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A2 verb 9 min de lectura

apanicar

Ejemplos apanicar en 30 segundos
Explicación apanicar in your Level:
At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to express feelings. 'Apanicar' is a useful word because it sounds so much like 'panic' in English. You can use it in very simple sentences to tell people how you feel. For example, 'Eu apanico' means 'I panic.' At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar. Just focus on the present tense and the negative command: 'Não apanica!' (Don't panic!). This is a great 'emergency' word to know if you feel overwhelmed while traveling. Even if your Portuguese isn't perfect, saying 'Eu estou apanicando!' will immediately let people know you are stressed and need help or a moment to breathe. It's a high-impact word because it conveys a strong emotion with very little effort. Remember that 'apanicar' is a regular verb ending in -ar, so it follows the same pattern as 'falar' (to speak). This makes it one of the easiest verbs to conjugate correctly even as a total beginner. Practice saying 'Eu apanico' and 'Você apanica' to get used to the rhythm of the word. The stress is on the 'ni' part of the word.
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At the A2 level, you can start using 'apanicar' to describe specific situations and reasons for your fear. You should be able to connect the verb to a cause using 'quando' (when) or 'porque' (because). For instance, 'Eu apanico quando vejo uma aranha' (I panic when I see a spider). You are also moving into the past tense. Remember the special spelling rule for the first person: 'Eu apaniquei' (I panicked). This is a crucial A2 grammar point—verbs ending in -car change to -quei in the past. You can also use the word to describe others: 'Meu amigo apanicou no aeroporto' (My friend panicked at the airport). At this level, you should also understand the difference between 'apanicar' (the action) and 'pânico' (the noun). Using the verb makes your speech sound more natural and less like you are reading from a dictionary. You might also start hearing this word in casual conversations or seeing it in simple social media posts. It's a 'friendly' word that makes you sound more like a native speaker who uses modern language rather than someone who only knows formal, old-fashioned textbook phrases.
At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex social situations and express opinions. 'Apanicar' becomes a tool for storytelling. You can use the imperfect tense ('apanicava') to describe a recurring fear you used to have, or the future conditional to discuss hypothetical scenarios: 'Se eu perdesse meu passaporte, eu apanicaria' (If I lost my passport, I would panic). You should also be comfortable using the gerund form 'apanicando' to describe ongoing stress: 'O mercado está apanicando com a crise.' This level is about nuance. You can start comparing 'apanicar' with other verbs like 'desesperar' or 'assustar.' You understand that 'apanicar' is slightly informal and best used with friends or in casual work environments. You can also use it to give advice or comfort to others: 'Não há razão para apanicar, temos tempo.' Your vocabulary is growing, and 'apanicar' helps you describe the intensity of a reaction. You might notice that in Brazil, people use this verb more frequently than in Portugal, and you can adapt your usage based on who you are talking to. It's also a great word to use when discussing movies or books—describing how a character reacted to a plot twist.
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At the B2 level, you can use 'apanicar' in more abstract and professional contexts. You might discuss how a company 'apanicou' during a PR scandal or how a population 'apanicou' during a natural disaster. You are comfortable with all tenses, including the subjunctive: 'Espero que ninguém apanique durante o simulacro de incêndio' (I hope nobody panics during the fire drill). You can also use the word to analyze social trends, such as the 'pânico coletivo' (collective panic) and how people 'apanicam' due to fake news. At this level, your use of 'apanicar' should feel effortless and well-timed. You understand that while the word is informal, it can be used effectively in a presentation to add a touch of personality or to emphasize the human element of a situation. You also recognize the word's role as a neologism and can discuss how Portuguese is changing. You might even use the word transitively in very specific slang contexts, though you know the standard rules prefer the intransitive use. Your ability to use 'apanicar' correctly in both the indicative and subjunctive moods shows a high level of linguistic control.
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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the stylistic implications of using 'apanicar.' You choose this word specifically when you want to sound contemporary, relatable, or slightly hyperbolic. You can use it to describe subtle psychological states, perhaps in a literary or journalistic sense. You might write an article about 'A geração que apanica sem Wi-Fi' (The generation that panics without Wi-Fi), using the word to critique modern dependency on technology. You are also aware of regional variations; you know that while a Carioca (someone from Rio) might use 'apanicar' frequently, a Lisboner might find it a bit too 'Brazilian' and prefer 'entrar em pânico.' You can navigate these cultural waters with ease. You also use the word in complex grammatical structures, such as 'Tendo apanicado logo no início, ele não conseguiu terminar a prova' (Having panicked right at the start, he couldn't finish the test). Your use of the verb is precise, and you can explain its etymology and social function to others. You might even use it in a humorous way, self-deprecatingly describing your own 'momentos de apanico.'
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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over 'apanicar' and its place in the vast Portuguese lexicon. You can use it with the same fluidity and nuance as a native speaker, often using it to add color or specific emotional weight to your speech. You might use it in a masterclass about linguistics to demonstrate the process of 'verbalization' in Romance languages. You understand the historical shift from the Latin 'panicus' to the modern Portuguese verb. You can use 'apanicar' in high-level debates about psychology, sociology, or economics, perhaps contrasting the 'irrational panicking' of a crowd with the 'calculated caution' of a leader. You are also sensitive to the word's register; you know exactly when it adds value and when it might detract from a formal argument. You can play with the word, perhaps even creating puns or using it in creative writing to evoke a specific 'modern' atmosphere. Your command of the verb is so thorough that you can use it in any tense, including the most obscure ones, without hesitation. You are a model of how a non-native speaker can embrace modern, living language while maintaining the highest standards of grammatical accuracy.
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Ejemplos

apanicar en 30 segundos

  • Apanicar is a modern, informal Portuguese verb meaning 'to panic' or 'to freak out,' commonly used in Brazil.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, but requires a spelling change to 'qu' in the first-person preterite form (apaniquei).
  • The word is versatile, used for everything from minor daily stresses to major financial market fluctuations.
  • It serves as a more direct and expressive alternative to the formal phrase 'entrar em pânico' in casual speech.

The Portuguese verb apanicar is a fascinating example of how modern languages evolve by turning nouns into dynamic actions. At its core, it means to enter a state of sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety, or colloquially, 'to freak out.' While traditional Portuguese might favor the more formal expression entrar em pânico, the verb apanicar has gained significant traction in informal speech, social media, and everyday conversations across the Lusophone world, particularly in Brazil. It captures that specific moment when logic fails and raw emotion takes over due to an overwhelming situation.

Informal Usage
Commonly used among friends to describe reactions to exams, traffic, or unexpected bad news. It is the linguistic equivalent of 'losing one's cool.'
Psychological Context
While informal, it can describe the onset of a panic attack or a systemic reaction to a crisis, such as a financial market 'apanicando' (panicking) over new regulations.

Não precisa apanicar, nós vamos resolver esse problema juntos e tudo ficará bem no final.

The word is often used in the negative imperative—não apanica!—as a way to tell someone to stay calm. It carries a slightly more modern and perhaps less 'heavy' weight than the medical term pânico, making it versatile for both serious and trivial situations. For instance, you might use it because you lost your wallet, but you could also use it jokingly when a friend sees their crush walking toward them. This versatility is what makes it a staple of CEFR A2 and B1 vocabulary; it bridges the gap between basic survival Portuguese and expressive, natural communication.

O mercado financeiro começou a apanicar após o anúncio das novas taxas de juros ontem.

Transitive vs. Intransitive
Usually used intransitively (the person panics), but occasionally used transitively in slang to mean 'to cause someone to panic,' though 'deixar alguém em pânico' is more common for the transitive sense.

In European Portuguese, you might encounter this less frequently than in Brazil, as the continental variety tends to stick to 'entrar em pânico' or 'assustar-se.' However, due to the influence of Brazilian media and the global trend of verbing nouns, 'apanicar' is becoming a recognized neologism everywhere. It reflects a shift toward shorter, more direct verbal forms in the digital age, where 'I am panicking' is more efficiently expressed as 'estou apanicando' rather than the multi-word 'estou entrando em pânico.'

Quando ela viu a barata voando, ela começou a apanicar e subiu na mesa imediatamente.

Using apanicar correctly requires understanding its conjugation as a regular -ar verb. This makes it very predictable for learners. Whether you are talking about yourself, a group, or a general situation, the endings follow the standard pattern of verbs like falar or trabalhar. The most common tenses you will use are the Present, the Preterite (Past), and the Imperfect.

Present Tense
Eu apanico (I panic), Você apanica (You panic), Nós apanicamos (We panic). Used for general truths or current states.

Eu sempre apanico um pouco antes de falar em público em uma língua estrangeira.

One of the most powerful ways to use this verb is in the Gerund (Present Continuous). In Brazil, this is 'apanicando,' and in Portugal, it is 'a apanicar.' This is used to describe someone who is currently in the middle of a freak-out. It provides a vivid image of active distress.

Calma! Você está apanicando por nada; o documento está salvo na nuvem.

Past Tense (Preterite)
Eu apaniquei (I panicked), Ele apanicou (He panicked). Note the spelling change in the 'Eu' form (q instead of c) to preserve the 'k' sound.

The spelling change in the first-person singular preterite—apaniquei—is a crucial grammatical point. Because the letter 'c' followed by 'e' sounds like 's' (as in 'cebola'), we must change it to 'qu' to maintain the hard 'k' sound of the root word 'pânico.' This is a standard rule for all -car verbs in Portuguese (like ficar -> fiquei).

Eu apaniquei quando percebi que tinha deixado o forno ligado ao sair de casa.

Finally, the Future Tense and Conditional are used to predict reactions. 'Se o Wi-Fi cair, todo mundo vai apanicar' (If the Wi-Fi drops, everyone is going to panic). This construction—using ir + infinitive—is the most natural way to express the future in spoken Portuguese.

Common Pattern
[Subject] + [Verb 'Apanicar'] + [Reason/Context]. Example: 'Os passageiros apanicaram com a turbulência.'

You are most likely to hear apanicar in environments where stress levels are high but the atmosphere is relatively informal. One of the primary 'habitats' for this word is among university students. During finals week, you'll hear students saying things like, 'Estou apanicando com essa prova de cálculo!' (I'm freaking out over this calculus exam!). It serves as a social bonding mechanism—sharing one's panic to alleviate the pressure.

Não precisa apanicar! O prazo foi estendido para a próxima segunda-feira.

Another major arena is the modern workplace, especially in startup culture or fast-paced corporate settings. When a server goes down or a major client is unhappy, managers might tell their teams, 'Galera, não vamos apanicar, vamos focar na solução' (Guys, let's not panic, let's focus on the solution). In this context, the word is used to manage group dynamics and prevent a chain reaction of anxiety.

In Brazilian 'novelas' (soap operas) or reality shows like Big Brother Brasil (BBB), apanicar is a frequent guest. Contestants often 'apanicam' when they are put on the 'paredão' (the chopping block for elimination). In these dramatic settings, the word emphasizes the visceral, visible nature of the fear. It's not just a quiet worry; it's an active, 'apanicada' state of being.

A torcida começou a apanicar quando o time adversário marcou o segundo gol nos acréscimos.

News & Media
While formal news anchors might use 'entrar em pânico,' headlines in lifestyle magazines or tech blogs often use 'apanicar' to sound more relatable and current.

Lastly, you will hear it in gaming communities. If a player is surrounded by enemies and starts making mistakes because of the pressure, their teammates might shout, 'Não apanica! Atira!' (Don't panic! Shoot!). This usage highlights the word's connection to performance anxiety and the loss of fine motor control under stress.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with apanicar is confusing it with the verb apanhar. Because they both start with 'apa-', learners sometimes mix them up. However, apanhar means 'to catch' (like catching a bus) or 'to get a beating/get hit.' Telling someone 'não apanha' when you mean 'don't panic' would actually mean 'don't get hit,' which could lead to a very confusing conversation!

Spelling Error
Writing 'apanicei' instead of 'apaniquei.' This is the most common written error. Remember: before 'e' or 'i', the 'c' must become 'qu' to keep the 'k' sound.

❌ Errado: Eu apanicei durante a entrevista.
✅ Correto: Eu apaniquei durante a entrevista.

Another mistake is overusing it in formal writing. While apanicar is common in speech, if you are writing a formal academic paper or a legal document, you should use the phrase entrar em estado de pânico or sucumbir ao pânico. Using 'apanicar' in a professional report might make the writing seem too 'slangy' or immature.

Learners also sometimes forget that apanicar is usually an intransitive verb. You don't usually 'panic someone' (transitive) in Portuguese using this word; instead, you 'make someone panic.' If you want to say 'You are panicking me,' you would say 'Você está me deixando em pânico' rather than 'Você está me apanicando,' although the latter is occasionally heard in very informal Brazilian slang.

Pronunciation Pitfall
Don't stress the 'pa'. The stress is on the second-to-last syllable: apa-ni-CAR (in the infinitive) or apa-NI-ca (in the present). English speakers often want to put the stress on the 'pan' sound like in 'PAN-ic'.

If you find yourself using apanicar too much, or if you need a word that fits a slightly different context, Portuguese offers several rich alternatives. Each carries its own nuance of fear or stress.

Entrar em pânico
The standard, 'textbook' version of 'to panic.' It is safe for all contexts, from news reports to conversations with your boss.
Desesperar-se
To despair or lose hope. This is stronger than panicking; it implies that you feel there is no solution left.
Assustar-se
To get scared. This is more about a sudden fright (like seeing a ghost) rather than the sustained anxiety of panicking.

Ao invés de apanicar, tente respirar fundo e contar até dez.

In Brazilian slang, you might hear surtar. While 'surtar' can mean 'to panic,' it more broadly means 'to flip out' or 'to have a breakdown.' If someone is screaming and throwing things, they are surtando. If they are just frozen in fear because they lost their passport, they are apanicando.

Another interesting alternative is perder a cabeça (to lose one's head). This implies a loss of rational control. Use this when the panic leads to making very poor decisions. For example: 'Ele perdeu a cabeça e começou a gritar com o guarda.' (He lost his head and started shouting at the guard).

A secretária não apanicou quando o sistema caiu; ela simplesmente usou o backup manual.

Ficar pilhado (Slang)
Used in Brazil to mean someone is extremely wired or stressed, often on the verge of panicking due to too much work or caffeine.
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Ejemplos por nivel

1

Eu apanico.

I panic.

Simple present tense, first person singular.

2

Não apanica!

Don't panic!

Informal negative imperative.

3

Você apanica?

Do you panic?

Interrogative in the present tense.

4

Nós não apanicamos.

We don't panic.

Negative sentence in the present tense.

5

Ela apanica muito.

She panics a lot.

Third person singular present tense.

6

Eu apanico com baratas.

I panic with cockroaches.

Using 'com' to indicate the trigger.

7

Eles apanicam agora.

They panic now.

Third person plural present tense.

8

Por que você apanica?

Why do you panic?

Question word 'Por que' with present tense.

1

Eu apaniquei ontem.

I panicked yesterday.

Preterite tense with the 'qu' spelling change.

2

Ela apanicou no teste.

She panicked during the test.

Preterite tense, third person singular.

3

Nós apanicamos quando o carro parou.

We panicked when the car stopped.

Preterite tense, first person plural.

4

Você apanicou com a notícia?

Did you panic with the news?

Question in the preterite tense.

5

Eu nunca apanico em viagens.

I never panic on trips.

Adverb 'nunca' with present tense.

6

Eles apanicaram no escuro.

They panicked in the dark.

Preterite tense, third person plural.

7

O gato apanicou com o barulho.

The cat panicked with the noise.

Subject is an animal, using preterite.

8

Eu não apaniquei, eu juro!

I didn't panic, I swear!

Negative preterite with spelling change.

1

Se eu visse um urso, eu apanicaria.

If I saw a bear, I would panic.

Conditional tense used with imperfect subjunctive.

2

Eu estava apanicando até você chegar.

I was panicking until you arrived.

Past continuous (imperfect + gerund).

3

Não vale a pena apanicar por isso.

It's not worth panicking over that.

Infinitive form after a prepositional phrase.

4

Ela costumava apanicar antes das apresentações.

She used to panic before presentations.

Imperfect tense indicating a past habit.

5

O mercado vai apanicar se os preços subirem.

The market will panic if prices go up.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

6

Ninguém gosta de apanicar em público.

Nobody likes to panic in public.

Infinitive used as the object of 'gostar de'.

7

Apanicar não resolve nenhum problema.

Panicking doesn't solve any problem.

Gerund-like use of the infinitive as a subject.

8

Eu apanicaria se perdesse meu celular.

I would panic if I lost my phone.

Conditional tense.

1

É provável que a equipe apanique com a mudança.

It is likely that the team will panic with the change.

Present subjunctive after an impersonal expression.

2

Embora tenha apanicado, ele conseguiu agir.

Although he panicked, he managed to act.

Compound past subjunctive with 'embora'.

3

A multidão apanicou ao ouvir o estrondo.

The crowd panicked upon hearing the bang.

Preterite tense describing a sudden group action.

4

Ela tentou não apanicar diante da crise.

She tried not to panic in the face of the crisis.

Infinitive after 'tentar'.

5

O investidor apanicou e vendeu todas as ações.

The investor panicked and sold all the shares.

Sequential actions in the preterite.

6

Caso você apanique, ligue para este número.

In case you panic, call this number.

Future subjunctive after 'caso'.

7

Apanicar é uma reação humana natural.

Panicking is a natural human reaction.

Infinitive as a noun/subject.

8

Eles teriam apanicado sem a sua liderança.

They would have panicked without your leadership.

Conditional perfect tense.

1

Apanicar diante do desconhecido é uma constante antropológica.

Panicking in the face of the unknown is an anthropological constant.

Academic register using the infinitive.

2

Não convém que o governo apanique perante a inflação.

It is not advisable for the government to panic in the face of inflation.

Present subjunctive in a formal context.

3

O autor descreve como a sociedade apanica ciclicamente.

The author describes how society panics cyclically.

Present tense used for literary analysis.

4

Tendo a diretoria apanicado, os funcionários ficaram perdidos.

With the board having panicked, the employees were lost.

Absolute participial construction.

5

Apanicar-se-ia se a situação fosse realmente grave.

One would panic if the situation were truly serious.

Mesoclisis with conditional (very formal/literary).

6

A mídia frequentemente induz a população a apanicar.

The media frequently induces the population to panic.

Transitive structure with 'induzir a'.

7

O pânico é contagioso; basta um apanicar para todos seguirem.

Panic is contagious; it only takes one to panic for everyone to follow.

Infinitive used to describe a chain reaction.

8

Raramente o vimos apanicar, mesmo sob pressão extrema.

We rarely saw him panic, even under extreme pressure.

Personal infinitive after a verb of perception.

1

Apanicar é o último refúgio da mente exaurida.

Panicking is the last refuge of the exhausted mind.

Aphoristic use of the infinitive.

2

Oxalá ninguém apanique quando soar o alarme.

Hopefully no one panics when the alarm sounds.

Use of 'Oxalá' with present subjunctive.

3

A volatilidade do mercado fez com que muitos apanicassem.

Market volatility caused many to panic.

Imperfect subjunctive after 'fez com que'.

4

Apanicar-se-iam os mais incautos ante tal cenário.

The most unwary would panic before such a scenario.

Mesoclisis in the conditional plural.

5

Se tivéssemos apanicado, o desastre seria inevitável.

If we had panicked, disaster would have been inevitable.

Pluperfect subjunctive in a conditional sentence.

6

Não há quem não apanique em situações de perigo iminente.

There is no one who does not panic in situations of imminent danger.

Relative clause with subjunctive.

7

Apanicar constitui uma falha na engrenagem da lógica.

Panicking constitutes a failure in the gears of logic.

Formal subject use of the infinitive.

8

A despeito de apanicar, ela manteve a dignidade.

Despite panicking, she maintained her dignity.

Prepositional phrase 'A despeito de' with infinitive.

Colocaciones comunes

Apanicar total
Apanicar com a prova
Sem apanicar
Começar a apanicar
Apanicar à toa
Mercado apanica
Quase apanicar
Apanicar geral
Não me faça apanicar
Apanicar de medo

Frases Comunes

Não apanica!

— A command telling someone to stay calm. Very common in Brazil.

Não apanica! Eu já chamei o táxi.

Estou apanicando.

— Used to express current extreme stress. Equivalent to 'I'm freaking out.'

Estou apanicando com tanto trabalho acumulado.

Ele apanicou feio.

— Used when someone panics in a very visible or embarrassing way.

Ele apanicou feio na hora de falar com o chefe.

Apanicar por nada.

— To panic over something trivial or non-existent.

Você está apanicando por nada, a mancha sai com água.

Apaniquei geral.

— I completely panicked (slang).

Apaniquei geral quando vi o preço da passagem.

Sem tempo para apanicar.

— Used when an immediate action is required despite fear.

Temos que agir logo, sem tempo para apanicar.

Apanicar na hora H.

— To panic at the critical moment.

Ele treinou muito, mas apanicou na hora H.

Fazer alguém apanicar.

— To cause someone else to feel panic.

Essas notícias falsas fazem a população apanicar.

Apanicar com o futuro.

— To feel anxiety about what is to come.

Muitos jovens apanicam com o futuro profissional.

Tentar não apanicar.

— The effort to stay calm.

Estou tentando não apanicar, mas está difícil.

Modismos y expresiones

"Perder as estribeiras"

— To lose one's temper or self-control, often involving panic.

Ele perdeu as estribeiras quando o projeto foi cancelado.

Informal
"Ficar com o coração na mão"

— To be extremely anxious or worried (near panic).

Fiquei com o coração na mão esperando o resultado.

Neutral
"Cair o mundo"

— To feel like everything is going wrong, leading to panic.

Para ela, caiu o mundo quando perdeu o emprego.

Informal
"Estar em palpos de aranha"

— To be in a very difficult or scary situation.

Ele se viu em palpos de aranha e começou a apanicar.

Informal (Portugal)
"Ficar de cabelo em pé"

— To be terrified or extremely stressed.

Essa situação deixa qualquer um de cabelo em pé.

Neutral
"Suar frio"

— To sweat from fear or anxiety.

Comecei a suar frio e apaniquei na frente de todos.

Neutral
"Dar um branco"

— To have a mental block due to panic.

Apaniquei tanto que me deu um branco na prova.

Informal
"Estar com a corda no pescoço"

— To be under extreme pressure, often leading to panic.

Com a corda no pescoço, ele apanicou e fugiu.

Informal
"Ver o bicho pegar"

— To see things getting serious/dangerous.

Quando viu o bicho pegar, ele apanicou total.

Slang
"Perder o chão"

— To feel completely lost or devastated, leading to panic.

Ela perdeu o chão e apanicou com a notícia.

Neutral
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