At the A1 level, desassossegar is a very advanced word, and you likely won't need to use it yourself. However, you might hear it in songs or see it in very simple stories. At this stage, just think of it as the opposite of 'calm'. If you know the word bom (good) and mau (bad), desassossegar is like making someone feel 'not calm'. It is a long word, so don't worry about spelling it perfectly yet. Just recognize the des- at the beginning, which usually means 'not' or 'un-'. If you see it, know that someone is feeling a bit nervous or can't sit still. Focus on the root sossegar (to be quiet) and remember that this word is the 'un-quiet' version. In simple terms, it means 'to make someone not quiet'. You might hear a mother say it to a child who is moving too much. At A1, focus on the feeling of being 'restless'. Imagine a person who has had too much coffee; they are desassossegados. They cannot relax. That is the basic idea. Don't worry about the complex grammar yet; just try to hear the 's' sounds and associate them with a lack of peace.
At the A2 level, you are starting to express feelings and emotions. Desassossegar is a great word to add to your vocabulary to describe a specific kind of feeling. You can use it to say that something is making you feel a bit uneasy. For example, 'O barulho desassossega-me' (The noise makes me restless). You should learn the basic present tense: eu desassossego, tu desassossegas, ele/ela desassossega. Notice that it is a regular -ar verb. You can use it when you are talking about why you can't sleep or why you are worried about a small problem. It's a step up from 'incomodar' (to bother). If you use this word, people will think your Portuguese is very good because it's a 'rich' word. Try to use it in its reflexive form too: 'Eu desassossego-me quando tenho muito trabalho' (I get restless when I have a lot of work). This shows you understand how to talk about your own reactions to things. Remember the double 'ss'—it's like the 'ss' in 'possible' in English. It helps keep the sound soft. At this level, use it for simple things: noises, worries, or people who won't stop talking.
At the B1 level, you should begin to appreciate the nuance of desassossegar compared to synonyms like preocupar or inquietar. You can now use it in more complex sentences, such as 'Aquelas palavras desassossegaram-no profundamente' (Those words disturbed him deeply). You should be comfortable using the past tenses (Pretérito Perfeito and Imperfeito). For instance, 'Antigamente, o escuro desassossegava-me' (In the past, the dark used to make me restless). This is also the stage where you should learn about the noun desassossego (disquiet). You can describe situations of social unrest or personal anxiety. You might hear it in the news or read it in a short story. Start paying attention to the context: is the disturbance internal or external? B1 learners should use desassossegar to describe emotional states that are a bit more than just 'worry' but less than 'panic'. It's that nagging feeling in the back of your mind. Practice using it with the preposition 'com': 'Não te desassossegues com isso' (Don't let yourself get restless with/about that). This is a very natural way to comfort someone in Portuguese.
As a B2 learner, you should be aware of the literary and cultural weight of desassossegar. This is the level where you might start reading Fernando Pessoa or listening to more complex Fado lyrics. You should understand that desassossegar is a key term in the Portuguese 'soul' and its existential outlook. You can use the verb in more abstract ways: 'O mistério da existência desassossega os filósofos' (The mystery of existence disturbs philosophers). You should also be proficient in using the passive voice and the past participle as an adjective: 'Ele andava desassossegado ultimamente' (He had been walking around restless lately). At B2, you can use the word to discuss social issues, political climates, and complex human relationships. You should be able to explain the difference between being 'incomodado' (bothered by something external) and 'desassossegado' (internally un-quiet). Your conjugation should be flawless, including the subjunctive: 'Espero que isto não te desassossegue' (I hope this doesn't make you restless). This level of precision shows a high command of the language's emotional register.
At the C1 level, desassossegar becomes a tool for sophisticated expression. You should use it to convey subtle shades of meaning in academic, professional, or literary contexts. You can discuss the 'estética do desassossego' (the aesthetics of disquiet) in Portuguese literature, referencing Bernardo Soares (Pessoa's heteronym). You should be able to use the verb in all its forms, including the less common future subjunctive or personal infinitive: 'Se a situação nos vier a desassossegar, teremos de agir' (If the situation comes to disturb us, we will have to act). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's history and its connection to the concept of 'saudade' and 'sossego'. You might use it in a formal essay to describe the impact of a new law on the public psyche. You should also be able to identify and use its synonyms (inquietar, agitar, perturbar, transtornar) with perfect precision, choosing desassossegar specifically when you want to evoke a sense of lost tranquility or existential unrest. At this level, the word is not just a verb; it's a cultural marker.
For the C2 speaker, desassossegar is a word used with total mastery and effortless grace. You can play with its poetic potential, using it in metaphors and complex rhetorical structures. You understand the subtle rhythmic differences it brings to a sentence compared to its shorter synonyms. You can analyze its use in the works of various authors beyond Pessoa, seeing how it evolved in 20th and 21st-century Portuguese prose. In a professional setting, you might use it to describe a 'desassossego criativo' (creative restlessness) that drives innovation. You are perfectly comfortable with the most complex grammatical constructions involving the verb, such as 'Tendo-o desassossegado a notícia, ele não conseguiu pregar olho' (The news having made him restless, he couldn't sleep a wink). You can use the word to navigate the most delicate social situations, perhaps using its reflexive form to express a personal, deep-seated concern in a way that sounds both humble and profound. At C2, you don't just know the word; you inhabit the 'desassossego' it describes, understanding it as a fundamental part of the human—and specifically the Lusophone—experience.
desassossegar en 30 segundos
- Desassossegar means to disturb someone's internal peace or make them feel restless.
- It is the direct opposite of 'sossegar' (to calm) and is deeply rooted in Portuguese culture.
- Commonly used in literature, news, and to describe psychological states of anxiety.
- It requires double 'ss' and can be used transitively or reflexively (desassossegar-se).
The Portuguese verb desassossegar is a fascinating and deeply evocative word that goes far beyond the simple English translation of 'to disturb' or 'to make restless.' To understand this word, one must first look at its root: sossegar, which means to quieten, to calm, or to find a state of peace (sossego). By adding the prefix des-, which functions as a negator or a reverser, the word literally describes the act of stripping away someone's peace. It is not merely about making a noise or causing a physical interruption; it is about an internal, psychological, or emotional displacement. When you desassossegar someone, you are creating a sense of 'desassossego'—a state of disquiet, anxiety, or existential restlessness. This term is iconic in Portuguese literature, most famously associated with Fernando Pessoa’s posthumous masterpiece, Livro do Desassossego (The Book of Disquiet). In that context, it represents a profound, almost metaphysical inability to be at ease with oneself or the world. In everyday usage, however, it can be applied to more mundane situations. For instance, a nagging doubt might desassossegar a student before an exam, or a persistent noise in the night might desassossegar a sleeper. It is a transitive verb, meaning it typically acts upon an object (you disturb something or someone), but it is very frequently used in its pronominal form, desassossegar-se, to describe the act of becoming restless or losing one's own peace of mind. The word carries a weight of sincerity and depth; it is rarely used for trivial annoyances like a fly buzzing around, but rather for things that touch the 'sossego' of the soul or the mind. In the modern world, we might say that constant notifications on a smartphone desassossegam our ability to focus, or that the uncertainty of the economy desassossega the middle class. It is a word that speaks to the Portuguese cultural value placed on tranquility and 'sossego'—to lose that state is a significant event, hence the need for such a specific and powerful verb. When using it, consider the level of internal peace being disrupted. If it is just a minor bother, 'chatear' or 'incomodar' might suffice. But if the peace of the spirit is at stake, desassossegar is the perfect choice.
- Emotional Depth
- This verb describes a shift from a state of calm to a state of internal agitation, often used in poetic or psychological contexts.
Aquela notícia estranha veio desassossegar o meu coração durante a noite inteira.
- Literary Connection
- Deeply tied to Fernando Pessoa, representing a uniquely Lusophone existential anxiety that is both beautiful and haunting.
Não deixes que as tuas preocupações te venham desassossegar antes de ires dormir.
A injustiça social deve desassossegar todos os cidadãos conscientes.
- Morphology
- Composed of the prefix 'des-' (negation) + 'a-' (directional) + 'sossegar' (to quiet). It literally means 'to un-quiet'.
O vento a bater na janela começou a desassossegar a criança.
O olhar dele era capaz de desassossegar a mulher mais calma do mundo.
Using desassossegar correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb or a reflexive verb. As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object—someone or something that is being disturbed. For example, 'A dúvida desassossega a mente' (Doubt disturbs the mind). Here, 'a mente' is the object being acted upon. It is important to note that the disturbance is usually mental or emotional. If you are physically moving something, you would use 'desarrumar' (to clutter) or 'mover' (to move). Desassossegar is reserved for the peace of mind. When used reflexively as desassossegar-se, the subject is the one losing their peace. 'Eu desassossego-me com facilidade' (I get restless easily). This reflexive form is common when discussing personality traits or reactions to stress. In terms of tense, it follows the regular conjugation of -ar verbs, though it is quite long, so learners often stumble over the double 's'. In the past tense, 'A notícia desassossegou-o' (The news made him restless), the stress remains on the ending. In the future, 'Isso vai desassossegar a família,' it acts as an infinitive following the auxiliary verb 'ir'. You will often find it in the imperative in literature: 'Não te desassossegues!' (Do not be troubled!). This usage is similar to the biblical 'Let not your heart be troubled,' providing a sense of comfort or a command to remain calm. Another nuance is its use in the passive voice: 'Ele sentia-se desassossegado pelas palavras dela' (He felt restless/disturbed by her words). Here, 'desassossegado' acts as a past participle/adjective, describing the state of the person. This is perhaps the most common way you will encounter the word in conversation—describing a state of being. You might say, 'Estou desassossegado hoje' (I am restless today), implying a lack of focus or a sense of impending worry. It is also useful in formal writing to describe social or political unrest. 'O clima político desassossega os investidores' (The political climate makes investors uneasy). In this context, it conveys a more sophisticated tone than 'preocupa' (worries). It suggests that the investors have lost their 'sossego'—their confidence and tranquility regarding their investments. Finally, remember that because it is a longer word, it carries a certain rhythmic weight in a sentence. It is a slow, deliberate word that mirrors the lingering nature of the feeling it describes. It is not a sudden 'scare' (susto), but a slow 'un-quieting' of the spirit.
- Transitive Usage
- Requires an object. Example: 'O barulho constante desassossega os vizinhos.'
As perguntas da criança começaram a desassossegar o pai, que não sabia as respostas.
- Reflexive Usage
- Used when the subject is the one feeling the unrest. Example: 'Ela desassossega-se com o silêncio.'
Não te deves desassossegar por coisas pequenas que não podes controlar.
A possibilidade de mudança de emprego desassossegou toda a sua rotina.
- Adjectival Form
- The past participle 'desassossegado' is used frequently to describe a person's state. 'Ele está desassossegado.'
O mar estava desassossegado, com ondas altas e vento forte.
Aquelas memórias antigas voltaram para o desassossegar.
While desassossegar might seem like a complex word, you will encounter it in several distinct areas of Lusophone life. First and foremost is in the world of literature and high culture. Because of Fernando Pessoa's Livro do Desassossego, the word is deeply ingrained in the Portuguese intellectual identity. You will hear it in book reviews, university lectures, and discussions about philosophy or poetry. It is a 'prestige' word that signals a certain level of emotional literacy. Secondly, you will hear it in the news and journalism, particularly when reporters discuss social movements, strikes, or political instability. Headlines might read 'Greve desassossega o Governo' (Strike makes the Government uneasy) or 'Instabilidade nos mercados desassossega investidores'. In this context, it is used to describe a lack of stability and the presence of underlying tension. Thirdly, you will hear it in clinical or psychological settings. A therapist might ask a patient, 'O que é que o tem vindo a desassossegar?' (What has been making you restless?). It is a more nuanced way of asking about anxiety without using the clinical term 'ansiedade'. In music, particularly Fado, the word is a staple. Fado often deals with themes of longing (saudade), loss, and the 'desassossego' of the soul. Lyrics will frequently use the verb to describe how love or the city of Lisbon itself can disturb one's peace. In everyday domestic life, you might hear it used by older generations. A grandmother might say to a restless child, 'Para de me desassossegar!' (Stop making me restless/Stop pestering me!). Here, it takes on a slightly more informal tone, akin to 'don't bother me,' but still carrying that sense of a lost 'sossego'. You will also find it in religious contexts, where it describes the struggle of the spirit or the 'desassossego' before a moment of divine revelation or moral crisis. Finally, in the digital age, it is appearing in blogs and social media posts about mental health and mindfulness. People write about how the 'ruído digital' (digital noise) desassossega their daily lives. It is a versatile word that has successfully transitioned from the pages of 20th-century poetry into the vocabulary of modern 21st-century stress. Whether in a fado house in Alfama, a newsroom in São Paulo, or a doctor's office in Luanda, desassossegar remains the quintessential verb for the disruption of peace.
- News & Media
- Commonly used to describe political or economic instability that causes public concern.
A subida dos preços está a desassossegar as famílias portuguesas.
- Literature & Arts
- The 'soul' of Portuguese existentialism, found in poetry, Fado lyrics, and philosophical essays.
O fado tem o poder de desassossegar a alma de quem o ouve com atenção.
O silêncio da noite pode desassossegar quem tem a consciência pesada.
- Daily Life
- Used by elders or in parenting to describe children who are being restless or pestering.
Menino, para de desassossegar o teu avô enquanto ele lê o jornal!
A incerteza sobre o futuro costuma desassossegar os jovens licenciados.
One of the most common mistakes learners make with desassossegar is orthographic. Because the word is long and contains multiple sibilant sounds, it is frequently misspelled. The most frequent error is using a single 's' instead of the double 'ss' in the middle. Remember: it comes from sossegar, which has double 'ss'. Another common mistake is confusing it with incomodar. While both can be translated as 'to disturb,' incomodar is usually for physical or minor inconveniences (like someone talking loudly), whereas desassossegar implies a deeper loss of internal peace. Using desassossegar for a fly in the room sounds overly dramatic and poetic. A third mistake involves the reflexive usage. Learners often forget to add the reflexive pronoun when they are the ones feeling restless. They might say 'Eu desassossego muito' when they should say 'Eu desassossego-me muito.' Without the reflexive pronoun, the sentence feels incomplete because the verb is primarily transitive. Fourthly, there is the confusion between the verb and the noun desassossego. You might hear a learner say 'Eu tenho muito desassossegar' (I have much to disturb) instead of 'Eu tenho muito desassossego' (I have much disquiet/restlessness). Always distinguish between the action (verb) and the state (noun). Another nuance is the preposition use. While you desassossegar someone (no preposition), you might be desassossegado por (by) or com (with) something. Using the wrong preposition can make the sentence sound unnatural. For example, 'Estou desassossegado de a notícia' is incorrect; it should be 'Estou desassossegado com a notícia.' Finally, learners often overlook the register. Desassossegar is a somewhat formal or literary word. Using it in a very casual, slang-heavy conversation might make you sound like you are reciting a poem rather than just hanging out. In very casual Portuguese, words like 'pilhar' or 'chatear' are more common for simple disturbances. However, using desassossegar correctly in the right context will significantly impress native speakers, as it shows a grasp of the more soulful side of the language. To avoid these mistakes, practice writing the word multiple times to master the double 'ss', and always ask yourself: 'Is this a disturbance of the peace of mind, or just a physical bother?' If it's the former, you've chosen the right word.
- Spelling Error
- Mistake: 'desasosegar'. Correction: Always use double 'ss' as in 'sossegar'.
Escrever desassossegar corretamente exige atenção aos dois 's'.
- Reflexive Omission
- Mistake: 'Eu desassossego com o barulho'. Correction: 'Eu desassossego-me com o barulho'.
Ela desassossega-se sempre que o telefone toca tarde.
Não confundas o verbo com o substantivo: desassossegar vs desassossego.
- Register Mismatch
- Using it for trivial things like a missing sock is too dramatic. Use 'incomodar' instead.
O mosquito incomoda, mas a injustiça desassossega.
Muitos alunos erram a preposição ao usar o verbo desassossegar.
Portuguese is a language rich in synonyms for emotional states, and desassossegar has several 'cousins' that you should know to refine your expression. The most direct synonym is inquietar. Both mean to make someone restless, but inquietar is slightly more common in everyday speech and less tied to the specific literary tradition of Pessoa. While desassossegar implies a loss of 'sossego' (peace), inquietar implies a loss of 'quietude' (stillness). Another close alternative is perturbar. Perturbar is broader; it can mean to disturb someone's work, to disturb the peace (law), or to mentally disturb someone. It is more clinical and less poetic than desassossegar. Then there is preocupar, which simply means 'to worry'. This is the workhorse of the group. If you are worried about your bills, you are preocupado. If those bills are keeping you up at night and making you question your entire life path, you might be desassossegado. Agitar is another synonym, but it carries a more physical connotation, like shaking or stirring. If a crowd is agitada, they are physically moving and loud. If they are desassossegada, there is a tense, quiet unrest among them. Atormentar (to torment) is much stronger; it implies suffering and pain, whereas desassossegar is more about the absence of peace than the presence of active torture. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the antonyms. The most obvious is sossegar (to calm/quiet). Others include tranquilizar (to reassure/tranquilize), acalmar (to calm down), and serenar (to make serene). Serenar is particularly beautiful and is often used for the weather or the mind after a storm. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the exact 'temperature' of the emotion you want to describe. Use desassossegar when you want to sound thoughtful, literary, or deeply moved. Use incomodar for daily annoyances. Use preocupar for general worries. By comparing these words, you can see that desassossegar occupies a unique space in the Portuguese language—it is the word for the 'un-quieting' of the soul, a concept so central to Lusophone culture that no other word can quite replace it.
- Desassossegar vs. Inquietar
- Desassossegar is more literary and existential; Inquietar is more common and focuses on the lack of stillness.
A dúvida pode inquietar, mas a verdade pode desassossegar ainda mais.
- Desassossegar vs. Perturbar
- Perturbar is often used for external disturbances (noise, order); Desassossegar is internal.
O barulho na rua perturbou o sono, mas o sonho desassossegou a alma.
Para acalmar um coração desassossegado, às vezes basta um abraço.
- Desassossegar vs. Preocupar
- Preocupar is about the mind being 'occupied' with a task or problem; Desassossegar is about the peace being 'removed'.
O exame preocupa-me, mas o meu futuro desassossega-me.
A meditação ajuda a sossegar a mente que o dia desassossegou.
How Formal Is It?
Dato curioso
The word is essentially a triple-layered concept: 'des' (un) + 'a' (to) + 'sossegar' (quiet). It is a linguistic journey from stillness to action and back to unrest.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing the first 's' as a sharp 's' instead of a 'z' sound (it is between vowels).
- Pronouncing the double 'ss' as a 'z' sound (it should be a sharp 's').
- Stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., de-sas-so-SE-gar).
- Making the 'o' sound like 'ou' as in 'soul'. It should be a pure 'o'.
- Forgetting the silent 'e' in European Portuguese (d'zassossegar).
Nivel de dificultad
The word is long but follows standard patterns. Recognized easily in context.
Double 'ss' and long length make it prone to spelling errors.
Requires good control of sibilant sounds and rhythmic stress.
Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'inquietar' in fast speech.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Prefix 'des-'
Desassossegar (un-quiet), Desfazer (un-do), Desaparecer (dis-appear).
Reflexive Verbs
Eu desassossego-me (I get restless). The pronoun changes with the subject.
Past Participle as Adjective
O mar está desassossegado. (The sea is restless).
Subjunctive with 'Espero que'
Espero que isso não te desassossegue. (I hope that doesn't disturb you).
Verb stress on -ar endings
DesassossegAR (infinitive), DesassossegOU (past).
Ejemplos por nivel
O bebê não dorme e desassossega a mãe.
The baby doesn't sleep and makes the mother restless.
Simple present tense: desassossega (he/she/it).
O barulho desassossega o cão.
The noise makes the dog restless.
Direct object: o cão.
Eu desassossego-me no escuro.
I get restless in the dark.
Reflexive form: desassossego-me.
Não desassossegues o teu pai.
Don't disturb your father.
Negative imperative: não desassossegues.
A chuva desassossega a criança.
The rain makes the child restless.
Subject: A chuva (The rain).
Eles desassossegam a sala toda.
They make the whole room restless.
Third person plural: desassossegam.
O café desassossega-me.
Coffee makes me restless.
Object pronoun: -me.
Tu desassossegas muito.
You get very restless.
Second person singular: desassossegas.
Esta música alta desassossega os vizinhos.
This loud music makes the neighbors restless.
Regular -ar verb conjugation in the present.
O exame de amanhã desassossega a Maria.
Tomorrow's exam is making Maria restless.
Subject is 'O exame'.
Por que te desassossegas tanto?
Why do you get so restless?
Reflexive pronoun 'te' before the verb in a question.
O vento forte desassossegou o mar.
The strong wind made the sea restless.
Pretérito Perfeito: desassossegou.
Não quero desassossegar ninguém com os meus problemas.
I don't want to disturb anyone with my problems.
Infinitive after 'querer'.
Ela desassossega-se com facilidade.
She gets restless easily.
Reflexive suffix -se.
O filme de terror desassossegou as crianças.
The horror movie made the children restless.
Plural object: as crianças.
Vais desassossegar o teu irmão se fizeres barulho.
You are going to disturb your brother if you make noise.
Future with 'ir' + infinitive.
A notícia sobre o desemprego desassossegou a vila inteira.
The news about unemployment made the whole village restless.
Abstract subject: A notícia.
Sempre que viajo, desassossego-me com a segurança da casa.
Whenever I travel, I get restless about the house's security.
Reflexive with preposition 'com'.
O silêncio daquela casa vazia desassossegava-o.
The silence of that empty house used to make him restless.
Pretérito Imperfeito: desassossegava.
Espero que estas dúvidas não te desassosseguem.
I hope these doubts don't make you restless.
Present Subjunctive: desassosseguem.
A injustiça é algo que me desassossega profundamente.
Injustice is something that disturbs me deeply.
Relative clause with 'que'.
Se ele soubesse a verdade, desassossegar-se-ia.
If he knew the truth, he would become restless.
Conditional reflexive (mesoclisis style): desassossegar-se-ia.
Para de me desassossegar com essas perguntas sem resposta!
Stop making me restless with those unanswerable questions!
Imperative with preposition 'com'.
O mar desassossegado impedia a saída dos barcos.
The restless sea prevented the boats from leaving.
Adjectival use of the past participle.
O clima de incerteza política desassossega os mercados financeiros.
The climate of political uncertainty makes the financial markets uneasy.
Formal register.
O autor utiliza palavras que visam desassossegar o leitor.
The author uses words that aim to disturb the reader.
Infinitive after 'visam'.
Sentia-se desassossegado, como se algo estivesse prestes a acontecer.
He felt restless, as if something were about to happen.
Past participle used as a predicate adjective.
A possibilidade de falhar desassossega até os mais experientes.
The possibility of failing disturbs even the most experienced.
Use of 'até' for emphasis.
Não deixes que o ruído do mundo desassossegue a tua paz interior.
Don't let the noise of the world disturb your inner peace.
Subjunctive after 'deixes que'.
Aquelas memórias antigas voltaram para o desassossegar no meio da noite.
Those old memories returned to disturb him in the middle of the night.
Personal infinitive structure.
O seu olhar intenso era capaz de desassossegar qualquer um.
His intense gaze was capable of making anyone restless.
Adverbial use of 'qualquer um'.
Desassossegamo-nos muitas vezes com problemas que não existem.
We often get restless with problems that don't exist.
First person plural reflexive.
O 'Livro do Desassossego' explora o que significa desassossegar a própria alma.
The 'Book of Disquiet' explores what it means to disturb one's own soul.
Literary reference.
A falta de transparência nas instituições desassossega a opinião pública.
The lack of transparency in institutions makes public opinion uneasy.
Institutional/Political context.
Embora a música fosse calma, havia nela algo que desassossegava.
Although the music was calm, there was something in it that was disturbing.
Intransitive usage for atmospheric effect.
Caso o projeto venha a desassossegar a comunidade, teremos de o rever.
Should the project come to disturb the community, we will have to review it.
Future Subjunctive compound tense.
O seu génio criativo era alimentado por um constante desassossegar de ideias.
His creative genius was fueled by a constant disturbing of ideas.
Gerund-like use of the infinitive.
Nada o desassossegava mais do que a ideia de ser esquecido pela história.
Nothing disturbed him more than the idea of being forgotten by history.
Comparative structure with 'mais do que'.
A beleza crua daquela paisagem desassossegava os viajantes mais sensíveis.
The raw beauty of that landscape disturbed the most sensitive travelers.
Aesthetic context.
Desassossegou-me o modo como ela evitou responder à pergunta direta.
The way she avoided answering the direct question disturbed me.
Inverted subject structure.
A ontologia do ser parece desassossegar as mentes mais brilhantes da nossa era.
The ontology of being seems to disturb the most brilliant minds of our era.
Academic/Philosophical register.
É imperativo que não nos deixemos desassossegar pela efemeridade do sucesso.
It is imperative that we do not let ourselves be disturbed by the ephemerality of success.
Negative passive-like structure with 'deixemos'.
O fado, na sua essência, desassossega para depois consolar.
Fado, in its essence, disturbs in order to later console.
Purpose clause structure.
Pudesse eu não me desassossegar, e a vida seria um mar de rosas.
If only I could not get restless, life would be a bed of roses.
Optative mood with 'Pudesse'.
A sua prosa, embora límpida, trazia um desassossegar latente que ecoava no leitor.
His prose, though clear, brought a latent disturbing that echoed in the reader.
Substantive use of the infinitive.
O desassossegar das consciências é o primeiro passo para a revolução social.
The disturbing of consciences is the first step toward social revolution.
Political philosophy context.
Tivesse a verdade o poder de desassossegar, o mundo seria um lugar mais justo.
Had truth the power to disturb, the world would be a fairer place.
Counterfactual conditional.
Não há nada que desassossegue tanto quanto o silêncio de quem amamos.
There is nothing that disturbs as much as the silence of those we love.
Superlative comparison.
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
— To live in a constant state of restlessness or anxiety.
Desde que mudou de casa, ele vive num desassossego.
— Don't bother me or don't make me nervous.
Estou a tentar concentrar-me, não me desassossegues.
— Rough or turbulent sea.
Com o mar desassossegado, os pescadores ficaram em terra.
— A restless or inquisitive spirit.
Ele sempre foi um espírito desassossegado, nunca parava no mesmo lugar.
— A restless night with little sleep.
Tive uma noite desassossegada por causa do calor.
— A restless or uneasy gaze.
Ela tinha um olhar desassossegado, como se procurasse algo.
— A mind that cannot find peace or focus.
Uma mente desassossegada raramente toma boas decisões.
— An uneasy peace (oxymoron).
Havia uma paz desassossegada na sala após a discussão.
— Turbulent or uncertain times.
Vivemos tempos desassossegados na política mundial.
— A body that cannot stay still (fidgeting).
A criança, de corpo desassossegado, não parava na cadeira.
Se confunde a menudo con
This is the noun (disquiet). Desassossegar is the verb (to disturb). Don't say 'Eu tenho desassossegar'.
Means to clutter or mess up a room. Desassossegar is for the mind, not the furniture.
Means to displease or annoy. You can be displeased without being restless/desassossegado.
Modismos y expresiones
— To make someone very worried or restless.
A notícia da doença pôs toda a família em desassossego.
neutral— To cause trouble or worry to someone.
Aquele rapaz só dá desassossego aos pais.
informal— Without rest; constantly busy or worried.
Ela trabalha de manhã à noite, sem sossego.
neutral— To have no peace or rest.
Enquanto não encontrar as chaves, não tenho sossego.
neutral— To take away someone's peace of mind.
A dívida no banco tira-lhe o sossego.
neutral— To have 'ants in one's pants' (related to being desassossegado).
Este miúdo tem bicho carpinteiro, não para quieto!
informal— To be suspicious or uneasy (a form of desassossego).
Fiquei com a pulga atrás da orelha depois daquela conversa.
informal— To be constantly moving or active.
Ele é desassossegado, não para um segundo.
neutral— To lose sleep over something (result of being desassossegado).
Perdi o sono a desassossegar-me com o trabalho.
neutral— To be in a whirlwind of activity/unrest.
A minha vida anda num rodopio desassossegado.
informalFácil de confundir
They are nearly identical in meaning.
Inquietar is more common and less poetic. Desassossegar is more profound and literary.
A notícia inquietou-me (Neutral). A notícia desassossegou-me a alma (Poetic).
Both translate to 'disturb'.
Incomodar is for physical or social bother. Desassossegar is for internal peace.
O fumo incomoda-me. A dúvida desassossega-me.
Both mean to upset a state of calm.
Perturbar often implies a disruption of order or concentration. Desassossegar is about restlessness.
Não perturbes a aula. Não desassossegues o meu descanso.
Both involve mental stress.
Preocupar is to 'occupy' the mind with a task/problem. Desassossegar is to 'remove' peace.
Estou preocupado com o carro. Estou desassossegado com a vida.
Both mean to move away from calm.
Agitar is more physical/external. Desassossegar is more psychological/internal.
O mar está agitado. O meu espírito está desassossegado.
Patrones de oraciones
[Subject] desassossega [Object].
O barulho desassossega o bebê.
[Subject] desassossega-se.
Ela desassossega-se muito.
[Subject] desassossega-me o sono.
A preocupação desassossega-me o sono.
Não [Object pronoun] desassossegues.
Não te desassossegues com isso.
Sentir-se desassossegado com [Noun].
Sinto-me desassossegado com o futuro.
O que [Object pronoun] desassossega é [Clause].
O que me desassossega é o teu silêncio.
Um constante desassossegar de [Plural Noun].
Um constante desassossegar de consciências.
Pudesse eu não [Reflexive Verb]...
Pudesse eu não me desassossegar tanto.
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Cómo usarlo
Medium (Common in literature and news, moderate in daily speech).
-
Eu desassossego com o barulho.
→
Eu desassossego-me com o barulho.
If you are the one feeling restless, you must use the reflexive form in Portuguese.
-
Desasosegar
→
Desassossegar
Missing the double 'ss'. This is the most common spelling mistake.
-
A notícia desassossegou-me a mente.
→
A notícia desassossegou-me.
While not strictly wrong, 'desassossegar a mente' is often redundant since the verb already implies a mental state. 'Desassossegar-me' is more natural.
-
O mosquito desassossega-me.
→
O mosquito incomoda-me.
Using 'desassossegar' for a minor physical annoyance sounds too dramatic/poetic.
-
Estou com muito desassossegar.
→
Estou com muito desassossego.
Confusing the verb with the noun. Use the noun 'desassossego' after 'com' or 'ter'.
Consejos
The Double 'S' Rule
Always use 'ss' after the 'o'. If you use one 's', it would be pronounced like a 'z', which is incorrect. Think of 'sossego' as the base.
The Pessoa Connection
Mentioning 'desassossego' to a Portuguese person will almost always make them think of Fernando Pessoa. It's a great conversation starter about literature.
Stress the End
Like most Portuguese verbs in the infinitive, the stress is on the very last syllable: -GAR. Make it long and clear.
Internal vs. External
Use it for internal feelings. If someone is physically pushing you, don't use desassossegar. If their words are making you worry, use it.
Reflexive Power
Mastering 'desassossegar-se' makes you sound much more like a native speaker than just using the basic verb.
The 'Inquietar' Backup
If you find 'desassossegar' too hard to say, 'inquietar' is a perfectly acceptable and very common alternative.
Nature Metaphors
Use 'desassossegado' to describe a rough sea. It is a very common and beautiful way to use the word.
Word Family
Learn 'sossego', 'sossegado', and 'desassossego' at the same time. They are all very useful.
Don't Overuse
Because it's a strong word, don't use it for every little problem. Save it for things that really touch your peace.
The 'Z' Sound
Listen for the 'z' sound at the beginning (de-ZA-...). This is the 's' between vowels.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'DES-ASS-O-SSEGAR'. 'DES' means 'un-', and 'Sossegar' sounds like 'so-sugar'. When you have no sugar (sossego), you are restless!
Asociación visual
Imagine a person sitting on a chair (root 'sedere' - to sit) and someone suddenly pulling the chair away. That feeling of losing your 'seat' of peace is desassossegar.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to use 'desassossegar' in a sentence about a book you read or a movie you watched that made you think deeply.
Origen de la palabra
From the Portuguese prefix 'des-' (expressing negation or reversal) combined with the verb 'sossegar'. 'Sossegar' comes from the Vulgar Latin 'sessicare', derived from 'sessus', the past participle of 'sedere' (to sit).
Significado original: To cause someone to stop 'sitting' or being still; to remove their seat of peace.
Romance (Indo-European).Contexto cultural
It is a safe word to use, but be aware that calling someone 'desassossegado' can sometimes imply they are being difficult or annoying, depending on the tone.
The closest English equivalent is 'disquiet' or 'to make restless,' but English often uses more medicalized terms like 'anxious' or 'stressed' where Portuguese uses 'desassossegado'.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Emotional Health
- Sinto-me desassossegado.
- O que te desassossega?
- Não te desassossegues.
- Perder o sossego.
Literature
- O livro do desassossego.
- Alma desassossegada.
- Estética do desassossego.
- Prosa que desassossega.
Weather/Nature
- Mar desassossegado.
- Vento desassossegador.
- Noite desassossegada.
- Céu desassossegado.
Social/Political
- Desassossegar os mercados.
- Clima desassossegado.
- Desassossegar a ordem pública.
- Tempos de desassossego.
Family/Domestic
- Não desassossegues o teu avô.
- Criança desassossegada.
- Sono desassossegado.
- Casa desassossegada.
Inicios de conversación
"O que é que mais te costuma desassossegar no dia a dia?"
"Já leste algum livro que te tenha vindo a desassossegar a mente?"
"Achas que as redes sociais desassossegam a nossa paz interior?"
"Como é que costumas sossegar quando estás desassossegado?"
"O barulho da cidade desassossega-te ou já estás habituado?"
Temas para diario
Escreve sobre um momento em que te sentiste profundamente desassossegado e como recuperaste o teu sossego.
Reflete sobre a frase de Fernando Pessoa: 'O meu desassossego é o meu único bem.' O que significa para ti?
Descreve uma situação política ou social atual que desassossega a tua consciência.
Como seria um mundo onde nada nos pudesse desassossegar? Seria melhor ou pior?
Faz uma lista de cinco coisas que desassossegam o teu sono e pensa em soluções para cada uma.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, but it is slightly less frequent in daily casual conversation than in Portugal. Brazilians might prefer 'inquietar' or 'preocupar' for everyday things, reserving 'desassossegar' for more intense or formal situations. However, in Brazilian literature and music (like MPB), it is very common.
It follows the standard reflexive pattern: Eu desassosseguei-me, tu desassossegaste-te, ele desassossegou-se, etc. In Brazil, you would often say 'Eu me desassosseguei'.
You can, but it sounds a bit dramatic. 'O meu vizinho incomoda-me' is more standard. 'O meu vizinho desassossega-me' implies that he is actually ruining your psychological well-being.
'Ansioso' (anxious) is often about wanting something to happen or fearing a specific outcome. 'Desassossegado' is a more general state of not being able to find peace or stillness.
Yes, 'desassossego'. It is a very famous word in Portuguese culture, especially because of Fernando Pessoa's 'Livro do Desassossego'.
Break it down: DES + A + SOSSEGAR. If you can remember 'sossegar' (to quiet), just add 'des-a-' to the front. Remember the double 'ss'!
Rarely, but in a romantic or creative sense, yes. For example, 'O teu amor desassossega-me' could mean that your love makes my heart flutter and I can't stop thinking about you.
Yes, it is a regular -ar verb. The only tricky part is the 'gu' in some forms like 'desassosseguei' (first person past) to keep the hard 'g' sound.
While simple to conjugate (A2), its nuanced meaning and literary weight make it more of a B2/C1 word for active, precise usage.
Yes, 'Não te desassossegues!' is a poetic way to say 'Don't be troubled' or 'Don't let it get to you'.
Ponte a prueba 190 preguntas
Escreve uma frase sobre algo que te desassossega no trabalho.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Como descreverias um mar 'desassossegado'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa o verbo 'desassossegar' numa frase sobre política.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve um pequeno parágrafo sobre o 'Livro do Desassossego'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Cria um diálogo curto entre duas pessoas onde uma pede à outra para não a desassossegar.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Explica a diferença entre 'incomodar' e 'desassossegar'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve uma frase no futuro usando o verbo 'desassossegar'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa a forma reflexiva 'desassossegar-se' numa frase.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Cria uma frase poética com a palavra 'desassossego'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve uma frase sobre o sono desassossegado.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Como dirias 'Don't disturb the peace' em português usando este verbo?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa o advérbio 'desassossegadamente' numa frase.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve uma frase sobre uma criança desassossegada.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa o verbo no Pretérito Imperfeito.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Cria uma frase sobre o 'desassossego' dos mercados financeiros.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve uma frase usando 'desassossegar' e 'coração'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa o verbo no Presente do Conjuntivo.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Cria uma frase sobre a consciência desassossegada.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Escreve uma frase sobre um animal que está desassossegado.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Usa 'desassossegar' numa frase sobre o futuro.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Pronuncia a palavra 'desassossegar' lentamente, focando nas sílabas.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz uma frase curta: 'Isso desassossega-me'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Como dirias 'I am restless' em português?
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Pergunta a um amigo: 'O que te desassossega?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz o título do livro de Fernando Pessoa corretamente.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Usa o verbo no passado: 'A notícia desassossegou-me'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz 'Don't disturb me' de forma formal.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Como descreverias uma noite má de sono?
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Pratica a frase: 'O mar está muito desassossegado hoje'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Explica em português o que significa 'desassossegar'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz a frase: 'A injustiça desassossega a minha consciência'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Usa o verbo no futuro: 'Isso vai desassossegar a vizinhança'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz 'I get restless easily'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Como dirias 'Stop bothering me' informalmente?
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Pronuncia o advérbio: 'desassossegadamente'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz: 'Espero que não te desassossegues'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Usa o verbo numa frase sobre o vento.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz: 'O fado desassossega a alma'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Pergunta: 'Por que estás tão desassossegado?'
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Diz: 'Nada me desassossega mais do que o silêncio'.
Read this aloud:
Dijiste:
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Ouve e escreve a palavra: 'desassossegar'.
Ouve a frase e escreve-a: 'A notícia desassossegou o povo'.
Ouve e identifica se a palavra é o verbo ou o substantivo: 'desassossego'.
Ouve a frase: 'Não te desassossegues'. É um conselho ou uma pergunta?
Ouve e escreve o adjetivo: 'desassossegado'.
Ouve a frase: 'O mar está desassossegado'. O mar está calmo?
Ouve e escreve a forma verbal: 'desassossegamos'.
Ouve a frase: 'O olhar dele desassossega-me'. O que desassossega a pessoa?
Ouve a frase: 'Tive uma noite desassossegada'. A pessoa dormiu bem?
Ouve e escreve o advérbio: 'desassossegadamente'.
Ouve a frase: 'As dúvidas desassossegam a mente'. O que as dúvidas fazem?
Ouve e identifica o tempo verbal: 'desassossegou'.
Ouve a frase: 'Eu desassossego-me com o café'. A pessoa fica calma com o café?
Ouve e escreve a forma do conjuntivo: 'desassossegue'.
Ouve a frase: 'O fado desassossega'. De que música se fala?
/ 190 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The verb <strong>desassossegar</strong> is more than just 'to disturb'; it is the act of removing 'sossego' (peace). Example: 'A incerteza desassossega o meu coração' (Uncertainty disturbs my heart).
- Desassossegar means to disturb someone's internal peace or make them feel restless.
- It is the direct opposite of 'sossegar' (to calm) and is deeply rooted in Portuguese culture.
- Commonly used in literature, news, and to describe psychological states of anxiety.
- It requires double 'ss' and can be used transitively or reflexively (desassossegar-se).
The Double 'S' Rule
Always use 'ss' after the 'o'. If you use one 's', it would be pronounced like a 'z', which is incorrect. Think of 'sossego' as the base.
The Pessoa Connection
Mentioning 'desassossego' to a Portuguese person will almost always make them think of Fernando Pessoa. It's a great conversation starter about literature.
Stress the End
Like most Portuguese verbs in the infinitive, the stress is on the very last syllable: -GAR. Make it long and clear.
Internal vs. External
Use it for internal feelings. If someone is physically pushing you, don't use desassossegar. If their words are making you worry, use it.
Contenido relacionado
Más palabras de emotions
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2Conmocionado o afectado. El país quedó conmocionado por la tragedia.
abalar
A2Conmover o sacudir profundamente. El terremoto abaló los cimientos del edificio.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1De manera abatida o desalentada. Se utiliza para describir acciones realizadas con falta de ánimo o tras un gran golpe emocional.
abatido
A2Se siente abatido por la pérdida de su amigo.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2Abiertamente; sin ocultar nada, de forma pública.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.
