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A2 verb 11 min de lecture

atormentar

Exemples atormentar en 30 secondes
Explication atormentar in your Level:
At the A1 level, the word 'atormentar' is quite advanced, but you might encounter it in simple stories or fairy tales. Think of it as a very strong way to say 'to bother' or 'to make someone sad for a long time'. For a beginner, it's best to understand it as 'to make someone feel very bad'. You might use it to describe a mosquito that won't let you sleep or a very loud noise. It's a regular '-ar' verb, so it follows the same rules as 'falar' or 'estudar'. While you don't need to use it in every conversation, knowing it helps you understand when a situation is more than just a little annoying. Focus on the physical aspect first—things that 'atormentam' your senses, like heat or noise.
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At the A2 level, you can begin to use 'atormentar' to describe persistent problems. You are likely moving beyond simple physical descriptions and starting to talk about feelings. If a homework assignment is very difficult and you can't stop thinking about it, you might say it 'atormenta' you. You should also recognize the reflexive form 'atormentar-se' (to torment oneself), which is common when talking about worries. For example, 'Não se atormente com isso' (Don't worry/torment yourself with that). This is a great level to start noticing how the word appears in songs or simple news clips about weather (like a drought tormenting a region). It adds more 'color' to your vocabulary than just using 'irritar' or 'preocupar'.
By B1, you should be comfortable using 'atormentar' in various tenses, especially the imperfect ('atormentava') and the present perfect ('tem atormentado'). You can use it to describe more complex social and emotional situations. For instance, you might discuss how a difficult decision is tormenting a friend or how a recurring dream torments your sleep. You should also understand the difference between 'atormentar' and synonyms like 'incomodar' (to bother) or 'afligir' (to afflict). At this level, you can use the word to add emphasis to your descriptions of stress or persistent issues in your life or society. It's a useful word for writing short essays about personal challenges or social problems.
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At the B2 level, 'atormentar' becomes a tool for nuanced expression. You can use it to talk about abstract concepts like guilt, doubt, or existential dread. You should be able to use it in the passive voice—'Ele é atormentado por memórias da infância' (He is tormented by childhood memories)—and understand the stylistic impact it has. In discussions about literature or film, you might use 'atormentar' to describe the motivation of a character. You should also be aware of the word's weight; using it for something trivial might be seen as ironic or hyperbolic. Your ability to distinguish between 'atormentar' and more formal terms like 'supliciar' or 'vexar' will show a higher level of language proficiency.
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At the C1 level, you should have a deep understanding of the historical and literary connotations of 'atormentar'. You can use it in academic or formal writing to describe the impact of systemic issues, such as 'a crise econômica que atormenta o país' (the economic crisis tormenting the country). You are expected to use the word with precision, choosing it specifically when you want to convey a sense of persistent, grinding suffering. You should also be familiar with idiomatic expressions and the word's use in various Lusophone cultures (e.g., how it might be used slightly differently in Brazil vs. Portugal vs. Angola). Your use of the word should feel natural and well-integrated into complex sentence structures, including those with multiple clauses and sophisticated grammar.
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At the C2 level, 'atormentar' is a word you use with complete mastery and stylistic flair. You can use it to engage in deep philosophical discussions about the human condition, perhaps referencing great Lusophone thinkers or poets. You understand the subtle shifts in meaning when the word is used in legal, medical, or poetic contexts. You might use it to create vivid imagery in your own writing, playing with its Latin roots or its relationship to other words in the same family. At this level, you can also identify and use the word in very specific registers, such as archaic or highly technical language, and you can appreciate the irony or subversion when it is used in unexpected ways.
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Exemples

atormentar en 30 secondes

  • Atormentar means to torment or vex, implying persistent and significant suffering, whether mental or physical.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts in Portuguese.
  • Commonly used to describe the effect of guilt, doubt, noise, or persistent pests on a person.
  • The reflexive form 'atormentar-se' is used when someone is the cause of their own mental distress.

The Portuguese verb atormentar is a powerful and emotive term that translates most directly to 'to torment' or 'to vex' in English. It carries a heavy weight, often implying a persistent, grinding form of suffering that can be either physical or, more frequently in modern usage, psychological. When you use atormentar, you are not just describing a minor annoyance; you are describing something that eats away at a person's peace of mind, spirit, or physical well-being. It is derived from the Latin tormentum, which referred to an engine of war or an instrument of torture, and that historical intensity remains embedded in its DNA.

Emotional Context
In everyday Portuguese, people use this word to describe the persistent nagging of a guilty conscience, the haunting memories of a past mistake, or the relentless worry about the future. For example, 'A culpa atormenta o seu sono' (Guilt torments his sleep) suggests a deep, internal struggle that prevents rest.
Physical Application
While less common than its psychological counterpart, it can refer to physical pain that is constant and agonizing. A chronic toothache or a severe migraine might be described as something that 'atormenta' the sufferer, emphasizing the duration and the difficulty of escaping the pain.
Interpersonal Dynamics
It can also be used to describe someone who is being intentionally bothersome or cruel. A younger sibling might 'atormentar' an older one with constant questions, or a bully might 'atormentar' their victim. In these cases, it implies a level of cruelty or persistence that goes beyond mere 'chatear' (to annoy).

As dúvidas sobre o futuro continuam a atormentar a mente do jovem estudante.

Translation: Doubts about the future continue to torment the young student's mind.

The word is versatile across registers. You will find it in high literature, such as the works of Fernando Pessoa, where existential dread 'atormenta' the soul, but you will also hear it in colloquial settings. If someone is being particularly annoying, a parent might say, 'Pare de atormentar o seu irmão!' (Stop tormenting your brother!). It bridges the gap between the profound and the mundane by focusing on the repetitive nature of the distress.

O barulho da obra ao lado começou a atormentar os vizinhos logo cedo.

Translation: The noise from the construction next door began to torment the neighbors early on.

In a cultural sense, 'atormentar' is often linked to the Portuguese concept of introspection. Because Portuguese culture values deep emotional expression (think of Fado music), words like 'atormentar' are used frequently to articulate the internal conflicts of the heart and mind. It is a word that demands empathy from the listener, as it signals a state of genuine distress.

Aquela lembrança triste não parava de atormentá-la durante a noite.

Translation: That sad memory would not stop tormenting her during the night.

Não deixe que esses pequenos problemas venham atormentar a sua paz.

Translation: Do not let these small problems come to torment your peace.

Using atormentar correctly involves understanding its conjugation as a regular -ar verb and its role as a transitive verb. This means it usually takes a direct object—the person or thing being tormented. However, it can also be used pronominally (atormentar-se) when someone is tormenting themselves with thoughts or worries.

Direct Object Usage
When you torment someone or something, the structure is: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object]. Example: 'O mosquito atormentava o meu sono' (The mosquito was tormenting my sleep). Here, 'o meu sono' is what is being tormented.
Pronominal Form (Atormentar-se)
When the subject is the victim of their own thoughts, we use the reflexive form. Example: 'Ela se atormenta com a possibilidade de falhar' (She torments herself with the possibility of failing). This emphasizes internal conflict.
Passive Voice
It is common to see 'atormentar' in the passive voice to describe a state of being. Example: 'Ele vive atormentado pelo passado' (He lives tormented by the past). Here, 'atormentado' acts almost like an adjective.

Os credores não paravam de atormentar o empresário falido.

Translation: The creditors would not stop tormenting the bankrupt businessman.

In terms of tense, atormentar is often used in the imperfect tense (atormentava) because torment is usually an ongoing process in the past. If you use the preterite (atormentou), it implies a specific instance of torment that has ended. The future tense and conditional are used for hypothetical scenarios: 'Isso o atormentaria para sempre' (That would torment him forever).

Se você mentir, a sua consciência vai te atormentar.

Translation: If you lie, your conscience will torment you.

Nós não queremos atormentar ninguém com as nossas reclamações.

Translation: We do not want to torment anyone with our complaints.

Finally, consider the use of the gerund (atormentando) in Brazil or the 'a + infinitive' (a atormentar) in Portugal to describe an action currently in progress. 'Ele está me atormentando' (He is tormenting me) is a very common way to express current frustration with someone's behavior.

Por que você continua a me atormentar com essas perguntas?

Translation: Why do you continue to torment me with these questions?

You will encounter atormentar in a variety of real-world contexts, ranging from the dramatic to the everyday. Understanding these contexts helps you grasp the word's 'flavor' beyond a dictionary definition. It is a word that carries significant emotional resonance in Lusophone cultures.

In Literature and Song
Portuguese literature is famous for its focus on 'saudade' and existential angst. Authors like Eça de Queirós often use 'atormentar' to describe the inner lives of characters caught in social or romantic dilemmas. In Fado music, lyrics frequently speak of a 'corpo atormentado' (tormented body) or 'alma atormentada' (tormented soul), reflecting the music's themes of fate and sorrow.
In News and Media
Journalists use the word when reporting on persistent issues. You might read headlines like 'A seca continua a atormentar os agricultores' (The drought continues to torment farmers). Here, the word highlights the relentless and damaging nature of the environmental crisis.
In Family and Social Settings
In a more informal setting, the word is used to describe persistent pests or annoying behaviors. If a group of friends is teasing one person relentlessly, that person might say, 'Parem de me atormentar!' (Stop tormenting me!). It's a way to signal that the teasing has gone too far.

Aquelas imagens da guerra não param de atormentar o público.

Translation: Those images of the war do not stop tormenting the public.

You will also hear it in psychological contexts. Therapists and patients might use 'atormentar' to describe intrusive thoughts or obsessive worries. It is a key word for expressing mental health struggles in a way that feels visceral and urgent. In religious contexts, it can also refer to the 'torment' of the soul or the actions of malevolent spirits, though this is less common in secular modern life.

A ideia de perder o emprego começou a atormentá-lo dia e noite.

Translation: The idea of losing his job began to torment him day and night.

Finally, in sports, commentators might say a particular player is 'atormentando a defesa adversária' (tormenting the opposing defense). This means the player is so skilled and persistent that the defenders cannot find a way to stop them, creating a state of constant 'torment' for the other team.

O atacante não parou de atormentar os zagueiros durante todo o jogo.

Translation: The forward didn't stop tormenting the defenders during the whole game.

While atormentar is a relatively straightforward verb, English speakers and even native Portuguese speakers sometimes stumble in its application. The most common errors involve using it for minor inconveniences or confusing it with similar-sounding words.

Overuse for Minor Issues
A common mistake for learners is using 'atormentar' when 'chatear' (to annoy) or 'incomodar' (to bother) is more appropriate. Saying 'O café frio me atormenta' (The cold coffee torments me) sounds overly dramatic and almost comical unless you are being intentionally hyperbolic.
Confusion with 'Atordoar'
Learners often confuse 'atormentar' (to torment) with 'atordoar' (to stun or daze). While both involve a negative impact on the mind, 'atordoar' is about confusion or physical dizziness, whereas 'atormentar' is about suffering and persistence.
Incorrect Preposition Use
When using the reflexive 'atormentar-se', some learners forget the preposition 'com' (with) or 'por' (by). Correct: 'Ele se atormenta COM o passado'. Incorrect: 'Ele se atormenta o passado'.

Cuidado para não confundir atormentar com apenas incomodar.

Translation: Be careful not to confuse 'torment' with just 'bother'.

Another mistake is failing to conjugate it correctly in the third person plural of the preterite. Because it ends in '-ar', it follows the pattern 'atormentaram'. Some learners might accidentally use a Spanish-influenced ending like 'atormentaron', which is incorrect in Portuguese. Also, pay attention to the placement of the reflexive pronoun 'se'—in formal European Portuguese, it follows the verb ('atormentar-se'), but in Brazilian Portuguese, it often precedes it ('se atormentar').

Não se atormente por coisas que você não pode mudar.

Translation: Do not torment yourself over things you cannot change.

Finally, remember that 'atormentar' is a transitive verb. You don't 'atormentar para alguém'; you 'atormenta alguém'. Keeping the object direct is key to sounding natural. If you find yourself wanting to say 'this is tormenting to me', the Portuguese equivalent would be 'isso está me atormentando' or 'isso atormenta-me'.

A pergunta errada pode atormentar um filósofo por anos.

Translation: The wrong question can torment a philosopher for years.

Portuguese is a rich language with many synonyms for atormentar, each carrying a slightly different nuance. Choosing the right word depends on the intensity of the situation and whether the suffering is physical, mental, or social.

Torturar vs. Atormentar
'Torturar' is more literal and extreme. It often refers to deliberate physical torture or extreme psychological cruelty. 'Atormentar' is slightly broader and can include persistent, non-deliberate suffering like a guilty conscience.
Afligir vs. Atormentar
'Afligir' is more formal and focuses on the sadness or distress caused. It is often used in religious or literary contexts. 'Atormentar' is more active and suggests a more aggressive form of distress.
Importunar vs. Atormentar
'Importunar' is the best choice for social annoyance. It means to pester or bother someone. While 'atormentar' can be used for a sibling's teasing, 'importunar' is the standard polite way to describe being bothered.

Embora atormentar seja forte, às vezes 'amoitar' ou 'amochar' são usados em gírias regionais.

Translation: Although 'torment' is strong, sometimes regional slangs are used instead.

In Brazil, you might hear 'encher o saco' (literally: to fill the bag) as a very common, informal alternative to 'atormentar' when someone is being annoying. However, 'encher o saco' is slang and should be avoided in formal writing or professional settings. Another alternative is 'martirizar', which implies making someone a martyr or causing them long-term, saint-like suffering.

A saudade pode atormentar mais do que a própria solidão.

Translation: Longing can torment more than loneliness itself.

For physical pain, 'moer' (to grind) is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a pain that torments the body. 'Essa dor nas costas está me moendo' (This back pain is grinding/tormenting me). This emphasizes the physical toll of the suffering. In contrast, 'vituperar' is a very formal synonym that focuses on verbal abuse or torment through harsh words.

O remorso é um sentimento que costuma atormentar os homens justos.

Translation: Remorse is a feeling that usually torments just men.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɐ.tuɾ.mẽ.ˈtaɾ/
US /a.toɾ.mẽ.ˈtaʁ/
The stress is on the last syllable: 'tar'.
Erreurs fréquentes
  • Pronouncing the nasal 'en' as a clear English 'en' instead of a nasal vowel.
  • Stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., a-TOR-men-tar).
  • Confusing the 'o' sound in 'tor' with a closed 'u' in some regions.
  • Failing to flap the 'r' in European Portuguese.
  • Making the final 'r' too hard like an America
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Exemples par niveau

1

O barulho me atormenta.

The noise torments me.

Present tense, simple direct object.

2

O mosquito atormenta o bebê.

The mosquito torments the baby.

Subject-Verb-Object structure.

3

O calor atormenta a cidade.

The heat torments the city.

Metaphorical use for weather.

4

Não me atormente agora.

Don't torment me now.

Imperative negative with object pronoun.

5

A fome atormenta o cão.

Hunger torments the dog.

Abstract noun as subject.

6

Eles atormentam o gato.

They torment the cat.

Third person plural present.

7

A luz forte me atormenta.

The bright light torments me.

Sensory annoyance.

8

Por que você me atormenta?

Why do you torment me?

Interrogative sentence.

1

A dúvida começou a atormentar Maria.

Doubt began to torment Maria.

Infinitive after 'começou a'.

2

Não se atormente com isso.

Don't torment yourself with that.

Reflexive imperative.

3

O passado atormentava o velho homem.

The past used to torment the old man.

Imperfect tense for ongoing state.

4

As dívidas atormentam a família.

The debts torment the family.

Plural subject and verb.

5

Ele se atormenta por nada.

He torments himself for nothing.

Reflexive present tense.

6

A sede atormentava os viajantes.

Thirst was tormenting the travelers.

Imperfect tense.

7

Aquelas vozes me atormentam.

Those voices torment me.

Demonstrative pronoun with plural subject.

8

O medo pode atormentar qualquer um.

Fear can torment anyone.

Modal verb 'pode' with infinitive.

1

A culpa tem atormentado a sua consciência.

Guilt has been tormenting his conscience.

Present perfect continuous equivalent.

2

Ela vive atormentada por lembranças tristes.

She lives tormented by sad memories.

Passive participle used as an adjective.

3

Não deixe que o estresse te atormente.

Don't let stress torment you.

Subjunctive mood after 'deixe que'.

4

O mistério atormentou os detetives por meses.

The mystery tormented the detectives for months.

Preterite tense for a completed period.

5

É triste ver como a doença o atormenta.

It's sad to see how the disease torments him.

Impersonal expression 'É triste ver'.

6

A ideia de falhar me atormenta constantemente.

The idea of failing torments me constantly.

Adverb 'constantemente' modifying the verb.

7

Eles se atormentam com problemas imaginários.

They torment themselves with imaginary problems.

Reflexive with 'com'.

8

O vento forte atormentava as árvores da costa.

The strong wind was tormenting the trees on the coast.

Personification of nature.

1

O remorso do crime começou a atormentá-lo severamente.

The remorse of the crime began to torment him severely.

Enclitic pronoun with infinitive.

2

Sua ausência atormenta o meu coração todos os dias.

Your absence torments my heart every day.

Poetic subject 'Sua ausência'.

3

A injustiça social atormenta as mentes mais brilhantes.

Social injustice torments the most brilliant minds.

Abstract social concept as subject.

4

Ele foi atormentado por pesadelos durante toda a noite.

He was tormented by nightmares all night long.

Passive voice with 'foi'.

5

Se eu soubesse, isso não me atormentaria tanto.

If I had known, this wouldn't torment me so much.

Conditional mood.

6

A incerteza política atormenta o mercado financeiro.

Political uncertainty torments the financial market.

Economic context.

7

Ela se atormentava revisando cada detalhe do erro.

She tormented herself by reviewing every detail of the error.

Reflexive with gerund for method.

8

O silêncio da casa vazia o atormentava.

The silence of the empty house tormented him.

Noun phrase as subject.

1

A dicotomia entre o dever e o desejo atormentava o protagonista.

The dichotomy between duty and desire tormented the protagonist.

Sophisticated literary subject.

2

As questões existenciais que atormentam a humanidade são eternas.

The existential questions that torment humanity are eternal.

Relative clause with 'que'.

3

O autor descreve como a solidão atormenta a alma moderna.

The author describes how loneliness torments the modern soul.

Indirect question/description.

4

Não convém atormentar a paciência alheia com futilidades.

It is not fitting to torment others' patience with futilities.

Formal expression 'Não convém'.

5

A escassez de recursos atormenta a gestão do hospital.

The scarcity of resources torments the hospital's management.

Professional/Administrative context.

6

Ele se via atormentado por um dilema ético sem solução.

He saw himself tormented by an ethical dilemma with no solution.

Reflexive 'ver-se' with participle.

7

A febre alta atormentou a criança durante a madrugada.

The high fever tormented the child during the early hours.

Medical context.

8

As sombras do passado insistem em atormentar o presente.

The shadows of the past insist on tormenting the present.

Personification and metaphor.

1

A inexorabilidade do tempo atormenta aqueles que buscam a imortalidade.

The inexorability of time torments those who seek immortality.

High-level abstract vocabulary.

2

O escrutínio público pode atormentar a vida privada de qualquer celebridade.

Public scrutiny can torment the private life of any celebrity.

Complex noun phrases.

3

Sua mente, atormentada por visões proféticas, não encontrava repouso.

His mind, tormented by prophetic visions, found no rest.

Appositive participle clause.

4

A maledicência alheia atormentava a honra daquela família.

Others' slander tormented that family's honor.

Archaic/Formal 'maledicência'.

5

O paradoxo de Fermi atormenta os astrônomos que buscam vida extraterrestre.

The Fermi paradox torments astronomers seeking extraterrestrial life.

Scientific/Philosophical reference.

6

Atormentar-se com o que poderia ter sido é um exercício de melancolia.

Tormenting oneself with what could have been is an exercise in melancholy.

Substantive infinitive as subject.

7

A dissonância cognitiva atormentava o espião dividido entre duas lealdades.

Cognitive dissonance tormented the spy divided between two loyalties.

Psychological terminology.

8

O espectro da guerra atormenta as fronteiras da Europa Oriental.

The specter of war torments the borders of Eastern Europe.

Geopolitical metaphor.

Collocations courantes

atormentar a alma
atormentar o juízo
atormentar a paciência
viver atormentado
atormentar o sono
atormentar a mente
atormentar os vizinhos
atormentar a defesa
atormentar o espírito
atormentar o coração

Phrases Courantes

Pare de me atormentar!

— Stop bothering or teasing me relentlessly.

Pare de me atormentar com essas piadas sem graça!

Isso me atormenta.

— This is causing me significant distress or worry.

A ideia de perdê-la me atormenta todos os dias.

Não se atormente.

— Don't worry or stress yourself out too much.

Não se atormente com coisas pequenas.

Atormentado pela culpa.

— Feeling severe remorse for something done wrong.

Ele vive atormentado pela culpa do acidente.

Atormentar o sossego.

— To disturb someone's peace and quiet.

Obras no prédio vizinho atormentam o sossego dos moradores.

Atormentar a vida de alguém.

— To make someone's life very difficult.

Aquele chefe atormenta a vida de todos os funcionários.

Pensamentos que atormentam.

— Intrusive or worrying thoughts.

Ela tem pensamentos que a atormentam à noite.

Atormentar com perguntas.

— To pester someone with constant questioning.

A criança atormentava a mãe com perguntas sobre o céu.

Atormentado pelo passado.

— Unable to move on from previous traumatic events.

O herói do filme é atormentado pelo passado.

Deixar de atormentar.

— To stop causing distress or bother.

Finalmente o barulho deixou de nos atormentar.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Atormentar o juízo de alguém"

— To drive someone crazy or make them lose their patience.

Essas crianças estão atormentando o meu juízo!

Informal
"Estar com o diabo no corpo para atormentar"

— To be in a mischievous or cruel mood, looking to bother others.

Hoje o João está com o diabo no corpo para atormentar os irmãos.

Informal/Regional
"Atormentar a moleira"

— To think too much about something or to bother someone's head.

Não atormente a moleira com esse problema insolúvel.

Colloquial
"Viver num tormento"

— To live in a state of constant suffering or anxiety.

Desde que perdeu o emprego, ele vive num tormento.

Neutral
"Fazer um tormento de um copo d'água"

— To make a huge deal out of a small problem (Variation of 'tempestade num copo d'água').

Não faça um tormento de um copo d'água por causa de um atraso.

Informal
"Atormentado pelas sete pragas"

— To be suffering from many problems at once (Biblical reference).

Parece que a empresa está sendo atormentada pelas sete pragas.

Figurative
"Atormentar a paciência de um santo"

— To be so annoying that even a very patient person would get angry.

Você atormentaria a paciência de um santo!

Common
"Alma atormentada"

— A person who is constantly restless or unhappy.

Ele é uma alma atormentada, nunca está em paz.

Literary/Dramatic
"Atormentar os miolos"

— To rack one's brains or bother someone's thinking process.

Parei de atormentar os miolos com essa charada.

Informal
"Tormento eterno"

— A problem or situation that never seems to end.

O trânsito nesta cidade é um tormento eterno.

Hyperbolic
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