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A2 verb #8,000 más común 11 min de lectura

borrifar

Top 8,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos borrifar en 30 segundos

Explicación borrifar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'borrifar' as a simple action word related to water and plants. Think of it as 'making a small rain' for your flowers. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on the present tense 'Eu borrifo' (I spray) and the noun 'borrifador' (spray bottle). It's a useful word if you're talking about your hobbies or basic chores at home. You might see it in simple picture books or basic gardening guides. Focus on the physical action of using a spray bottle. It's a very visual and practical verb that helps you describe simple daily routines like taking care of an indoor plant or getting ready in the morning with a bit of perfume.

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At the A2 level, 'borrifar' becomes more useful as you describe more varied daily activities. You can now use it to talk about cleaning ('borrifar o vidro'), personal grooming ('borrifar perfume'), and basic cooking instructions. You should be able to conjugate it in the past tense ('Eu borrifuei') and the future ('Eu vou borrifar'). This level is where you start to distinguish 'borrifar' from 'molhar' (to wet). You'll understand that 'borrifar' is about small drops. You might encounter this word in a recipe for bread or on the back of a cleaning product bottle. It's a great word for adding detail to your descriptions of household tasks.

For B1 learners, 'borrifar' is used in more specific and instructional contexts. You should be comfortable using it in the imperative mood to give advice or follow directions, such as 'Borrife as roupas antes de passar' (Spray the clothes before ironing). You'll also start to see the past participle 'borrifado' used as an adjective to describe things. At this stage, you should recognize the word in more diverse media, like a blog post about skincare or a professional cleaning manual. You're beginning to understand the nuances of the word, such as why a barber 'borrifa' water instead of 'molha' the hair completely. Your vocabulary is expanding to include related terms like 'nevoeiro' or 'pulverização'.

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At the B2 level, you can use 'borrifar' with more precision and in figurative ways. You'll understand its use in literature where a scene might be 'borrifada de luz' (sprinkled with light). You should also be able to discuss the differences between 'borrifar' and its technical synonym 'pulverizar' in a professional or academic context. You can handle more complex sentence structures, such as 'Se você tivesse borrifado a planta, ela não teria morrido' (If you had sprayed the plant, it wouldn't have died). You'll encounter the word in news reports about agriculture or health and safety protocols. Your understanding of the word is now deep enough to use it naturally in conversation without thinking about the English equivalent.

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At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated grasp of 'borrifar'. you can appreciate the stylistic choices an author makes when they choose 'borrifar' over 'salpicar' or 'rociar'. You can use the verb to describe subtle textures in high-level culinary or artistic discussions. Your use of the word is nuanced; you might use it to describe a speaker 'borrifando' their speech with metaphors. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it fits into the broader family of Portuguese verbs. You are comfortable using it in any register, from slang to highly formal academic writing, and you can explain these differences to others. You notice the word in complex poetry and classical literature.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like mastery of 'borrifar'. You can use it with absolute precision in any context, including highly technical, legal, or poetic frameworks. You understand the rarest shades of meaning and can use it to create specific atmospheric effects in your own writing. You might use it in a philosophical sense to describe how experiences 'borrifam' a person's character. You are aware of regional variations in how the word is used across the Lusophone world, from Lisbon to Luanda to São Paulo. The word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a versatile tool in your extensive linguistic repertoire, used effortlessly and creatively to express the finest details of physical and abstract reality.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

borrifar en 30 segundos

A versatile verb for spraying or misting liquids in small, fine droplets.
Commonly used for gardening, cleaning, perfume application, and professional hair care.
Follows regular -ar verb conjugation patterns in Portuguese grammar.
Distinguished from 'molhar' (wetting) by its emphasis on light, fine distribution.

The Portuguese verb borrifar is a fundamental term used to describe the action of dispersing liquid in the form of tiny droplets. While the English language might use 'spray', 'sprinkle', or 'mist' depending on the context, borrifar covers all these nuances in Portuguese, provided the liquid is being distributed in a light, fragmented manner. It is a verb of action that implies intentionality and precision, often involving a tool like a spray bottle (known in Portuguese as a borrifador) or the flicking of fingers dipped in water.

Domestic Utility: In a household setting, you will most frequently hear this word when someone is ironing clothes. To remove a tough crease, one might borrifar a bit of water onto the fabric. It is also the standard verb for cleaning windows or mirrors, where you borrifar the cleaning solution before wiping it down.

Antes de passar a camisa, é bom borrifar um pouco de água para tirar os vincos.

Beyond housework, borrifar is essential in gardening and plant care. Many tropical indoor plants require high humidity, so owners are advised to borrifar their leaves daily. This mimics the natural mist of a rainforest without waterlogging the soil, which could lead to root rot. In this context, the word conveys a sense of gentle care and maintenance.

Personal Care: When applying perfume, cologne, or hairspray, the action is always borrifar. At a barber shop, the barber will borrifar your hair with water to make it easier to cut. It denotes the fine distribution of a substance over a surface.

Ela gosta de borrifar o seu perfume favorito todas as manhãs antes de sair.

In the culinary world, borrifar is a technique used for both texture and flavor. Bakers might borrifar water into a hot oven to create steam, which results in a crustier crust on a loaf of bread. A chef might borrifar lemon juice over a piece of grilled fish to provide a subtle, even acidity that doesn't overwhelm the dish. The word suggests a light touch, an artisanal approach to adding ingredients.

O padeiro costuma borrifar água no forno para o pão ficar crocante.

Metaphorically, borrifar can be used in literature or creative writing to describe something that covers a surface lightly, like stars 'sprinkled' across the sky or a conversation 'sprinkled' with jokes. However, its primary use remains grounded in the physical act of spraying liquid. Whether you are at a hair salon, in a kitchen, or cleaning your home, mastering this verb will help you describe everyday actions with the precision of a native speaker.

O céu estava borrifado de estrelas naquela noite de verão.

Artistic Context: Painers using spray cans or flicking brushes use this verb. To borrifar paint onto a canvas creates a speckled effect that is distinct from a solid stroke.

O artista decidiu borrifar tinta dourada sobre a escultura para dar brilho.

Using borrifar correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure. As a regular verb ending in -ar, it follows the standard first-conjugation pattern in Portuguese. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object (the thing being sprayed) or a prepositional phrase indicating what is being sprayed onto what.

Direct Object Construction: You can borrifar the object itself. For example: 'Eu borrifo as plantas' (I spray the plants). Here, the focus is on the recipient of the liquid.

Você deve borrifar o desinfetante na mesa e esperar trinta segundos.

Another common construction is to borrifar [liquid] em/no/na [object]. This specifies exactly what substance is being used. For instance: 'Ele borrifou perfume no pescoço' (He sprayed perfume on his neck). This structure is very common in recipes and cleaning instructions where the specific substance matters as much as the action.

In the Imperative: Since borrifar is often used in instructions, you will frequently see it in the imperative mood: 'Borrife as flores de manhã' (Spray the flowers in the morning) or 'Não borrife nos olhos' (Do not spray in the eyes).

Borrife um pouco de água sobre a massa antes de levá-la ao forno.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might see the past participle borrifado used as an adjective. This describes something that has been covered in small drops. 'O gramado estava borrifado de orvalho' (The lawn was sprinkled with dew). This usage adds a poetic quality to the description, evoking the visual of light moisture glistening in the sun.

As janelas ficaram borrifadas pela chuva fina que caiu à tarde.

When talking about the frequency of the action, you can use adverbs like levemente (lightly) or abundantemente (abundantly). 'Borrife levemente' is a very common instruction on cosmetic products to ensure the user doesn't over-apply the product. On the other hand, 'borrife abundantemente' might be used for heavy-duty cleaning or specific agricultural treatments.

É necessário borrifar levemente o tecido para facilitar a engomagem.

Negative Sentences: In negative sentences, 'borrifar' follows standard placement: 'Eu não borrifo água em eletrônicos' (I don't spray water on electronics). This is a vital rule for safety instructions.

Nunca tente borrifar líquidos inflamáveis perto do fogo aberto.

You will hear borrifar in a variety of real-world scenarios in Portuguese-speaking countries. One of the most common places is the cabeleireiro (hairdresser) or barbearia (barber shop). Before the professional starts cutting, they will almost certainly say something like 'Vou só borrifar um pouco de água' as they mist your hair. It’s a polite way of warning you that you’re about to feel a cool spray.

In the Garden Center: If you visit a horto or garden center in Brazil or Portugal, the staff will often give you care instructions for your new plants. They might tell you: 'Esta planta gosta que borrifem as folhas no verão' (This plant likes its leaves to be sprayed in the summer).

O jardineiro recomendou borrifar as orquídeas para manter a umidade alta.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and general hygiene, borrifar became a daily-use word. Signs in public places or instructions on cleaning labels frequently use this verb. You’ll hear people saying, 'Não esqueça de borrifar álcool nas mãos' (Don't forget to spray alcohol on your hands) or 'Borrife o carrinho de compras com desinfetante'. It has become synonymous with safety and cleanliness.

Cooking Shows: Watch any Portuguese-language cooking show, and you'll hear chefs use this word. Whether they are 'borrifando azeite' (spraying olive oil) or 'borrifando água no pão', it is a standard technical term in the kitchen for achieving specific textures.

Na TV, o chef explicou como borrifar vinagre para temperar a salada uniformemente.

Finally, you’ll encounter borrifar in the world of fashion and beauty. At a department store perfume counter, the salesperson will ask, 'Gostaria que eu borrifasse um pouco desta fragrância para você sentir?' (Would you like me to spray a bit of this fragrance for you to smell?). It is the polite and professional term for testing scents. In all these cases, the word describes a practical, everyday action that is essential for communication in a Portuguese-speaking environment.

A vendedora de perfumes começou a borrifar as amostras para os clientes na loja.

In summary, borrifar is not just a vocabulary word; it's a tool for navigating daily life. From the moment you wake up and apply cologne, to the chores of cleaning and gardening, and even the professional services you receive, this word will be a constant companion in your Portuguese language journey.

Weather Reports: While 'chuviscar' is more common for light rain, a meteorologist might describe a 'névoa borrifada' to indicate a mist that feels like a spray.

O mar agitado costuma borrifar água salgada em quem caminha pelo calçadão.

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers learning borrifar is confusing it with other verbs related to water or liquids. The most frequent confusion is with espirrar. In English, 'spray' can sometimes overlap with 'squirt' or 'splash', but in Portuguese, espirrar usually means 'to sneeze' or 'to squirt out' under pressure (like a clogged bottle suddenly bursting). Using espirrar when you mean a fine mist can lead to confusion or amusement.

Confusion with 'Espirrar': Example: Saying 'Vou espirrar perfume' sounds like you are sneezing perfume. The correct verb for a controlled spray is always borrifar.

Cuidado para não espirrar água (squirt) em vez de apenas borrifar (mist).

Another error is using borrifar for large-scale watering. If you are using a hose to soak your lawn, that is regar or molhar. Borrifar is strictly for fine droplets. If you tell a gardener to borrifar the whole lawn, they might look for a tiny spray bottle and think you're joking. Context matters—use borrifar for delicate tasks and regar for general watering.

Preposition Pitfalls: Learners often struggle with which preposition to use. It is usually 'borrifar algo em/no/na algo' (spray something on something) or 'borrifar algo com algo' (spray something with something). Using 'borrifar para' is usually incorrect unless you are spraying 'towards' a direction.

Ele errou ao borrifar água 'para' a planta; o correto é borrifar 'na' planta.

Finally, don't confuse borrifar with pingar. Pingar means 'to drip' (like a leaky faucet). While both involve small amounts of liquid, the action is completely different. Pingar is vertical and gravity-fed, whereas borrifar is usually horizontal or multi-directional and pressurized. If you use the wrong one in a pharmacy, for example, you might end up with a spray when you needed eye drops (colírio).

Você deve pingar o remédio no olho, não borrifar, para não machucar.

Misusing 'Pulverizar': While 'pulverizar' is a synonym, using it for perfume in a casual setting sounds overly technical or 'robotic'. Stick to 'borrifar' for everyday personal care.

Não diga que vai pulverizar perfume; diga que vai borrifar.

Portuguese offers several synonyms for borrifar, each with its own specific register and nuance. Understanding these will help you choose the right word for the right situation. The most common synonym is pulverizar. While they are often interchangeable, pulverizar sounds more industrial or scientific. You 'pulverize' crops with pesticides, but you 'borrifar' your indoor ferns.

Borrifar vs. Pulverizar: Borrifar is domestic and gentle. Pulverizar is technical and often implies a finer, more systematic application.

O avião vai pulverizar a plantação, mas eu vou borrifar meu jardim.

Another interesting alternative is aspergir. This word has a strong religious or formal connotation. It is almost exclusively used in church settings when a priest is sprinkling holy water, or in very formal literature. If you use aspergir to talk about cleaning your windows, it might sound like you are performing a sacred ritual on your glass!

Borrifar vs. Salpicar: Salpicar means 'to splash' or 'to sprinkle' (often with dry ingredients like salt). In the context of liquid, salpicar implies larger, more irregular drops than the fine mist of borrifar.

Você pode salpicar sal na carne ou borrifar água nela.

Lastly, we have rociar. This is a more literary term, often used to describe the way dew covers the grass in the morning. It is rarely used in spoken, everyday Portuguese but is common in poetry and classical novels. It evokes a sense of natural beauty and softness that borrifar, with its more functional feel, lacks.

O orvalho da manhã veio rociar as pétalas das rosas no campo.

Summary of Choice: Use borrifar for 90% of daily situations. Use pulverizar for technical work, aspergir for religion, and salpicar for cooking with salt or irregular splashes.

Escolha a palavra certa: borrifar para o spray, molhar para ensopar.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The word 'borra' (sediment) is also where we get 'borracha' (rubber), because the first rubber erasers looked like dark sediment or 'borra'.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /bu.ʁi.ˈfaɾ/

US /bo.xi.ˈfaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'far'.

Rima con

cantar falar amar andar olhar chegar pensar brincar

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'rr' like the English 'r' in 'red'.
Stress on the first syllable (BO-rrifar).
Nasalizing the 'o' (sounding like 'bom-rrifar').
Skipping the 'i' sound (borr-far).
Pronouncing the final 'r' too heavily like an American 'r'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its distinct 'rr' and 'ar' ending.

Escritura 3/5

Double 'rr' can be a common spelling trap for beginners.

Expresión oral 3/5

Requires mastering the guttural 'rr' sound for native-like pronunciation.

Escucha 2/5

Clear phonetic structure makes it easy to hear in speech.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

água limpar planta perfume garrafa

Aprende después

pulverizar umedecer enxaguar esfregar secar

Avanzado

nebulização atomização aspersão rocio salpico

Gramática que debes saber

Regular -ar verbs in the Present Tense

Eu borrifo, você borrifa, nós borrifamos.

Imperative mood for instructions

Borrife a solução (Spray the solution).

Past Participle as Adjective

O vidro está borrifado (The glass is sprayed).

Reflexive pronouns with verbs

Ele se borrifou com perfume (He sprayed himself with perfume).

Prepositional usage (em/com)

Borrifar água NA planta / Borrifar a planta COM água.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Eu borrifo a flor com água.

I spray the flower with water.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Você borrifa o perfume?

Do you spray the perfume?

Simple question in the present tense.

O gato não gosta de borrifar água.

The cat doesn't like water being sprayed.

Negative sentence with infinitive.

Nós borrifamos as plantas hoje.

We sprayed the plants today.

Present/Past tense (same form for 'nós' in -ar verbs).

Ela tem um borrifador azul.

She has a blue spray bottle.

Use of the noun 'borrifador'.

Borrife a água aqui.

Spray the water here.

Imperative (command) form.

Eles borrifam o cabelo na barbearia.

They spray the hair at the barber shop.

3rd person plural present.

É fácil borrifar o espelho.

It is easy to spray the mirror.

Infinitive after an adjective.

Eu borrifuei o desinfetante na mesa da cozinha.

I sprayed the disinfectant on the kitchen table.

Preterite (past) tense.

Você pode borrifar um pouco de água na minha camisa?

Can you spray a bit of water on my shirt?

Request using 'pode' + infinitive.

Ela sempre borrifa perfume antes de sair de casa.

She always sprays perfume before leaving home.

Adverb of frequency 'sempre'.

Nós vamos borrifar as folhas das orquídeas amanhã.

We are going to spray the orchid leaves tomorrow.

Immediate future with 'ir' + infinitive.

O padeiro borrifa água no pão para ele ficar crocante.

The baker sprays water on the bread so it gets crunchy.

Purpose clause with 'para'.

Não borrife muito produto no tapete.

Don't spray too much product on the rug.

Negative imperative.

Eles borrifaram o jardim inteiro com inseticida.

They sprayed the whole garden with insecticide.

Preterite plural.

É necessário borrifar o rosto para se refrescar.

It is necessary to spray your face to cool down.

Impersonal expression 'é necessário'.

Se o clima estiver seco, borrife as plantas duas vezes por dia.

If the weather is dry, spray the plants twice a day.

Conditional 'se' + future subjunctive.

Eu costumava borrifar água no meu irmão para acordá-lo.

I used to spray water on my brother to wake him up.

Imperfect tense for habitual actions.

O cabeleireiro borrifou um spray fixador para terminar o penteado.

The hairdresser sprayed a setting spray to finish the hairstyle.

Compound noun 'spray fixador'.

Antes de passar a ferro, é recomendável borrifar a roupa de linho.

Before ironing, it is recommended to spray linen clothing.

Passive-like impersonal construction.

Ela borrifou a mistura de vinagre e água em todos os vidros.

She sprayed the mixture of vinegar and water on all the windows.

Detailed direct object.

Nós borrifamos as uvas para protegê-las das pragas.

We sprayed the grapes to protect them from pests.

Pronoun 'las' attached to the verb.

O artista borrifou tinta na tela para criar um efeito de textura.

The artist sprayed paint on the canvas to create a texture effect.

Prepositional phrase 'na tela'.

Borrife o desodorante a uma distância de quinze centímetros.

Spray the deodorant from a distance of fifteen centimeters.

Specific measurement instruction.

O agricultor deve borrifar os defensivos agrícolas com cautela.

The farmer must spray agricultural pesticides with caution.

Modal verb 'deve' + infinitive.

A névoa do mar costuma borrifar salitre nas casas da orla.

The sea mist usually sprays saltpeter on the houses along the coast.

Natural subject acting on an object.

Embora tenha borrifado o veneno, as formigas voltaram.

Although he sprayed the poison, the ants returned.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + subjunctive.

O sistema de incêndio começou a borrifar água automaticamente.

The fire system started spraying water automatically.

Adverb 'automaticamente'.

É importante borrifar a quantidade exata para não estragar o papel.

It is important to spray the exact amount so as not to ruin the paper.

Infinitive with 'para não'.

Eles borrifaram as amostras de solo com uma solução química.

They sprayed the soil samples with a chemical solution.

Scientific context.

A cozinheira borrifou conhaque na carne antes de flambar.

The cook sprayed cognac on the meat before flambéing.

Sequential actions.

Ao borrifar o spray, certifique-se de que o ambiente esteja ventilado.

When spraying the spray, make sure the environment is ventilated.

Temporal 'ao' + infinitive.

A luz do sol borrifava tons de dourado sobre as colinas ao entardecer.

The sunlight sprayed shades of gold over the hills at sunset.

Metaphorical literary usage.

O orador borrifou seu discurso com pitadas de ironia e humor.

The speaker sprinkled his speech with hints of irony and humor.

Figurative use for abstract concepts.

A fragrância borrifada no ar trazia recordações de sua infância.

The fragrance sprayed in the air brought back memories of her childhood.

Past participle as an adjective.

Caso o técnico não borrifasse o componente, o superaquecimento seria inevitável.

If the technician didn't spray the component, overheating would be inevitable.

Imperfect subjunctive in a 'caso' clause.

A técnica de borrifar água sobre a tela úmida cria transições suaves na aquarela.

The technique of spraying water over the wet canvas creates smooth transitions in watercolor.

Gerund-like use of the infinitive.

O perfume, borrifado com parcimônia, exalava uma elegância discreta.

The perfume, sprayed sparingly, exuded a discrete elegance.

Appositive phrase with 'parcimônia'.

O mar revolto borrifava as rochas com uma espuma branca e densa.

The rough sea sprayed the rocks with a thick white foam.

Descriptive literary verb.

É fundamental que borrifemos a solução de forma homogênea em toda a superfície.

It is fundamental that we spray the solution homogeneously over the entire surface.

Present subjunctive after 'é fundamental que'.

A narrativa é borrifada de arcaísmos que conferem uma aura de antiguidade ao texto.

The narrative is sprinkled with archaisms that lend an aura of antiquity to the text.

Passive voice with figurative meaning.

O cientista observou como as partículas se borrifavam no vácuo da câmara.

The scientist observed how the particles sprayed themselves in the vacuum of the chamber.

Pronominal usage (reflexive/passive).

Sob a égide da modernidade, a cidade borrifa luzes neon por suas avenidas sombrias.

Under the aegis of modernity, the city sprays neon lights through its dark avenues.

Highly sophisticated literary prose.

A despeito de ter borrifado a substância, a reação química não ocorreu como o esperado.

Despite having sprayed the substance, the chemical reaction did not occur as expected.

Complex prepositional phrase 'a despeito de'.

O autor utiliza o verbo 'borrifar' para denotar a efemeridade das sensações humanas.

The author uses the verb 'borrifar' to denote the ephemerality of human sensations.

Meta-linguistic analysis.

A fina garoa borrifava o rosto dos transeuntes, alheios ao frio cortante.

The fine drizzle sprayed the faces of the passersby, oblivious to the biting cold.

Poetic subject 'fina garoa'.

Oxalá pudessem borrifar um pouco de bom senso sobre aquela discussão acalorada.

If only they could sprinkle a bit of common sense over that heated discussion.

Optative use of 'oxalá' + imperfect subjunctive.

A pulverização catódica consiste em borrifar átomos de um alvo sobre um substrato.

Cathodic sputtering consists of spraying atoms from a target onto a substrate.

Highly technical/scientific definition.

Sinónimos

pulverizar aspergir salpicar rociar chuviscar respingar umedecer regar

Antónimos

secar enxugar drenar absorver

Colocaciones comunes

borrifar água

borrifar perfume

borrifar desinfetante

borrifar levemente

borrifar álcool

borrifar inseticida

borrifar as plantas

borrifar tinta

borrifar vinagre

borrifar spray

Frases Comunes

Borrife e limpe

— A common cleaning instruction: spray and wipe.

Borrife e limpe com um pano seco.

Borrife à vontade

— Spray as much as you like.

Pode borrifar o perfume à vontade.

Borrife com cuidado

— Spray carefully (avoiding eyes or electronics).

Borrife com cuidado perto da TV.

Pronto para borrifar

— Ready to spray (referring to a bottle or setting).

O frasco já está pronto para borrifar.

Borrife nas mãos

— Spray on your hands (usually sanitizer).

Borrife nas mãos antes de entrar.

Borrife um pouco

— Spray just a little bit.

Borrife um pouco de água no rosto.

Borrife por cima

— Spray over the top of something.

Borrife o azeite por cima da salada.

Borrife uniformemente

— Spray evenly across the surface.

Tente borrifar uniformemente para não manchar.

Borrife nas raízes

— Spray at the roots (usually for hair products).

Borrife o shampoo a seco nas raízes.

Borrife para refrescar

— Spray to refresh (air or skin).

Borrife o ambiente para refrescar o ar.

Se confunde a menudo con

borrifar vs espirrar

Means 'to sneeze' or 'to squirt'. Don't use it for a fine mist.

borrifar vs pingar

Means 'to drip' drop by drop. Borrifar is a pressurized spray.

borrifar vs molhar

General term for getting something wet. Borrifar is specific to the method.

Modismos y expresiones

"Borrifar otimismo"

— To spread positivity or hopeful thoughts in a subtle way.

Ela gosta de borrifar otimismo por onde passa.

Literary/Metaphorical

"Borrifado de estrelas"

— A poetic way to describe a clear night sky.

O céu estava borrifado de estrelas.

Poetic

"Borrifar de críticas"

— To occasionally make small negative comments.

Ele borrifou a reunião de críticas desnecessárias.

Informal/Metaphorical

"Borrifar alegria"

— To make small gestures that make people happy.

Sua presença borrifa alegria no escritório.

Metaphorical

"Borrifar dúvidas"

— To subtly cause people to question something.

Suas palavras borrifaram dúvidas na mente do juiz.

Formal/Literary

"Estar borrifado"

— To be slightly covered in something (like rain or dust).

O carro estava borrifado de poeira.

Neutral

"Borrifar com sal"

— Metaphorically, to add flavor or interest to something dull.

Ele borrifou a história com sal e pimenta.

Informal

"Borrifar o futuro"

— To prepare or set small seeds for future success.

Estamos borrifando o futuro com novos projetos.

Metaphorical

"Borrifar luz"

— To clarify or enlighten a situation slightly.

O comentário borrifou luz sobre o mistério.

Poetic

"Borrifar veneno"

— To say mean things in small, cutting doses.

Ela vive borrifando veneno sobre os colegas.

Informal/Pejorative

Fácil de confundir

borrifar vs borrifar

Similar to English 'spray'.

Specifically implies small droplets or mist.

Vou borrifar o perfume.

borrifar vs espirrar

Sounds like 'spray' to some learners.

Usually means sneezing or a sudden squirt of liquid.

Eu espirrei porque estou resfriado.

borrifar vs pulverizar

Direct synonym.

More technical, used for chemicals or large-scale spraying.

O avião pulverizou o campo.

borrifar vs salpicar

Both involve small amounts of liquid.

Salpicar involves larger, random splashes or dry sprinkles.

Salpique sal na batata.

borrifar vs chuviscar

Both involve fine water drops.

Chuviscar is only for weather (drizzling).

Lá fora está chuviscando.

Patrones de oraciones

Eu borrifo [objeto].

Eu borrifo as flores.

Você pode borrifar [objeto]?

Você pode borrifar o espelho?

É melhor borrifar [objeto] com [líquido].

É melhor borrifar a roupa com água.

Se você [subjuntivo], borrife [objeto].

Se você quiser, borrife o perfume.

[Sujeito] borrifava [objeto] de [abstrato].

O autor borrifava o texto de metáforas.

A despeito de [infinitivo], borrifar é necessário.

A despeito de tudo, borrifar o local é necessário.

Não borrife [objeto]!

Não borrife o computador!

Costumo borrifar [objeto] todas as manhãs.

Costumo borrifar as orquídeas todas as manhãs.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

borrifador (spray bottle)

borrifo (a single spray/sprinkle)

borrifadela (a quick spray)

Verbos

borrifar (to spray)

Adjetivos

borrifado (sprayed/sprinkled)

borrifante (spraying/effervescent)

Relacionado

pulverizar

aspergir

salpicar

chuviscar

névoa

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Common in daily household and personal care contexts.

Errores comunes

Eu espirro as plantas. → Eu borrifo as plantas.
'Espirrar' means to sneeze. You don't want to sneeze on your plants!
Vou borrifar sal na comida. → Vou salpicar sal na comida.
'Borrifar' is for liquids; 'salpicar' is for grains or small splashes.
Ele borrifou a mangueira no carro. → Ele lavou o carro com a mangueira.
'Borrifar' is for fine mist, not the heavy flow of a hose.
Borrife o colírio no olho. → Pingue o colírio no olho.
Eye drops are 'pingar' (to drip), not 'borrifar' (to spray), which would be painful.
O céu estava pulverizado de estrelas. → O céu estava borrifado de estrelas.
'Pulverizado' sounds too industrial for a poetic description of the sky.

Consejos

Regular Verb Ease

Since it's a regular -ar verb, you don't have to learn any weird exceptions. Just apply the standard patterns you know for 'falar' or 'amar'.

The Plant Secret

If you want to sound like a pro gardener in Portuguese, always use 'borrifar' for leaves and 'regar' for the soil.

The Throat Vibration

To get the 'rr' right, pretend you are gargling water. That's the vibration you need in the middle of 'borrifar'.

Cleaning Labels

Look for the word 'borrifar' on cleaning products. It usually appears in the 'Modo de Uso' (How to Use) section.

Chef Talk

Chefs use 'borrifar' for oil or vinegar to control calories and flavor. It sounds much more professional than 'jogar' (to throw).

Perfume Etiquette

When asking to try a perfume, say 'Posso borrifar um pouco?' It's the most natural way to ask.

Poetic Touch

Use 'borrifado de...' to describe things covered in light drops or stars for a more evocative style.

Chemical Warnings

Always read 'Não borrifar perto dos olhos' on aerosols. It's a key safety phrase.

Laundry Hack

In Brazil, many people mix water with a little fabric softener in a 'borrifador' to make ironing easier and clothes smell better.

Visual Cues

Label your spray bottles at home with the word 'BORRIFADOR' and the verb 'BORRIFAR' to practice every time you clean.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Imagine a 'Boring' 'River' ('borri-') that you turn into a 'Far' ('-far') reaching mist with a spray bottle.

Asociación visual

Visualize a spray bottle with the word 'BORRIFAR' written on the side in bright water droplets.

Word Web

água perfume plantas limpeza vidro mist spray borrifador

Desafío

Go to your kitchen or bathroom, find a spray bottle, and say 'Eu vou borrifar' every time you use it today.

Origen de la palabra

From the Portuguese word 'borra' (dregs/sediment) combined with the suffix '-ifar'. It originally referred to the splashing or spitting of liquid containing sediment.

Significado original: To splash or spit out small amounts of liquid.

Romance (Latin-based).

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities, though 'borrifar veneno' is a common insult for someone who gossips maliciously.

English uses 'spray', 'sprinkle', and 'mist' separately, while Portuguese uses 'borrifar' for all three in most domestic contexts.

Used in Brazilian poetry by Carlos Drummond de Andrade to describe nature. Common in 'Dona Benta' cookbooks for bread-making tips. Appears in Portuguese 'Fado' lyrics to describe the sea spray (borrifos do mar).

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Gardening

Borrifar as folhas
Borrifar de manhã
Não borrifar no sol
Borrifador de pressão

Cleaning

Borrifar o vidro
Borrifar desinfetante
Borrife e limpe
Borrifar no pano

Cooking

Borrifar azeite
Borrifar água no forno
Borrifar limão
Borrifar a massa

Personal Care

Borrifar perfume
Borrifar no pulso
Borrifar o cabelo
Borrifar spray fixador

Ironing

Borrifar a camisa
Borrifar antes de passar
Borrifar para tirar vincos
Borrifar com amaciante

Inicios de conversación

"Com que frequência você precisa borrifar suas plantas de interior?"

"Você prefere borrifar o perfume na pele ou na roupa?"

"Você acha que borrifar água no pão realmente faz diferença na casca?"

"Qual é o melhor produto para borrifar e limpar janelas de vidro?"

"Você já teve que borrifar água em um gato para ele parar de fazer bagunça?"

Temas para diario

Descreva sua rotina matinal e mencione se você usa algum spray ou precisa borrifar algo.

Escreva sobre um jardim que você cuidou. Quais plantas você tinha que borrifar?

Imagine que você é um chef. Explique como você usa a técnica de borrifar líquidos em seus pratos.

Relate uma situação engraçada onde alguém borrifou algo por acidente.

Discuta a importância de borrifar álcool em superfícies para a higiene pessoal.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, you can use 'borrifar tinta', but 'pintar com spray' or 'pulverizar' is also common in artistic contexts.

A 'borrifador' is the noun for a spray bottle or an atomizer.

No, that is 'espirrar'. Using 'borrifar' for sneezing would sound very strange.

Usually, we use 'salpicar' for dry things like salt or sugar. 'Borrifar' is for liquids.

Both are correct depending on the object. 'Na' is the contraction of 'em + a'. Example: 'Borrifar na planta'.

It is regular: Eu borrifuei, você borrifou, nós borrifamos, eles borrifaram.

'Aspergir' is formal or religious; 'borrifar' is for everyday use.

Only if the hose has a mist setting. Otherwise, use 'regar' or 'molhar'.

Yes, it is used throughout the Portuguese-speaking world.

In some contexts, 'borrifar-se para algo' (reflexive) can mean 'to not care about something', though this is less common than 'lixar-se'.

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