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A2 adjective #7,000 le plus courant 12 min de lecture

febril

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces febril en 30 secondes

Explication febril in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that 'febril' is a word related to health. It is similar to saying someone is 'hot' because they are sick. You might not use it every day, but you will hear it if you go to a doctor or if a parent is talking about a child. It is an adjective, so it describes a person. For example, 'O menino está febril' means 'The boy is feverish.' It is important to remember that it is a temporary state, so we use the verb 'estar'. You don't need to worry about the metaphorical meanings yet; just focus on using it to describe someone who feels a bit sick and warm. It is a good word to have in your 'health' vocabulary kit.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'febril' more confidently. You should understand that it is a more formal way of saying someone has a low fever. Instead of just 'Ele tem febre' (He has a fever), you can say 'Ele está febril' (He is feverish). This shows a better command of Portuguese. You should also learn the plural form, 'febris'. If two children are sick, you say 'Eles estão febris'. At this level, you might also see the word in simple news stories or medical forms. It’s a useful adjective because it doesn't change between masculine and feminine, making it easier to use correctly in sentences.

By B1, you should be familiar with 'febril' in both its literal and its figurative senses. You will likely encounter it in novels or more detailed news articles. For example, you might read about 'atividade febril' in a office or a city. This doesn't mean the office is sick; it means people are working very fast and with a lot of energy. You should be able to distinguish between 'estar febril' (physical state) and 'ritmo febril' (metaphorical state). You can also start using it in your own writing to add more flavor. Instead of saying 'Eles trabalharam muito,' you could say 'Eles trabalharam em um ritmo febril,' which sounds much more advanced and descriptive.

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At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'febril'. You understand that it implies a certain restlessness or nervous energy. When describing a character in a story, calling their look 'febril' suggests something about their mental state—perhaps they are obsessed or very anxious. You should be comfortable using the word in professional contexts, such as describing a volatile market or a high-pressure work environment. You also know that 'febril' is part of a word family including 'febre' (noun) and 'febrilmente' (adverb), and you can switch between these forms to express different ideas accurately.

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At the C1 level, 'febril' becomes a tool for precise and evocative expression. You can use it to describe abstract concepts like 'imaginação febril' or 'clima febril' with perfect accuracy. You understand the stylistic difference between 'febril' and its synonyms like 'frenético' or 'ardente'. You can use 'febril' to convey a sense of 'sickly intensity' that other words might miss. In academic or literary analysis, you might use it to describe the tone of a poem or the pace of a narrative. Your usage is natural, and you never confuse it with simpler terms like 'quente' unless you are doing so for specific poetic effect.

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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over 'febril' and its place in the Portuguese language. You are aware of its Latin roots and how it has evolved. You can use it in highly sophisticated ways, perhaps playing with its dual meaning of sickness and intensity in a single sentence. You recognize it in the most complex literary works, from the 19th-century classics to contemporary avant-garde prose. You understand all its collocations and can use it to create complex metaphors. To you, 'febril' is not just a word for fever; it is a versatile descriptor for any state of human existence that is characterized by heat, speed, and a touch of the extraordinary.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

febril en 30 secondes

Febril is the Portuguese adjective for 'feverish,' used for both medical conditions and intense, hurried activities.
It is a gender-neutral adjective (the same for masculine and feminine) and its plural form is 'febris'.
In a medical sense, it describes a slightly elevated temperature; figuratively, it describes excitement or urgency.
Commonly used in fixed expressions like 'ritmo febril' (feverish pace) or 'estado febril' (feverish state).

The Portuguese word febril is a sophisticated adjective used to describe a state related to fever, both in a literal medical sense and in a metaphorical, figurative sense. At its core, it translates to 'feverish' in English. When you are talking about health, febril refers to someone who has a slightly elevated body temperature or is showing the early signs of a fever. It is a more formal or precise way of speaking than simply saying someone 'has a fever' (tem febre). In a medical context, a doctor might describe a patient's condition as a 'quadro febril,' which indicates a clinical presentation involving fever symptoms.

Medical Context: Used to describe the physiological state of elevated temperature. Example: 'O estado febril do paciente preocupa os médicos.'

Beyond the doctor's office, febril takes on a vibrant figurative meaning. It describes intense, hurried, or nervous activity. Imagine a newsroom minutes before a major deadline, or a stock exchange floor during a market crash; these environments are characterized by atividade febril. This usage suggests a high level of excitement, urgency, or even agitation that mimics the restlessness of a physical fever. It implies that the pace is so fast it feels almost pathological or unsustainable.

Após a reunião, a equipe iniciou uma atividade febril para terminar o projeto a tempo.

In literature and poetry, febril is often employed to describe emotions or looks. A 'olhar febril' (feverish look) suggests eyes that are bright with intensity, passion, or perhaps madness. It conveys a sense of inner heat and turmoil. This versatility makes it a powerful word for writers who want to evoke a sense of urgency or deep-seated agitation in their characters or settings.

Figurative Usage: Describes excitement or high-speed work. Example: 'A cidade estava em um ritmo febril de preparativos para o Carnaval.'

Ele tinha um brilho febril nos olhos enquanto explicava sua nova invenção.

The word is common across all Portuguese-speaking countries, from Brazil to Portugal and Mozambique. While its frequency in daily conversation might be lower than the simple noun 'febre,' it is an essential part of the vocabulary for anyone reading news, literature, or engaging in professional medical or academic discussions. It elevates the register of your speech, moving you from basic descriptions to more nuanced observations of physical and emotional states.

A criança passou a noite febril, mas acordou melhor hoje.

Social Context: It is used when reporting health status to employers or schools, as it sounds more clinical and objective than just saying someone feels 'hot'.

O mercado financeiro viveu um dia febril após o anúncio das novas taxas.

Sua imaginação febril criava mundos inteiros em questão de segundos.

Using febril correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as an adjective and its semantic range. In Portuguese, adjectives often follow the noun they modify, and febril is no exception. However, when used with the verb 'estar' (to be - temporary state), it describes a current condition. For example, 'Eu estou febril' means 'I am feverish right now.' This is the most common way to use the word in a personal or medical context.

With the Verb Estar: Describes a temporary state of health. Example: 'O bebê está febril desde as seis da manhã.'

When modifying a noun directly, febril adds a layer of intensity to that noun. In the phrase 'uma busca febril' (a feverish search), the adjective suggests that the search was conducted with extreme urgency and perhaps a bit of desperation. It is important to note the plural form: because it ends in '-il', the plural is febris. For instance, 'estados febris' (feverish states) or 'atividades febris' (feverish activities).

Os operários trabalhavam em um ritmo febril para concluir a ponte.

In more advanced usage, febril can appear in academic or journalistic writing to describe social or political climates. You might read about a 'clima febril' before an election, implying that the public is highly agitated, excited, or anxious. This usage moves away from individual health and into the collective psychology of a group. It is a very effective word for setting a mood of high tension.

Direct Noun Modification: Placed after the noun to describe its quality. Example: 'Ela sentia uma excitação febril antes da estreia.'

O paciente apresenta sintomas febris leves, mas persistentes.

Another common structure is the use of 'estado febril'. This is a fixed expression often used by parents or doctors to indicate a low-grade fever or the beginning of an illness. If a child is 'em estado febril', it means they aren't fully sick yet, but their temperature is rising. This nuance is helpful for English speakers who might only have the word 'feverish' to cover multiple levels of intensity.

Não saia de casa se você ainda estiver febril.

Plural Agreement: The plural of -il adjectives like febril is -eis or -is. For febril, it is 'febris'. Example: 'Movimentos febris.'

A imprensa mantinha uma cobertura febril sobre o escândalo.

O artista trabalhava com uma paixão febril em sua última pintura.

In everyday life, you are most likely to hear febril in domestic or medical settings. If you are in a pharmacy in Lisbon or São Paulo, a pharmacist might ask if the patient is 'febril' to decide which medication to recommend. Parents use it frequently when talking about their children's health, as it describes that 'warm-to-the-touch' feeling that precedes a full-blown fever. It is a word of concern and care, often whispered in quiet rooms or spoken over the phone to a pediatrician.

At the Pharmacy/Doctor: Standard clinical term. Example: 'O médico perguntou se a dor de cabeça vinha acompanhada de estado febril.'

Turn on the news, and febril takes on its metaphorical cloak. Journalists love this word to describe the pace of modern life or the intensity of political events. You might hear a reporter say that a city is in a 'ritmo febril' of construction for an upcoming sporting event like the World Cup or the Olympics. In this context, it conveys a sense of organized chaos and immense effort. It’s also common in financial news to describe a market that is volatile and highly active, with traders buying and selling at an exhausting speed.

O país vive uma expectativa febril para o resultado das eleições.

In the world of art and literature, febril is a favorite for describing the creative process. Biographies of famous Portuguese-speaking writers like Fernando Pessoa or Clarice Lispector might describe their 'escrita febril' (feverish writing), suggesting that their masterpieces were produced in bursts of intense inspiration and physical exhaustion. If you attend a book club or a lecture on literature, you will almost certainly encounter this word used to describe characters who are driven by obsession or intense emotion.

In Journalism: Used to describe social tension or economic activity. Example: 'A bolsa de valores teve um fechamento febril hoje.'

Aquelas noites de trabalho febril finalmente deram resultado.

Finally, you might hear it in sports commentary. When a team is desperately trying to score in the final minutes of a game, the commentator might describe their 'pressão febril' on the opponent's defense. It captures the frantic, almost desperate energy of the moment. Whether in a hospital, a newsroom, or a stadium, febril is the word for when things are 'heating up' in every sense of the phrase.

O estádio estava em um clima febril antes do apito inicial.

In Literature: Used to describe intense passion or obsession. Example: 'Ele lia o livro com uma curiosidade febril.'

Sua atividade febril durante a madrugada resultou em um novo poema.

A cidade fervilhava em uma agitação febril para o festival.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning Portuguese is confusing the noun febre with the adjective febril. In English, we often use 'fever' as a noun or 'feverish' as an adjective, but the structures in Portuguese are distinct. You 'have' a febre (ter febre), but you 'are' febril (estar febril). Saying 'Eu estou com febril' is grammatically incorrect because 'febril' is an adjective and doesn't follow the 'com' (with) preposition in that way. It should be 'Eu estou febril' or 'Eu estou com febre'.

Noun vs. Adjective: Mistake: 'Estou com febril.' Correct: 'Estou febril' or 'Estou com febre.'

Another common error relates to the pluralization. Portuguese adjectives ending in '-il' have specific rules. Beginners often try to pluralize it as 'febrils' or 'febriles,' but the correct plural is febris. This is a general rule for adjectives where the 'il' is stressed (oxytone). Forgetting this can make your speech sound unpolished, especially in clinical or professional settings where precision is valued.

Os sintomas febris (correct plural) desapareceram após o remédio.

In terms of meaning, some learners over-apply the metaphorical sense. While you can use febril to describe activity, you wouldn't typically use it to describe a 'hot' day or 'hot' food. For those, you use 'quente'. Using febril for weather would sound like the weather itself is sick or intensely agitated in a human-like way, which is usually not the intended meaning. Use it for health or for human-driven intensity, not for simple temperature.

Temperature Confusion: Mistake: 'O café está febril.' Correct: 'O café está quente.'

Trabalhamos de forma febril (correct figurative use) para entregar o relatório.

There is also a confusion between febril and 'febrento'. While both mean feverish, 'febrento' is more colloquial and often carries a slightly more negative or 'pitiful' connotation—describing someone who looks sickly and miserable due to fever. Febril is more neutral and formal. If you are writing a report or speaking to a professional, febril is always the safer and more appropriate choice.

O paciente manteve-se febril durante todo o dia.

Formal vs. Informal: Use 'febril' in professional contexts. 'Febrento' is okay for casual talk among friends in some regions.

Ela tinha uma imaginação febril, sempre criando histórias.

A atividade febril das abelhas no jardim era fascinante.

When you want to describe a state of fever or intense activity but want to vary your vocabulary, Portuguese offers several alternatives to febril. Each has its own nuance. For the physical sensation of having a fever, 'febrento' is the closest synonym. As mentioned before, it is more informal and often used to describe the physical appearance of someone suffering from a fever—sweaty, pale, and shivering.

febril vs. febrento: 'Febril' is clinical and formal; 'febrento' is colloquial and describes the visible suffering of fever.

If you are using febril in its figurative sense to describe intense activity, you might consider 'frenético' (frenzied) or 'agitado' (agitated/busy). 'Frenético' is stronger than febril; it suggests a lack of control or a wild pace. 'Agitado' is more common and can describe anything from a busy day to a rough sea. Use 'febril' when you want to emphasize that the intensity feels 'hot' or 'nervous' like a sickness.

O ritmo frenético da cidade grande pode ser exaustivo.

For describing passion or intensity, synonyms like 'ardente' (burning/ardent) or 'apaixonado' (passionate) are excellent choices. 'Ardente' carries the heat metaphor of febril but usually in a more positive or romantic way. A 'desejo febril' sounds slightly more desperate or obsessive than a 'desejo ardente,' which sounds more powerful and focused.

febril vs. ardente: 'Febril' implies a restless, almost sickly intensity; 'ardente' implies a strong, glowing passion.

Ela tinha um interesse ardente por arqueologia egípcia.

Finally, in a medical context, if you want to be even more technical, you might use 'pirético' (pyretic), though this is strictly for medical professionals. On the opposite side, if someone does not have a fever, they are 'afebril'. This is a very useful word to know if you are reading medical charts or talking to healthcare providers, as it clearly states the absence of fever symptoms.

O paciente está afebril há vinte e quatro horas.

febril vs. agitado: 'Agitado' is general busyness; 'febril' is busyness with a sense of urgency or high stakes.

O mar estava agitado devido aos ventos fortes.

A atividade febril do mercado imobiliário surpreendeu os analistas.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The root 'febris' is also related to the Latin word 'fovere', meaning 'to warm' or 'to heat'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /fɛˈbɾil/

US /feˈbɾiw/

The stress is on the last syllable: fe-BRIL.

Rime avec

sutil gentil hostil fossil civil funil canil perfil

Erreurs fréquentes

Stressing the first syllable (FE-bril).
Pronouncing the 'l' as a clear English 'l'.
Confusing the 'e' sound with 'i'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Common in news and books, easy to recognize.

Écriture 4/5

Requires knowledge of the plural 'febris' and correct adjective placement.

Expression orale 3/5

Pronunciation of the final 'l' varies by region.

Écoute 3/5

Easily confused with 'febre' if not listening carefully.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

febre quente doente corpo estar

Apprends ensuite

termômetro infecção frenético ardente agitação

Avancé

pirético afebril efervescente inquietude

Grammaire à connaître

Adjectives ending in -il (oxytone) change to -is in plural.

febril -> febris

Use 'estar' for temporary physical states.

Eu estou febril.

Adjectives usually follow the noun in Portuguese.

Um ritmo febril.

Gender-neutral adjectives ending in -l.

O homem febril / A mulher febril.

Prepositions with states of being.

Em estado febril.

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Exemples par niveau

O bebê está febril.

The baby is feverish.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state.

Eu me sinto um pouco febril hoje.

I feel a bit feverish today.

Adjective 'febril' follows the verb 'sentir-se'.

Você está febril? Sua testa está quente.

Are you feverish? Your forehead is hot.

Question form using 'estar'.

A menina não foi à escola porque estava febril.

The girl didn't go to school because she was feverish.

Past tense of 'estar' (estava).

Meu filho está febril, mas não tem tosse.

My son is feverish, but he doesn't have a cough.

Contrast between 'estar febril' and 'ter tosse'.

Ela está febril desde ontem à noite.

She has been feverish since last night.

Duration expressed with 'desde'.

O médico disse que ele está apenas febril.

The doctor said he is only feverish.

Adverb 'apenas' modifying the adjective.

Não se preocupe, você só está um pouco febril.

Don't worry, you are just a bit feverish.

Diminutive sense with 'um pouco'.

As crianças estão febris e precisam descansar.

The children are feverish and need to rest.

Plural form 'febris' agreeing with 'crianças'.

O estado febril dela durou pouco tempo.

Her feverish state lasted a short time.

Noun phrase 'estado febril'.

Ele tomou um remédio porque estava febril.

He took medicine because he was feverish.

Cause and effect with 'porque'.

A enfermeira checou se eu ainda estava febril.

The nurse checked if I was still feverish.

Indirect question with 'se'.

Sinto mãos febris em meu rosto.

I feel feverish hands on my face.

Adjective 'febris' modifying 'mãos'.

O paciente acordou febril após a cirurgia.

The patient woke up feverish after the surgery.

Adjective used as a predicative of the subject.

Mantenha o termômetro por perto se ele continuar febril.

Keep the thermometer close if he continues feverish.

Conditional 'se' with 'continuar'.

Ela não parece febril, mas está muito cansada.

She doesn't look feverish, but she is very tired.

Verb 'parecer' followed by the adjective.

Havia uma atividade febril no escritório antes do feriado.

There was feverish activity in the office before the holiday.

Metaphorical use for intense work.

O ritmo febril da cidade me deixa estressado.

The feverish pace of the city makes me stressed.

Fixed expression 'ritmo febril'.

Ele escreveu o livro em um estado de inspiração febril.

He wrote the book in a state of feverish inspiration.

Describing a mental/creative state.

A imprensa trabalhava de forma febril para cobrir a notícia.

The press was working feverishly to cover the news.

Adjective modifying the way they work.

Os preparativos para o casamento seguiam em um passo febril.

The wedding preparations were proceeding at a feverish pace.

'Passo febril' as a synonym for 'ritmo febril'.

Ela tinha um brilho febril nos olhos enquanto falava de seus planos.

She had a feverish glow in her eyes while talking about her plans.

Describing a physical manifestation of emotion.

O mercado de ações teve um dia febril com muitas oscilações.

The stock market had a feverish day with many fluctuations.

Metaphor for economic volatility.

A busca febril pelo tesouro durou semanas.

The feverish search for the treasure lasted weeks.

Adjective 'febril' modifying 'busca'.

O clima febril que antecede as eleições é palpável.

The feverish atmosphere preceding the elections is palpable.

Describing a social atmosphere.

Aquelas noites de estudo febril valeram a pena no final.

Those nights of feverish study were worth it in the end.

Describing intense academic effort.

Sua imaginação febril não o deixava dormir à noite.

His feverish imagination wouldn't let him sleep at night.

Personifying a mental faculty.

A construção do estádio avançava em um ritmo febril.

The stadium construction was advancing at a feverish pace.

Standard collocation for industrial speed.

O paciente apresentava calafrios e um quadro febril persistente.

The patient presented chills and a persistent feverish condition.

Clinical term 'quadro febril'.

Houve uma reação febril do público ao anúncio do cantor.

There was a feverish reaction from the public to the singer's announcement.

Metaphor for public excitement.

A economia do país entrou em uma fase febril de crescimento.

The country's economy entered a feverish phase of growth.

Describing a macro-economic state.

O artista, em sua fase febril, produziu mais de cem quadros.

The artist, in his feverish phase, produced more than a hundred paintings.

Describing a period of high productivity.

A narrativa de Dostoievski é marcada por uma atmosfera febril e angustiante.

Dostoevsky's narrative is marked by a feverish and distressing atmosphere.

Literary analysis usage.

O desejo febril de vingança consumia seus pensamentos.

The feverish desire for revenge consumed his thoughts.

Abstract noun modification.

As negociações diplomáticas prosseguiram em uma cadência febril durante a madrugada.

Diplomatic negotiations proceeded at a feverish cadence throughout the night.

High-register vocabulary ('cadência').

Sua escrita febril revelava a urgência de suas ideias.

His feverish writing revealed the urgency of his ideas.

Describing a stylistic quality.

A cidade foi tomada por uma agitação febril com a chegada da notícia.

The city was taken by a feverish agitation with the arrival of the news.

Passive construction with 'tomada por'.

O olhar febril do místico parecia ver além da realidade.

The mystic's feverish gaze seemed to see beyond reality.

Metaphysical/Literary context.

O laboratório operava em um estado de prontidão febril para conter o vírus.

The laboratory operated in a state of feverish readiness to contain the virus.

Precise noun phrase 'prontidão febril'.

A obra reflete a inquietude febril do autor diante da modernidade.

The work reflects the author's feverish restlessness in the face of modernity.

Describing a philosophical state.

O texto emana uma lucidez febril, quase insuportável para o leitor comum.

The text emanates a feverish lucidity, almost unbearable for the average reader.

Oxymoron-like usage ('lucidez febril').

As metrópoles contemporâneas pulsam em uma sístole e diástole febril.

Contemporary metropolises pulse in a feverish systole and diastole.

Biological metaphor in a sociological context.

Havia algo de febril e doentio naquela busca incessante pela perfeição.

There was something feverish and sickly about that incessant search for perfection.

Substantive use of the adjective ('algo de febril').

A febril atividade neuronal durante o sono REM intriga os cientistas.

The feverish neuronal activity during REM sleep intrigues scientists.

Scientific/Academic context.

O poema captura a cadência febril do coração apaixonado.

The poem captures the feverish cadence of the passionate heart.

Poetic and metaphorical mastery.

A transição política ocorreu sob um signo febril de incerteza e esperança.

The political transition occurred under a feverish sign of uncertainty and hope.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

Sua oratória febril arrebatava multidões, mas escondia um vazio profundo.

His feverish oratory swept crowds away, but hid a deep void.

Describing a persuasive style.

O crepúsculo lançava uma luz febril sobre as ruínas da antiga civilização.

The twilight cast a feverish light over the ruins of the ancient civilization.

Describing light and atmosphere in a high literary style.

Collocations courantes

ritmo febril

estado febril

atividade febril

imaginação febril

olhar febril

busca febril

clima febril

expectativa febril

quadro febril

pulsação febril

Phrases Courantes

Estar febril

— To be running a low fever or starting to feel sick.

Acho que estou febril, sinto minha cabeça quente.

Ritmo febril

— A very fast and intense pace of work or life.

A fábrica opera em ritmo febril para o Natal.

Estado febril

— A clinical term for having a fever.

O médico confirmou o estado febril do paciente.

Atividade febril

— Intense activity or movement in a specific place.

Havia uma atividade febril nos bastidores do teatro.

Imaginação febril

— A mind that is overly active, often creative or paranoid.

Sua imaginação febril o fazia ver vultos na escuridão.

Busca febril

— A desperate or very fast search for something.

A busca febril por sobreviventes continuou pela noite.

Clima febril

— An atmosphere of high tension or excitement.

O clima febril na bolsa de valores assustou os investidores.

Sonho febril

— A vivid, often strange dream one has while sick.

Tive um sonho febril horrível por causa da gripe.

Olhar febril

— Eyes that show intense emotion or illness.

Seu olhar febril denunciava o cansaço extremo.

Pressão febril

— Intense and constant pressure, often in sports.

O time exerceu uma pressão febril nos minutos finais.

Souvent confondu avec

febril vs febre

Febre is the noun (fever); febril is the adjective (feverish).

febril vs quente

Quente is for physical temperature (hot coffee); febril is for sickness or intensity.

febril vs frenético

Frenético is more chaotic; febril is more restless/nervous.

Expressions idiomatiques

"trabalhar febrilmente"

— To work with extreme speed and focus, almost as if sick.

Eles trabalharam febrilmente para entregar o projeto.

neutral

"estar com a pulsação febril"

— To be very excited or anxious about something.

A cidade está com a pulsação febril para o festival.

figurative

"ter uma ideia febril"

— To have a sudden, intense, and perhaps crazy idea.

Ele teve uma ideia febril de mudar para o Alasca.

informal

"ritmo febril de crescimento"

— When something (like an economy) grows too fast.

A empresa está em um ritmo febril de crescimento.

professional

"olhar febril de desejo"

— An intense, almost obsessive look of wanting someone.

Ele a olhava com um olhar febril de desejo.

literary

"clima febril de guerra"

— The high tension that exists just before a conflict.

O clima febril de guerra tomou conta da fronteira.

journalistic

"atividade febril de formigueiro"

— A place where everyone is moving very fast in different directions.

A estação de trem era uma atividade febril de formigueiro.

descriptive

"paixão febril"

— A love that is so intense it feels like an illness.

Viveram uma paixão febril que durou apenas um verão.

literary

"curiosidade febril"

— An overwhelming need to know something.

A criança olhava o presente com uma curiosidade febril.

neutral

"espera febril"

— Waiting for something with extreme anxiety.

A espera febril pelo resultado terminou hoje.

neutral

Facile à confondre

febril vs febrento

Both mean feverish.

Febrento is colloquial and suggests a sickly appearance; febril is formal and clinical.

O menino está febrento (looks sick) vs O paciente está febril (medical fact).

febril vs fervilhar

Sounds slightly similar and relates to heat.

Fervilhar is a verb meaning to boil or swarm; febril is an adjective.

A cidade fervilhava de gente.

febril vs afebril

It contains the word 'febril'.

Afebril means the opposite: WITHOUT fever.

O paciente está afebril agora.

febril vs frágil

Ends in -il and describes a state of a person.

Frágil means fragile/weak; febril means feverish.

Ela está frágil após a doença.

febril vs fóssil

Rhymes with febril.

Fóssil is a noun/adjective for ancient remains.

Encontramos um fóssil no deserto.

Structures de phrases

[Subject] + estar + febril.

O bebê está febril.

[Subject] + estar + [Adverb] + febril.

Ela está muito febril.

[Noun] + febril + [Verb]...

O ritmo febril continua.

Em um [Noun] + febril...

Em um ritmo febril de trabalho.

[Subject] + apresenta + quadro febril.

O paciente apresenta quadro febril.

Uma [Abstract Noun] + febril...

Uma lucidez febril.

Trabalhar + febrilmente.

Eles trabalharam febrilmente.

[Plural Subject] + estão + febris.

Os alunos estão febris.

Famille de mots

Noms

febre

febriculante

Verbes

febrilar

enfebrecer

Adjectifs

febril

febrento

afebril

Apparenté

termômetro

antitérmico

temperatura

calafrio

infecção

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in medical and journalistic contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Eu estou com febril. → Eu estou febril.
Febril is an adjective, so you don't use 'com' (with) unless you use the noun 'febre'.
A sopa está febril. → A sopa está quente.
Febril is for sickness or intensity, not for the temperature of food.
Eles estão febrils. → Eles estão febris.
The plural of words ending in -il is -is.
Eu tenho um febril. → Eu tenho febre.
Febril is an adjective, you cannot 'have' an adjective; you 'are' feverish.
O dia está febril (meaning hot). → O dia está quente.
Unless the day is 'agitated' or 'tense', use 'quente' for weather.

Astuces

Plural Rule

Remember that adjectives ending in stressed -il always change to -is in the plural. This is a great rule to learn for many words like 'gentil' or 'hostil'.

Metaphorical Power

Use 'febril' to describe your work pace in an interview or a report to sound more sophisticated and energetic.

Last Syllable Stress

Always stress the 'BRIL' part. If you stress the first part, people might think you are saying a different word or just sound like a foreigner.

Medical Accuracy

In a clinical setting, use 'estar febril' to describe a temperature that is just starting to rise.

Creative Writing

Use 'febril' to describe eyes or looks to give your characters a sense of obsession or deep emotion.

Social Context

In Brazil, saying someone is 'febril' is a very common way to explain why they can't attend a social event.

News Reports

Listen for 'ritmo febril' in financial or sports news; it's a favorite phrase for journalists.

Verb Pairing

Pair 'febril' with 'estar' for health and with 'ter' (via a noun) or 'em' for pace, e.g., 'em ritmo febril'.

Opposite Word

Learn 'afebril' at the same time. It's the technical way to say someone has NO fever.

Daily Practice

Try to identify one thing in your day that is moving at a 'ritmo febril' and say it out loud in Portuguese.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'fever' + 'ill'. If you are 'febril', you have a fever and feel ill.

Association visuelle

Imagine a thermometer that is glowing bright red because it is so hot.

Word Web

febre quente doente rápido intenso médico termômetro agitação

Défi

Try to use 'febril' once to describe your health and once to describe your work today.

Origine du mot

From the Latin 'febrilis', which is derived from 'febris' (fever). It has been used in Portuguese since the early formation of the language to describe medical conditions.

Sens originel : Pertaining to or caused by fever.

Romance (Latin)

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities, but use it carefully in medical contexts to avoid causing unnecessary alarm.

English speakers often use 'feverish' in the same way, but 'febril' is slightly more common in everyday Portuguese medical contexts.

The concept of 'ritmo febril' is often used in Brazilian Bossa Nova and Samba to describe the energy of the dance. Literary works by Eça de Queirós often use 'febril' to describe the nervous energy of the 19th-century bourgeoisie. Medical reports in Portuguese news during the COVID-19 pandemic frequently used 'estado febril'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Medical

Quadro febril
Sintomas febris
Pico febril
Estado febril

Work

Ritmo febril
Atividade febril
Trabalho febril
Produção febril

Emotion/Mental

Imaginação febril
Desejo febril
Excitação febril
Olhar febril

Journalism

Clima febril
Expectativa febril
Mercado febril
Agitação febril

Literature

Sonho febril
Paixão febril
Escrita febril
Inquietude febril

Amorces de conversation

"Você já teve um sonho febril muito estranho?"

"Como você lida com o ritmo febril do trabalho moderno?"

"O que você faz quando se sente febril?"

"Você acha que a cidade onde você mora tem um clima febril?"

"Qual autor você acha que tem uma imaginação febril?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva um dia em que você trabalhou em um ritmo febril. O que você conseguiu realizar?

Como você se sente fisicamente quando está febril? Descreva as sensações.

Escreva sobre uma paixão febril que você teve por um hobby ou projeto.

Imagine um mundo onde tudo acontece em um ritmo febril. Como seria a vida?

Relate um sonho febril que você teve e como ele o fez sentir ao acordar.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, you should use 'quente'. 'Febril' is for health or intense human activity.

The plural is 'febris'. For example: 'sintomas febris'.

It is both! It doesn't change gender. 'O homem febril' and 'A mulher febril'.

Use 'febrento' in very casual conversation when someone looks physically miserable from a fever.

Not necessarily. It means very fast and intense. It can be productive, but often implies it's exhausting.

You can say 'estado febril' or 'febre baixa'.

Yes, it is common and understood in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

Only metaphorically, like 'uma cidade febril'. Don't use it for temperature of objects like soup.

Yes, it is an adverb used to describe working or acting with intense speed.

It is more formal than 'com febre', but it is used in daily life too.

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