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A1 adjective #50 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

escuro

Top 50

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces escuro en 30 secondes

Explication escuro in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'escuro' is one of the first adjectives you learn to describe your environment. You use it in its simplest form to talk about the lack of light. For example, 'O quarto está escuro' (The room is dark). At this stage, the focus is on basic gender agreement (escuro/escura) and using it with the verb 'estar' to describe current conditions. You also learn it as a way to distinguish colors, like 'azul-escuro' (dark blue). It's a foundational word for basic survival and description, helping you navigate physical spaces and express simple preferences in clothing or food, like 'chocolate escuro'.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'escuro' in more varied sentence structures. You might start using it with 'ficar' to describe changes, such as 'No inverno, fica escuro mais cedo' (In winter, it gets dark earlier). You also become more comfortable with plural forms like 'nuvens escuras' (dark clouds). At this level, you can use 'escuro' to describe people's features more accurately, such as 'ele tem cabelos escuros' (he has dark hair). You start to notice the difference between 'ser escuro' (inherent quality) and 'estar escuro' (temporary state), which is a key grammatical milestone in Portuguese.

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By B1, you can use 'escuro' in more abstract and metaphorical contexts. You might describe a movie as having a 'tom escuro' (dark tone) or talk about a 'passado escuro' (dark past). Your vocabulary expands to include synonyms like 'sombrio' and you begin to understand the nuances between them. You can handle idiomatic expressions like 'dar um tiro no escuro' (to take a shot in the dark) in conversation. Your ability to use 'escuro' as a noun ('o escuro') also matures, allowing you to discuss fears or concepts like 'medo do escuro' (fear of the dark) in more detail.

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At the B2 level, 'escuro' is used with greater precision in professional and academic contexts. You might use it to describe the technical aspects of photography or art ('contraste entre claro e escuro'). You are expected to use the word fluently in complex sentences, such as 'Apesar de estar muito escuro, conseguimos encontrar a chave'. You also start to recognize the word in more formal literature and news reports, where it might describe political situations or economic 'dark periods'. Your understanding of color theory in Portuguese, using 'cores escuras' vs 'cores fechadas', becomes more sophisticated.

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At the C1 level, you appreciate the poetic and stylistic uses of 'escuro'. You can analyze how authors use darkness as a symbol in Portuguese literature, from Camões to Pessoa. You understand the subtle shift in meaning when 'escuro' is placed before the noun for emphasis. You can engage in deep discussions about the cultural significance of darkness in Fado or Brazilian cinema. Your use of the word is natural, and you can effortlessly switch between 'escuro', 'obscuro', 'sombrio', and 'tenebroso' to convey exact shades of meaning and emotion in high-level discourse.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'escuro' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You can use the word in its most obscure and archaic forms if necessary. You understand all regional variations in pronunciation and usage across the Lusophone world. You can play with the word in puns, high-level rhetoric, and complex creative writing. You have a deep grasp of the etymological roots of the word and how it has evolved over centuries. For you, 'escuro' is not just a word, but a versatile tool for expressing the finest nuances of the human experience, from the physical to the metaphysical.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

escuro en 30 secondes

Escuro means 'dark' or 'dim' in Portuguese, used for light levels and color shades.
It is a versatile adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun.
Commonly used in compound colors like 'azul-escuro' (dark blue) and 'verde-escuro' (dark green).
Metaphorically describes mysterious, gloomy, or negative concepts like a 'dark past'.

The Portuguese word escuro is a fundamental adjective that every learner must master early in their journey. At its most basic level, it translates to 'dark' in English, referring to the absence or insufficiency of light. However, its utility in the Portuguese language extends far beyond the literal darkness of a room at night. To understand escuro, one must look at how it interacts with the physical world, the spectrum of colors, and even the emotional landscape of the speaker.

Physical Environment: When describing a place with little light, such as a basement, a forest at night, or a cinema during a movie, 'escuro' is the primary choice. It describes the state of the environment.

O corredor do hotel era muito escuro e assustador.

Beyond the physical lack of photons, escuro serves as a crucial modifier for colors. In Portuguese, to say 'dark blue' or 'dark green', you simply append the word to the color: 'azul-escuro' or 'verde-escuro'. This is a productive grammatical pattern that allows for precise descriptions of shades.

Color Modification: Used as a suffix to other color adjectives to indicate a deeper, more saturated, or less luminous version of that hue.

Ela comprou um vestido azul-escuro para a festa de formatura.

Metaphorically, escuro can describe things that are mysterious, hidden, or even sinister. While 'obscuro' is often preferred for 'obscure' in a formal sense, 'escuro' can be used colloquially to talk about 'dark times' or 'dark secrets'. In everyday conversation, you will hear it used to describe the weather, the time of day, and even the roast of coffee. A 'café escuro' usually implies a strong, dark roast. The word is deeply embedded in the sensory experience of Portuguese speakers, from the 'breu' (pitch black) of a rural night to the 'olheiras escuras' (dark circles) under someone's eyes after a long night of study. Understanding this word is not just about learning a translation; it is about learning how Portuguese speakers categorize the world of light and shadow.

Common Collocations: Ficar escuro (to get dark), quarto escuro (dark room), chocolate escuro (dark chocolate), céu escuro (dark sky).

Já está ficando escuro; é melhor voltarmos para casa agora.

Eu prefiro chocolate escuro porque é menos doce que o de leite.

Using escuro correctly requires attention to the basic rules of Portuguese grammar, specifically adjective agreement and placement. As an adjective, escuro changes its ending to match the noun it describes. This is a hurdle for English speakers who are used to 'dark' being immutable. In Portuguese, you have four forms: escuro (masculine singular), escura (feminine singular), escuros (masculine plural), and escuras (feminine plural).

Gender Agreement: The adjective must match the gender of the noun. 'O sapato escuro' (The dark shoe) vs 'A bota escura' (The dark boot).

As nuvens estão muito escuras; acho que vai chover logo.

Plural Agreement: If the noun is plural, the adjective must also be plural. 'Os quartos escuros' (The dark rooms) vs 'As salas escuras' (The dark living rooms).

Ele tem olhos escuros que parecem brilhar na luz do luar.

Regarding placement, escuro almost always follows the noun it modifies. Placing it before the noun is rare and usually reserved for poetic or highly stylistic contexts, where it might slightly shift the meaning to something more evocative or emotional. In standard communication, stick to the 'Noun + Adjective' order. Another important usage is with the verb 'ficar' (to become/to get). We use 'ficar escuro' to describe the process of light fading. 'Está ficando escuro' is the standard way to say 'It's getting dark'. You can also use it with 'ser' or 'estar'. 'O quarto é escuro' implies the room is naturally dark (perhaps it has no windows), while 'O quarto está escuro' implies it is dark right now (perhaps the lights are off).

Ser vs Estar: 'Ser escuro' describes a permanent or inherent quality. 'Estar escuro' describes a temporary state.

Este pão é mais escuro porque é feito com farinha integral.

A noite estava tão escura que não conseguíamos ver o caminho.

Mastering these variations ensures that your Portuguese sounds natural and grammatically sound. Whether you are describing a 'vinho tinto escuro' (dark red wine) or a 'caverna escura' (dark cave), the principles of agreement and placement remain your guiding lights.

The word escuro is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking cultures, appearing in everything from daily weather reports to classic literature and popular music. If you are in a Portuguese-speaking country, you will likely hear it first in the context of the day ending. As the sun sets, people will remark, 'Já está escuro' (It's already dark). This is a common social cue that it's time to turn on lights, head home, or start evening activities.

Daily Life and Weather: Used to describe the sky before a storm or the natural transition from day to night.

O céu ficou escuro de repente antes da tempestade começar.

In the culinary world, escuro is essential for describing food and drink. When ordering coffee in Portugal or Brazil, you might discuss the roast or the intensity. 'Cerveja escura' (dark beer) is a popular category of beverage, often associated with stouts or porters. Similarly, 'chocolate escuro' is the standard term for dark chocolate, a favorite for those who prefer a more bitter taste.

Gastronomy: Essential for differentiating types of beer, chocolate, bread, and coffee based on their color and intensity.

Eu gosto de tomar uma cerveja escura no inverno.

In the realm of fashion and design, escuro is used constantly to specify shades of clothing or interior decor. 'Cores escuras' (dark colors) are often recommended for formal events or for creating a cozy atmosphere in a room. You'll hear shop assistants ask, 'Você prefere o azul-claro ou o azul-escuro?' (Do you prefer light blue or dark blue?). Cinema and photography also rely heavily on this word. A 'quarto escuro' is a darkroom for developing film, a term still used by enthusiasts today. In film criticism, a movie might be described as having a 'tom escuro' (dark tone), referring to its mature or grim subject matter.

Art and Media: Used to describe the aesthetic or thematic darkness of a piece of art, film, or music.

O filme tem um lado muito escuro que explora a mente humana.

Finally, in everyday idioms, you might hear 'dar um tiro no escuro' (to take a shot in the dark), meaning to guess or try something without having much information. This shows how the word moves from a simple physical description to a tool for expressing complex human experiences. Whether you're in a dimly lit 'fado' house in Lisbon or a modern apartment in São Paulo, escuro is a word you will encounter daily.

For English speakers learning Portuguese, the word escuro presents a few common pitfalls that can easily be avoided with a bit of practice. The most frequent error is the failure to apply gender and number agreement. In English, 'dark' is used for everything. In Portuguese, saying 'a sala escuro' is a glaring mistake that marks you as a beginner. It must be 'a sala escura'.

Agreement Errors: Always check the gender of the noun. Remember: 'o' nouns usually take 'escuro', and 'a' nouns take 'escura'.

Incorreto: As ruas escuro. Correto: As ruas escuras.

Another common mistake is the confusion between escuro and preto (black). While 'dark' and 'black' are related, they are not interchangeable. 'Preto' is a specific color, while 'escuro' is a level of light or a shade. For example, if you want to say 'dark hair', you should say 'cabelo escuro' (which could be dark brown), whereas 'cabelo preto' specifically means black hair.

Escuro vs. Preto: Use 'preto' for the color black. Use 'escuro' for things that lack light or for dark shades of other colors.

Não diga 'o céu está preto' a menos que ele esteja literalmente da cor preta. Diga 'o céu está escuro'.

Learners also struggle with the placement of the adjective when modifying colors. In English, we say 'dark blue'. In Portuguese, it's 'azul-escuro'. Some learners try to put 'escuro' first because of the English influence, saying 'escuro azul', which is incorrect.

Word Order with Colors: The color comes first, followed by the modifier. 'Verde-escuro', 'Vermelho-escuro'.

Eu quero a caneta azul-escuro, não a azul-claro.

Finally, be careful with the verbs 'ser' and 'estar'. As mentioned before, 'ser escuro' implies a permanent trait, while 'estar escuro' implies a temporary state. Saying 'o dia é escuro' would mean that the day is inherently dark (perhaps an eclipse or a very strange climate), whereas 'o dia está escuro' means it's dark right now (perhaps because of clouds). By paying attention to these nuances—agreement, distinction from 'preto', word order, and verb choice—you will avoid the most common errors and speak more like a native.

While escuro is the most common word for 'dark', Portuguese offers a variety of synonyms and related terms that can add precision and flavor to your speech. Understanding the subtle differences between these words will help you choose the right one for the right context.

Sombrio: This word translates to 'shadowy' or 'gloomy'. It is often used to describe places with many shadows or a person's mood. It has a more emotional or atmospheric connotation than 'escuro'.

O castelo abandonado tinha um aspecto muito sombrio sob a luz da lua.

Obscuro: Meaning 'obscure', this word is used for things that are not well-known, difficult to understand, or hidden. It is more intellectual or formal than 'escuro'.

Ele fez uma referência obscura a um livro que ninguém leu.

Tenebroso: This is a much stronger word, meaning 'dark and scary', 'sinister', or 'dreadful'. It's often used in horror stories or to describe something truly frightening.

Atravessar a floresta à noite foi uma experiência tenebrosa.

For colors, besides 'escuro', you might use fechado (closed). In the context of colors, 'uma cor fechada' refers to a dark, muted, or deep color, often used in fashion. Conversely, 'uma cor aberta' is bright and vibrant.

Opaco: Meaning 'opaque', it describes something that light cannot pass through. While not a direct synonym for 'dark', it's related to how light interacts with surfaces.

O vidro da janela é opaco para garantir a nossa privacidade.

Comparing these: escuro is the neutral, everyday term. 'Sombrio' adds a layer of mood. 'Obscuro' adds a layer of mystery or complexity. 'Tenebroso' adds a layer of fear. 'Preto' is the color itself. By choosing the right word, you can communicate not just the level of light, but also your feelings and the specific nature of what you are describing.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'obscure' in English shares the same Latin root as 'escuro'. While 'escuro' became the everyday word for dark in Portuguese, 'obscuro' remained as a more formal, intellectual synonym.

Guide de prononciation

UK /iʃ.ˈku.ɾu/

US /es.ˈku.ɾu/

The stress is on the second syllable: es-CU-ro.

Rime avec

muro puro furo duro juro seguro futuro maduro

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'e' like 'ee' in 'see'.
Making the 'r' a trill instead of a single tap.
Forgetting to reduce the final 'o' to a 'u' sound (common in both dialects).
Pronouncing the 's' like 'z' (it should be 's' or 'sh').
Stress on the first syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize and understand in text.

Écriture 2/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement.

Expression orale 2/5

Initial 'e' and final 'o' pronunciation can be tricky for beginners.

Écoute 2/5

Can be shortened in fast speech, especially in Portugal.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

luz cor quarto claro preto

Apprends ensuite

escurecer escuridão sombrio obscuro brilhante

Avancé

penumbra chiaroscuro breu lusco-fusco tenebroso

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective Agreement

O gato escuro / A gata escura.

Compound Color Pluralization

Camisas azul-escuro (usually stays singular) or azul-escuras.

Ser vs Estar with Adjectives

O corredor é escuro (always) vs O corredor está escuro (now).

Adjective Placement

Um céu escuro (standard) vs Um escuro céu (poetic).

Substantivation of Adjectives

O escuro me assusta (using 'escuro' as a noun).

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Exemples par niveau

O quarto está muito escuro.

The room is very dark.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state and masculine singular agreement.

Eu tenho uma caneta azul-escuro.

I have a dark blue pen.

Compound color adjective.

A noite é escura.

The night is dark.

Uses 'ser' for an inherent quality and feminine singular agreement.

Você gosta de chocolate escuro?

Do you like dark chocolate?

Simple adjective-noun agreement.

O céu está escuro hoje.

The sky is dark today.

Describing weather state.

Ela usa um vestido escuro.

She wears a dark dress.

Adjective following the noun.

Os sapatos são escuros.

The shoes are dark.

Masculine plural agreement.

Não está escuro lá fora.

It is not dark outside.

Negative sentence structure.

Está ficando escuro muito cedo no inverno.

It is getting dark very early in winter.

Uses 'ficar' to show a transition.

As nuvens escuras trazem chuva.

The dark clouds bring rain.

Feminine plural agreement.

Eu prefiro cores escuras para o meu quarto.

I prefer dark colors for my bedroom.

Plural agreement with 'cores'.

O corredor era escuro e comprido.

The hallway was dark and long.

Past tense 'imperfeito' of 'ser'.

Ele tem olhos castanho-escuros.

He has dark brown eyes.

Compound color pluralization (only the second part changes).

A cerveja escura é muito saborosa.

The dark beer is very tasty.

Feminine singular agreement.

Nós caminhamos pela floresta escura.

We walked through the dark forest.

Prepositional phrase with adjective.

A sala ficou escura quando a luz apagou.

The room became dark when the light went out.

Preterite of 'ficar'.

Ele sempre teve um lado escuro na sua personalidade.

He always had a dark side to his personality.

Metaphorical use of 'escuro'.

Não podemos deixar o passado escuro nos afetar.

We cannot let the dark past affect us.

Abstract noun modification.

Foi um tiro no escuro, mas funcionou.

It was a shot in the dark, but it worked.

Idiomatic expression 'tiro no escuro'.

A pintura usa tons escuros para criar mistério.

The painting uses dark tones to create mystery.

Artistic context.

Ela sentiu medo ao entrar no beco escuro.

She felt fear upon entering the dark alley.

Emotional context.

O café estava tão escuro quanto a noite.

The coffee was as dark as the night.

Simile using 'tão... quanto'.

Aquelas águas escuras escondem muitos segredos.

Those dark waters hide many secrets.

Demonstrative pronoun with plural adjective.

O cinema ficou no escuro total antes do filme.

The cinema was in total darkness before the movie.

Noun phrase 'no escuro total'.

O regime político atravessou um período escuro da história.

The political regime went through a dark period of history.

Historical/Political metaphor.

A fotografia ficou subexposta e muito escura.

The photograph was underexposed and very dark.

Technical terminology.

É difícil ler neste ambiente tão escuro.

It is difficult to read in such a dark environment.

Infinitive construction.

As olheiras escuras denunciavam o seu cansaço.

The dark circles under her eyes revealed her tiredness.

Descriptive anatomical use.

O pão integral tem uma crosta escura e crocante.

The whole grain bread has a dark and crunchy crust.

Multiple adjectives.

A caverna era tão escura que as lanternas mal ajudavam.

The cave was so dark that the flashlights barely helped.

Consecutive clause 'tão... que'.

Eles preferem móveis de madeira escura na sala.

They prefer dark wood furniture in the living room.

Noun phrase 'madeira escura'.

O céu de inverno é frequentemente escuro e carrancudo.

The winter sky is often dark and frowning (gloomy).

Personification with 'carrancudo'.

A prosa do autor é marcada por um lirismo escuro e denso.

The author's prose is marked by a dark and dense lyricism.

Literary criticism.

Havia um pressentimento escuro pairando sobre a cidade.

There was a dark premonition hovering over the city.

Abstract metaphorical use.

O contraste entre o claro e o escuro define a técnica do chiaroscuro.

The contrast between light and dark defines the chiaroscuro technique.

Art theory.

Suas palavras lançaram uma luz sobre aquele assunto escuro.

Her words shed light on that dark subject.

Idiomatic/Metaphorical contrast.

O vinho apresentava uma cor rubi escura e profunda.

The wine presented a dark and deep ruby color.

Oenological description.

A alma humana tem recônditos escuros que poucos ousam explorar.

The human soul has dark recesses that few dare to explore.

Philosophical context.

O escuro da noite engoliu as últimas luzes da aldeia.

The darkness of the night swallowed the last lights of the village.

Personification/Literary use of 'o escuro'.

A negociação ocorreu em um terreno escuro e incerto.

The negotiation took place on dark and uncertain ground.

Figurative use for uncertainty.

A vacuidade do espaço é um abismo escuro e insondável.

The vacuity of space is a dark and unfathomable abyss.

Scientific/Philosophical register.

O escuro absoluto é uma impossibilidade física na superfície terrestre.

Absolute darkness is a physical impossibility on the Earth's surface.

Technical/Scientific statement.

Nas entrelinhas do texto, percebe-se um humor escuro e mordaz.

Between the lines of the text, one perceives a dark and biting humor.

Literary analysis of 'humor negro/escuro'.

O fado canta a escuridão da alma com uma voz escurecida pela dor.

Fado sings the darkness of the soul with a voice darkened by pain.

Highly poetic and evocative use.

A matéria escura compõe a maior parte da massa do universo.

Dark matter makes up most of the mass of the universe.

Astrophysical terminology.

O escuro, longe de ser ausência, era para ele uma presença tátil.

The dark, far from being an absence, was for him a tactile presence.

Existential/Poetic inversion.

A floresta, em seu silêncio escuro, parecia observar os viajantes.

The forest, in its dark silence, seemed to observe the travelers.

Advanced personification.

O matiz escuro daquela tapeçaria revelava séculos de oxidação.

The dark hue of that tapestry revealed centuries of oxidation.

Conservation/Art history context.

Collocations courantes

quarto escuro

azul-escuro

ficar escuro

chocolate escuro

céu escuro

olhos escuros

cabelo escuro

madeira escura

cerveja escura

lado escuro

Phrases Courantes

No escuro

— In the dark. Can be literal or figurative (not knowing something).

Estamos no escuro sobre os novos planos.

Escuro como breu

— Pitch black. Used to describe total absence of light.

A caverna era escura como breu.

Medo do escuro

— Fear of the dark. A common phrase for children and adults alike.

A criança tem medo do escuro.

Deixar no escuro

— To keep someone in the dark. To withhold information.

Eles me deixaram no escuro sobre a demissão.

Antes que fique escuro

— Before it gets dark. Used when planning outdoor activities.

Vamos voltar antes que fique escuro.

Um canto escuro

— A dark corner. Often used in descriptions of rooms or alleys.

Havia uma aranha num canto escuro.

Tons escuros

— Dark tones. Used in art, fashion, and design.

Ela prefere tons escuros para a decoração.

Passado escuro

— Dark past. Refers to a history of bad or mysterious actions.

O vilão do filme tem um passado escuro.

Humor escuro

— Dark humor. Also known as 'humor negro'.

Ele tem um senso de humor escuro.

Quarto escuro (photography)

— Darkroom. Where film is developed.

Ele passa horas no quarto escuro revelando fotos.

Souvent confondu avec

escuro vs preto

Preto is the color black; escuro is the absence of light or a dark shade.

escuro vs obscuro

Obscuro is more formal and means mysterious or hard to see/understand.

escuro vs sombrio

Sombrio means gloomy or shadowy, often with an emotional connotation.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Dar um tiro no escuro"

— To take a shot in the dark. To try something without knowing the outcome.

Investir naquela empresa foi um tiro no escuro.

informal

"Tatear no escuro"

— To grope in the dark. To try to find your way or understand something with no guidance.

Sem o manual, estamos apenas tateando no escuro.

neutral

"Ver no escuro"

— To see in the dark. Can mean having good night vision or being very perceptive.

Gatos conseguem ver no escuro muito bem.

neutral

"Ficar no escuro"

— To be left in the dark. To not be informed about something.

Fiquei no escuro sobre a mudança de horário.

informal

"Sair do escuro"

— To come out of the dark. To finally understand something or reveal oneself.

Finalmente saímos do escuro e entendemos o problema.

neutral

"Mais escuro que a noite"

— Darker than night. Used for extreme emphasis on darkness.

O porão era mais escuro que a noite.

literary

"No escuro todos os gatos são pardos"

— In the dark, all cats are grey. Meaning that in certain situations, differences don't matter.

Não se preocupe com os detalhes; no escuro todos os gatos são pardos.

proverb

"Brilhar no escuro"

— To glow in the dark. Literal for bioluminescence or phosphorescence.

Estes adesivos brilham no escuro.

neutral

"Caminhar no escuro"

— To walk in the dark. Often used metaphorically for taking risks.

Abrir um negócio sem plano é caminhar no escuro.

neutral

"Luz no escuro"

— Light in the dark. A source of hope or guidance.

Ela foi a minha luz no escuro durante a crise.

poetic

Facile à confondre

escuro vs preto

Both refer to a lack of brightness.

Preto is a specific color (black). Escuro is a relative level of light (dark). You can have a dark green, but not a 'black green'.

O meu terno é preto, mas o azul do seu vestido é muito escuro.

escuro vs obscuro

They look similar and share a root.

Escuro is literal (physical darkness). Obscuro is figurative (unknown, suspicious, or complex).

A sala está escura, mas as intenções dele são obscuras.

escuro vs sombrio

Both describe low-light situations.

Sombrio implies shadows (sombras) and often a sense of sadness or gloom.

Um beco escuro pode ser apenas sem luz, mas um beco sombrio parece perigoso.

escuro vs opaco

Both relate to light not being present.

Opaco means light cannot pass through a material. Escuro means there is no light source.

O vidro opaco deixa o quarto mais escuro.

escuro vs baço

Used for colors and light.

Baço means dull or lacking luster, while escuro means lacking light.

O metal está baço e a cor está escura.

Structures de phrases

[Noun] + está + escuro/a

O quarto está escuro.

Está ficando + escuro

Está ficando escuro lá fora.

[Color]-escuro

Eu comprei um carro azul-escuro.

Medo do + escuro

A criança tem medo do escuro.

Um lado + escuro

Ele revelou seu lado escuro.

O contraste entre o claro e o escuro

O contraste entre o claro e o escuro é belo.

Um tiro no escuro

Foi um tiro no escuro investir nisso.

Escuro como breu

A noite estava escura como breu.

Famille de mots

Noms

escuridão (darkness)

escurecimento (darkening)

escuro (the dark)

Verbes

escurecer (to darken/to get dark)

Adjectifs

escuro (dark)

escurecido (darkened)

Apparenté

obscuridade

sombra

penumbra

breu

noite

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high; it is one of the top 1000 words in Portuguese.

Erreurs courantes

A sala é escuro. → A sala é escura.
The noun 'sala' is feminine, so the adjective must be 'escura'.
Eu tenho um escuro azul carro. → Eu tenho um carro azul-escuro.
In Portuguese, adjectives (and color modifiers) follow the noun.
O céu está preto. → O céu está escuro.
Unless the sky is literally the color black, use 'escuro' to mean dark.
Ele tem olhos escuro. → Ele tem olhos escuros.
The noun 'olhos' is plural, so the adjective must be 'escuros'.
Está fazendo escuro. → Está ficando escuro.
We use the verb 'ficar' (to become/get) to describe the transition to darkness.

Astuces

Gender Agreement

Always match 'escuro' with the noun. 'O céu escuro' but 'A nuvem escura'. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.

Color Modifiers

Use 'escuro' to create new color shades. Just add it after the color: verde-escuro, cinza-escuro, etc.

The Final 'O'

The final 'o' in 'escuro' is almost always pronounced like a 'u' (oo). Say 'es-KOO-roo'.

Ser vs Estar

Use 'estar' for the weather or current light levels. Use 'ser' for permanent things like the color of a shirt.

Tiro no Escuro

Use this phrase when you are guessing or taking a risk. It makes you sound very natural.

Dark Beer/Wine

In a bar, ask for 'cerveja escura' if you want a stout or porter. For wine, use 'vinho tinto' (red) or 'tinto escuro' for deep reds.

Compound Plurals

In formal writing, when 'azul-escuro' modifies a plural noun, only the second part changes: 'camisas azul-escuras'.

Fast Speech

Be prepared for 'escuro' to sound like 'skuro' in fast Brazilian Portuguese or 'shkuro' in European Portuguese.

Mood and Tone

Use 'escuro' to describe a 'dark' movie or book. It's a great way to expand your descriptive range.

Skin Tones

While 'pele escura' is fine, use 'negro' or 'moreno' when referring to people to be more polite and accurate.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of an 'ESC' key on a computer. When you press 'ESC' (escape) from the light, you go into the 'ESCURO' (dark).

Association visuelle

Imagine a dark room with a single candle. The room is 'escuro', and the candle is 'claro'.

Word Web

Noite Sombra Preto Luz Claro Quarto Céu Chocolate

Défi

Try to find five things in your house that are 'escuro' and name them in Portuguese (e.g., sapato escuro, café escuro).

Origine du mot

Derived from the Latin word 'obscurus', which means 'dark', 'covered', or 'hidden'. The transition from Latin to Portuguese involved the loss of the initial 'ob-' prefix and the evolution of the 'u' and 's' sounds.

Sens originel : Covered, shadowed, or not visible.

Romance (Indo-European).

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using 'escuro' to describe skin tones; 'moreno' or 'negro' are more common and culturally appropriate terms depending on the context.

English speakers often use 'black' where Portuguese speakers would use 'escuro' (e.g., 'dark coffee' vs 'black coffee').

Fado 'Uma Casa Portuguesa' mentions the atmosphere of the home. The movie 'O Quarto Escuro' (The Darkroom). Brazilian song 'Noites Escuras'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Describing a room

A sala está escura.
Ligue a luz, está escuro.
Não vejo nada no escuro.
O quarto é muito escuro.

Talking about colors

Eu quero o azul-escuro.
Esta cor é muito escura.
Prefiro tons escuros.
O verde-escuro combina com você.

Weather and Time

O céu está ficando escuro.
Já está escuro lá fora.
Vai chover, o céu está escuro.
No inverno fica escuro cedo.

Food and Drink

Gosto de chocolate escuro.
Este café é bem escuro.
Uma cerveja escura, por favor.
O pão integral é mais escuro.

Physical Features

Ele tem olhos escuros.
Ela tem o cabelo escuro.
Tenho olheiras escuras hoje.
A pele dele é mais escura.

Amorces de conversation

"Você prefere chocolate ao leite ou chocolate escuro?"

"Por que o céu fica tão escuro antes de uma tempestade?"

"Você tinha medo do escuro quando era criança?"

"Qual é a sua cor escura favorita para roupas?"

"Você gosta de ler em ambientes claros ou mais escuros?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva um lugar escuro que você visitou e como se sentiu lá.

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve que tomar uma decisão 'no escuro'.

Quais são as vantagens de usar cores escuras na decoração de uma casa?

Como a falta de luz (o escuro) afeta o seu humor durante o inverno?

Pense em um filme com um 'tom escuro' e explique por que você gostou ou não.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

In 95% of cases, yes. Placing it before the noun ('o escuro quarto') is poetic and very rare in daily speech. Stick to 'o quarto escuro' for natural Portuguese.

You say 'azul-escuro'. Note that in compound colors, 'escuro' often remains masculine singular even if the noun is feminine, though 'azul-escura' is also acceptable.

No. 'Preto' is black. 'Escuro' is dark. You can have 'cabelo escuro' (dark hair) which is brown, but 'cabelo preto' is specifically black hair.

You can use it for features like 'olhos escuros' or 'pele escura'. However, to describe a person's race or complexion, 'negro' or 'moreno' are more common.

'Ser escuro' means it is always dark (like a windowless basement). 'Estar escuro' means it is dark right now (like a room with the lights off).

The most common way is 'Está ficando escuro'. You can also say 'Está a escurecer' (more common in Portugal).

It is an idiom meaning 'a shot in the dark'—doing something without knowing if it will succeed or what the result will be.

Yes! 'Chocolate escuro' (dark chocolate), 'cerveja escura' (dark beer), and 'pão escuro' (dark/whole grain bread) are very common.

It sounds like 'ish-KOO-ru'. The first 'e' is very short and sounds like a soft 'i' or 'sh' because of the following 's'.

Yes, 'o escuro' means 'the dark' or 'the darkness'. For example: 'Ele tem medo do escuro' (He is afraid of the dark).

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