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A2 verb #6,500 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

Contaminar

Top 6,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces Contaminar en 30 secondes

Explication Contaminar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should think of 'contaminar' as a more serious version of 'sujar' (to make dirty). While you might not use 'contaminar' in your very first conversations, you will see it on signs or in simple news clips about the environment. Imagine you have a glass of water and you put a drop of ink in it; the ink 'contaminates' the water. It is a regular verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'amar'. You can start by using it in simple sentences like 'A água está suja' (The water is dirty) and then upgrading to 'O lixo pode contaminar a água' (The trash can contaminate the water). Focus on the idea of things becoming 'bad' because they touched something 'bad'. It is an easy word for English speakers because it looks almost exactly like the English word 'contaminate'. Just remember the Portuguese pronunciation: con-ta-mi-NAR.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'contaminar' to talk about health and the environment more specifically. You should be able to use it in the present and past tenses. For example, 'Eu não quero me contaminar' (I don't want to get contaminated/infected). This is the level where you learn about basic hygiene and social responsibility. You might hear this word in a doctor's office or in a classroom. It's important to know that 'contaminar' usually needs an object—what is being contaminated? Is it the food? The air? The river? You should also learn the adjective 'contaminado' (contaminated). If a beach is 'contaminada', you cannot swim there. This level is about connecting the word to real-life situations like recycling and staying healthy. You are moving beyond just 'dirty' and starting to use more precise, adult vocabulary.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'contaminar' in both literal and figurative ways. You can describe how a bad mood 'contaminates' a room or how a good idea 'contaminates' (spreads to) a group of people. You should also start using different tenses, like the future and the conditional. 'Se nós não cuidarmos, vamos contaminar o planeta' (If we don't take care, we will contaminate the planet). At this level, you can also use the noun 'contaminação'. You might participate in discussions about the environment or health policy where this word is central. You understand the difference between 'poluir' and 'contaminar' and can choose the right one for the context. Your sentences should become more complex, using prepositions like 'com' or 'por' to explain how the contamination happened. This is where the word becomes a versatile tool in your linguistic toolkit.

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At the B2 level, you use 'contaminar' with nuance and precision. You can discuss 'contaminação cruzada' in a culinary context or 'contaminação de dados' in a technical context. You are able to use the passive voice naturally: 'A amostra foi contaminada acidentalmente' (The sample was contaminated accidentally). You also understand the legal and social implications of the word. In a debate, you might talk about how 'fake news' can 'contaminar' the political process. Your vocabulary includes related words like 'contaminante' and 'descontaminar'. You can read newspaper articles about industrial accidents and understand the specific ways 'contaminar' is used to describe the spread of toxins. You are no longer just translating from English; you are thinking in Portuguese and choosing 'contaminar' because it is the most accurate word for the specific type of impurity you are describing.

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At the C1 level, 'contaminar' is a word you use to express complex, abstract ideas. You might use it in academic writing to describe how one theory 'contaminates' another, or in a literary analysis to discuss how a character's past 'contaminates' their present. You are aware of rare synonyms like 'inquinar' or 'macular' and can explain why 'contaminar' is or isn't the best choice in a specific sentence. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it has evolved in different Portuguese-speaking cultures. You can handle high-level discussions on ethics, where 'contaminar' might refer to the corruption of values or the tainting of a reputation. Your use of the word is seamless, and you can play with its positive and negative figurative meanings to add flavor and depth to your speech and writing.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'contaminar'. You can use it in highly specialized fields, from microbiology to jurisprudence, with total accuracy. You might use it in a philosophical context to discuss the 'contamination' of pure reason or in a poetic sense to describe the 'contamination' of silence by a distant sound. You are sensitive to the rhythmic and stylistic effects of using 'contaminar' versus its synonyms in a long prose passage. You can identify and correct subtle misuses of the word by others, and you understand its use in various Portuguese dialects and regional variations. For you, 'contaminar' is not just a verb; it is a concept that you can manipulate to express the finest shades of meaning, whether you are writing a scientific paper, a legal brief, or a piece of creative fiction.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

Contaminar en 30 secondes

Contaminar means to make something impure or harmful by adding a bad substance. It is commonly used for environmental pollution and biological infections.
The word is a regular -ar verb in Portuguese, making it easy to conjugate. It is a direct cognate of the English word 'contaminate'.
Beyond physical pollution, it is used figuratively to describe the spread of ideas, moods, or social influences, both positive and negative.
Essential for discussing health, ecology, and science, it appears frequently in news reports, academic texts, and professional safety protocols.

The Portuguese verb contaminar is a direct cognate of the English word 'to contaminate'. At its most basic level, it refers to the process of making something impure, dirty, or dangerous by adding a substance that is harmful or unwanted. In the Portuguese-speaking world, this word is essential for discussing environmental issues, health, and even social influences. It belongs to the first conjugation (verbs ending in -ar) and is remarkably versatile in both literal and figurative contexts. Whether you are talking about a chemical spill in the Amazon or the way a negative attitude spreads through a group of friends, contaminar is your go-to term.

Literal Usage: This refers to physical pollution or infection. For example, 'A bactéria pode contaminar a comida' (The bacteria can contaminate the food). It is frequently used in scientific, medical, and environmental reports.
Figurative Usage: This describes the spread of ideas, emotions, or behaviors. For instance, 'O entusiasmo dela contaminou toda a equipe' (Her enthusiasm contaminated/infected the whole team). Note that in Portuguese, this figurative 'contamination' can be positive, like spreading joy.

Não podemos deixar que o lixo venha a contaminar a nossa reserva de água potável.

When using this word, it is important to understand the nuance between it and other similar verbs like poluir (to pollute). While they are often interchangeable, contaminar specifically implies the introduction of an external element that changes the nature of the original substance. In a medical context, it is often preferred when discussing the spread of viruses or bacteria in a laboratory or clinical setting. In Brazilian and Portuguese culture, environmental protection is a hot topic, making this word very common in the daily news cycle, especially concerning the protection of rivers and coastal areas.

Furthermore, the word carries a weight of responsibility. In legal and ethical discussions in Portuguese, finding out who is responsible for 'contaminating' a site involves complex investigations. The word is also used in the context of 'contaminação cruzada' (cross-contamination) in the culinary world, which is a vital concept for anyone working in or studying gastronomy in a Portuguese-speaking country. As you progress in your studies, you will see it paired with various prepositions, most commonly 'com' (with), to indicate the source of the impurity.

O vírus começou a contaminar a população local rapidamente.

Social Context: In social settings, one might say 'A corrupção contaminou as instituições', suggesting a deep-seated rot that has spread from one part to another.

In summary, contaminar is a high-frequency word that spans the gap between technical science and everyday emotional descriptions. It is a powerful tool for any learner looking to describe how things change—usually for the worse—when they come into contact with something else. By mastering this word, you unlock the ability to discuss ecology, health, and social dynamics with precision and clarity.

Using contaminar correctly requires understanding its grammatical structure and the prepositions that typically follow it. As a transitive verb, it usually takes a direct object—the thing being contaminated. However, it can also be used reflexively or in the passive voice. The most common pattern is [Subject] + [contaminar] + [Direct Object] + [Prepositional Phrase].

The 'Com' Pattern: We use 'com' to specify the agent of contamination. 'Eles contaminaram o solo com produtos químicos' (They contaminated the soil with chemicals).
The Passive Voice: In news reports, you will often see 'foi contaminado/a'. 'A água foi contaminada por óleo' (The water was contaminated by oil).

Cuidado para não contaminar a amostra durante o experimento.

When using the verb in a figurative sense, the structure remains the same but the meaning shifts to influence. For example, 'O medo contaminou a multidão' (Fear contaminated/spread through the crowd). Here, 'medo' is the subject that acts upon 'multidão'. It is also important to note the reflexive form contaminar-se, which means 'to become contaminated' or 'to catch (an infection)'. 'Ele se contaminou ao tocar na superfície suja' (He became contaminated/infected by touching the dirty surface).

One of the most interesting ways to use contaminar is in the present participle form as an adjective: contaminante (contaminating/contaminant). This describes something that has the power to contaminate. 'O mercúrio é um metal altamente contaminante' (Mercury is a highly contaminating metal). This usage is very common in academic and environmental texts. Conversely, the past participle contaminado functions as 'contaminated'. 'O rio contaminado não tem peixes' (The contaminated river has no fish).

É essencial evitar que as ideologias extremistas venham a contaminar o debate público.

Verb Tenses: Present: Eu contamino. Preterite: Eu contaminei. Future: Eu contaminarei. Imperfect: Eu contaminava.

Finally, consider the context of 'contaminação' (the noun). While this guide focuses on the verb, knowing that 'contaminar' leads to 'contaminação' helps you recognize the word family in complex sentences. In professional environments, you might hear about 'risco de contaminação' (risk of contamination), which is a standard phrase in safety briefings and healthcare protocols. By practicing these different structures, you will move from a basic understanding to a sophisticated use of the word.

You will encounter contaminar in a variety of real-world scenarios. The most frequent is likely the evening news (o telejornal). Brazil, with its vast natural resources, frequently reports on environmental challenges. News anchors often use the word when discussing oil spills (vazamentos de óleo) or the impact of mining on indigenous lands. In these contexts, the word carries a tone of urgency and gravity.

Environmental News: 'A lama da barragem pode contaminar o Rio Doce por décadas.' (The mud from the dam could contaminate the Doce River for decades.)
Health and Medicine: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 'contaminar' was used daily to describe how the virus spreads. 'Lave as mãos para não contaminar os outros.'

O relatório aponta que a indústria continua a contaminar o ar da cidade.

Another common place to hear this word is in educational settings. If you attend a biology or chemistry class in a Portuguese-speaking country, the instructor will use contaminar to explain laboratory protocols. It is a fundamental term for anyone in the STEM fields. They might discuss how a control group was 'contaminado' by an external variable, ruining the results of an experiment. This technical precision is vital for academic success.

In the world of business and psychology, contaminar takes on a more metaphorical tone. You might hear a manager say, 'Não deixe que o pessimismo de um funcionário contamine toda a equipe' (Don't let one employee's pessimism contaminate the whole team). This usage is very common in corporate workshops and self-help literature in Portuguese. It highlights the social aspect of the word—how one person's energy can affect everyone around them.

Sua alegria é capaz de contaminar até o ambiente mais triste.

Legal Context: Lawyers might talk about how illegal evidence can 'contaminar' an entire legal process, leading to the annulment of a trial.

Finally, you will find this word in literature and film. A protagonist might fear that their dark past will 'contaminar' their new life, or a sci-fi movie might center around a 'planeta contaminado'. Because the word has such strong visual and sensory associations, it is a favorite for writers looking to create a sense of corruption or decay. Whether in a high-stakes legal drama or a simple conversation about hygiene, contaminar is a word that appears everywhere.

While contaminar is a cognate, English speakers often make subtle mistakes in its application. One of the most common errors is confusing it with poluir (to pollute). While they are related, they are not identical. Poluir is generally used for the environment (air, water, noise), whereas contaminar implies the presence of a specific harmful agent, like a virus or a chemical, that makes something dangerous to use or consume.

Contaminar vs. Infectar: 'Infectar' is strictly medical (viruses, bacteria). You 'infect' a person, but you 'contaminate' an object or an environment which then 'infects' the person.
Preposition Errors: Learners often forget to use 'com' when identifying the source. Saying 'contaminado de' is less common than 'contaminado com' or 'por'.

Errado: A água está poluída com vírus. (Better: contaminada).

Another mistake is the over-reliance on the word 'pegar' (to catch/take) when discussing diseases. While 'peguei uma gripe' is perfectly fine in casual speech, saying 'fui contaminado pelo vírus da gripe' is the correct way to express the biological process. Using 'contaminar' in formal writing or medical discussions is essential for sounding educated and precise. Additionally, learners sometimes struggle with the reflexive form. Remember: if you are the one getting sick because of an external source, you 'se contaminou'.

In figurative usage, English speakers sometimes use 'contaminar' only for negative things. However, in Portuguese, it is very common to use it for positive things like 'contaminar com alegria' or 'contaminar com entusiasmo'. If you only use it for negative contexts, you are missing out on a beautiful and common expressive range of the language. Another pitfall is the conjugation of the future subjunctive. Many learners say 'se eu contaminar' correctly, but forget the 'r' when writing, leading to 'se eu contamina', which is incorrect.

Cuidado: Não diga 'o rio está contaminoso'. O adjetivo correto é 'contaminado'.

Spelling Mistakes: Ensure you use the 'm' before 't'. English speakers sometimes try to spell it 'contaninar' by mistake, following patterns from other words.

Lastly, be careful with the word 'sujar' (to get dirty). While 'sujar' is common for physical dirt like mud on shoes, using it for toxic chemicals or viruses sounds too childish. In those cases, 'contaminar' is the required level of vocabulary. By avoiding these common traps, you will use contaminar like a native speaker, ensuring your message is both accurate and appropriate for the context.

To truly master contaminar, you should know the words that surround it in the semantic field of 'impurity' and 'influence'. Portuguese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific type of contamination you are discussing. Understanding these nuances will help you choose the perfect word for every situation.

Poluir: Primarily used for environmental pollution. You 'polui' the air with smoke, but you 'contamina' a wound with bacteria.
Infectar: Used for biological infections. It is more specific to the body's reaction to a pathogen.
Corromper: Used for moral or data contamination. You 'corrompe' a file on a computer or a politician's integrity.

Em vez de contaminar, podemos usar 'macular' para falar de algo que perdeu sua pureza moral.

If you are talking about something becoming physically dirty in a non-dangerous way, use sujar. If you want to sound more poetic or formal, macular (to stain/spot) or inquinar (to pollute/corrupt) are excellent choices. Inquinar is quite rare and mostly found in older literature or legal texts, but it is a powerful synonym for 'contaminar'. In a laboratory, you might hear adulterar, which means to alter something by adding an inferior substance, often used in the context of food or fuel fraud.

In figurative language, viciar is a great alternative. It means to taint or to make something faulty. For example, 'O erro viciou todo o processo' (The error tainted/vitiated the whole process). This is often used in law and logic. Another emotional alternative is influenciar. While 'contaminar' implies a deep, often unwanted change, 'influenciar' is more neutral. If a friend's mood 'contamina' you, it feels like it happened to you; if they 'influenciam' you, it sounds more like a conscious or external process.

A radiação pode contaminar a área, tornando-a inabitável.

Sujidade vs. Contaminação: 'Sujidade' is just dirt. 'Contaminação' is dirt that causes harm. Choose your verb based on the severity of the situation.

By expanding your vocabulary to include these synonyms and alternatives, you will be able to express a wider range of ideas. You won't just be saying 'it's dirty'; you'll be able to specify if it's infected, corrupted, tainted, or polluted. This level of detail is what separates a beginner from an intermediate or advanced speaker. Practice switching contaminar with these alternatives in your writing to see how the tone and meaning of your sentences shift.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

In ancient Roman theater, 'contaminatio' referred to the practice of mixing elements from two different Greek plays to create a new Latin one. It wasn't always a negative term!

Guide de prononciation

UK /kõ.tɐ.mi.ˈnaɾ/

US /kõ.tɐ.mi.ˈnaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: naR.

Rime avec

amar falar andar cantar lugar mar olhar pensar

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the final 'r' like an English 'r' (as in 'car').
Forgetting the nasalization of the first 'o'.
Putting the stress on the 'mi' syllable instead of the 'nar' syllable.
Pronouncing the 't' with too much breath (aspirated); it should be a 'dry' t.
Treating the 'i' like a long English 'e'; it's a short, sharp 'ee'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Very easy to recognize because it is a cognate of 'contaminate'.

Écriture 3/5

Requires knowledge of -ar verb endings and the correct preposition 'com'.

Expression orale 3/5

The nasal 'o' and the final 'r' can be tricky for English speakers.

Écoute 2/5

Clearly pronounced in most dialects, usually easy to pick out in a sentence.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

sujo água doença limpar falar (for conjugation)

Apprends ensuite

poluir infectar meio ambiente preservar saúde

Avancé

inquinar macular adulterar viciar eutrofização

Grammaire à connaître

Regular -ar verbs in the Present Tense

Eu contamino, tu contaminas, ele contamina...

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

O rio foi contaminado pela fábrica.

Reflexive Verbs for self-action

Ele se contaminou ao beber a água suja.

Future Subjunctive for 'if' clauses

Se você contaminar a amostra, o teste falhará.

Nasal vowels (o + n/m)

The 'con' in contaminar is a nasalized 'o'.

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Exemples par niveau

O lixo pode contaminar a água do rio.

Trash can contaminate the river water.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

Não use as mãos sujas para não contaminar a comida.

Don't use dirty hands so you don't contaminate the food.

Imperative negative 'Não use'.

A bactéria vai contaminar o leite.

The bacteria will contaminate the milk.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Eles não querem contaminar o solo.

They don't want to contaminate the soil.

Negative 'não' before the verb.

O óleo pode contaminar o mar.

Oil can contaminate the sea.

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.

Cuidado para não contaminar o seu irmão.

Be careful not to infect/contaminate your brother.

Figurative use for illness.

A poeira vai contaminar a sala limpa.

The dust will contaminate the clean room.

Future tense.

Nós precisamos não contaminar o ar.

We need to not contaminate the air.

Present tense with 'precisar'.

O vazamento de óleo contaminou a praia toda.

The oil spill contaminated the whole beach.

Preterite tense 'contaminou'.

É perigoso contaminar a ferida com terra.

It is dangerous to contaminate the wound with dirt.

Infinitive as a subject.

Os médicos tentam não contaminar os pacientes.

Doctors try not to contaminate the patients.

Present tense plural.

A indústria contaminou o ar da cidade.

Industry contaminated the city's air.

Preterite tense.

Você se contaminou porque não lavou as mãos.

You became contaminated because you didn't wash your hands.

Reflexive verb 'se contaminou'.

O veneno pode contaminar os peixes do lago.

The poison can contaminate the fish in the lake.

Modal verb.

Nós contaminamos a amostra sem querer.

We contaminated the sample by mistake.

Preterite first person plural.

Não deixe o cachorro contaminar a sua cama.

Don't let the dog contaminate your bed.

Imperative 'não deixe'.

O pessimismo dele acabou por contaminar toda a equipe de vendas.

His pessimism ended up contaminating the whole sales team.

Figurative use; 'acabar por' construction.

Se não filtrarmos a água, ela poderá contaminar a população.

If we don't filter the water, it might contaminate the population.

Conditional sentence with future 'poderá'.

A alegria das crianças contaminou o ambiente da festa.

The children's joy contaminated (filled) the party atmosphere.

Positive figurative use.

Muitos rios foram contaminados pelo uso excessivo de agrotóxicos.

Many rivers were contaminated by the excessive use of pesticides.

Passive voice 'foram contaminados'.

É importante evitar que o vírus venha a contaminar mais pessoas.

It is important to prevent the virus from contaminating more people.

Subjunctive 'venha a'.

O laboratório foi fechado para não contaminar as outras salas.

The lab was closed so as not to contaminate the other rooms.

Purpose clause 'para não'.

Sua atitude rebelde começou a contaminar os outros alunos.

His rebellious attitude began to contaminate the other students.

Inceptive 'começou a'.

A carne crua não deve contaminar os vegetais na cozinha.

Raw meat should not contaminate the vegetables in the kitchen.

Modal 'deve' + negative.

A corrupção sistêmica ameaça contaminar todas as esferas do governo.

Systemic corruption threatens to contaminate all spheres of government.

Abstract usage in a political context.

O descarte incorreto de baterias pode contaminar o lençol freático.

Incorrect disposal of batteries can contaminate the water table.

Technical vocabulary 'lençol freático'.

Houve o receio de que a radiação pudesse contaminar os países vizinhos.

There was a fear that radiation could contaminate neighboring countries.

Imperfect subjunctive 'pudesse'.

O malware foi projetado para contaminar o máximo de dispositivos possível.

The malware was designed to contaminate as many devices as possible.

Technical use in computing.

A empresa foi multada por contaminar o ecossistema local propositalmente.

The company was fined for purposefully contaminating the local ecosystem.

Adverb 'propositalmente'.

A contaminação cruzada é o maior risco em uma cozinha industrial.

Cross-contamination is the biggest risk in an industrial kitchen.

Noun form 'contaminação'.

Não permita que as emoções pessoais venham a contaminar o seu julgamento profissional.

Don't allow personal emotions to contaminate your professional judgment.

Compound verb 'venham a contaminar'.

O estudo foi invalidado porque um fator externo contaminou os resultados.

The study was invalidated because an external factor contaminated the results.

Causal clause with 'porque'.

A retórica de ódio busca contaminar o tecido social e gerar divisão.

Hate rhetoric seeks to contaminate the social fabric and generate division.

Highly abstract/metaphorical language.

É imperativo que a ética não seja contaminada por interesses puramente financeiros.

It is imperative that ethics not be contaminated by purely financial interests.

Passive subjunctive 'seja contaminada'.

A infiltração de ideologias estranhas pode contaminar a pureza da doutrina original.

The infiltration of foreign ideologies can contaminate the purity of the original doctrine.

Philosophical/theological context.

O escândalo acabou por contaminar a reputação de todos os envolvidos no projeto.

The scandal ended up contaminating the reputation of everyone involved in the project.

Usage in public relations/reputation.

A análise química revelou que o solo estava contaminado por metais pesados.

Chemical analysis revealed that the soil was contaminated by heavy metals.

Technical/scientific report style.

O autor utiliza a metáfora da doença para mostrar como o crime contamina a cidade.

The author uses the metaphor of disease to show how crime contaminates the city.

Literary analysis context.

Qualquer tentativa de diálogo foi contaminada por preconceitos enraizados.

Any attempt at dialogue was contaminated by deep-rooted prejudices.

Passive voice with 'foi'.

A descoberta de que o poço estava contaminado causou pânico na aldeia.

The discovery that the well was contaminated caused panic in the village.

Complex sentence structure.

A subjetividade do observador corre o risco de contaminar a objetividade da pesquisa científica.

The observer's subjectivity runs the risk of contaminating the objectivity of scientific research.

Epistemological context.

O niilismo contemporâneo parece contaminar as produções artísticas da última década.

Contemporary nihilism seems to contaminate the artistic productions of the last decade.

Aesthetic/philosophical critique.

A prova ilícita tem o condão de contaminar todo o acervo probatório, levando à nulidade.

Illicit evidence has the power to contaminate the entire body of evidence, leading to nullity.

High-level legal terminology ('acervo probatório').

A pureza da língua é frequentemente contaminada por estrangeirismos desnecessários.

The purity of the language is often contaminated by unnecessary foreignisms.

Linguistic purism context.

O trauma geracional pode contaminar as relações familiares por séculos.

Generational trauma can contaminate family relationships for centuries.

Psychological/sociological depth.

A presença de impurezas traço pode contaminar o semicondutor, alterando suas propriedades.

The presence of trace impurities can contaminate the semiconductor, altering its properties.

Advanced physics/engineering context.

A corrupção da alma, segundo o filósofo, contamina até as ações mais nobres.

The corruption of the soul, according to the philosopher, contaminates even the noblest actions.

Ethical/philosophical discourse.

O fluxo migratório não deve ser visto como algo que contamina a cultura local, mas que a enriquece.

The migratory flow should not be seen as something that contaminates the local culture, but that enriches it.

Sociopolitical commentary.

Collocations courantes

contaminar a água

contaminar o solo

contaminar o ar

contaminar a mente

contaminar o ambiente

contaminar a amostra

contaminar o sangue

contaminar a prova

contaminar com alegria

contaminar a comida

Phrases Courantes

risco de contaminação

— The danger of something becoming contaminated. Used in safety signs.

Há um alto risco de contaminação nesta área.

contaminação cruzada

— When bacteria spread from one food to another. Vital in cooking.

Evite a contaminação cruzada usando tábuas diferentes.

zona contaminada

— An area that has been polluted or infected. Often restricted.

Ninguém pode entrar na zona contaminada sem proteção.

solo contaminado

— Earth that contains harmful chemicals or toxins.

O solo contaminado não serve para a agricultura.

água contaminada

— Water that is unsafe to drink due to impurities.

Beber água contaminada pode causar doenças graves.

contaminar-se com o vírus

— To catch a virus or become infected by it.

Muitas pessoas se contaminaram com o vírus no inverno.

não se deixe contaminar

— A warning not to let bad influences or moods affect you.

Não se deixe contaminar pelo estresse do trabalho.

agente contaminante

— The substance or organism that causes contamination.

O mercúrio é um agente contaminante perigoso.

processo contaminado

— A legal or logical process that has been ruined by errors.

O processo judicial foi contaminado por provas falsas.

contaminar a atmosfera

— To pollute the air on a large scale.

Os vulcões podem contaminar a atmosfera com cinzas.

Souvent confondu avec

Contaminar vs combinar

English speakers might mix them up because they start with 'com' and end in 'inar'. Combinar means to combine or agree.

Contaminar vs contemplar

Sounds slightly similar but means to contemplate or view.

Contaminar vs confirmar

Commonly confused by beginners; means to confirm.

Expressions idiomatiques

"uma maçã podre contamina o cesto"

— One bad person can ruin a whole group. Similar to the English idiom.

Tire ele da equipe; uma maçã podre contamina o cesto.

informal/proverbial

"contaminar o poço"

— To preemptively spread negative information about someone to ruin their reputation.

Ele tentou contaminar o poço antes da minha apresentação.

formal/figurative

"contaminado pelo sistema"

— When someone loses their values because of the environment they work in.

Ele era honesto, mas foi contaminado pelo sistema.

neutral/critical

"contagiar de alegria"

— Often used interchangeably with 'contaminar' for positive emotions.

O sorriso dela contagia (contamina) a todos.

informal

"ar contaminado"

— Can refer to a tense or unpleasant social atmosphere.

O ar estava contaminado de desconfiança na reunião.

figurative

"sangue contaminado"

— Can refer to bad lineage or a corrupted heritage in older literature.

Naquela história, ele temia o seu sangue contaminado.

literary

"contaminar o debate"

— To introduce irrelevant or harmful arguments into a discussion.

Não vamos deixar que insultos contaminem o debate.

formal

"mente contaminada"

— Someone who can only think of bad or dirty things.

Você tem uma mente contaminada por maldade.

informal

"contaminar a fonte"

— To ruin the origin of something, making everything that follows bad.

Se você contaminar a fonte, nada mais será puro.

metaphorical

"contaminado de amor"

— A poetic way to say someone is overwhelmed by love.

Ele estava contaminado de amor por ela.

poetic

Facile à confondre

Contaminar vs poluir

Both deal with dirt and the environment.

Poluir is general environmental damage; contaminar is specific harmful agents.

Carros poluem o ar; o mercúrio contamina a água.

Contaminar vs infectar

Both involve germs and sickness.

Infectar is for the biological reaction inside a body; contaminar is for the presence of the agent on a surface or in a medium.

O vírus contamina o corrimão e depois infecta a pessoa.

Contaminar vs sujar

Both mean making something not clean.

Sujar is for simple dirt (mud, dust); contaminar is for dangerous things (toxins, viruses).

A criança sujou a roupa; o lixo hospitalar contaminou a luva.

Contaminar vs viciar

In figurative Portuguese, both mean 'to ruin'.

Viciar is mostly for legal processes or habits; contaminar is for spreading influence or physical substances.

O vício de forma viciou o processo; o medo contaminou a equipe.

Contaminar vs macular

Both imply a loss of purity.

Macular is poetic/literary; contaminar is scientific/common.

A mentira maculou sua alma; o óleo contaminou a areia.

Structures de phrases

O [noun] contamina o [noun].

O lixo contamina o rio.

Não [verb] para não contaminar.

Não toque para não contaminar.

[Noun] pode vir a contaminar [noun].

O vírus pode vir a contaminar a cidade.

[Noun] foi contaminado por [agent].

O solo foi contaminado por óleo.

Ao contaminar [noun], o [noun] gerou [consequence].

Ao contaminar o debate, o político gerou confusão.

A despeito de [action], o risco de contaminar [noun] persiste.

A despeito da limpeza, o risco de contaminar a amostra persiste.

Any

É preciso evitar contaminar [noun].

É preciso evitar contaminar a nossa mente.

Any

[Noun] contamina [noun] com [substance].

A fábrica contamina o ar com fumaça.

Famille de mots

Noms

contaminação (contamination)

contaminante (contaminant)

descontaminação (decontamination)

Verbes

contaminar (to contaminate)

descontaminar (to decontaminate)

recontaminar (to re-contaminate)

Adjectifs

contaminado (contaminated)

contaminante (contaminating)

incontaminável (uncontaminable)

descontaminado (decontaminated)

Apparenté

contágio (contagion)

contagioso (contagious)

poluição (pollution)

infecção (infection)

impureza (impurity)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High, especially in news and science.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'contaminar' for simple dirt. → sujar
If your shoes have mud, they are 'sujos'. If they have toxic waste, they are 'contaminados'. Use 'sujar' for everyday messes.
Saying 'contaminoso' as an adjective. → contaminado
English speakers often try to add '-oso' to make adjectives. While 'perigoso' exists, the adjective for contamination is 'contaminado'.
Forgetting the 'se' in reflexive use. → Ele se contaminou.
If you are the one catching a disease, you must use the reflexive pronoun. 'Ele contaminou' means he contaminated something else.
Misspelling with 'n' instead of 'm'. → contaminar
In Portuguese, we use 'm' before 'p' and 'b', but also in the middle of 'contaminar'. Avoid 'contaninar'.
Using 'poluir' for viruses. → contaminar / infectar
You don't 'pollute' a person with a virus. You 'contaminate' them or 'infect' them. 'Poluir' is for the environment.

Astuces

Contact = Contaminate

Just remember that contamination happens through contact. The 'CON' in both words will help you link the concept and the verb.

Regular -ar Verb

Don't overthink the conjugation. If you know 'falar', you know 'contaminar'. Eu contamino, você contamina, nós contaminamos.

Positive Contamination

Impress native speakers by using 'contaminar' for good vibes. 'Sua risada contamina a sala!' sounds very natural and advanced.

Nasal 'O'

Practice the first syllable 'con' by closing your nose slightly. It should sound like the 'on' in the French word 'bon'.

Read the Signs

Look for 'Risco de Contaminação' signs in Brazil or Portugal. It's a great way to see the word in its most serious, real-world context.

Passive Voice

In news articles, use 'foi contaminado'. It sounds much more professional than saying 'alguém contaminou'.

Kitchen Talk

Learn 'contaminação cruzada' if you want to work in a restaurant. It's the #1 safety term you'll need to know.

Radio News

Listen to environmental reports on Portuguese radio. You will hear 'contaminar' almost every time they talk about rivers or mining.

Legal Logic

Think of 'contaminar' as a 'poisoned tree' in law. One bad piece of evidence contaminates the whole case.

Group Dynamics

Use the word to describe office culture. 'A fofoca contamina o trabalho' (Gossip contaminates work) is a very common sentiment.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of the 'CON' in CONTAMINAR as 'CONtact'. When things come into CONTACT with something bad, they CONTAMINATE.

Association visuelle

Imagine a clear glass of water. Now imagine a single drop of black ink falling into it and spreading. That is CONTAMINAR.

Word Web

água vírus lixo solo doença ambiente limpeza saúde

Défi

Try to write three sentences using 'contaminar': one about the environment, one about a virus, and one about an emotion. Use a different tense for each.

Origine du mot

From the Latin 'contaminare', which means 'to bring into contact' or 'to defile'. It is formed by 'con-' (together) and a root related to 'tangere' (to touch).

Sens originel : The original sense was to blend or mix different things together, which later evolved into the negative sense of spoiling something pure by mixing it with something inferior.

Romance > Latin > Proto-Indo-European

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using 'contaminar' to describe people or cultures, as it can sound xenophobic or offensive (e.g., saying a culture 'contaminates' another). Use it for substances or abstract influences instead.

English speakers use 'contaminate' mostly for science and pollution. In Portuguese, don't be afraid to use 'contaminar' for feelings and social vibes too!

The film 'O Som ao Redor' (Neighboring Sounds) explores how fear contaminates a neighborhood. Environmental activists like Chico Mendes often spoke about the need to stop industries from contaminating the forest. Scientific reports on the 'Rio Doce' disaster in Brazil use this word extensively.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Environmental Science

contaminar o ecossistema
nível de contaminação
resíduos que contaminam
contaminar a fauna

Healthcare

contaminar o ferimento
não contaminar a gaze
risco de se contaminar
contaminar o instrumental

Cooking

contaminar os alimentos
evitar contaminação cruzada
contaminar a superfície
contaminar com bactérias

Social/Emotional

contaminar com alegria
contaminar o grupo
não se deixe contaminar
contaminar a conversa

Information Technology

contaminar o sistema
vírus que contamina
contaminar os dados
contaminar a rede

Amorces de conversation

"Você acha que as indústrias estão fazendo o suficiente para não contaminar os rios?"

"Como podemos evitar de contaminar os outros quando estamos gripados?"

"Você já sentiu que a alegria de alguém contaminou o seu dia inteiro?"

"Quais são os maiores perigos de contaminar o solo com plástico?"

"Como evitar a contaminação cruzada na hora de cozinhar para os amigos?"

Sujets d'écriture

Escreva sobre uma vez que o entusiasmo de um amigo contaminou você de forma positiva.

Quais são as três coisas que mais contaminam o meio ambiente na sua cidade hoje?

Como você se sente quando vê notícias sobre empresas que contaminam a natureza por lucro?

Descreva um experimento científico (real ou imaginário) onde algo contaminou a amostra.

Pense em uma música ou livro que 'contaminou' seus pensamentos por muito tempo.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes! In Portuguese, it is very common to say 'contaminar com alegria' (contaminate with joy) or 'contaminar com entusiasmo' (contaminate with enthusiasm). It means to spread a good feeling to everyone around you.

'Poluir' is usually for the environment in a general sense (air, noise, visual pollution). 'Contaminar' implies a specific harmful substance like a chemical or a virus that makes something dangerous.

Yes, it is a perfectly regular -ar verb. It follows the same conjugation rules as 'falar', 'amar', and 'estudar'. This makes it easy for learners to use in different tenses.

The term is 'contaminação cruzada'. It is a very important phrase in food safety and professional cooking in Brazil and Portugal.

Yes, you can. You can say 'O vírus contaminou o sistema' or 'O vírus contaminou os arquivos'. However, 'infectar' is also very common in this context.

The most common prepositions are 'com' (with) and 'por' (by). For example: 'Contaminado com veneno' or 'Contaminado por bactérias'.

No, that is a common mistake. The correct adjective is 'contaminado' (contaminated) or 'contaminante' (contaminating/contaminant).

Yes, lawyers use it to describe how illegal evidence can 'contaminate' a whole trial, making the entire process invalid.

You use the reflexive form: 'contaminar-se'. For example: 'Ele se contaminou na floresta' (He got contaminated in the forest).

The stress is always on the last syllable: 'nar'. In Portuguese, verbs in the infinitive almost always stress the final syllable.

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