intervalo en 30 secondes
- Intervalo means 'break' or 'interval'.
- It is a masculine noun (o intervalo).
- Commonly used for school, work, and sports.
- Can also mean a range in math or music.
The Portuguese word intervalo is a versatile masculine noun that primarily denotes a space, whether in time or physical distance, between two specific points. At its core, it represents a pause, a break, or a gap. In the context of daily life, it is most frequently used to describe the period of rest between work shifts, the intermission during a play or concert, or the recess period for students in a school setting. Unlike the English word 'break' which can sometimes imply a fracture, 'intervalo' strictly maintains the sense of a scheduled or natural interruption within a sequence of events.
- Temporal Duration
- Refers to the time elapsed between two events, such as the 'intervalo' between the first and second half of a football match.
- Educational Context
- Commonly known as 'recreio' in primary schools, but 'intervalo' is the standard term in high schools and universities for the time between classes.
- Mathematical/Scientific
- Used to describe a range of values or the distance between two points on a scale.
"Vamos aproveitar o intervalo para tomar um café e discutir os próximos passos do projeto."
In a broader sense, 'intervalo' can also refer to the distance between musical notes (musical interval) or the space between objects. It is a word that suggests structure; an interval exists because there is something before it and something after it. It is the 'breath' in a rhythm. In Brazil, for instance, the 'intervalo comercial' refers to the commercial break during a television broadcast. Understanding 'intervalo' is crucial for navigating schedules, social interactions, and professional environments in any Portuguese-speaking country.
"O intervalo das aulas dura apenas quinze minutos, então corra!"
- Musical Interval
- The difference in pitch between two sounds.
- Physical Gap
- A space between two physical structures, though 'espaço' is more common here.
"Houve um longo intervalo entre as duas guerras."
"O médico sugeriu um intervalo de quatro horas entre os medicamentos."
"No intervalo do jogo, os jogadores foram para o vestiário."
Using 'intervalo' correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a masculine noun and its common prepositional pairings. It is almost always preceded by the definite article 'o' (the) or 'um' (a/an). When discussing when something happens, the contraction 'no' (em + o) is your best friend. For example, 'No intervalo' means 'During the break' or 'At the interval'.
Common Prepositional Phrases
- De intervalo: Used to describe the duration. "Temos dez minutos de intervalo." (We have a ten-minute break.)
- Entre... e...: Used to define the bounds. "O intervalo entre as 14h e as 15h está livre." (The interval between 2 PM and 3 PM is free.)
- Com intervalo: Often used in medical or technical instructions. "Tome o remédio com intervalo de 8 horas." (Take the medicine with an 8-hour interval.)
In professional settings, 'intervalo' is often synonymous with 'horário de almoço' (lunch break) or 'pausa para o café' (coffee break). However, 'intervalo' sounds slightly more formal or structural. If you are in a meeting and want to suggest a break, you might say: "Podemos fazer um pequeno intervalo?" (Can we take a small break?).
In mathematics and statistics, 'intervalo' is used for ranges. 'Intervalo de confiança' (confidence interval) is a standard term. In music, 'intervalo de quinta' (interval of a fifth) describes the distance between notes. This demonstrates the word's flexibility across different domains of knowledge. When using it to describe a physical gap, ensure that the context implies a sequence; otherwise, 'espaço' or 'vão' might be more appropriate. For instance, the gap between a train and the platform is often called 'o vão', but the time between trains is 'o intervalo'.
You will encounter 'intervalo' in a variety of everyday scenarios. In a school environment, the bell signifies the start of the 'intervalo'. Students will shout, "É hora do intervalo!" (It's break time!). In a corporate office, you'll hear colleagues asking, "A que horas é o seu intervalo?" (What time is your break?).
On television, the announcer might say, "Voltamos depois do intervalo" (We'll be back after the break), referring to the commercial advertisements. At the theater or the opera, the lights will dim slightly, and an announcement will mention the 'intervalo' between acts, usually lasting 15 to 20 minutes. This is the time for the audience to stretch their legs and visit the foyer.
In sports, specifically football (soccer), the period between the two 45-minute halves is called the 'intervalo'. Commentators will analyze the first half 'no intervalo'. In a medical context, a doctor might specify the 'intervalo de dosagem' for a prescription. Even in weather reports, you might hear about 'intervalos de sol' (sunny spells/intervals) during a cloudy day. It is a ubiquitous term that bridges the gap between formal scheduling and casual daily life.
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 'intervalo' with 'pausa' or 'folga'. While they are related, they are not always interchangeable.
- Intervalo vs. Pausa: A 'pausa' is often a brief, perhaps unscheduled stop in an activity (like a pause in a conversation). An 'intervalo' is usually a scheduled, structured period of time between two parts of something. You 'pause' a video, but a movie theater has an 'intervalo'.
- Intervalo vs. Folga: 'Folga' refers to a day off from work or a period of rest after a long shift (e.g., "Hoje é minha folga" - Today is my day off). You wouldn't call your lunch break a 'folga'; that is an 'intervalo'.
- Gender Errors: Remember that 'intervalo' is masculine. Avoid saying 'a intervalo'. It is always 'o intervalo'.
- Preposition Confusion: Learners often say 'em o intervalo' instead of the contracted 'no intervalo'. Always use the contraction.
- False Cognates: While 'interval' exists in English, it is often used more technically. In Portuguese, 'intervalo' is the everyday word for 'break'. Don't look for a word like 'break' (quebra) to describe your lunch time; 'quebra' means a physical break or a rupture.
To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to know words that share a semantic field with 'intervalo'.
- Pausa: A temporary stop. (e.g., "Fizemos uma pausa na caminhada.")
- Recesso: Often used for longer, official breaks, like a legislative or school holiday period. (e.g., "O tribunal está em recesso.")
- Interrupção: A more forceful or accidental stopping of an action. (e.g., "Houve uma interrupção no fornecimento de energia.")
- Lacuna: A gap or a hole, often used metaphorically for missing information. (e.g., "Há uma lacuna no meu conhecimento.")
- Fresta: A physical slit or narrow opening, like light coming through a door.
- Entreato: Specifically the interval between acts in a play.
- Meio-tempo: Used specifically in sports for half-time.
Choosing the right word depends on the context of the 'gap'. If it's scheduled and temporal, 'intervalo' is your best bet. If it's a physical hole, 'buraco' or 'lacuna' works better. If it's a long holiday, 'férias' or 'recesso' is the way to go.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Contractions with 'em' (no, nos, num, nalgum)
Noun-adjective agreement
Prepositional phrases with 'entre'
Exemples par niveau
O intervalo é às dez horas.
The break is at ten o'clock.
Simple subject-verb-complement structure.
Eu como uma maçã no intervalo.
I eat an apple during the break.
Use of 'no' (em + o) for 'during'.
Onde é o intervalo?
Where is the break?
Interrogative sentence.
Temos um intervalo curto.
We have a short break.
Adjective 'curto' follows the noun.
Gosto do intervalo da escola.
I like the school break.
Verb 'gostar' requires the preposition 'de'.
O intervalo acabou.
The break is over.
Past tense of 'acabar'.
Um café no intervalo, por favor.
A coffee during the break, please.
Common request.
O intervalo dura quinze minutos.
The break lasts fifteen minutes.
Verb 'durar' for duration.
Vamos tomar um café no intervalo do trabalho?
Shall we have a coffee during the work break?
Invitation using 'vamos' + infinitive.
O filme tem um intervalo de dez minutos.
The movie has a ten-minute intermission.
Noun phrase 'intervalo de [time]'.
O jogador se machucou no intervalo.
The player got injured during the half-time.
Reflexive verb 'se machucou'.
Não houve intervalo entre as reuniões.
There was no break between the meetings.
Negative existential 'não houve'.
Preciso de um intervalo para descansar.
I need a break to rest.
Verb 'precisar' + 'de'.
O intervalo comercial é muito longo.
The commercial break is very long.
Adjective 'comercial' modifying 'intervalo'.
Eles conversaram durante o intervalo.
They talked during the break.
Use of 'durante' as a synonym for 'no'.
O intervalo das aulas é ao meio-dia.
The class break is at noon.
Contraction 'ao' (a + o).
O médico recomendou um intervalo de oito horas entre as doses.
The doctor recommended an eight-hour interval between doses.
Technical instruction.
Houve um intervalo de silêncio antes da resposta.
There was an interval of silence before the answer.
Abstract use of 'intervalo'.
O intervalo de confiança da pesquisa é de 95%.
The confidence interval of the research is 95%.
Statistical terminology.
A banda fez um pequeno intervalo antes do bis.
The band took a small break before the encore.
Musical context.
O intervalo entre as safras prejudicou a economia local.
The gap between harvests hurt the local economy.
Economic context.
O aplicativo permite definir o intervalo de notificações.
The app allows setting the notification interval.
Technological context.
No intervalo da peça, fomos ao bar do teatro.
During the play's intermission, we went to the theater bar.
Cultural context.
O intervalo de tempo foi insuficiente para terminar a prova.
The time interval was insufficient to finish the exam.
Compound subject 'intervalo de tempo'.
A música é definida pelos intervalos entre as notas.
Music is defined by the intervals between the notes.
Music theory context.
O intervalo de manutenção deve ser rigorosamente seguido.
The maintenance interval must be strictly followed.
Passive voice 'deve ser seguido'.
Houve um intervalo lúcido na mente do paciente.
There was a lucid interval in the patient's mind.
Medical/Psychological nuance.
O intervalo de frequências é captado pela antena.
The frequency range is captured by the antenna.
Physics context.
A empresa aumentou o intervalo de descanso dos funcionários.
The company increased the employees' rest break.
Labor law context.
O intervalo de temperatura ideal é entre 18 e 22 graus.
The ideal temperature range is between 18 and 22 degrees.
Scientific range.
O intervalo das marés varia conforme a lua.
The interval of the tides varies according to the moon.
Natural phenomena.
A peça explora o intervalo entre a realidade e o sonho.
The play explores the gap between reality and dream.
Metaphorical use.
A narrativa se perde nos intervalos da memória.
The narrative gets lost in the gaps of memory.
Poetic/Literary use.
O intervalo de validade jurídica expirou ontem.
The legal validity period expired yesterday.
Legal terminology.
A síncope na música é o deslocamento para o intervalo fraco.
Syncopation in music is the displacement to the weak interval.
Advanced music theory.
O intervalo de amostragem comprometeu a precisão dos dados.
The sampling interval compromised the data precision.
Data science context.
A política externa teve um intervalo de isolacionismo.
Foreign policy had an interval of isolationism.
Historical/Political analysis.
O intervalo de pulsação indica o estado de estresse.
The pulse interval indicates the stress state.
Biometric context.
A filosofia de Bergson trata do intervalo como duração pura.
Bergson's philosophy treats the interval as pure duration.
Philosophical context.
O intervalo entre o estímulo e a resposta é crucial na psicologia.
The interval between stimulus and response is crucial in psychology.
Behavioral science.
A obra reside no intervalo inefável entre o dito e o não dito.
The work resides in the ineffable gap between the said and the unsaid.
Highly abstract/Literary.
O intervalo de contingência define a probabilidade do evento.
The contingency interval defines the probability of the event.
Advanced probability theory.
A sutil tessitura do intervalo rítmico sustenta a composição.
The subtle texture of the rhythmic interval sustains the composition.
Sophisticated aesthetic description.
O intervalo de latência foi minimizado pela nova arquitetura de rede.
The latency interval was minimized by the new network architecture.
High-level IT/Engineering.
A hermenêutica busca preencher o intervalo temporal entre autor e leitor.
Hermeneutics seeks to fill the temporal gap between author and reader.
Academic/Philosophical.
O intervalo de tolerância mecânica é de mícrons.
The mechanical tolerance interval is in microns.
Precision engineering.
A vacuidade do intervalo permite a emergência do novo.
The emptiness of the interval allows for the emergence of the new.
Existential/Ontological.
O intervalo intergeracional reflete-se na mudança de léxico.
The intergenerational gap is reflected in the change of lexicon.
Sociolinguistic analysis.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
No intervalo de [X], [Y] aconteceu.
No intervalo de dez minutos, ele saiu.
Temos um intervalo para [Verb].
Temos um intervalo para lanchar.
Comment l'utiliser
Brazil uses it more broadly for any break; Portugal uses 'recreio' more for school.
- Saying 'a intervalo' instead of 'o intervalo'.
- Using 'intervalo' for a vacation (use 'férias').
- Confusing 'intervalo' with 'pausa' in a video game (use 'pausa').
- Forgetting the contraction 'no' (em + o).
- Using 'intervalo' to mean a physical hole (use 'buraco').
Astuces
Expand
Learn 'entreato' for theater-specific intervals.
Prepositions
Always pair with 'de' when specifying duration (e.g., intervalo de uma hora).
Politeness
Asking for an 'intervalo' is a polite way to stop a long meeting.
Work
Know your 'intervalo de almoço' rights in Brazil.
Math
Use it for 'range' in your math homework.
Theory
It describes the distance between notes.
TV
Mute the TV during the 'intervalo comercial'.
Routine
Schedule 'intervalos' to avoid burnout.
Flights
Check the 'intervalo' (layover) between flights.
Medicine
Respect the 'intervalo' between doses.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
From Latin 'intervallum', originally referring to the space between the palisades of a rampart.
Contexte culturel
TV 'intervalos' are where the biggest ads run.
Brazilian labor law requires an interval for shifts longer than 6 hours.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"O que você faz no seu intervalo?"
"Quanto tempo dura o seu intervalo de almoço?"
"Você prefere intervalos curtos ou longos?"
"O que aconteceu no intervalo do jogo ontem?"
"Podemos fazer um intervalo agora?"
Sujets d'écriture
Descreva o seu intervalo ideal.
O que você pensa durante o intervalo do trabalho?
Como era o intervalo na sua escola?
Por que os intervalos são importantes para a produtividade?
Escreva sobre um intervalo que mudou sua vida.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, use 'folga' for a day off from work.
It is always masculine: 'o intervalo'.
It is the 15-minute half-time break.
Intervalo comercial.
Yes, but 'recreio' is specifically for children's school play time.
Yes, like the distance between two points, but temporal use is more common.
Use 'no intervalo'.
Intervalo de confiança.
It is neutral; it can be used in both formal and informal settings.
Yes, specifically in theater and cinema.
Teste-toi 180 questions
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'intervalo' is the essential Portuguese term for any scheduled pause or gap, ranging from a 15-minute school recess to technical mathematical ranges and musical pitch differences.
- Intervalo means 'break' or 'interval'.
- It is a masculine noun (o intervalo).
- Commonly used for school, work, and sports.
- Can also mean a range in math or music.
Expand
Learn 'entreato' for theater-specific intervals.
Prepositions
Always pair with 'de' when specifying duration (e.g., intervalo de uma hora).
Politeness
Asking for an 'intervalo' is a polite way to stop a long meeting.
Work
Know your 'intervalo de almoço' rights in Brazil.
Exemple
Faremos uma pausa para um intervalo de 15 minutos.
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