo.

Se a gente não fizer nada agora, o problema só vai piorar.

From the formal tone of a political debate to the informal grumbling of a commuter stuck in traffic, piorar is a versatile word that reflects the realities of life's ups and downs.

Even though piorar is an A1 level verb, learners often make specific errors when integrating it into their speech. Avoiding these will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.

Confusing 'Piorar' with 'Pior': This is the most common mistake. 'Pior' is an adjective or adverb meaning 'worse,' while 'piorar' is the verb 'to worsen.' You cannot say 'A situação está piorar.' You must say 'A situação está piorando' (gerund) or 'A situação piorou' (past).

Errado: O tempo está pior. (The weather is worse - correct but doesn't use the verb). Errado: O tempo está piorar. (Grammatically incorrect).

Double Comparatives: In English, we sometimes say 'more worse' (incorrectly). In Portuguese, beginners might try to say 'mais piorar.' This is never correct. 'Piorar' already contains the concept of 'more bad.' You just use the verb on its own.

A situação pode piorar ainda mais se não tomarmos cuidado.

Incorrect Reflexive Use: Learners often try to use 'se piorar' when they mean 'to get worse.' While some verbs in Portuguese require 'se' (like 'sentir-se'), 'piorar' does not usually need it when the subject is an inanimate thing or a situation.

Correto: A dor piorou. Errado: A dor se piorou.

Não deixe que esse comentário piores o seu dia. (Wait, conjugation error! Should be 'piorar' or 'piores' depending on syntax, usually 'piorar' after 'deixe').

O remédio, em vez de ajudar, só fez piorar os sintomas.

By paying attention to these nuances, you'll avoid the clunky 'gringo' mistakes and start speaking with the fluidity of a native speaker.

While piorar is the most common way to say 'to worsen,' Portuguese offers several synonyms and alternatives that can add nuance and variety to your vocabulary. Choosing the right one depends on the formality and the specific context of the situation.

Agravar: This is a more formal synonym for 'piorar.' It is often used in medical, legal, or political contexts. For example, 'O problema se agravou' (The problem worsened/aggravated). It sounds more serious and official than 'piorar.'

A falta de investimento pode agravar a crise na saúde pública.

Degringolar: This is an informal, colorful verb that means 'to go downhill fast' or 'to fall apart.' Use it when a situation is worsening rapidly and uncontrollably. It's very common in Brazil.

Depois daquela discussão, a festa degringolou de vez.

Deteriorar: Similar to 'deteriorate' in English, this verb is used for physical objects (like a building) or abstract things (like a relationship) that are slowly breaking down over time.

As relações diplomáticas entre os dois países começaram a se deteriorar.

Se você não consertar o telhado, o vazamento vai piorar (ou ficar pior).

A situação exacerbou-se com as novas medidas econômicas. (Very formal alternative).

Expanding your range of synonyms allows you to express the 'flavor' of the worsening—whether it's a slow decay (deteriorar), a serious escalation (agravar), or a chaotic collapse (degringolar).

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The root 'peior' is also the ancestor of the English word 'pejorative,' which describes words with a negative or 'worsening' connotation.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /pju.ˈɾaɾ/

US /pi.o.ˈɾaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: pio-RAR.

Reimt sich auf

Melhorar Falar Andar Cantar Amar Chegar Olhar Estar

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it as 'pior' (adjective) instead of the verb.
Stressing the first syllable.
Ignoring the 'i' sound at the beginning.
Using an English 'r' sound at the end.
Confusing the pronunciation with the Spanish 'empeorar'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as it is a common regular verb.

Schreiben 2/5

Simple to conjugate but requires knowing when to use transitive vs intransitive.

Sprechen 2/5

The 'pio' sound followed by 'rar' can be slightly tricky for English speakers.

Hören 1/5

Distinct sound makes it easy to catch in conversation.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

Bom Mau Melhorar Tempo Saúde

Als Nächstes lernen

Agravar Deteriorar Crise Consequência Embora

Fortgeschritten

Exacerbar Degringolar Recrudescer Entropia Declínio

Wichtige Grammatik

Regular -ar verb conjugation in the present tense.

Eu pioro, você piora, nós pioramos.

Use of 'ir' + infinitive for immediate future.

Vai piorar.

The gerund form (-ando) for continuous actions.

A situação está piorando.

Pretérito Perfeito for completed actions in the past.

O tempo piorou ontem.

Present Subjunctive for expressing doubt or hope.

Espero que não piore.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

O tempo vai piorar.

The weather is going to get worse.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Eu piorei da gripe.

My flu got worse.

Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito).

A comida piorou aqui.

The food got worse here.

Intransitive use.

Não piore a situação.

Don't make the situation worse.

Imperative (negative).

A dor está piorando.

The pain is worsening.

Present continuous (gerund).

O trânsito piora à tarde.

Traffic gets worse in the afternoon.

Present tense.

Minha nota piorou.

My grade got worse.

Simple past.

As coisas vão piorar?

Are things going to get worse?

Interrogative sentence.

O barulho piorou meu sono.

The noise made my sleep worse.

Transitive use with direct object.

Para piorar, perdi a chave.

To make matters worse, I lost the key.

Common phrase 'para piorar'.

O serviço piorou muito este ano.

The service got much worse this year.

Use of adverb 'muito'.

A estrada piorou depois da chuva.

The road got worse after the rain.

Temporal clause 'depois da chuva'.

Eu não quero piorar as coisas.

I don't want to make things worse.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

A inflação piorou no mês passado.

Inflation got worse last month.

Economic context.

Sua atitude só piorou o problema.

Your attitude only made the problem worse.

Transitive use.

O paciente piorou durante a noite.

The patient got worse during the night.

Medical context.

Espero que a situação não piore.

I hope the situation doesn't get worse.

Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.

O desemprego piorou a crise social.

Unemployment worsened the social crisis.

Abstract transitive use.

Se você não descansar, vai piorar.

If you don't rest, it will get worse.

Conditional 'se' + future.

A poluição piorou a qualidade do ar.

Pollution worsened the air quality.

Environmental context.

Ele tentou ajudar, mas só piorou.

He tried to help, but only made it worse.

Contrast using 'mas'.

A falta de água piorou a colheita.

The lack of water worsened the harvest.

Cause and effect.

O clima na empresa piorou muito.

The atmosphere at the company got much worse.

Metaphorical use of 'clima'.

Não deixe que a raiva piore as coisas.

Don't let anger make things worse.

Subjunctive after 'deixe que'.

A negligência piorou o estado do prédio.

Negligence worsened the state of the building.

Formal transitive use.

Caso o tempo piore, o voo será cancelado.

Should the weather worsen, the flight will be canceled.

Subjunctive after 'caso'.

A nova lei acabou piorando a burocracia.

The new law ended up worsening the bureaucracy.

Use of 'acabou' + gerund (implied).

A tensão entre os países piorou ontem.

The tension between the countries worsened yesterday.

Geopolitical context.

Beber café pode piorar sua ansiedade.

Drinking coffee can worsen your anxiety.

Infinitive after modal 'pode'.

O atraso no projeto piorou os custos.

The delay in the project worsened the costs.

Business context.

Nada poderia piorar este dia terrível.

Nothing could make this terrible day worse.

Conditional mood.

A reforma só serviu para piorar a casa.

The renovation only served to make the house worse.

Idiomatic 'serviu para'.

A polarização política piorou o debate.

Political polarization worsened the debate.

Sociological context.

É improvável que a economia piore agora.

It is unlikely that the economy will worsen now.

Subjunctive after 'é improvável que'.

O isolamento piorou sua saúde mental.

Isolation worsened his mental health.

Psychological context.

A corrupção piorou a desigualdade social.

Corruption worsened social inequality.

Complex social context.

O desmatamento piorou o aquecimento global.

Deforestation worsened global warming.

Scientific context.

Sua recusa em negociar piorou o conflito.

His refusal to negotiate worsened the conflict.

Diplomatic context.

A falta de ética piorou a imagem da marca.

The lack of ethics worsened the brand's image.

Marketing context.

O uso de drogas piorou sua condição física.

Drug use worsened his physical condition.

Medical/social context.

A entropia tende a piorar com o tempo.

Entropy tends to worsen over time.

Scientific/Philosophical context.

A desinformação piorou a coesão social.

Misinformation worsened social cohesion.

High-level societal analysis.

O autor descreve como a alma pode piorar.

The author describes how the soul can worsen.

Literary context.

A inércia estatal piorou a crise humanitária.

State inertia worsened the humanitarian crisis.

Political science context.

Piorar o que já está ruim é um erro fatal.

Worsening what is already bad is a fatal error.

Nominalized infinitive use.

A erosão piorou a estabilidade do terreno.

Erosion worsened the stability of the terrain.

Geological context.

Sua arrogância piorou sua queda política.

His arrogance worsened his political fall.

Narrative/Historical context.

O excesso de detalhes piorou a clareza do texto.

The excess of details worsened the clarity of the text.

Editorial context.

Häufige Kollokationen

Piorar muito

Piorar a situação

Piorar o estado

Piorar o trânsito

Piorar a crise

Piorar o clima

Piorar o desempenho

Piorar a dor

Piorar as coisas

Piorar consideravelmente

Häufige Phrasen

Para piorar as coisas...

— To make matters worse...

Perdi o trem e, para piorar as coisas, começou a chover.

Não tem como piorar.

— It can't get any worse.

Depois de hoje, não tem como piorar.

Piorou de vez.

— It got worse once and for all / It's completely ruined.

O computador piorou de vez.

Só faz piorar.

— It only makes it worse.

Gritar não ajuda, só faz piorar.

Piorar a olhos vistos.

— To worsen visibly/rapidly.

A saúde dele está piorando a olhos vistos.

Antes de melhorar, vai piorar.

— It will get worse before it gets better.

A economia vai piorar antes de melhorar.

Piorar o que já estava ruim.

— To make a bad situation even worse.

Sua mentira piorou o que já estava ruim.

Piorar por falta de cuidado.

— To worsen due to lack of care.

A ferida piorou por falta de cuidado.

Piorar com o tempo.

— To get worse over time.

Alguns problemas só pioram com o tempo.

Piorar a cada dia.

— To get worse every day.

O trânsito nesta cidade piora a cada dia.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

Piorar vs Pior

Pior is 'worse' (adjective/adverb), while piorar is the verb 'to worsen'.

Piorar vs Melhorar

The opposite of piorar; sometimes beginners mix up opposites when learning.

Piorar vs Mau

Mau is 'bad' (adjective), not the action of becoming bad.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Ir de mal a pior"

— To go from bad to worse.

A situação da empresa está indo de mal a pior.

Common

"Piorar o soneto"

— To make a bad situation worse by trying to fix it (literally 'worsen the sonnet').

Ele tentou se desculpar, mas só piorou o soneto.

Literary/Old-fashioned

"Para piorar o que já era péssimo"

— To worsen what was already terrible.

O time perdeu e, para piorar o que já era péssimo, o melhor jogador se machucou.

Informal

"Piorar a emenda que o soneto"

— The fix is worse than the problem.

A reforma da casa piorou a emenda que o soneto.

Idiomatic

"Não piore o meu lado"

— Don't make things harder for me.

Por favor, não piore o meu lado com o chefe.

Slang/Informal

"Piorar o caldo"

— To mess things up (literally 'worsen the broth').

Sua interferência só piorou o caldo.

Informal

"Deixar piorar para ver no que dá"

— To let things get worse to see the outcome.

Eles deixaram a situação piorar para ver no que dá.

Informal

"Piorar a situação de vez"

— To ruin the situation completely.

Aquele comentário piorou a situação de vez.

Common

"Fazer piorar"

— To cause a worsening.

O remédio fez piorar a alergia.

Common

"Piorar o clima de vez"

— To ruin the mood completely.

A briga piorou o clima de vez.

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

Piorar vs Pior

Both relate to 'worse'.

Pior is a quality (adjective), piorar is an action (verb).

Este carro é pior (adjective). O carro vai piorar (verb).

Piorar vs Agravar

They are synonyms.

Agravar is more formal and often used for medical/legal contexts.

A situação piorou (neutral). O quadro clínico se agravou (formal).

Piorar vs Deteriorar

Both mean to get worse.

Deteriorar usually implies physical decay or slow breakdown.

O clima piorou (sudden). O prédio se deteriorou (slow).

Piorar vs Prejudicar

Both are negative.

Prejudicar means to harm or hinder, while piorar means to decline in quality.

A chuva piorou o trânsito. A chuva prejudicou a colheita.

Piorar vs Mal

Both are negative.

Mal is an adverb (badly), piorar is a verb.

Ele canta mal. A voz dele vai piorar.

Satzmuster

O [Substantivo] piorou.

O tempo piorou.

O [Substantivo] vai piorar.

A dor vai piorar.

Espero que não piore.

Espero que a crise não piore.

Isso só serviu para piorar as coisas.

A chuva só serviu para piorar as coisas.

A situação piorou a olhos vistos.

A saúde dele piorou a olhos vistos.

Não deixe que [Substantivo] piore.

Não deixe que a raiva piore seu julgamento.

A conjuntura tende a piorar.

A conjuntura econômica tende a piorar.

Piorar o que é ruim é um erro.

Piorar o que já é ruim é um erro grave.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Piora (worsening)

Pioria (obsolete form of worsening)

Verben

Piorar (to worsen)

Adjektive

Pior (worse)

Péssimo (worst/terrible)

Verwandt

Mau

Ruim

Mal

Agravamento

Deterioração

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Portuguese.

Häufige Fehler

Eu estou pior. → Eu estou piorando / Eu piorei.
'Pior' is an adjective. Use the verb 'piorar' to describe the action of getting worse.
A situação mais piorou. → A situação piorou ainda mais.
'Mais piorou' is grammatically incorrect. Use 'ainda mais' for emphasis.
O tempo se piorou. → O tempo piorou.
'Piorar' is generally not reflexive when referring to weather or situations.
Não piora a situação. → Não piore a situação.
In the negative imperative, you must use the subjunctive form (piore) for 'você'.
A piorar da economia. → A piora da economia.
Use the noun 'piora' instead of the infinitive 'piorar' when an article is present.

Tipps

Regular Conjugation

Since it's a regular -ar verb, you can apply the endings -o, -a, -amos, -am for the present tense easily.

Context Matters

Use 'piorar' for general situations and 'agravar' for formal or medical reports.

Emphasis

Add 'ainda mais' after 'piorar' to say 'to get even worse'.

Transition

Use 'Para piorar as coisas...' at the start of a sentence to link two negative events.

Tone

Listen for the negative inflection; people usually sound frustrated when using this verb.

Social Bonding

Complaining about things 'piorando' is a common social activity in many Lusophone cultures.

Poor-ar

Associate 'piorar' with things becoming 'poorer' in quality.

No 'Mais'

Never use 'mais' before 'piorar'. It's redundant and incorrect.

Intransitive vs Transitive

Remember it can mean 'to get worse' (intransitive) or 'to make worse' (transitive).

Mal a Pior

Learn the phrase 'ir de mal a pior' to describe a situation spiraling out of control.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of the word 'Piorar' as 'Poor-ar'. When things get worse, they become more 'poor' in quality.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a red arrow pointing downwards on a graph. This downward movement is 'piorar'.

Word Web

Melhorar (opposite) Saúde Tempo Crise Economia Trânsito Agravar Pior

Herausforderung

Try to use 'piorar' in three different contexts today: once for the weather, once for your energy level, and once for a news event.

Wortherkunft

From Vulgar Latin *peiorare, which comes from the Latin 'peior' meaning 'worse'. It has been a part of the Portuguese language since its early development from Latin.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To make worse or to become worse.

Romance (Indo-European)

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using 'piorar' to describe a person's appearance, as it can be very offensive. Stick to situations, health, or objects.

English speakers often use 'get worse' or 'worsen'. 'Piorar' covers both of these meanings perfectly.

Tiririca's slogan: 'Pior que está não fica'. News headlines about the 'Plano Real' and inflation. Samba lyrics discussing a 'coração' that 'piorou' after a breakup.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Weather

O tempo vai piorar.
A chuva piorou.
O clima piorou.
Vai piorar o frio.

Health

Minha dor piorou.
O paciente piorou.
A febre está piorando.
Não deixe piorar.

Economy

A crise piorou.
A inflação vai piorar.
Os preços pioraram.
A economia piorou muito.

Social

O clima piorou entre eles.
A briga piorou as coisas.
Não piore a situação.
Tudo piorou depois disso.

Service/Quality

O serviço piorou.
A comida piorou aqui.
A qualidade piorou muito.
O atendimento piorou.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você acha que o trânsito vai piorar hoje?"

"A situação na sua empresa melhorou ou piorou?"

"O que você faz quando sente que sua gripe vai piorar?"

"Você acha que a economia vai piorar no próximo ano?"

"A qualidade dos filmes no cinema piorou ultimamente?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva uma situação que piorou antes de melhorar na sua vida.

O que você faz para evitar que um pequeno problema venha a piorar?

Como o clima na sua cidade piorou ou melhorou nos últimos anos?

Escreva sobre um personagem cuja sorte começa a piorar de repente.

Reflita sobre como a tecnologia pode piorar as relações humanas.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, 'piorar' is a regular -ar verb. It follows the same conjugation pattern as 'falar' or 'amar'. For example, in the present tense: eu pioro, você piora, nós pioramos, eles pioram.

No, you should never say 'mais piorar'. The verb 'piorar' already means 'to become more bad'. If you want to emphasize it, say 'piorar muito' or 'piorar ainda mais'.

There is very little difference in meaning. 'Piorar' is a single verb, while 'ficar pior' uses the verb 'to become' plus the adjective 'worse'. Both are commonly used in spoken Portuguese.

Use the Pretérito Perfeito for a completed action: 'A situação piorou' (The situation worsened). Use the Pretérito Imperfeito for a continuous action in the past: 'A situação piorava a cada dia' (The situation was worsening every day).

Yes, 'piorar' is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries with the same meaning and frequency.

It is rarely used reflexively (piorar-se). Usually, you just say 'A situação piorou' rather than 'A situação se piorou'.

The opposite is 'melhorar', which means 'to improve' or 'to get better'.

You can use it for a person's health (Ele piorou) or performance (Ele piorou no jogo), but avoid using it to describe their character or appearance as it sounds very negative.

It means 'to make matters worse' or 'to top it off' in a negative sense. It's a very common way to add a second bad piece of news.

Yes, the noun is 'a piora'. For example: 'Houve uma piora no estado do paciente' (There was a worsening in the patient's condition).

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