At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic use of 'machucado' to express physical pain or injury. This word is essential for survival communication. If you fall down or bump into something, you need to be able to tell someone that you are hurt. The most important phrase to learn is 'Estou machucado' (for men) or 'Estou machucada' (for women). You will also hear this word frequently when people are talking about children. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex metaphors or professional medical terms. Just remember that it describes a state resulting from an accident or physical impact. You should also learn the word for the injury itself: 'um machucado'. For example, if you have a small cut or bruise, you can point to it and say, 'Eu tenho um machucado aqui'. This simple structure will help you get medical help or sympathy from friends. Remember to always use the verb 'estar' with this word because being hurt is a temporary condition. You wouldn't say 'Eu sou machucado' because that would imply that being hurt is a permanent part of your personality, which doesn't make sense! Focus on simple body parts: 'meu braço está machucado', 'minha perna está machucada'. This will give you a solid foundation for more complex sentences later on. You might also notice that the word sounds a bit like 'much' or 'chew' in English, but it has nothing to do with those. Focus on the 'ch' sound, which is like 'sh' in English, and the 'u' sound, which is like 'oo' in 'boot'. Practice saying the word slowly: ma-chu-ca-do. It is a very common and useful word for any beginner.
At the A2 level, you can start expanding how you use 'machucado' by adding more details about how the injury happened and where it is. You should be comfortable with gender and number agreement: 'os braços estão machucados', 'as mãos estão machucadas'. You can also start using degree adverbs to describe the severity of the injury, such as 'muito machucado' (very hurt) or 'um pouco machucado' (a little hurt). At this level, you should also be able to use the verb 'se machucar' (to hurt oneself). For example, 'Eu me machuquei na cozinha' (I hurt myself in the kitchen). This reflexive use is very common in daily life. You will also begin to see 'machucado' used in the context of food, specifically bruised fruit. If you are at a market, you might say, 'Essa banana está machucada' to explain why you don't want to buy it. This shows you are moving beyond just talking about yourself and starting to describe the world around you. You should also be able to distinguish 'machucado' from 'quebrado' (broken). If you fall and can't move your arm, you might say 'Acho que meu braço está quebrado', but if it's just a bruise, you would say 'Meu braço está machucado'. Understanding this difference is key to communicating clearly in a medical situation. You can also start using the word in simple past tense stories: 'Ontem eu caí e fiquei machucado'. Using 'ficar' instead of 'estar' here emphasizes the change in state—that you became hurt as a result of the fall. This level is all about making your descriptions more specific and accurate.
By the B1 level, you should be able to use 'machucado' in more complex grammatical structures and in a wider variety of social situations. You can use it in the passive voice, such as 'O menino foi machucado pela queda' (The boy was hurt by the fall), although active structures are more common. You should also be comfortable using 'machucado' in professional settings, like explaining to a boss why you need a day off: 'Eu sofri um acidente e estou bastante machucado'. At this stage, you should start recognizing the metaphorical uses of the word, particularly in the context of emotions. While 'magoado' is the standard for emotional pain, 'machucado' is often used in songs and literature to give a more physical, visceral feel to heartbreak. For example, 'Meu coração está machucado' sounds more intense and painful than 'Estou triste'. You can also use the word to describe damaged reputations or pride: 'O orgulho dele ficou machucado depois da derrota'. This shows a deeper understanding of how Portuguese uses physical imagery to describe abstract concepts. You should also be aware of regional differences. In Brazil, 'machucado' is the go-to word, while in Portugal, you might hear 'ferido' or 'magoado' more often in similar contexts. Being able to navigate these nuances is a hallmark of the B1 level. You can also start using the word with more advanced adverbs like 'seriamente' (seriously) or 'levemente' (lightly): 'Ele ficou levemente machucado no jogo'. This allows you to provide a more nuanced assessment of a situation.
At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'machucado' and how it contrasts with its synonyms like 'ferido', 'lesionado', and 'contundido'. You should understand that 'machucado' is the most colloquial and general term, while the others are more specific or formal. For instance, you would recognize that a news report about a major disaster would use 'feridos' to count the victims, but an interview with one of those victims might use 'machucado' to describe their personal experience. You should also be able to use 'machucado' in complex conditional sentences: 'Se eu não tivesse usado o capacete, estaria muito mais machucado'. This demonstrates your ability to use the word within advanced grammatical frameworks. At this level, you can also explore the noun form in more detail, using it to describe not just the injury but the impact of an event: 'O machucado na economia será difícil de curar'. Here, you are using the word in a sophisticated, metaphorical way to discuss complex topics like the economy. You should also be sensitive to the tone of the word. Because it is so common in childhood and daily life, using it in a very formal legal document might be seen as too informal; 'lesão' or 'ferimento' would be more appropriate there. Understanding these register differences is essential for B2 learners. You should also be able to discuss the recovery process: 'O machucado está cicatrizando bem' (The injury is healing well). This involves knowing related vocabulary like 'cicatrizar' (to heal/scar) and 'curativo' (bandage/dressing).
At the C1 level, you should be able to use 'machucado' with the precision of a native speaker, including its most subtle metaphorical and stylistic applications. You can use the word to create vivid imagery in writing or formal speaking. For example, you might describe a landscape 'machucada pela mineração' (scarred/damaged by mining), using the word to evoke a sense of environmental trauma. This shows you can apply the word's core meaning of physical damage to large-scale, abstract issues. You should also be able to analyze the word's use in classical and modern Portuguese literature, where it might be used to describe the psychological state of a character in a way that feels physical and inescapable. Your understanding of the word should include its etymological connections and how those connections influence its current usage. You can also use 'machucado' to discuss social issues, such as 'uma sociedade machucada pela desigualdade' (a society hurt/damaged by inequality). At this level, you are not just using the word to communicate facts; you are using it to express complex viewpoints and emotions with stylistic flair. You should also be able to correct others' subtle misuses of the word, such as when a learner uses 'machucado' for a broken machine, explaining why 'quebrado' or 'danificado' is the better choice. Your mastery of the word includes knowing exactly where its boundaries are. You can also use the word in idiomatic expressions with ease, understanding the cultural weight they carry. This level of proficiency allows you to use 'machucado' as a tool for sophisticated expression in any context.
At the C2 level, your mastery of 'machucado' is complete. You understand the word not just as a vocabulary item, but as a piece of the Lusophone cultural and historical identity. You can trace its usage through centuries of literature, from the early days of the language to contemporary experimental prose. You are aware of how the word's meaning has shifted and expanded over time, and you can use it to evoke specific historical or cultural atmospheres. In a professional or academic setting, you can discuss the linguistics of the word, including its morphology and its role as a resultative adjective. You can use 'machucado' in highly sophisticated rhetorical structures, such as using it in a series of metaphors to describe the human condition. For example, you might write about how 'a alma humana é constantemente machucada pelas arestas da realidade' (the human soul is constantly hurt by the edges of reality). This level of expression is poetic, precise, and deeply evocative. You also understand the most obscure regionalisms and archaic uses of the word, and you can use them correctly if the context demands it. You can switch between the colloquial 'machucado' of the street and the more refined synonyms of high-level discourse with perfect timing and tone. For a C2 learner, 'machucado' is no longer just a word for a bruise; it is a versatile instrument that can be played with infinite variation to express the full range of human experience, from the simplest physical pain to the most complex existential suffering. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

machucado en 30 segundos

  • Machucado is the standard Portuguese word for 'injured' or 'hurt', primarily used for physical scrapes, bruises, and minor wounds in daily life.
  • It functions as both an adjective and a noun, requiring gender and number agreement when describing people or specific body parts.
  • While mainly physical, it is often used metaphorically in music and literature to describe deep emotional pain or a bruised ego.
  • It is usually paired with the verb 'estar' to indicate a temporary state, making it essential for basic health and safety communication.

The Portuguese word machucado is a versatile adjective and noun that primarily translates to "injured," "hurt," or "bruised" in English. At its core, it is the past participle of the verb machucar, which means to crush, pound, or cause pain. When used as an adjective, it describes the state of a person or a part of the body that has suffered some form of physical trauma, ranging from a minor scrape to a more significant bruise or wound. In Brazil, it is arguably the most common word used to describe everyday injuries, especially those sustained by children or athletes. While the word ferido also means injured, machucado often carries a connotation of a blunt force injury or a surface-level wound rather than a deep, penetrating one.

Physical State
Describes a body part that is currently suffering from pain or visible damage like a bruise or swelling.
Noun Usage
Refers to the injury itself, as in "Eu tenho um machucado no joelho" (I have an injury/scrape on my knee).
Emotional Context
Though less common than the word magoado, it can describe a heart or feelings that have been "crushed" or hurt by someone's actions.

O jogador saiu de campo porque estava muito machucado.

In everyday Brazilian life, you will hear this word constantly. If a child falls while playing, the first question a parent asks is "Você se machucou?" (Did you hurt yourself?) followed by an inspection of the machucado. It is a word that bridges the gap between clinical terminology and informal speech. In Portugal, while the word is understood and used, there is a slight preference for ferido or magoado (even for physical pain) in certain contexts, but machucado remains a fundamental part of the Lusophone vocabulary. It is important to note that the word must agree in gender and number with the person or body part it describes. A girl would say "Estou machucada," and a group of people would say "Estamos machucados."

Não compre essa maçã, ela está toda machucada.

The etymological roots of the word trace back to the idea of pounding or striking. This is why the word feels so physical. It suggests a force was applied to a surface, resulting in damage. In a metaphorical sense, when someone says their "orgulho está machucado" (pride is hurt), they are implying that their pride has taken a physical-like blow. This imagery is powerful in Portuguese literature and music, where songwriters often speak of a "coração machucado" (hurt heart) to describe the visceral feeling of heartbreak. Understanding this word requires recognizing its dual nature: the literal, physical scrape on a knee, and the metaphorical, emotional blow to one's spirit.

Common Contexts
Sports (injuries), Parenting (children falling), Kitchen (bruised produce), Romance (emotional pain).

Meu dedo está machucado porque eu fechei a porta nele.

A criança caiu da bicicleta e ficou com o braço machucado.

Agreement Rule
Always match the gender: O braço (masculine) -> machucado; A perna (feminine) -> machucada.

Suas mãos parecem machucadas pelo trabalho pesado.

Using machucado correctly involves understanding its grammatical function as both an adjective and a noun, and its relationship with the verb estar (to be). In Portuguese, temporary states are almost always expressed with estar rather than ser. Since being hurt is a temporary condition, you would say "Eu estou machucado" (I am hurt) to indicate your current state. If you were to use ficar (to become/to stay), you would describe the process of getting hurt: "Eu fiquei machucado depois da queda" (I got hurt after the fall). This distinction is crucial for sounding natural to native speakers.

Adjective Agreement
The word changes its ending based on the noun it modifies: machucado (masculine singular), machucada (feminine singular), machucados (masculine plural), machucadas (feminine plural).
Using with 'Ter'
When used as a noun, it follows the verb 'ter' (to have): "Ele tem um machucado feio" (He has a nasty injury).
Degree Adverbs
You can intensify the state using adverbs like 'muito' (very) or 'bastante' (quite): "Ela está muito machucada."

Meus pés estão machucados por causa dos sapatos novos.

When describing specific body parts, Portuguese often uses the definite article (o, a, os, as) instead of possessive adjectives (meu, seu, etc.) if the owner is already clear from the verb. For example, instead of saying "Meu braço está machucado," a native speaker might say "Estou com o braço machucado." Both are correct, but the latter is very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. This construction "estar com [body part] [adjective]" is a standard pattern you should learn. It applies to many physical states, such as being cold, having a headache, or being injured.

Ela se sentia machucada pelas palavras duras do chefe.

In more complex sentences, machucado can appear in passive constructions or as a participial adjective. For instance, "O carro machucado pela batida" (The car damaged by the crash) is possible, though "danificado" is more common for inanimate objects like vehicles. However, for organic things like plants or fruits, machucado is perfect. "As rosas ficaram machucadas por causa do vento forte" (The roses were damaged because of the strong wind). This broadens the utility of the word beyond just human injuries.

Passive Voice
"Ele foi machucado por um colega" (He was hurt by a colleague) - here it acts as the passive form of the verb.

Não toque no meu ombro, ele ainda está machucado.

O gatinho estava machucado e precisava de cuidados.

Comparison
"Machucado" is usually less severe than "gravemente ferido" (seriously wounded).

Por sorte, ninguém saiu machucado do pequeno acidente.

The word machucado is deeply embedded in the daily linguistic fabric of Portuguese-speaking countries, particularly in Brazil. If you spend time in a Brazilian park, you will inevitably hear a mother or father shouting to a child who has just tripped: "Você se machucou? Deixa eu ver o machucado!" (Did you hurt yourself? Let me see the injury!). In this context, the word is used both as a verb and a noun. It is the language of care, empathy, and immediate physical assessment. It is much more common in these informal settings than the more sterile or medical-sounding lesão or ferimento.

The Playground
Used to ask about falls, scrapes, and minor bumps during play.
Sports Commentary
While professional announcers might use 'lesionado', fans and players typically say 'estou machucado' when they can't play.
The Supermarket
Used to describe bruised fruit like bananas, peaches, or tomatoes that have been handled roughly.

O técnico disse que o atacante ainda está machucado e não joga hoje.

Another place you will frequently encounter machucado is in the lyrics of Brazilian popular music (MPB), Samba, and Sertanejo. In these genres, physical pain is often used as a metaphor for the agony of lost love. A singer might lament that their "peito está machucado" (chest/heart is hurt) or that they are "machucado pela saudade" (hurt by the longing). Here, the word takes on a poetic, soulful quality that transcends its literal meaning of a physical bruise. It conveys a deep, aching vulnerability that resonates with the listener. If you are learning Portuguese through music, pay close attention to how this word is used to express emotional depth.

Não aguento mais esse sapato, meu calcanhar está todo machucado.

In a clinical setting, such as a pharmacy or a doctor's office, you might use machucado to describe your symptoms to a professional. While the doctor might reply with technical terms like "hematoma" (bruise) or "escoriação" (abrasion), they will fully understand your use of "machucado." It is the bridge between the patient's experience and the medical diagnosis. Even in news reporting, while "feridos" is the standard for reporting casualties, a human-interest story about a survivor might use "machucado" to evoke more empathy and focus on the personal struggle of the individual. Its prevalence across all these domains makes it a high-frequency word essential for any learner.

News Media
Often used in headlines to describe the condition of victims in a more relatable, less clinical way.

O cachorro foi encontrado na rua, estava machucado e com fome.

Ela passou pomada no machucado para não infeccionar.

Social Media
Commonly used in captions when someone posts about a gym injury or a clumsy moment.

Cuidado com o vidro quebrado para não sair machucado.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with machucado is confusing it with the word magoado. While both can be translated as "hurt," they are used in very different contexts. Machucado is almost exclusively for physical pain, bruises, and scrapes. If you fall and scrape your knee, you are machucado. On the other hand, magoado is used for emotional pain or being upset with someone. If a friend forgets your birthday, you are magoado, not machucado. Using the wrong one can lead to confusion; saying "Estou machucado" when you mean your feelings are hurt might make people look for a bandage on your body!

Machucado vs. Magoado
Use 'machucado' for physical injuries (bruises, cuts). Use 'magoado' for emotional injuries (sadness, resentment).
Gender Agreement
Forgetting to change the ending to 'machucada' when a woman is speaking or when referring to feminine nouns like 'perna' (leg) or 'mão' (hand).
Ser vs. Estar
Using 'ser' (permanent state) instead of 'estar' (temporary state). You are not 'permanently hurt' by nature; you are currently in a state of being hurt.

INCORRECT: Eu sou machucado. CORRECT: Eu estou machucado.

Another common error is the misuse of the plural form. When describing multiple injured parts or multiple people, you must use machucados or machucadas. For example, if both your arms are hurt, you should say "Meus braços estão machucados." English speakers often forget this because the word "hurt" in English doesn't change for plural subjects. Additionally, learners sometimes struggle with the difference between the noun and the adjective. "Eu tenho um machucado" (I have an injury) is different from "Eu estou machucado" (I am injured). Mixing these up can make your sentences sound clunky or grammatically incorrect.

As crianças voltaram do parque todas machucadas.

Lastly, learners often over-rely on machucado when other words might be more precise. If you have a serious wound from a knife, cortado (cut) or ferido (wounded) is better. If you have a muscle strain, lesionado is the professional term. While machucado is a great general-purpose word, expanding your vocabulary to include these specific terms will help you reach a more advanced level of Portuguese. Pay attention to the context of the injury to choose the most appropriate word, but when in doubt, machucado is usually a safe and understandable bet for any minor physical mishap.

Specific Terms
Esfolado (scraped skin), Roxo (bruise), Cortado (cut), Quebrado (broken bone).

Meu joelho está machucado porque eu ralei ele no asfalto.

Ele ficou com o ego machucado após a crítica.

Preposition Use
Use 'por' or 'com' to describe the cause: Machucado por uma pedra, machucado com o martelo.

A fruta caiu da árvore e ficou machucada.

Portuguese offers a rich variety of words to describe being hurt or injured, each with its own nuance. Understanding these alternatives will make your Portuguese more precise and expressive. While machucado is the general term for "hurt," other words focus on the type of injury, the severity, or the context. For example, ferido is more formal and often implies a wound that might be bleeding or requires medical attention. It is the word you will see in newspapers describing victims of an accident: "Três pessoas ficaram feridas." In a personal conversation, however, machucado is more common and less dramatic.

Ferido
More formal, implies a serious wound (wounded). Often used in news reports and medical contexts.
Lesionado
Specific to sports and medicine. It refers to a 'lesão' (lesion/injury) like a torn ligament or muscle strain.
Contundido
A technical term for a bruise or blunt force injury (contusion). Used in sports and medical reports.

O atleta está lesionado e ficará fora por dois meses.

For minor skin injuries, words like esfolado (scraped) or ralado (grazed) are very common. If you fall and skin your knee on the pavement, you would likely say "Meu joelho está todo ralado." If you have a bruise, you might say "Estou com um roxo" (I have a purple [mark]). These words are more specific than the broad machucado. On the emotional side, as mentioned before, magoado is the primary alternative for emotional hurt, but ofendido (offended) or ressentido (resentful) can also be used depending on the situation. Knowing these distinctions allows you to convey exactly what you mean.

Ele não está apenas triste, ele está profundamente magoado.

In some regional dialects, you might encounter other synonyms. In certain parts of Brazil, estropiado might be used for someone who is very hurt or worn out. In Portugal, dorido (aching) is often used when a body part is sore to the touch. Each of these words adds a layer of meaning. For instance, dolorido (painful/sore) describes the sensation, while machucado describes the physical state of the tissue. If you press on a machucado, it will certainly feel dolorido. By mastering these synonyms, you can move beyond basic communication and start expressing the nuances of physical and emotional experience.

Esfolado / Ralado
Used specifically for skin abrasions where the top layer of skin is removed.

Depois da queda, seu cotovelo ficou todo ralado.

A perna dele está dolorida depois da caminhada.

Summary Table
Machucado: General hurt. Ferido: Serious wound. Lesionado: Sports injury. Magoado: Emotional pain.

Não fique magoado com o que ele disse, foi apenas um mal-entendido.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The root of 'machucar' is shared with the word 'marreta' (sledgehammer). So, when you say you are 'machucado', you are literally saying you feel like you've been hit by a hammer!

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ma.ʃu.ˈka.du/
US /mɑ.ʃu.ˈkɑ.doʊ/
The primary stress is on the penultimate syllable: ma-chu-CA-do.
Rima con
Cuidado (Care) Passado (Past) Obrigado (Thank you) Cansado (Tired) Gelado (Cold) Feriado (Holiday) Pintado (Painted) Fechado (Closed)
Errores comunes
  • Pronouncing 'ch' as 'k' (like in 'mechanic') instead of 'sh' (like in 'shoe').
  • Stressing the wrong syllable, such as the first or the last.
  • Pronouncing the 'u' as a short 'u' like in 'cup' instead of a long 'oo' like in 'boot'.
  • Making the final 'o' too strong; it should be very soft, almost like a 'u'.
  • Forgetting the nasal quality of the 'ma' in some regional accents.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

The word is easy to recognize in text as it follows standard past participle patterns.

Escritura 3/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement which can be tricky for beginners.

Expresión oral 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward once the 'ch' sound is mastered.

Escucha 2/5

Commonly used and clearly articulated in most dialects.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

Estar Dor Corpo Cair Bater

Aprende después

Ferido Magoado Cicatriz Curativo Recuperação

Avanzado

Lesionado Contundido Traumatismo Escoriação Hematoma

Gramática que debes saber

Gender Agreement

O menino está machucado. A menina está machucada.

Number Agreement

Os meninos estão machucados. As meninas estão machucadas.

Reflexive Pronouns with 'Machucar'

Eu me machuquei. Você se machucou.

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

Ele foi machucado pelo colega.

Resultative state with 'Estar'

O braço está machucado (now).

Ejemplos por nivel

1

Eu estou machucado.

I am hurt.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state.

2

Onde está machucado?

Where is it hurt?

Simple question structure.

3

Meu dedo está machucado.

My finger is hurt.

Subject-verb-adjective agreement.

4

Ela está machucada.

She is hurt.

Feminine singular agreement.

5

Você tem um machucado?

Do you have an injury?

Noun usage of 'machucado'.

6

O gato está machucado.

The cat is hurt.

Masculine singular agreement.

7

Não estou machucado.

I am not hurt.

Negative sentence structure.

8

É um machucado pequeno.

It is a small injury.

Adjective modifying the noun 'machucado'.

1

Eu me machuquei no braço.

I hurt myself on the arm.

Reflexive verb 'se machucar'.

2

As crianças estão machucadas.

The children are hurt.

Feminine plural agreement.

3

O joelho dele ficou machucado depois do jogo.

His knee got hurt after the game.

Uses 'ficar' to show a change of state.

4

Cuidado para não ficar machucado.

Careful not to get hurt.

Imperative-like warning.

5

Essa maçã está machucada.

This apple is bruised.

Applied to fruit.

6

Meus pés estão machucados por causa do sapato.

My feet are hurt because of the shoe.

Masculine plural agreement.

7

Ela caiu, mas não está muito machucada.

She fell, but she is not very hurt.

Adverb 'muito' modifying the adjective.

8

Onde você se machucou?

Where did you hurt yourself?

Reflexive question in the past tense.

1

Ele sempre fica machucado quando joga futebol.

He always gets hurt when he plays soccer.

Present tense indicating a frequent state.

2

Meu coração está machucado com essa notícia.

My heart is hurt by this news.

Metaphorical use for emotional pain.

3

O machucado parece estar infeccionado.

The injury seems to be infected.

Noun form with a descriptive verb.

4

Ela se sentiu machucada pelas palavras dele.

She felt hurt by his words.

Reflexive verb 'sentir-se' with adjective.

5

O cachorro machucado foi levado ao veterinário.

The hurt dog was taken to the vet.

Participial adjective modifying the noun.

6

Não toque aí, ainda está muito machucado.

Don't touch there, it's still very hurt.

Adverbial phrase 'ainda muito'.

7

O orgulho dele ficou machucado após a derrota.

His pride was hurt after the defeat.

Abstract noun as the subject.

8

Lave o machucado com água e sabão.

Wash the injury with soap and water.

Imperative sentence with noun usage.

1

Apesar de estar machucado, ele terminou a corrida.

Despite being injured, he finished the race.

Concessive clause with 'apesar de'.

2

O carro ficou todo machucado na lataria.

The car's bodywork got all dented/damaged.

Informal use for physical damage to objects.

3

Ela saiu da relação muito machucada emocionalmente.

She came out of the relationship very hurt emotionally.

Adverbial modification of state.

4

O machucado na perna impediu que ele viajasse.

The injury on the leg prevented him from traveling.

Noun as a cause in a complex sentence.

5

Ele foi machucado injustamente pelas críticas da imprensa.

He was unfairly hurt by the press's criticism.

Passive voice with an agent of action.

6

As frutas machucadas são usadas para fazer geleia.

The bruised fruits are used to make jam.

Plural agreement in a passive sentence.

7

Se você tivesse cuidado, não estaria machucado agora.

If you had been careful, you wouldn't be hurt now.

Third conditional structure.

8

O machucado abriu novamente durante o exercício.

The injury opened up again during exercise.

Noun as subject of an action verb.

1

A economia do país saiu machucada da crise financeira.

The country's economy came out damaged from the financial crisis.

Highly metaphorical use for macro concepts.

2

Sua reputação ficou irremediavelmente machucada após o escândalo.

His reputation was irremediably damaged after the scandal.

Abstract noun with strong adverbial modification.

3

O texto parece machucado por tantas revisões e cortes.

The text seems mangled by so many revisions and cuts.

Creative use for artistic or intellectual work.

4

A alma do poeta estava machucada pela dureza da vida urbana.

The poet's soul was hurt by the harshness of urban life.

Literary use in a descriptive sentence.

5

O machucado social causado pela guerra levará décadas para curar.

The social wound caused by the war will take decades to heal.

Noun used as a metaphor for societal trauma.

6

Ela falava com uma voz machucada, cheia de cansaço e dor.

She spoke with a pained voice, full of tiredness and pain.

Adjective describing an abstract quality (voice).

7

O meio ambiente está machucado pela exploração desenfreada.

The environment is damaged by unrestrained exploitation.

Passive state with an environmental context.

8

Não se pode ignorar um ego tão profundamente machucado.

One cannot ignore such a deeply bruised ego.

Use of 'se' as an impersonal subject.

1

A narrativa é machucada por uma melancolia que permeia cada página.

The narrative is bruised by a melancholy that permeates every page.

Advanced literary metaphor.

2

O tecido social, já machucado, rompeu-se sob a pressão das revoltas.

The social fabric, already damaged, tore under the pressure of the revolts.

Complex sentence with appositive phrase.

3

Sua dignidade, embora machucada, permaneceu intacta diante dos algozes.

His dignity, though bruised, remained intact before his tormentors.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

4

O machucado existencial é a marca de quem muito viveu e muito sentiu.

The existential wound is the mark of one who has lived and felt much.

Philosophical use of the noun form.

5

A cidade, machucada pelo tempo, exalava um charme decadente.

The city, damaged by time, exhaled a decadent charm.

Personification of a location.

6

O silêncio entre eles era machucado, pesado de coisas não ditas.

The silence between them was pained, heavy with things left unsaid.

Adjective describing an atmospheric quality.

7

Ele carregava um machucado na voz que denunciava sua origem humilde.

He carried a 'bruise' in his voice that betrayed his humble origin.

Abstract noun usage to describe a linguistic trait.

8

O projeto foi machucado por interesses políticos mesquinhos.

The project was damaged by petty political interests.

Passive voice in a professional/political context.

Colocaciones comunes

Estar machucado
Ficar machucado
Machucado de leve
Coração machucado
Orgulho machucado
Pé machucado
Um machucado feio
Sair machucado
Sentir-se machucado
Machucado por dentro

Frases Comunes

Você se machucou?

— Did you hurt yourself? This is the most common way to ask someone if they are okay after a fall.

A criança caiu e o pai perguntou: Você se machucou?

Deixa eu ver o machucado.

— Let me see the injury. Typically said by parents or caregivers to inspect a scrape.

Venha cá, deixa eu ver o machucado no seu joelho.

Não foi nada, só um machucado.

— It was nothing, just a scratch/injury. Used to downplay a minor mishap.

Pode continuar jogando, não foi nada, só um machucado.

Estou com o braço machucado.

— My arm is hurt. A natural way to describe a specific injury using the 'estar com' construction.

Não posso carregar peso porque estou com o braço machucado.

Ficou um machucado roxo.

— It left a purple bruise. Describes the visible result of a blunt force impact.

Bati na mesa e ficou um machucado roxo enorme.

Ele saiu machucado de campo.

— He left the field injured. Standard phrase in sports reporting.

O atacante saiu machucado de campo aos dez minutos.

O remédio arde no machucado.

— The medicine stings on the injury. Common complaint when cleaning a wound.

Cuidado, o álcool vai arder no machucado.

É um machucado superficial.

— It's a superficial injury. Means the damage is only on the surface of the skin.

Não se preocupe, é apenas um machucado superficial.

O cachorro está com a pata machucada.

— The dog has a hurt paw. Used for pets and animals.

Levei o Totó ao veterinário porque ele está com a pata machucada.

Meus sentimentos estão machucados.

— My feelings are hurt. A slightly more formal or poetic way to express emotional pain.

Depois de tudo o que você disse, meus sentimentos estão machucados.

Se confunde a menudo con

machucado vs Magoado

English speakers confuse these because both mean 'hurt', but 'magoado' is emotional and 'machucado' is physical.

machucado vs Quebrado

Means 'broken'. You can be 'machucado' without having a 'quebrado' bone.

machucado vs Ferido

More formal and serious. A 'machucado' is usually less severe than a 'ferido'.

Modismos y expresiones

"Pisar em calo machucado"

— To step on a sore spot or to touch on a sensitive subject that causes pain.

Falar sobre o ex-marido dela é pisar em calo machucado.

Informal
"Coração machucado não esquece"

— A hurt heart does not forget. Implies that emotional wounds last a long time.

Tenha cuidado com o que diz, pois coração machucado não esquece.

Popular Wisdom
"Machucado na alma"

— Hurt in the soul. Describes a deep, existential pain that goes beyond the physical.

Ele carrega um machucado na alma desde a infância.

Poetic
"Lamber o machucado"

— To lick one's wounds. To retreat and recover after a defeat or a bad experience.

Ele foi para casa lamber o machucado após perder a promoção.

Informal
"Machucado de guerra"

— A war wound. Can be literal or metaphorical (e.g., scars from past experiences).

Essas rugas são meus machucados de guerra.

Metaphorical
"Fazer um machucado virar ferida"

— To make a small injury turn into a serious wound. To make a small problem much worse.

Não fique remoendo isso, você vai fazer um machucado virar ferida.

Informal
"Dedo machucado"

— A sore finger. Often used to describe someone who complains about every little thing.

Ele reclama de tudo, parece que está sempre com o dedo machucado.

Informal
"Machucado por dentro"

— Hurt on the inside. Refers to internal injuries or hidden emotional trauma.

Ela sorri para todos, mas está machucada por dentro.

Common
"Remexer no machucado"

— To stir up an old injury. To bring up painful memories from the past.

Não quero mais falar sobre isso, você está remexendo no machucado.

Informal
"Machucado pelo tempo"

— Damaged by time. Used for old buildings, objects, or even elderly people.

O casarão antigo estava machucado pelo tempo.

Literary

Fácil de confundir

machucado vs Magoado

Both translate to 'hurt' in English.

Machucado is for your body (bruises, scrapes); Magoado is for your feelings (sadness, resentment).

Estou machucado porque caí. Estou magoado porque você mentiu.

machucado vs Ferido

Both mean 'injured'.

Ferido is more formal and implies a more serious, often open, wound. Machucado is colloquial and covers minor injuries.

O soldado foi ferido. O menino se machucou no tapete.

machucado vs Dolorido

Both relate to pain.

Dolorido describes the sensation of aching or soreness. Machucado describes the physical damage.

Meu corpo está dolorido do treino. Meu braço está machucado onde bati.

machucado vs Quebrado

Both happen in accidents.

Quebrado means broken (like a bone or an object). Machucado is a general term for being hurt.

O braço está machucado, mas não está quebrado.

machucado vs Estragado

Both mean 'damaged'.

Estragado is for objects or food (spoiled/broken). Machucado is for living beings or bruised fruit.

O carro está estragado. A maçã está machucada.

Patrones de oraciones

A1

Eu estou [machucado/a].

Eu estou machucada.

A2

Meu/Minha [body part] está [machucado/a].

Minha mão está machucada.

B1

Eu me machuquei no/na [place/object].

Eu me machuquei na escada.

B1

Estou com o/a [body part] [machucado/a].

Estou com o pé machucado.

B2

Ficar [machucado/a] por causa de [reason].

Fiquei machucado por causa da queda.

B2

Apesar de estar [machucado/a], [action].

Apesar de estar machucado, ele foi trabalhar.

C1

[Abstract noun] está [machucado/a] por [reason].

A economia está machucada pela inflação.

C2

Um [machucado] na [abstract concept].

Um machucado na alma do povo.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Machucado (The injury)
Machucadura (The act of bruising - less common)

Verbos

Machucar (To hurt/to bruise)
Machucar-se (To hurt oneself)

Adjetivos

Machucado (Injured)
Machucável (Easily hurt - rare)

Relacionado

Machucado
Ferimento
Lesão
Magoado
Contusão

Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in daily spoken Portuguese.

Errores comunes
  • Using 'machucado' for emotional hurt in daily speech. Use 'magoado'.

    While 'machucado' is used for emotions in poetry, 'magoado' is the standard word for feeling upset or offended in conversation.

  • Eu sou machucado. Eu estou machucado.

    Being hurt is a temporary state, so you must use the verb 'estar', not 'ser'.

  • O mesa está machucado. A mesa está quebrada/danificada.

    'Machucado' is for living things and fruit. For inanimate objects like furniture, use 'quebrado' or 'danificado'.

  • Minha mão está machucado. Minha mão está machucada.

    Adjectives must agree with the gender of the noun. 'Mão' is a feminine noun.

  • Eu machuquei meu braço (too formal). Eu me machuquei no braço.

    Using the reflexive 'se machucar' is more common than the direct transitive use in many casual contexts.

Consejos

Gender Agreement

Always check the gender of the body part. 'Perna' is feminine, so it's 'machucada'. 'Braço' is masculine, so it's 'machucado'.

Reflexive Use

Use the reflexive 'se machucar' when you want to say you hurt yourself. 'Eu me machuquei'.

Fruit Bruises

Use 'machucado' for bruised fruit at the market to sound like a local. 'Esta pera está machucada'.

Machucado vs Ferido

Think of 'machucado' as 'hurt' and 'ferido' as 'wounded'. Use the former for minor accidents.

The 'CH' Sound

The 'ch' in Portuguese is always like 'sh'. Never pronounce it like 'ch' in 'cheese' or 'k' in 'character'.

Natural Phrasing

Instead of 'Meu braço está machucado', try 'Estou com o braço machucado' for a more native feel.

Musical Context

When you hear 'machucado' in a song, it's almost always about a broken heart.

Emergency

In an emergency, 'ferido' sounds more urgent than 'machucado'. Use it to get help faster.

Noun vs Adjective

Be clear if you are describing a person ('ele está machucado') or an injury ('ele tem um machucado').

Word Family

Learn the verb 'machucar' alongside the adjective to understand the relationship between action and state.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'MA-CHU-CA-DO'. 'MA' like 'Mama', 'CHU' like 'Chew', 'CA' like 'Car', 'DO' like 'Door'. Imagine Mama Chewed the Car Door and now it is 'machucado' (damaged/hurt)!

Asociación visual

Visualize a giant purple bruise on a knee. Imagine the word 'MACHUCADO' written in purple letters right across the bruise.

Word Web

Hurt Bruise Scrape Injured Pain Accident Bandage Doctor

Desafío

Try to find three things in your house that could be described as 'machucado' (maybe a bruised fruit or a dented box) and say the word out loud for each one.

Origen de la palabra

The word 'machucado' originates from the Portuguese verb 'machucar', which itself has roots in the idea of crushing or pounding. It is believed to be related to the word 'macho', meaning a large hammer or mallet used in forges.

Significado original: To crush or pound with a heavy tool, specifically in a workshop or agricultural setting.

Romance (Latin-derived)

Contexto cultural

While 'machucado' is a common word, be sensitive when using it for serious injuries. In those cases, 'ferido' or 'gravemente ferido' is more appropriate and respectful of the severity.

English speakers often use 'hurt' for both physical and emotional pain. In Portuguese, you must be careful to use 'machucado' for physical and 'magoado' for emotional contexts, although 'machucado' can be used poetically for emotions.

The song 'Coração Machucado' by Wesley Safadão. Commonly heard in Brazilian soap operas (telenovelas) during dramatic injury scenes. Used in sports news headlines across all major Lusophone media outlets.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

At the Hospital

  • Estou machucado aqui.
  • O machucado está doendo muito.
  • Como trato esse machucado?
  • Preciso de um curativo para o machucado.

Sports

  • Ele se machucou no primeiro tempo.
  • Estou machucado e não posso jogar.
  • Foi um machucado no tornozelo.
  • O jogador saiu machucado.

With Children

  • Onde está o machucado?
  • Não chore, é só um machucado.
  • Você se machucou muito?
  • Vou limpar o seu machucado.

Kitchen/Market

  • Essa fruta está machucada.
  • Me machuquei cortando a cebola.
  • Não pegue os tomates machucados.
  • A banana ficou machucada na sacola.

Emotional Situations

  • Meu coração está machucado.
  • Ela se sentiu machucada com o comentário.
  • Não queria te deixar machucado.
  • Ele tem o ego machucado.

Inicios de conversación

"Você já se machucou seriamente praticando esportes?"

"O que você faz quando tem um machucado que não para de doer?"

"Você prefere usar remédio caseiro ou de farmácia em um machucado?"

"Qual foi o machucado mais bobo que você já teve?"

"Você fica muito machucado emocionalmente quando alguém te critica?"

Temas para diario

Descreva uma vez que você se machucou e como foi a sua recuperação.

Escreva sobre um 'machucado' emocional que você superou recentemente.

Pense em um objeto que está 'machucado' (danificado) e conte a história dele.

Como você cuida de alguém que está machucado?

Reflita sobre a frase: 'O que não nos mata, nos deixa machucados ou mais fortes?'

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, you can use 'machucado' metaphorically for a broken heart, especially in songs and poetry. However, 'magoado' is more common in daily speech to describe feeling hurt by someone's actions.

It is very common in both, but Brazilians use it as the standard word for any minor injury. In Portugal, you might hear 'ferido' or 'magoado' a bit more frequently in contexts where a Brazilian would say 'machucado'.

Yes, as an adjective, it must agree with the noun it modifies. 'O braço machucado', 'A perna machucada', 'Os dedos machucados', 'As mãos machucadas'.

'Um machucado' is a noun referring to the injury itself (a scrape, a bruise). 'Estar machucado' is a verb phrase describing the state of the person being injured.

It's not the most common word for cars; 'danificado' or 'batido' is better. However, people sometimes use it informally to describe minor dents or scratches on the 'body' of the car.

You can say 'Eu machuquei o dedo' or 'Estou com o dedo machucado'.

No, it is neutral to informal. In a formal medical report, you would see terms like 'lesão' or 'ferimento'.

Yes, it is the standard word for 'bruised', especially when talking about fruit or minor skin discoloration from an impact.

The most common verb is 'estar' (to be in a state). You can also use 'ficar' (to become) or 'ter' (to have, when using it as a noun).

Yes, etymologically it comes from 'machucar', which is related to 'macho', an old word for a large hammer or mallet.

Ponte a prueba 190 preguntas

writing

Translate to Portuguese: 'I am hurt.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
writing

Translate to Portuguese: 'My leg is injured.'

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writing

Write a sentence using 'machucado' as a noun.

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writing

Translate: 'The children got hurt at the park.'

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writing

Use 'machucado' in a metaphorical way about feelings.

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writing

Translate: 'The player left the field injured.'

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writing

Write a sentence using 'machucada' for a fruit.

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writing

Translate: 'I don't want to get hurt.'

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writing

Use 'machucado' in the plural feminine form.

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writing

Translate: 'He is seriously injured.'

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writing

Describe a bruise using 'machucado'.

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writing

Translate: 'His pride was hurt.'

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writing

Write a question asking someone where they are hurt.

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writing

Translate: 'The dog's paw is hurt.'

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writing

Use the word 'machucado' to describe a city or landscape.

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writing

Translate: 'I am hurt by your words.'

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writing

Write a sentence using 'ficar' and 'machucado'.

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writing

Translate: 'The small injury is healing.'

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writing

Use 'machucado' in a sentence about an economy.

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writing

Translate: 'Don't touch the injury.'

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speaking

Diga 'I am hurt' em português.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Pergunte a uma criança onde ela se machucou.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga que sua mão está machucada.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga que as bananas estão machucadas.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Explique que você não pode jogar porque está machucado.

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speaking

Diga 'Did you hurt yourself?'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga 'It's just a small injury'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga 'My pride is hurt'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga 'The dog is hurt'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Peça para ver o machucado de alguém.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga que seus pés estão machucados por causa dos sapatos.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga 'Don't get hurt'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'I hurt my arm'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'She is very hurt emotionally'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'Wash the injury'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'The player is injured'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'My heart is hurt'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'Is it hurt here?'.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Diga 'The injury is purple'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
speaking

Diga 'I got hurt yesterday'.

Read this aloud:

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What does the speaker say? (Audio: Estou muito machucado.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Where is the pain? (Audio: Minha perna está machucada.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Did the person get hurt? (Audio: Não me machuquei.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What is the person asking for? (Audio: Deixa eu ver o machucado.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What is the problem with the fruit? (Audio: A maçã está machucada.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Why can't he play? (Audio: O jogador está machucado.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

How is his pride? (Audio: O orgulho dele ficou machucado.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What should be washed? (Audio: Lave o machucado.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Are the children okay? (Audio: As crianças estão machucadas.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Where did it happen? (Audio: Machuquei-me na escola.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

Is it serious? (Audio: É só um machucado de leve.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What is on the arm? (Audio: Tem um machucado no braço.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

How does she feel? (Audio: Ela se sentiu machucada.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What did the news say? (Audio: O soldado está ferido.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
listening

What about the shoes? (Audio: Meus pés estão machucados.)

¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:
¡Correcto! No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

/ 190 correct

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