reprovar en 30 segundos
- Reprovar is the standard Portuguese verb for failing an exam or a school year.
- It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate for beginners.
- Beyond school, it means to reject a law, a project, or a formal proposal.
- It can also express moral disapproval of someone's behavior or choices.
The Portuguese verb reprovar primarily translates to "to fail" or "to reject." In the context of education, it is the nightmare of every student, representing the moment a grade does not meet the minimum requirement to pass a course or an exam. However, its utility extends far beyond the classroom. It is a versatile verb used to express formal disapproval of actions, the rejection of laws in a legislative body, or even the failure of a vehicle in a safety inspection. Understanding reprovar is essential for navigating social, academic, and professional environments in Lusophone cultures.
- Academic Context
- This is the most frequent usage. It can be used transitively (the teacher fails the student) or intransitively with a preposition (the student fails in the exam). In Brazil, students might say 'eu reprovei de ano,' while in Portugal, the term 'chumbar' is a very common synonym for this specific situation.
Infelizmente, ele acabou por reprovar no exame final de matemática devido ao nervosismo.
- Formal Disapproval
- When a society or a specific group finds an action morally or ethically unacceptable, they 'reprovam' that behavior. It carries a weight of judgment and official or semi-official condemnation. For example, a committee might 'reprovar' a project proposal because it lacks technical merit.
In administrative terms, reprovar is used when something does not meet required standards. If you take your car for a mandatory inspection (like the IPO in Portugal or Vistoria in Brazil) and it has serious mechanical issues, the inspector will 'reprovar o veículo.' This means the car is not cleared for road use until the issues are fixed. Similarly, in politics, a parliament can 'reprovar uma lei' (reject a law), preventing it from being enacted. This breadth of use makes it a high-frequency verb for anyone living in a Portuguese-speaking country, as it touches upon education, law, bureaucracy, and ethics.
O conselho de ética decidiu reprovar a conduta do deputado durante a sessão plenária.
Using reprovar correctly requires attention to the sentence structure, as it can function as both a transitive and an intransitive verb. When the focus is on the person failing an exam, we often use the preposition em. When the focus is on the authority figure doing the failing, it takes a direct object. This flexibility allows speakers to shift emphasis depending on whether they want to highlight the student's result or the examiner's decision.
- Intransitive with Preposition (The Learner's Perspective)
- When a student fails, they 'reprovam em' something. Example: 'Eu reprovei em química' (I failed chemistry). In Brazil, it is also very common to hear 'reprovar de ano,' which means to fail the entire grade and have to repeat it.
Muitos alunos costumam reprovar no teste de condução na primeira tentativa.
- Transitive Direct (The Authority's Perspective)
- When a teacher or an institution fails someone, they 'reprovam alguém.' Example: 'O professor reprovou três alunos' (The teacher failed three students). This usage emphasizes the action of the judge or evaluator.
Beyond the classroom, 'reprovar' is used for products and processes. In quality control, a batch of products might be 'reprovado' if it doesn't meet safety standards. In a social context, one might say 'Eu reprovo o seu comportamento,' which is a formal way of saying 'I disapprove of your behavior.' This use is more common in written Portuguese or formal speeches than in casual conversation, where people might prefer 'não gostar' or 'achar errado.'
A assembleia decidiu reprovar as contas apresentadas pela diretoria da empresa.
The word reprovar is a staple of academic life, but it also appears in bureaucratic and legal settings. If you are a student in a Portuguese-speaking country, you will hear it at the end of every semester. If you are applying for a driver's license, the word will be part of the tension surrounding the practical exam. It is a word that carries consequences, usually involving having to repeat a process or being denied a request.
- In Schools and Universities: Teachers use it to announce results. 'Quem não entregar o trabalho vai reprovar.'
- At the DMV (Detran in Brazil / IMT in Portugal): When someone fails their driving test, the official result is 'reprovado.'
- In News Reports: Journalists use it when a parliament rejects a budget or a new law proposal. 'O parlamento reprovou o orçamento do estado.'
- In Professional Settings: A manager might reprove a report or a project that is not up to par.
Se você reprovar de novo, terá que fazer o curso todo outra vez.
In casual conversation, especially among younger people in Brazil, you might hear the slang 'bombar' (e.g., 'Eu bombei em matemática'). In Portugal, the equivalent slang is 'chumbar' (e.g., 'Eu chumbei no exame'). However, 'reprovar' remains the standard, official term used in transcripts and formal announcements. It is also the term used in psychology and sociology to discuss 'reprovação social,' the lack of social acceptance for certain behaviors or groups.
One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is confusing reprovar with other words that mean 'to fail' in different contexts. In English, 'to fail' can mean a machine breaking down, a business going bankrupt, or a student not passing. In Portuguese, these are all different verbs. Using 'reprovar' for a failing computer or a failing business is a frequent error.
- Mistake: Using it for mechanical failure
- Incorrect: 'O motor reprovou.' Correct: 'O motor falhou' or 'O motor parou.' Reprovar is for human judgment or evaluation, not mechanical breakdown.
- Mistake: Confusing with 'Reprochar' (Spanish influence)
- Spanish speakers often try to use 'reprochar' in Portuguese, but the Portuguese word is 'reprochar' (to reproach/blame) or 'reprovar' (to fail). While related, they are not interchangeable in academic contexts.
Another mistake is the confusion between 'reprovar' and 'falhar.' While 'falhar' is a general term for failure (like missing a goal or a plan not working), 'reprovar' is specific to evaluation. If you fail to meet a friend, you 'falhou com o amigo.' If you fail a test, you 'reprovou no teste.' Keeping these distinct is a sign of an advanced learner.
Portuguese has several synonyms for reprovar, some more formal and others very regional. Depending on where you are and who you are talking to, using an alternative might make you sound more like a native speaker.
- Chumbar (Portugal)
- This is the quintessential European Portuguese term for failing a school year or an exam. It is informal but widely used. 'Ele chumbou a matemática.'
- Bombar (Brazil)
- In Brazilian student slang, 'bombar' means to fail. It is very informal. 'Cara, eu bombei feio na prova de física.'
- Rejeitar
- When 'reprovar' means to disapprove of a proposal or law, 'rejeitar' is a more direct synonym. 'O diretor rejeitou (ou reprovou) o plano.'
In a formal or academic transcript, you will almost always see the past participle used as an adjective: Reprovado. This is contrasted with Aprovado (Passed/Approved). If you are looking at your grades online, these are the two words you need to look for. Another related term is Repulsa, which is a strong noun for moral disapproval, though it is much stronger than just 'reprovação.'
How Formal Is It?
Dato curioso
The root 'prob' is the same as in 'probe', 'prove', and 'probity', all relating to testing or truth.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing the initial 'r' like the English 'r' in 'red'.
- Stress on the second syllable instead of the last.
- Confusing the 'o' sound with 'u'.
- Making the 'v' sound like a 'b' (common for Spanish speakers).
- Not pronouncing the 'e' clearly at the beginning.
Nivel de dificultad
Common word in all texts about education.
Requires correct preposition 'em' or 'no/na'.
Easy to pronounce if you know the Portuguese 'r'.
Clear sound, but watch out for regional slang synonyms.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Regular -ar verb conjugation
Eu reprovo, Tu reprovas, Ele reprova...
Use of preposition 'em' with exams
Reprovei em geografia.
Passive voice with 'ser'
O aluno foi reprovado pelo diretor.
Future Subjunctive for conditions
Se você reprovar, terá que estudar no verão.
Past Participle as Adjective
O teste reprovado está sobre a mesa.
Ejemplos por nivel
Eu não quero reprovar na escola.
I don't want to fail in school.
Simple present tense.
O aluno reprovou no teste.
The student failed the test.
Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito).
Ela estuda muito para não reprovar.
She studies a lot not to fail.
Infinitive after 'para'.
Você reprova se não faz o dever.
You fail if you don't do the homework.
Conditional meaning in present tense.
Nós nunca reprovamos em nada.
We never fail at anything.
First person plural conjugation.
Eles reprovam muitos alunos aqui.
They fail many students here.
Transitive use.
O meu irmão reprovou de ano.
My brother failed the grade.
Common Brazilian idiom 'reprovar de ano'.
Eu reprovo em inglês.
I fail in English.
Present tense.
Eu reprovei no exame de condução ontem.
I failed the driving test yesterday.
Specific context: driving test.
É difícil reprovar nesta disciplina.
It is difficult to fail in this subject.
Impersonal 'É' construction.
O professor vai reprovar quem colar.
The teacher will fail whoever cheats.
Future tense with 'ir'.
Se você não estudar, vai reprovar.
If you don't study, you will fail.
Real conditional.
Ela ficou triste porque reprovou.
She became sad because she failed.
Causal conjunction 'porque'.
O resultado do teste foi 'reprovado'.
The test result was 'failed'.
Past participle as adjective.
Quantos alunos reprovaram este ano?
How many students failed this year?
Interrogative sentence.
Eu não gosto de reprovar ninguém.
I don't like to fail anyone.
Infinitive after 'gostar de'.
Muitos pais reprovam o comportamento dos filhos.
Many parents disapprove of their children's behavior.
Moral disapproval context.
O carro reprovou na inspeção obrigatória.
The car failed the mandatory inspection.
Technical inspection context.
Se eu reprovasse, meus pais ficariam bravos.
If I failed, my parents would be angry.
Imperfect subjunctive + conditional.
A proposta foi reprovada pela maioria.
The proposal was rejected by the majority.
Passive voice.
Não é o fim do mundo se você reprovar.
It's not the end of the world if you fail.
Subjunctive after 'se' (future).
O diretor reprovou o uso de celulares na sala.
The principal disapproved the use of cell phones in the room.
Formal prohibition.
Ela tem medo de reprovar na prova final.
She is afraid of failing the final exam.
Noun 'medo' + preposition 'de' + infinitive.
Ninguém gosta de ser reprovado em público.
Nobody likes to be failed in public.
Passive infinitive.
O senado decidiu reprovar a nova lei de impostos.
The senate decided to reject the new tax law.
Political/Legal context.
A sociedade reprova atitudes de intolerância.
Society disapproves of attitudes of intolerance.
Abstract social subject.
O projeto foi reprovado por falta de verbas.
The project was rejected due to lack of funds.
Causal 'por'.
É provável que o conselho reprove as contas.
It is likely that the council will reject the accounts.
Subjunctive after 'é provável que'.
O filme foi reprovado pela crítica especializada.
The movie was panned by specialized critics.
Artistic criticism context.
Ele reprovou veementemente as acusações feitas.
He vehemently rejected the accusations made.
Use of adverb 'veementemente'.
A taxa de reprovação subiu este semestre.
The failure rate went up this semester.
Noun form 'reprovação'.
Mesmo estudando, ele corre o risco de reprovar.
Even studying, he runs the risk of failing.
Concessive gerund 'mesmo estudando'.
A conduta ética do médico foi reprovada pelo conselho federal.
The doctor's ethical conduct was condemned by the federal council.
High-level professional context.
Não podemos reprovar uma ideia antes de testá-la.
We cannot reject an idea before testing it.
Infinitive with clitic pronoun '-la'.
A reprovação social pode ser mais dura que a legal.
Social disapproval can be harsher than legal disapproval.
Comparative structure.
O auditor reprovou o balanço financeiro da empresa.
The auditor rejected the company's financial balance sheet.
Financial auditing context.
Sempre que ele age assim, todos o reprovam.
Whenever he acts like that, everyone disapproves of him.
Direct object pronoun 'o'.
A tese foi reprovada por inconsistência metodológica.
The thesis was failed due to methodological inconsistency.
Academic/Research context.
É imperativo que não se reprove o progresso científico.
It is imperative that scientific progress is not rejected.
Subjunctive with 'se' (passive/impersonal).
Ele carregou o estigma de ter reprovado no vestibular.
He carried the stigma of having failed the university entrance exam.
Compound infinitive 'ter reprovado'.
A história costuma reprovar os tiranos com o passar do tempo.
History tends to condemn tyrants over time.
Metaphorical subject 'A história'.
A reprovação sumária de novas tecnologias é um erro comum.
The summary rejection of new technologies is a common mistake.
Adjective 'sumária' modifying 'reprovação'.
O veredito serviu para reprovar publicamente o réu.
The verdict served to publicly condemn the defendant.
Legal/Moral condemnation.
Submeteu o plano ao escrutínio, mas acabou por ser reprovado.
He submitted the plan to scrutiny, but it ended up being rejected.
Phrasal verb 'acabar por'.
A estética da obra foi reprovada pelos puristas da arte.
The work's aesthetics were rejected by art purists.
Subject 'A estética'.
Não há como não reprovar tal barbárie.
There is no way not to condemn such barbarity.
Double negative for emphasis.
O mecanismo de controle visa reprovar peças defeituosas.
The control mechanism aims to reject defective parts.
Verb 'visar' + infinitive.
A reprovação unânime do tratado surpreendeu os diplomatas.
The unanimous rejection of the treaty surprised the diplomats.
Adjective 'unânime'.
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
— A common exclamation of students who are worried about their grades.
Não estudei nada, vou reprovar!
— A bit of an oxymoron, but used to say someone failed miserably/clearly.
Ele foi reprovado com distinção no teste de lógica.
— To fail because the average of grades was too low.
Fiquei com 5.5 e reprovei por média.
— To fail immediately without a second chance or final exam.
Ele tirou zero e reprovou direto.
— Complete rejection of something.
O novo design teve reprovação total dos clientes.
— The teacher is strict and fails many people.
Cuidado com esse professor, ele reprova muito.
— To fail the practical part of an exam (like driving).
Passei na teórica, mas reprovei na prática.
— To fail the written/theoretical part of an exam.
Muitos reprovam na teórica por falta de atenção.
— The rules or logic behind failing students.
O sistema de reprovação da escola é muito rígido.
— A plea to a teacher or evaluator.
Por favor, professor, não me reprove por um ponto.
Se confunde a menudo con
This is Spanish for 'to reproach'. In Portuguese, use 'reprochar' or 'repreender'.
General failure (machine, plan). Reprovar is specific to judgment/exams.
To physically repel or strongly reject, much stronger than reprovar.
Modismos y expresiones
— Portuguese slang for failing the school year.
Se não estudares, vais chumbar o ano.
Slang— Old Brazilian slang for failing or being in a difficult academic situation.
Fiquei de pau em matemática.
Archaic Slang— Southern Brazilian slang for failing a subject.
Rodei em cálculo semestre passado.
Regional Slang— Formal way to say a student was held back (failed).
O aluno ficou retido no 7º ano.
Formal— In some contexts, failing a student in an unfair or harsh way.
Aquele professor é um pau de arara.
Slang— When something goes wrong, can be used when an unexpected failure occurs.
Deu zebra no teste e eu reprovei.
Informal— To get into trouble, often used after failing something important.
Reprovei e entrei pelo cano com meu pai.
Informal— To be left behind, often used when peers pass and one fails.
Não quero reprovar e ficar para trás.
MetaphoricalFácil de confundir
It means 'to lead' (metal) but is the main synonym for 'reprovar' in Portugal.
Chumbar is informal/slang; Reprovar is formal/official.
O João chumbou a física.
They sound similar but are direct opposites.
Aprovar is to pass/accept; Reprovar is to fail/reject.
Eu fui aprovado, ele foi reprovado.
Both mean to not approve.
Desaprovar is usually moral/personal; Reprovar is usually academic/official.
Eu desaprovo mentiras.
Both mean 'to fail' in English.
Falir is specifically for business bankruptcy; Reprovar is for exams.
A empresa faliu.
Both involve doing something wrong.
Errar is to make a mistake; Reprovar is the result of many mistakes.
Errei a questão e reprovei.
Patrones de oraciones
Eu reprovei em [Subject].
Eu reprovei em matemática.
O aluno reprovou no [Exam].
O aluno reprovou no teste de inglês.
[Subject] reprova [Behavior].
Minha mãe reprova meu comportamento.
A [Entity] reprovou o [Project].
A prefeitura reprovou o projeto de construção.
Ser reprovado por [Reason].
Ele foi reprovado por falta de fundamentação teórica.
A reprovação de [Noun] implica em [Consequence].
A reprovação das contas implica em sanções legais.
Se eu [Subjunctive], eu [Conditional].
Se eu reprovasse, eu choraria.
Ele vai [Infinitive].
Ele vai reprovar com certeza.
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Cómo usarlo
Very high in academic and bureaucratic contexts.
-
Eu reprovei o teste.
→
Eu reprovei no teste.
You need the preposition 'no' (em + o) because you failed 'in' the test.
-
O computador reprovou.
→
O computador falhou.
Reprovar is for evaluations, not mechanical failures.
-
Eu reprovei de matemática.
→
Eu reprovei em matemática.
In Brazil, 'de' is used for the year (de ano), but 'em' is used for subjects.
-
Ele foi reprochado no exame.
→
Ele foi reprovado no exame.
Don't use the Spanish-sounding 'reprochado' for failing grades.
-
A lei foi falhada.
→
A lei foi reprovada.
When a legislative body rejects a law, the correct term is 'reprovar' or 'rejeitar'.
Consejos
Preposition Power
Always remember 'reprovar EM'. It's a common mistake to omit the 'em' when talking about subjects.
Regional Slang
If you are in Lisbon, say 'chumbar'. If you are in São Paulo, say 'bombar'. It makes you sound local.
Antonym Pairing
Learn 'reprovar' and 'aprovar' together. They are the 'yes/no' of the academic world.
Formal Contexts
In essays, use 'reprovação' to describe the phenomenon of failing. It sounds more analytical.
The Silent R
In many Brazilian accents, the final 'r' in 'reprovar' is almost silent. Try saying 'repro-vá'.
Beyond School
Try using 'reprovar' for a bad law or a bad idea to expand your vocabulary into politics.
The Red Stamp
Visualize a red 'R' for 'Reprovar' and 'Red' to remember the meaning of failing.
News Keywords
When listening to the news, 'reprovar' usually signals that a government plan was blocked.
Latin Roots
Remember 'probare' (to prove). Reprovar is to 'un-prove' or 'fail the proof'.
Softening the Blow
If a friend fails, instead of 'Você reprovou', you might say 'Não foi desta vez' (Not this time).
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'Re-Prove'. If you have to 're-prove' yourself, it's because you failed the first time (reprovar).
Asociación visual
Imagine a giant red stamp hitting a paper with the word 'REPROVADO' in capital letters.
Word Web
Desafío
Try to write three things you would 'reprovar' in society today using the verb in the present tense.
Origen de la palabra
From the Latin 'reprobare', which means 'to reject' or 'to condemn upon trial'.
Significado original: To test and find wanting; to reject after testing.
Romance (Latin root).Contexto cultural
Be careful when telling someone they 'reprovou'; it is a sensitive topic regarding their intelligence or effort.
English speakers often use 'fail' for everything; Portuguese speakers are more specific with 'reprovar' for evaluations.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
School/University
- Reprovar por faltas
- Reprovar na final
- Taxa de reprovação
- Não quero reprovar
Driving School
- Reprovar na prática
- Reprovar no código
- Fui reprovado pelo instrutor
- Marcar novo exame
Politics
- Reprovar o orçamento
- Reprovar a emenda
- Votação para reprovar
- Oposição quer reprovar
Quality Control
- Lote reprovado
- Reprovar peça
- Critérios para reprovar
- Inspeção reprovou
Social/Moral
- Reprovar o comportamento
- Reprovação dos pais
- A sociedade reprova
- Reprovar a violência
Inicios de conversación
"Você já reprovou em alguma matéria na escola?"
"O que acontece se um aluno reprovar três vezes seguidas?"
"Você acha que o sistema de reprovação ajuda os alunos a aprenderem?"
"Qual foi o teste mais difícil que você quase reprovou?"
"Você reprovaria um amigo se ele fizesse algo errado?"
Temas para diario
Descreva uma vez que você sentiu medo de reprovar em algo importante.
Escreva sobre as diferenças entre 'reprovar' na escola e 'falhar' na vida.
Como você reagiria se o seu projeto favorito fosse reprovado por um chefe?
Reflexão: A reprovação social é necessária para manter a ordem?
Imagine que você é um professor. Quais critérios você usaria para reprovar um aluno?
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, 'reprovar' is only for human evaluations or standards. For a computer, use 'estragar', 'quebrar' or 'falhar'.
'Reprovar em' is for subjects (math, history). 'Reprovar de ano' is a Brazilian idiom for failing the entire grade.
Rarely. In Brazil, 'chumbar' usually means to weld or to get very drunk. Use 'bombar' or 'reprovar' instead.
You say 'Eu reprovei no teste' or 'Eu fui reprovado no teste'.
Not exactly. It means to disapprove or find unacceptable, but it's more formal than 'odiar' (to hate).
Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation perfectly: reprovo, reprovei, reprovava, reprovarei.
It translates to 'failure rate,' commonly used in news about education or professional exams.
Yes, if you are a teacher or judge. 'O professor reprovou o aluno' means the teacher gave the student a failing grade.
The opposite is 'passar' (informal/general) or 'aprovar' (formal/official).
Use 'reprovado' (masculine) or 'reprovada' (feminine).
Ponte a prueba 7 preguntas
/ 7 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'reprovar' is most commonly used in academic settings to mean 'to fail.' For example: 'Eu reprovei na prova de história' (I failed the history test). It is the opposite of 'passar' or 'aprovar'.
- Reprovar is the standard Portuguese verb for failing an exam or a school year.
- It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate for beginners.
- Beyond school, it means to reject a law, a project, or a formal proposal.
- It can also express moral disapproval of someone's behavior or choices.
Preposition Power
Always remember 'reprovar EM'. It's a common mistake to omit the 'em' when talking about subjects.
Regional Slang
If you are in Lisbon, say 'chumbar'. If you are in São Paulo, say 'bombar'. It makes you sound local.
Antonym Pairing
Learn 'reprovar' and 'aprovar' together. They are the 'yes/no' of the academic world.
Formal Contexts
In essays, use 'reprovação' to describe the phenomenon of failing. It sounds more analytical.
Ejemplo
Ele tem medo de reprovar na disciplina de matemática.
Contenido relacionado
Gramática relacionada
Más palabras de academic
a despeito de
A2A pesar de; pese a. Es una locución prepositiva que indica concesión, similar a 'apesar de' pero más formal.
a fim
A2Locución que significa 'a fin de' o 'para'. Informalmente, significa 'tener ganas de' o 'estar interesado'.
a saber
A2A saber; es decir.
a título de exemplo
A2Una expresión formal que significa 'a modo de ejemplo'. Se utiliza en contextos académicos o profesionales.
abordagem
A2Un enfoque es una forma de tratar algo. Se refiere al método o estrategia que se utiliza. (El enfoque es la manera de abordar una situación.)
abordar
B1Abordar un tema o a una persona.
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abreviatura
B1A shortened form of a word or phrase.
abstração
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstracto
B1Que existe en el pensamiento o como una idea, pero que no tiene una existencia física o concreta.
