avesso
avesso در ۳۰ ثانیه
- Means 'inside out' or 'the wrong side' physically.
- Means 'averse to' or 'opposed to' psychologically.
- Requires the preposition 'a' when describing a person's dislike.
- Commonly used in the phrase 'do avesso' for clothing errors.
The Portuguese word avesso is a versatile and nuanced term that primarily functions as an adjective, though it frequently appears as a noun. At its core, it describes something that is the opposite, the reverse, or the 'wrong side' of a surface. However, for an English speaker, the most intriguing usage is its psychological application: describing a person who has a deep-seated dislike, reluctance, or opposition toward something. When you say someone is avesso a something, you are saying they are 'averse' to it. It is not just a mild dislike; it implies a natural or structural inclination to avoid or oppose that specific thing. This word is essential for B1 learners because it allows for more sophisticated descriptions of personality and preferences beyond simple verbs like 'gostar' or 'odiar'.
- Literal Meaning
- The physical reverse side of a fabric or object. For example, the side of a shirt where the seams are visible is the 'lado avesso'.
Ele sempre foi avesso a grandes aglomerações e prefere ficar em casa.
- Psychological Meaning
- Used with the preposition 'a', it indicates a strong aversion or resistance to an idea, behavior, or situation. It is common in professional and personal contexts to describe temperaments.
In everyday Brazilian and Portuguese life, you will hear this word in two very different scenarios. First, in the world of fashion and household chores, where someone might accidentally put on a sweater 'pelo avesso' (inside out). Second, in intellectual or personality-driven conversations. If a politician is 'avesso a críticas', they cannot handle feedback. If a scientist is 'avesso a dogmas', they are open-minded and skeptical. Understanding 'avesso' requires recognizing that it deals with the concept of 'the other side'—whether that is the other side of a piece of cloth or the side of a person that stands in opposition to a trend or habit.
Você vestiu a camiseta do avesso; a etiqueta está aparecendo na frente.
- Idiomatic Strength
- The expression 'virar do avesso' means to turn something inside out or upside down, often used metaphorically to describe a total transformation or a state of chaos.
A notícia virou a vida dela do avesso em apenas um dia.
Mastering the use of avesso involves understanding its grammatical flexibility. As an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies when it means 'opposite' or 'reverse', although in the sense of 'averse', it is most commonly used as a predicative adjective linked to a person. When you use it to describe a person's disposition, the structure is usually: [Subject] + [Verb Ser/Estar] + [Avesso/a/os/as] + [Preposition A] + [Noun/Infinitive]. This structure allows you to describe complex human traits with precision.
- Describing Personality
- 'Ela é avessa a formalidades.' (She is averse to formalities). Notice the feminine form 'avessa' because the subject 'ela' is feminine.
Muitos investidores são avessos ao risco em tempos de incerteza econômica.
- Physical Orientation
- When talking about clothes or physical objects, we often use the prepositional phrases 'do avesso' or 'pelo avesso'. 'O casaco está do avesso' (The coat is inside out).
Another sophisticated use of 'avesso' is in the phrase 'pelo avesso', which can mean 'thoroughly' or 'from the inside out' when used with verbs of searching or knowing. 'Eu conheço esta cidade pelo avesso' means 'I know this city inside out'. This demonstrates the word's transition from a physical description to a metaphorical one indicating deep familiarity. Furthermore, in literary contexts, 'o avesso' can represent the hidden side of a story or character—the part that isn't shown to the public. This makes it a powerful tool for analysis and storytelling.
O detetive revirou o quarto do avesso procurando por pistas.
- Abstract Opposition
- 'O resultado foi o avesso do que esperávamos.' (The result was the opposite of what we expected). Here, 'o avesso' acts as a noun meaning 'the total opposite'.
Ele é um homem avesso a tecnologias modernas; nem sequer tem um celular.
The word avesso is common across the Lusophone world, appearing in newspapers, literature, and daily conversation. In professional settings, particularly in finance or psychology, you will hear it used to describe attitudes. A financial advisor might ask a client if they are 'avesso ao risco' (risk-averse) before suggesting a portfolio. In social psychology, one might discuss why certain groups are 'avessos a mudanças sociais'. This formal-leaning usage is a staple of editorial writing and serious debate.
Na entrevista, o autor se mostrou avesso a falar sobre sua vida pessoal.
In a domestic setting, the word is much more literal. Parents frequently tell children: 'Você vestiu a meia do avesso!' (You put your sock on inside out!). In Brazil, the expression 'virar do avesso' is used extensively in journalism to describe major upheavals. For instance, 'A pandemia virou o setor de turismo do avesso' (The pandemic turned the tourism sector upside down). This versatility—from the mundane act of dressing to the complex world of global economics—is what makes 'avesso' such a high-value word for learners.
- News & Media
- Often used to describe public figures who avoid the spotlight: 'O bilionário é avesso a holofotes'.
A nova política econômica está deixando os empresários avessos a novos investimentos.
You will also find 'avesso' in the titles of books and songs. The famous Brazilian writer Machado de Assis often explored the 'avesso' of human nature—the hidden motives and contradictions. In music, 'do avesso' might describe a heart turned upside down by love. Whether you are reading a high-brow literary critique or just making sure your T-shirt isn't inside out, 'avesso' is the word you need. It bridges the gap between the physical world and the internal world of feelings and attitudes.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with avesso is forgetting that it functions as an adjective and must agree in gender and number. Because the English word 'averse' is invariable, learners often say 'Eles são avesso' instead of the correct 'Eles são avessos'. Always check the subject you are describing. If you are talking about a group of women who dislike something, they are 'avessas'.
- Gender Agreement
- Incorrect: 'Ela é avesso à carne.' Correct: 'Ela é avessa à carne.' (She is averse to meat).
As crianças são avessas a comer vegetais verdes.
Another common pitfall involves the preposition. 'Avesso' almost always takes the preposition 'a'. English speakers sometimes try to use 'de' (of) or 'com' (with), influenced by phrases like 'dislike of' or 'unhappy with'. Remember: avesso a. This means you must also be careful with contractions. If you are averse to 'o barulho' (the noise), you are 'avesso ao barulho'. If you are averse to 'a confusão' (the confusion), you are 'avesso à confusão' (using the crase).
- Preposition Errors
- Avoid saying 'avesso de' when you mean 'averse to'. Use 'avesso a'.
Finally, learners sometimes confuse the noun 'o avesso' with the adjective. In the phrase 'do avesso', 'avesso' is a noun. You don't change it to 'do avessa' even if the object is feminine. For example, 'A blusa está do avesso' (The blouse is inside out). Here, 'do avesso' is a fixed adverbial phrase. Only change the ending when 'avesso' is working as an adjective directly describing a person's nature or a specific side of an object.
Não diga 'a calça está da avessa'; o correto é 'a calça está do avesso'.
If you find yourself using avesso too often, or if it feels too formal for the situation, there are several alternatives depending on the context. If you are talking about physical opposites, contrário is the most common substitute. If you are talking about a personal dislike, words like relutante (reluctant) or contrário (against) can work, though they carry slightly different weights.
- Avesso vs. Contrário
- 'Contrário' is more general. 'Avesso' implies a deeper, almost structural opposition or a physical 'inside-out' state. You can be 'contrário a uma ideia' (against an idea), but 'avesso a uma ideia' suggests it goes against your very nature.
Ele é contrário ao projeto, mas não é totalmente avesso a negociar.
- Avesso vs. Hostil
- 'Hostil' (hostile) is much stronger and implies aggression. 'Avesso' is more about avoidance and internal dislike than outward aggression.
In formal writing, you might use refratário. This is a high-level academic or technical word meaning 'resistant to' or 'unresponsive'. For example, 'O paciente é refratário ao tratamento' (The patient is resistant to treatment). While 'avesso' is common at B1/B2 levels, 'refratário' is firmly C1/C2. Another option is desfavorável, which means 'unfavorable', used more for conditions or opinions than personal temperaments. Choosing the right synonym depends on whether you want to emphasize the physical flip, the logical opposite, or the emotional resistance.
Ela é refratária a qualquer tipo de conselho paternalista.
- Opposite: Direito
- The antonym of 'avesso' (the wrong side) is 'direito' (the right side/front side). 'Vire a camisa para o lado direito'.
چقدر رسمی است؟
نکته جالب
The English word 'adverse' and 'averse' both come from the same Latin root as 'avesso', explaining why they share similar meanings in both languages.
راهنمای تلفظ
- Pronouncing the final 'o' as a hard 'O' instead of a soft 'u'.
- Stress on the first syllable (AH-vesso).
- Confusing the 'v' sound with a 'b' sound (common for Spanish speakers).
- Making the 'ss' sound like a 'z'. It should be a sharp 's' sound.
- Not distinguishing the open 'e' sound (vesso) from a closed one.
سطح دشواری
Easy to recognize in context, especially with clothing or the preposition 'a'.
Requires remembering gender agreement and the correct preposition 'a'.
The 'v' and open 'e' followed by 'ss' can be tricky for some learners.
Distinctive sound, usually clear in speech.
بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟
پیشنیازها
بعداً یاد بگیرید
پیشرفته
مثالها بر اساس سطح
A sua blusa está do avesso.
Your blouse is inside out.
'Do avesso' is a fixed phrase for 'inside out'.
O lado avesso do tecido é azul.
The wrong side of the fabric is blue.
'Avesso' here is an adjective modifying 'lado'.
Não use a meia do avesso.
Don't wear the sock inside out.
Simple imperative sentence.
Este casaco tem um avesso macio.
This coat has a soft lining/inside.
'Avesso' is used as a noun here.
O avesso é feio.
The inside-out part is ugly.
Simple noun usage.
Vire a roupa do avesso para lavar.
Turn the clothes inside out to wash.
Common household instruction.
A etiqueta está no avesso.
The tag is on the inside.
Locative use.
O papel tem um lado avesso?
Does the paper have a reverse side?
Asking about physical properties.
Ele virou o bolso do avesso.
He turned the pocket inside out.
Action verb 'virar' + 'do avesso'.
O avesso da jaqueta é de couro.
The inside of the jacket is made of leather.
Noun usage with a description.
Eu sempre visto a camisa do avesso.
I always put the shirt on inside out.
Habitual action.
O gato virou a casa do avesso.
The cat turned the house upside down.
Idiomatic use for 'making a mess'.
O lado avesso é mais escuro.
The reverse side is darker.
Comparative adjective.
Ela prefere o avesso do tapete.
She prefers the reverse side of the rug.
Preference with noun.
O menino está com o boné do avesso.
The boy has his cap on inside out/backwards (context dependent).
'Estar com' + object + 'do avesso'.
Procurei a chave e virei a bolsa do avesso.
I looked for the key and turned the bag inside out.
Describing a search.
Ele é um homem avesso a mudanças.
He is a man averse to changes.
Adjective agreement with 'homem'. Preposition 'a'.
Ela sempre foi avessa a multidões.
She has always been averse to crowds.
Feminine agreement 'avessa'.
Somos avessos a esse tipo de comportamento.
We are averse to this type of behavior.
Plural agreement 'avessos'.
Eu conheço este bairro pelo avesso.
I know this neighborhood inside out.
Idiom for deep knowledge.
O político é avesso a críticas públicas.
The politician is averse to public criticism.
Usage in a social/professional context.
Muitas pessoas são avessas à tecnologia.
Many people are averse to technology.
Crase 'à' because 'tecnologia' is feminine.
O resultado foi o avesso do esperado.
The result was the opposite of what was expected.
'O avesso' as 'the opposite'.
Ela é avessa a formalidades desnecessárias.
She is averse to unnecessary formalities.
Describing personality traits.
O investidor tornou-se avesso ao risco após a crise.
The investor became risk-averse after the crisis.
Financial context: 'avesso ao risco'.
A notícia virou a vida dela do avesso.
The news turned her life upside down.
Idiom for total life change.
Eles são profundamente avessos a qualquer intervenção.
They are deeply averse to any intervention.
Adverb 'profundamente' modifying the adjective.
O avesso da medalha é sempre mais sombrio.
The flip side of the coin is always darker.
Metaphorical use of 'avesso' as the hidden side.
Ela se mostrou avessa à proposta apresentada.
She showed herself to be averse to the proposal presented.
Pronominal verb 'mostrar-se'.
O autor é avesso a holofotes e prefere o anonimato.
The author is averse to the spotlight and prefers anonymity.
Describing a public figure's temperament.
Ele conhece o sistema pelo avesso.
He knows the system inside out.
Metaphor for expertise.
O tecido foi cortado pelo avesso por engano.
The fabric was cut on the wrong side by mistake.
Passive voice with physical description.
A sociedade contemporânea parece avessa à reflexão profunda.
Contemporary society seems averse to deep reflection.
Sociological observation.
O romance explora o avesso da alma humana.
The novel explores the reverse side (dark side) of the human soul.
Literary/Metaphysical use.
O diretor é avesso a concessões artísticas.
The director is averse to artistic concessions.
Professional integrity/stubbornness.
Reviraram o passado do réu do avesso durante o julgamento.
They turned the defendant's past inside out during the trial.
Idiom for intense scrutiny.
O avesso do direito é a negação da justiça.
The opposite of right is the negation of justice.
Abstract philosophical statement.
Ela é avessa a sentimentalismos baratos.
She is averse to cheap sentimentality.
Describing emotional boundaries.
O projeto foi construído sobre o avesso da lógica tradicional.
The project was built on the reverse of traditional logic.
Describing innovative/strange concepts.
Sentia-se um estranho, como se vivesse o mundo pelo avesso.
He felt like a stranger, as if he lived the world inside out.
Existential description.
A dialética hegeliana propõe que cada tese contém o seu avesso.
Hegelian dialectics proposes that every thesis contains its opposite.
High-level philosophical usage.
O texto é uma tapeçaria onde o avesso é tão revelador quanto o direito.
The text is a tapestry where the reverse is as revealing as the front.
Metaphor for literary analysis.
Ele era um ser paradoxal, avesso à própria felicidade.
He was a paradoxical being, averse to his own happiness.
Psychological complexity.
A revolução virou as estruturas seculares do país do avesso.
The revolution turned the country's secular structures inside out.
Describing macro-level upheaval.
O avesso do discurso oficial revela intenções escusas.
The reverse of the official discourse reveals hidden intentions.
Political critique.
O artista buscava retratar o avesso do cotidiano.
The artist sought to portray the reverse side of everyday life.
Artistic intent.
Incapaz de aceitar a realidade, ele a interpretava pelo avesso.
Incapable of accepting reality, he interpreted it the wrong way around.
Cognitive distortion.
A obra é o avesso de tudo o que ele pregara anteriormente.
The work is the opposite of everything he had preached previously.
Describing ideological shifts.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
— To be inside out (clothing) or in a state of chaos.
Hoje tudo na minha vida parece estar do avesso.
— The front and back sides of a material.
É difícil distinguir o lado direito e o avesso deste pano.
— Someone who is generally cynical or opposed to everything.
Ele anda tão amargo que está avesso a tudo.
— A phrase emphasizing total confusion or a meta-reversal.
Sua explicação foi o avesso do avesso; não entendi nada.
— An upside-down world where things aren't as they should be.
Parece que vivemos em um mundo do avesso.
— Unwilling to talk or negotiate.
O governo mostrou-se avesso ao diálogo com os sindicatos.
— To completely change one's life, usually due to a major event.
Ganhar na loteria virou a vida dele do avesso.
اصطلاحات و عبارات
— To turn something inside out, search thoroughly, or cause great disorder.
A polícia virou o esconderijo do avesso.
Informal/Neutral— To have complete and detailed knowledge of something.
O mecânico conhece aquele motor pelo avesso.
Informal— The negative side of something that otherwise seems good.
A fama é ótima, mas o avesso da medalha é a falta de privacidade.
Neutral— To be very angry or make a grimace.
Ela virou a cara do avesso quando viu a bagunça.
Slang/Informal— Someone who avoids public attention or clarity.
É um negócio obscuro, avesso à luz.
Literary— To live in a way that is contrary to social norms or logic.
Ele sempre gostou de viver do avesso, dormindo de dia e trabalhando à noite.
Informal— To revolutionize or cause massive change.
Essa invenção vai pôr o mundo do avesso.
Neutral— Something completely illogical.
O que você está propondo é o avesso da razão.
Formalخانواده کلمه
اسمها
فعلها
صفتها
مرتبط
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'a-vesso' as 'a-verse'. If you are avesso to something, you are averse to it. If your shirt is 'do avesso', it's the 'averse' (opposite) side.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a T-shirt with the tag hanging out on the neck. That physical 'wrongness' is the 'avesso'. Now imagine that same feeling of 'wrongness' toward a social situation—that's being 'avesso a'.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Try to describe three things you are 'avesso a' and one time you wore something 'do avesso'.
ریشه کلمه
From the Latin 'adversus', which is the past participle of 'advertere' (to turn toward).
معنای اصلی: Originally meant 'turned toward' or 'opposite'.
Romance (Latin root).بافت فرهنگی
No major sensitivities, but calling someone 'avesso a tudo' can be a mild insult suggesting they are difficult or stubborn.
The English 'averse' is strictly psychological, whereas 'avesso' bridges the physical and psychological worlds.
تمرین در زندگی واقعی
موقعیتهای واقعی
Clothing
- do avesso
- lado avesso
- vire do avesso
- etiqueta no avesso
Personality
Summary
The word 'avesso' is your go-to term for describing both physical inversions (like a shirt inside out) and deep-seated personal aversions. Use 'do avesso' for the physical and 'avesso a' for the psychological. Example: 'Ele é avesso a regras' (He is averse to rules).
- Means 'inside out' or 'the wrong side' physically.
- Means 'averse to' or 'opposed to' psychologically.
- Requires the preposition 'a' when describing a person's dislike.
- Commonly used in the phrase 'do avesso' for clothing errors.
محتوای مرتبط
عبارات مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر emotions
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2متاثر یا لرزان. او از شنیدن این خبر بسیار متاثر شد.
abalar
A2تکان دادن یا به شدت تحت تأثیر قرار دادن. خبر مرگ او همه را تکان داد.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1به شکلی افسرده یا ناامیدانه. این قید برای توصیف رفتاری به کار میرود که نشاندهنده شکست یا خستگی عمیق روحی است.
abatido
A2او بعد از شنیدن خبر بسیار افسرده و درهمشکسته به نظر میرسد.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2آشکارا؛ به گونهای که پنهان نباشد.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.