When you're learning Portuguese at the B1 level, you're moving beyond basic survival phrases and starting to express more nuanced ideas. The word disfarçado is a great example of this.
It describes someone or something that isn't what it appears to be on the surface, often deliberately so. You might use it to talk about a person in costume, a hidden motive, or even a disguised flavor in food.
Understanding words like disfarçado allows you to comprehend more complex narratives and conversations, and to express yourself with greater precision.
It's a versatile adjective that will pop up in various contexts as you advance your Portuguese skills.
When someone is disfarçado, it means they are disguised, often to hide their true identity or intentions. Think of a detective going undercover, or someone wearing a costume to a party. They are intentionally concealing who they really are.
You might also hear it used in a more figurative sense, like a 'blessing in disguise' – something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good. In this case, the 'good' is disfarçado by the initial negative appearance.
When someone is disfarçado, it means they are disguised, often to hide their true identity or purpose. Think of a detective working undercover, or someone wearing a costume to a party. They are intentionally concealing who they really are.
This word is commonly used to describe people, but can also refer to objects that are made to look like something else. For example, a hidden camera might be disfarçada as a clock.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The Portuguese word "disfarçado" is an adjective that you'll hear and read quite a bit, especially if you're engaging with natural, everyday Portuguese. It means "disguised" or "concealed." Think of it as hiding one's true nature or appearance. It's a versatile word that can describe people, objects, or even abstract concepts.
You use "disfarçado" when something isn't what it seems on the surface. Someone might be trying to hide their identity, or an object might be designed to look like something else. It's often used when there's an intention to deceive, surprise, or simply to not be recognized. For example, a spy would be "disfarçado" to blend in, or a gift could be "disfarçado" in elaborate wrapping to make it harder to guess.
- DEFINITION
- Having one's true character or identity concealed; disguised.
Let's look at some common scenarios where you'd encounter "disfarçado."
- People in disguise: This is probably the most straightforward use. Think of Halloween costumes, undercover police officers, or even someone just trying to avoid being recognized.
- Hidden intentions: "Disfarçado" can also describe something more abstract, like a motive or a feeling that isn't openly expressed. For instance, an insult delivered as a compliment could be considered "disfarçado."
- Objects that look like something else: Sometimes, products or items are designed to have a misleading appearance. A safe that looks like a book, or a camera hidden in a pen, are good examples.
- Surprise or trickery: Magicians often use "disfarçado" elements in their tricks, where one thing appears to be another.
O detetive estava disfarçado de garçom para observar o suspeito. (The detective was disguised as a waiter to observe the suspect.)
Ela deu um presente disfarçado de brincadeira para não estragar a surpresa. (She gave a gift disguised as a joke so as not to spoil the surprise.)
The word itself comes from "disfarçar," which is the verb "to disguise." So, if someone "se disfarça," they are disguising themselves. "Disfarçado" is the past participle used as an adjective, meaning "disguised" or "having been disguised."
Think about it like this: when something is "disfarçado," it's putting on a front. It's not showing its true colors. This can be for good reasons, like a surprise party, or for more mischievous reasons, like a trick. The context will usually make it clear.
A voz dela estava um pouco disfarçada pelo resfriado. (Her voice was a little muffled/disguised by the cold.)
In this last example, "disfarçada" takes on a slightly different nuance, meaning a voice that isn't clear or is altered, almost as if it's disguised from its usual sound. This shows the flexibility of the word in Portuguese.
Gramática que debes saber
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. 'Disfarçado' is masculine singular. If the noun were feminine, it would be 'disfarçada'. If plural, 'disfarçados' (masculine) or 'disfarçadas' (feminine).
O ladrão estava disfarçado de policial. (The thief was disguised as a police officer.) A mulher disfarçada de freira. (The woman disguised as a nun.)
'Disfarçado' often appears with the verb 'estar' (to be) to indicate a temporary state of being disguised.
Ele está disfarçado para a festa à fantasia. (He is disguised for the costume party.)
It can also be used with 'ficar' (to become/to be) to describe the act of becoming disguised or remaining in a disguised state.
Ele ficou disfarçado a noite toda. (He stayed disguised all night.)
When used before a noun, it emphasizes the disguised nature of the noun.
Um herói disfarçado salvou o dia. (A disguised hero saved the day.)
'Disfarçado' can be followed by 'de' to specify what someone or something is disguised as.
Ela estava disfarçada de palhaço. (She was disguised as a clown.)
Ejemplos por nivel
O espião entrou na festa disfarçado de garçom para coletar informações sem levantar suspeitas.
The spy entered the party disguised as a waiter to gather information without raising suspicions.
Here, 'disfarçado de' means 'disguised as'.
A verdadeira intenção da empresa estava disfarçada por trás de uma campanha de marketing muito atrativa, mas enganosa.
The company's true intention was concealed behind a very attractive, but misleading, marketing campaign.
'Disfarçada por trás de' indicates something hidden behind another thing.
Ele disfarçou sua decepção com um sorriso forçado, mas seus olhos revelavam a tristeza.
He disguised his disappointment with a forced smile, but his eyes revealed the sadness.
In this context, 'disfarçou' is the past tense of 'disfarçar' (to disguise/conceal).
A doença se manifestou de forma disfarçada, com sintomas que inicialmente pareciam inofensivos.
The disease manifested in a disguised way, with symptoms that initially seemed harmless.
'De forma disfarçada' means 'in a disguised manner'.
A crítica, embora bem-intencionada, veio disfarçada de um conselho amigável que, na verdade, era um julgamento.
The criticism, though well-intentioned, came disguised as friendly advice that was, in fact, a judgment.
'Vem disfarçada de' means 'comes disguised as'.
Para evitar ser reconhecido, o famoso ator viajou disfarçado com óculos escuros e um chapéu grande.
To avoid being recognized, the famous actor traveled disguised with dark glasses and a large hat.
Here, 'disfarçado com' means 'disguised with'.
A aparente generosidade do político estava disfarçada por um interesse pessoal em ganhar votos.
The politician's apparent generosity was concealed by a personal interest in gaining votes.
Similar to the second example, 'disfarçada por' emphasizes the hidden motive.
O lobo, disfarçado de ovelha, tentou enganar o rebanho com sua falsa inocência.
The wolf, disguised as a sheep, tried to trick the flock with its false innocence.
A classic idiom; 'disfarçado de' is common in such metaphorical expressions.
Modismos y expresiones
"lobo em pele de cordeiro"
Wolf in sheep's clothing; a person who appears friendly but is actually dangerous.
Ele parecia tão simpático, mas era um lobo em pele de cordeiro. (He seemed so nice, but he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.)
neutral"vestir a carapuça"
To take the cap; to admit something applies to oneself, especially something negative.
Quando mencionei pessoas preguiçosas, ele logo vestiu a carapuça. (When I mentioned lazy people, he immediately took the cap/admitted it applied to him.)
informal"passar despercebido"
To go unnoticed; to be unobserved.
Ele tentou entrar na festa disfarçado, mas não conseguiu passar despercebido. (He tried to enter the party disguised, but he couldn't go unnoticed.)
neutral"fazer de conta"
To pretend; to feign.
As crianças estavam fazendo de conta que eram super-heróis. (The children were pretending they were superheroes.)
neutral"meter a cabeça na areia"
To bury one's head in the sand; to ignore an obvious problem.
Ele está metendo a cabeça na areia e não quer ver a verdade. (He's burying his head in the sand and doesn't want to see the truth.)
informal"cair a máscara"
The mask falls; someone's true nature or intentions are revealed.
Depois de meses, a máscara dele finalmente caiu e vimos quem ele realmente era. (After months, his mask finally fell and we saw who he really was.)
neutral"dar uma de João-sem-braço"
To play the innocent; to pretend to be helpless or unaware.
Não tente dar uma de João-sem-braço, eu sei o que você fez. (Don't try to play the innocent, I know what you did.)
informal"fingir demência"
To feign dementia; to pretend to be ignorant or forgetful.
Quando a conta chegou, ele fingiu demência. (When the bill arrived, he feigned dementia.)
informal"por debaixo dos panos"
Under the cloths; secretly or covertly.
Eles estavam planejando tudo por debaixo dos panos. (They were planning everything under the cloths/secretly.)
informal"estar de olhos vendados"
To be blindfolded; to be unaware of what's happening around you.
Ele estava de olhos vendados para os problemas da empresa. (He was blindfolded to the company's problems.)
neutralPonte a prueba 54 preguntas
He is dressed as a clown.
The girl is dressed as a princess.
The cat is hidden in the box.
Read this aloud:
Eu estou disfarçado de super-herói.
Focus: disfarçado
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Nós estamos disfarçados para a festa.
Focus: disfarçados
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Ela está disfarçada.
Focus: disfarçada
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
O espião estava ___ como um turista. (The spy was ___ as a tourist.)
'Disfarçado' means disguised, which fits the context of a spy concealing their identity as a tourist.
A criança estava ___ de super-herói na festa. (The child was ___ as a superhero at the party.)
While 'fantasiado' (dressed up in a costume) could also fit, 'disfarçado' is a more general term for having one's identity concealed, which includes wearing a costume.
Ele usou um chapéu e óculos escuros para ficar ___. (He used a hat and dark glasses to remain ___.)
A hat and dark glasses are common ways to disguise oneself.
O detetive entrou na reunião ___ de garçom. (The detective entered the meeting ___ as a waiter.)
To enter 'disfarçado de garçom' means the detective concealed their true identity by dressing as a waiter.
Ela tentou passar ___ para não ser reconhecida. (She tried to pass ___ so as not to be recognized.)
To avoid being recognized, one would be 'disfarçada'.
Na peça de teatro, o ator estava ___ de idoso. (In the play, the actor was ___ as an elderly person.)
In a play, an actor would be 'disfarçado' to portray a different character.
O detetive estava disfarçado para não ser reconhecido. O que significa 'disfarçado' aqui?
Neste contexto, 'disfarçado' indica que o detetive mudou sua aparência para não ser identificado.
A festa à fantasia pedia que todos viessem disfarçados. Qual palavra é um sinônimo de 'disfarçados' neste caso?
Para uma festa à fantasia, 'disfarçados' e 'fantasiados' têm o mesmo sentido de usar roupas ou maquiagem para mudar a aparência.
O super-herói trabalhava durante o dia como uma pessoa normal, mas à noite estava disfarçado. O que ele estava fazendo?
Estar 'disfarçado' para um super-herói significa esconder quem ele realmente é.
Se alguém está 'disfarçado', significa que está mostrando sua aparência verdadeira.
Pelo contrário, estar 'disfarçado' significa que a pessoa está escondendo sua aparência verdadeira.
Uma pessoa 'disfarçada' geralmente não quer ser reconhecida.
O objetivo de se disfarçar é justamente evitar o reconhecimento.
Usar óculos escuros e um chapéu pode ser uma forma de estar disfarçado.
Sim, esses acessórios podem ser usados para mudar a aparência e dificultar o reconhecimento.
O espião entrou na festa ___ para não ser reconhecido.
The spy entered the party 'disguised' to avoid being recognized. 'Disfarçado' means disguised.
A voz dela estava um pouco ___ por causa do resfriado.
Her voice was a little 'disguised' (altered) because of the cold. Here, 'disfarçada' implies an altered state.
Ele usou um chapéu e óculos escuros para ficar ___.
He used a hat and dark glasses to remain 'disguised'.
A surpresa foi bem organizada, e todos estavam ___ no papel.
The surprise was well organized, and everyone was 'disguised' (acting a part) in their role.
Ela tentou esconder sua tristeza com um sorriso ___.
She tried to hide her sadness with a 'disguised' (fake) smile.
O vilão do filme estava ___ de pessoa comum.
The film's villain was 'disguised' as a common person.
He was disguised as a clown at the party.
The princess traveled disguised to meet the people.
The detective entered the building disguised as a delivery man.
Read this aloud:
Tente dizer: "Ela usava óculos escuros e um chapéu grande, completamente disfarçada."
Focus: disfarçada
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Repita: "Ninguém o reconheceu, ele estava muito bem disfarçado."
Focus: reconheceu, disfarçado
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Fale em voz alta: "Para evitar problemas, ele foi ao evento disfarçado."
Focus: evitar, disfarçado
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are at a costume party. Describe what someone might be wearing if they are 'disfarçado'. Use 2-3 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Na festa à fantasia, vi um homem que estava completamente disfarçado. Ele usava uma máscara e uma capa preta, era impossível reconhecê-lo.
You are a detective. You are looking for someone who is 'disfarçado'. Describe how you would try to find them, focusing on details you might notice despite their disguise. (2-3 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Para encontrar a pessoa disfarçada, eu observaria os sapatos, o jeito de andar e a voz. Pequenos detalhes podem revelar quem ela realmente é, mesmo com a melhor fantasia.
Write a short sentence about an animal that might be 'disfarçado' in its natural habitat, blending in with its surroundings.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
O camaleão é um mestre em ficar disfarçado, mudando de cor para se misturar com as folhas e galhos da árvore.
Por que Marta gostava de estar disfarçada?
Read this passage:
A festa era secreta e todos os convidados tinham que usar um disfarce. Marta foi com uma máscara veneziana e um vestido longo, ninguém a reconheceu. Ela adorava estar disfarçada e observar as pessoas sem ser notada.
Por que Marta gostava de estar disfarçada?
O texto diz que 'Ela adorava estar disfarçada e observar as pessoas sem ser notada.'
O texto diz que 'Ela adorava estar disfarçada e observar as pessoas sem ser notada.'
Qual foi a principal falha no disfarce do ladrão?
Read this passage:
O ladrão tentou entrar no banco disfarçado de entregador de pizza. Ele usava um uniforme completo e carregava uma caixa vazia. No entanto, sua nervosismo e o fato de não ter nenhuma pizza real levantaram suspeitas.
Qual foi a principal falha no disfarce do ladrão?
O texto menciona que 'o fato de não ter nenhuma pizza real levantaram suspeitas.'
O texto menciona que 'o fato de não ter nenhuma pizza real levantaram suspeitas.'
Para que serve o disfarce na vida de um super-herói, de acordo com o texto?
Read this passage:
Em muitas histórias de super-heróis, o protagonista vive uma vida normal durante o dia, mas à noite se veste de herói. Sua identidade secreta é um disfarce para proteger a si mesmo e seus entes queridos.
Para que serve o disfarce na vida de um super-herói, de acordo com o texto?
O texto afirma que 'Sua identidade secreta é um disfarce para proteger a si mesmo e seus entes queridos.'
O texto afirma que 'Sua identidade secreta é um disfarce para proteger a si mesmo e seus entes queridos.'
The detective was disguised as a waiter to investigate the case.
She went to the masquerade party completely disguised.
The politician's true intention was disguised by his promises.
Read this aloud:
Você já se disfarçou para alguma festa à fantasia?
Focus: dis-far-ça-do
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Em que situação alguém precisaria estar disfarçado?
Focus: pre-ci-sa-ri-a es-tar dis-far-ça-do
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Descreva uma vez em que você viu algo disfarçado.
Focus: des-cre-va uma vez
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The detective entered the party disguised as a waiter.
She was disguised so as not to be recognized on the street.
The hero acted disguised to protect his secret identity.
Read this aloud:
Você consegue descrever alguém que estava disfarçado em uma festa à fantasia?
Focus: disfarçado
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Em que situações as pessoas precisam andar disfarçadas?
Focus: disfarçadas
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Imagine que você precisa se disfarçar para uma missão secreta. Como seria seu disfarce?
Focus: disfarce
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes a thief entering a bank disguised as a security guard. The order follows a natural subject-verb-object structure with the descriptive 'disfarçado de' phrase at the end.
This sentence explains how someone used accessories to remain disguised. The order starts with the action 'usava' (was wearing) and then details the items, followed by the purpose 'para passar disfarçada' (to pass disguised).
This sentence talks about a hidden intention. It begins with 'A verdadeira intenção' (His true intention), followed by the verb 'estava' (was), and then the description 'bem disfarçada' (well disguised), ending with the location 'por trás do sorriso' (behind the smile).
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Contenido relacionado
Más palabras de emotions
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2Emotionally disturbed or upset; shaken.
abalar
A2To shake or disturb (emotionally); to affect deeply.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1In a dejected or disheartened manner; dejectedly.
abatido
A2Dejected; sad and depressed; dispirited.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2openly, frankly; without concealment; publicly.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.
