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A2 adjective #7,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

malpassado

Top 7,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces malpassado en 30 secondes

Explication malpassado in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn basic survival Portuguese. The word 'malpassado' is a vital vocabulary item for one of the most common activities: eating out. You don't need to know the complex grammar behind it yet. Just remember it as a single block of meaning: 'rare meat'. When a waiter asks 'Qual o ponto?' (What's the cooking point?), you can simply reply 'Malpassado, por favor'. Focus on the sound 'mal-pa-SSA-du' and associate it with a picture of a juicy, red steak. At this stage, you might struggle with the feminine form 'malpassada', but don't worry—people will still understand you if you use the masculine version for everything. It is a 'survival word' for your first trip to a Brazilian or Portuguese restaurant.

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At the A2 level, you should start paying attention to the gender of the nouns you are describing. You now know that 'carne' is feminine, so you should say 'carne malpassada'. You are also learning basic adjectives and how they modify nouns. You can now use 'malpassado' in short sentences like 'Eu não gosto de carne malpassada' (I don't like rare meat) or 'O bife está malpassado'. You are beginning to understand that 'mal-' is a prefix meaning 'badly', but in this specific culinary context, it's a technical term. You can also start to compare it with 'bem-passado' (well-done), using basic comparison structures like 'Eu prefiro malpassado do que bem-passado'.

At the B1 level, you can handle more complex dining situations. You can use 'malpassado' to explain your preferences in detail. For example, 'Eu gostaria que o bife fosse servido malpassado, mas com a crosta bem dourada' (I would like the steak served rare, but with a well-browned crust). You understand the nuances between 'malpassado' and 'ao ponto' and can use the intermediate phrase 'ao ponto para mal'. You are also comfortable using the word in different tenses, such as 'Ontem, comi um bife que estava muito malpassado' (Yesterday, I ate a steak that was very rare). You can follow a recipe that uses the word and understand instructions on how to achieve that specific cooking level.

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At the B2 level, you can engage in discussions about food quality and cooking techniques. You might discuss why certain cuts of meat, like 'picanha' or 'mignon', are better when served 'malpassado'. You are aware of regional differences, such as how 'malpassado' might be interpreted slightly differently in a high-end restaurant in São Paulo versus a traditional 'tasca' in Lisbon. You can use the word metaphorically or in more abstract contexts, although it remains primarily culinary. You also understand related vocabulary like 'suculência' (juiciness) and 'selar a carne' (to sear the meat) and can explain the process of making a steak malpassado to someone else in Portuguese.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'malpassado' is fluid and natural. You can use it in professional culinary contexts or in high-level social settings. You might critique a dish using the term: 'A execução do prato foi falha; o centro do tornedor não atingiu a temperatura ideal para um malpassado autêntico' (The execution of the dish was flawed; the center of the tournedos didn't reach the ideal temperature for an authentic rare). You are sensitive to the stylistic choices of using 'malpassado' versus 'sangrento' or 'ao ponto para mal'. You can read food criticism and culinary literature that uses the word to describe textures and flavors in a sophisticated manner. You also understand the historical development of the term and its place in Lusophone culture.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the word and its surrounding semantic field. You can use 'malpassado' in creative writing, poetry, or complex metaphors. You might use it to describe a situation that is 'undercooked' or 'raw' in a figurative sense with perfect timing and register. You can participate in expert-level debates about gastronomy, food safety regulations regarding 'carne malpassada', and the cultural evolution of meat consumption in the Portuguese-speaking world. You understand the most obscure regional synonyms and can switch between them effortlessly depending on your audience. Your pronunciation and agreement are flawless, and the word is a seamless part of your extensive vocabulary.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

malpassado en 30 secondes

Malpassado is the Portuguese adjective for 'rare' when describing meat doneness, characterized by a red, warm center.
It must agree in gender (malpassada) and number (malpassados) with the noun it modifies, such as 'carne' or 'bifes'.
Commonly used in restaurants and barbecues, it is the first stage of cooking after 'raw' (cru).
It is a compound of 'mal' (little) and 'passado' (cooked), but it is a positive term for meat lovers.

The Portuguese word malpassado is an adjective primarily used in culinary contexts to describe the degree of doneness of meat, specifically beef. In English, the closest equivalent is rare. Etymologically, it is a compound word formed by mal (badly or poorly) and passado (past, or in this context, cooked/done). While the literal translation might suggest something 'badly cooked,' in a gastronomic sense, it is a prestigious choice for those who enjoy the natural juices and tenderness of the meat.

Visual Characteristics: A steak described as malpassado will have a seared, brown exterior but a cool to warm, bright red center. It is distinct from 'cru' (raw) because the heat has actually touched the fibers, but only briefly.
Cultural Significance: In Brazil and Portugal, the 'churrasco' (barbecue) culture is immense. Ordering your meat malpassado often signals a level of culinary sophistication or a preference for the traditional way of preserving flavor.

Eu gostaria do meu bife malpassado, por favor.

The term is essential for anyone dining out in a Lusophone country. If you go to a 'rodízio' (all-you-can-eat steakhouse), the 'passadores' (meat servers) will often ask you how you like your meat. If you prefer it juicy and red, 'malpassado' is your keyword. It is also used to describe other foods that are lightly cooked, though meat is the 99% use case. For example, some might describe a very lightly sautéed vegetable as 'malpassada,' though this is less common and often implies it was actually undercooked by mistake rather than by preference.

The Spectrum of Cooking: Malpassado is the first step after 'cru'. It is followed by 'ao ponto' (medium) and 'bem-passado' (well-done). Understanding this hierarchy is vital for restaurant communication.

Muitas pessoas acreditam que a carne malpassada é mais saborosa e suculenta.

In a broader, metaphorical sense, 'malpassado' can occasionally refer to something that was done in a hurry or not fully completed, though this is informal and regional. For instance, a 'trabalho malpassado' could imply a job that lacks finishing or detail, essentially 'undercooked' in terms of effort. However, stick to the culinary meaning for 99% of your interactions to avoid confusion.

Using malpassado correctly requires understanding its agreement with the noun it modifies. Since it is an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the food item. For 'o bife' (the steak), we use 'malpassado'. For 'a carne' (the meat), we use 'malpassada'. If you are talking about multiple steaks, it becomes 'malpassados'.

Grammatical Agreement: O bife está malpassado (Masculine Singular).
A picanha está malpassada (Feminine Singular).
Os medalhões estão malpassados (Masculine Plural).

O garçom perguntou: 'O senhor prefere o bife ao ponto ou malpassado?'

When ordering at a restaurant, you will typically use the verb 'querer' (to want) or 'preferir' (to prefer). You can also use the phrase 'gostar de' (to like). It is common to see 'malpassado' placed immediately after the noun it describes. Unlike English where we say 'rare steak', in Portuguese, it is 'bife malpassado'.

Esta carne está muito malpassada, você poderia cozinhar um pouco mais?

It is also useful to know how to qualify the degree. If someone likes it extremely rare, they might say 'bem malpassado' (very rare). If they like it just a little rare, almost medium, they say 'ao ponto para mal'. This level of precision is common among meat enthusiasts. In writing, especially in recipes or restaurant reviews, you will see it used to describe the ideal preparation for high-quality cuts like 'filé mignon' or 'ancho'.

Common Verbs Used with Malpassado: 1. Ser/Estar: 'A carne está malpassada.'
2. Deixar: 'Deixe o bife malpassado.' (Leave/Cook the steak rare).
3. Servir: 'O restaurante serve a carne malpassada por padrão.'

Para esta receita, o atum deve ser servido malpassado.

The most frequent environment to hear malpassado is undoubtedly the restaurant scene. In Brazil, particularly in 'churrascarias' (steakhouses), the word is part of the rhythmic back-and-forth between the 'garçom' and the customer. You will hear it in high-end establishments where chefs take pride in meat quality, as well as at family Sunday barbecues where the 'churrasqueiro' (the person grilling) checks everyone's preference.

The Brazilian Churrasco: At a home BBQ, someone might yell: 'Quem quer malpassado?' (Who wants it rare?). Those who enjoy the juiciest cuts will raise their hands. It's a social marker of taste.

'Tira essa picanha agora, ela já está malpassada do jeito que eu gosto!'

Television cooking competitions like 'MasterChef Brasil' are another prime location. Judges often criticize contestants if a dish that should be 'malpassado' comes out 'passado do ponto' (overcooked). You'll hear technical discussions about the internal temperature of the meat and the importance of resting the meat so the 'sangue' (blood/myoglobin) doesn't run out, keeping it perfectly malpassado.

Beyond the kitchen, you might hear it in metaphors about things that are 'half-baked' or 'undone'. If a political plan is presented without enough detail, a commentator might call it a 'projeto malpassado'. This is more common in journalistic or intellectual circles to describe ideas that haven't been fully 'cooked' or thought through. However, this is significantly less common than the literal food usage.

In the Supermarket: You might hear a customer at the butcher counter (açougue) saying: 'Quero um corte que fique bom malpassado.' They are looking for tender cuts like 'alcatra' or 'contrafilé'.

'Não deixe o hambúrguer no fogo por muito tempo; eu quero ele malpassado.'

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is assuming malpassado means 'poorly cooked' in a negative sense because of the prefix 'mal-'. In English, 'badly done' is a critique, but in Portuguese culinary terms, 'malpassado' is a specific, often desired, state. Do not apologize for your meat being 'malpassada' if that is how it was intended!

Malpassado vs. Cru: New learners often confuse 'malpassado' with 'cru' (raw). If you order a steak 'cru', the waiter will look at you strangely, as that means completely uncooked meat (like carpaccio or steak tartare). 'Malpassado' implies it has been on the grill.

Erro comum: Pedir carne 'crua' quando você quer malpassada.

Another mistake involves gender and number agreement. Because the word ends in '-o', beginners often forget to change it to '-a' for feminine nouns like 'carne' or 'picanha'. Saying 'carne malpassado' is a clear sign of a non-native speaker. Always match the ending: 'carne malpassada'.

Confusion also arises with the term 'ao ponto'. Some learners think 'ao ponto' means 'rare' because it's the 'standard' way. However, 'ao ponto' is medium. If you want it rare, you must specify 'malpassado'. If you say 'ao ponto' expecting a red center, you might be disappointed with a pink, firmer steak.

False Friend Warning: Do not confuse 'malpassado' with 'mal-estar' (feeling unwell). They share the 'mal' prefix but are unrelated. Also, 'passado' can mean 'expired' or 'spoiled' when talking about fruit, but with meat, it refers to the cooking level.

Cuidado: 'Carne passada' (without the 'mal') can sometimes mean meat that is starting to go bad, depending on context!

While malpassado is the most common term for 'rare', there are several alternatives and related terms that can help you navigate a menu or a conversation with a chef more effectively. Understanding the nuances between these can elevate your Portuguese from basic to fluent.

Sangrento: Literally 'bloody'. This is used to describe meat that is very rare, often even more so than standard malpassado. It is more common in Portugal than in Brazil. Example: 'Gosto do bife quase sangrento.'
Selado: Literally 'seared'. This describes meat that has only been quickly browned on the outside, leaving the inside almost completely raw. It is the equivalent of 'blue' in English steak terms.

Se você gosta da carne apenas selada, peça ao garçom por um ponto 'blue'.

On the other side of the spectrum, you have 'ao ponto' (medium). If 'malpassado' is too rare for you, this is the safe middle ground. If you want something between rare and medium, the phrase is 'ao ponto para mal'. This is a very common and useful phrase for those who find 'malpassado' a bit too intimidating but 'ao ponto' too dry.

In some informal contexts, especially in rural areas or older generations, you might hear people use 'cru' (raw) loosely to mean 'malpassado', as in 'Eu gosto da carne quase crua'. However, this is more of an exaggeration of their preference for rare meat rather than a literal request for raw meat. In a professional setting, always stick to 'malpassado'.

Comparison Table

Malpassado: Rare (Red center, warm).
Ao ponto: Medium (Pink center, firm).
Bem-passado: Well-done (Brown throughout, dry).
Suarento: Rarely used, but refers to meat 'sweating' juices.

O chef recomenda o cordeiro ao ponto para mal para preservar a maciez.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

In the Middle Ages, the concept of 'cooking levels' for meat was less standardized. The term 'malpassado' reflects a time when heat was the primary way to make meat 'pass' from a raw state to an edible one.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˌmæl pæˈsɑːdəʊ/

US /ˌmæl pəˈsɑdoʊ/

The primary stress is on the second-to-last syllable: mal-pas-SA-do.

Rime avec

cansado pesado passado casado obrigado engraçado atrasado gelado

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'l' in 'mal' like a clear English 'l' (it should be more like a 'u' in Brazil).
Stress on the first syllable.
Making the 'ss' sound like a 'z'. It must be a sharp 's' sound.
Pronouncing the final 'o' as a strong 'oh' (in Brazil, it's often a soft 'u').
Forgetting to agree with feminine nouns (saying malpassado for carne).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in menus and recipes.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the double 's' and gender agreement.

Expression orale 3/5

Requires correct stress on 'SSA' and vocalizing the 'l' as 'u' in Brazil.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most contexts.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

carne bife mal passado ponto

Apprends ensuite

bem-passado ao ponto grelhado assado cru

Avancé

selar suculência maturação marmorização picanha

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective Agreement

A carne (fem) está malpassada (fem).

Compound Adverbs

Mal (badly) + passado (cooked).

Position of Adjectives

Bife malpassado (Adjective usually follows the noun).

Intensifiers with Adjectives

Muito malpassado, bem malpassado.

Verbs of Preference

Eu prefiro (verb) carne malpassada (object).

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Exemples par niveau

Eu quero bife malpassado.

I want rare steak.

Simple subject + verb + object structure.

Malpassado, por favor.

Rare, please.

A common short phrase used when ordering.

O bife é malpassado.

The steak is rare.

Use of the verb 'ser' for a state.

Você gosta de malpassado?

Do you like [it] rare?

Question form with 'gostar de'.

Não, eu não gosto de malpassado.

No, I don't like [it] rare.

Negative sentence structure.

Carne malpassada é bom.

Rare meat is good.

Note the feminine agreement 'malpassada'.

Onde está o bife malpassado?

Where is the rare steak?

Question with 'onde'.

Este bife está malpassado.

This steak is rare.

Use of 'este' (this).

Minha picanha está muito malpassada.

My picanha is very rare.

Use of 'muito' as an intensifier.

Eu prefiro a carne malpassada.

I prefer the meat rare.

Verb 'preferir' with feminine agreement.

Eles pediram dois bifes malpassados.

They ordered two rare steaks.

Plural agreement 'malpassados'.

Você pode fazer o bife malpassado?

Can you make the steak rare?

Use of 'poder' + infinitive 'fazer'.

A carne não está malpassada, está crua!

The meat isn't rare, it's raw!

Contrast between 'malpassada' and 'crua'.

Gostamos de churrasco malpassado.

We like rare barbecue.

First person plural 'gostamos'.

O garçom trouxe a carne malpassada.

The waiter brought the rare meat.

Past tense 'trouxe' (trazer).

Sempre como meu bife malpassado.

I always eat my steak rare.

Adverb 'sempre' (always).

Se o bife não estiver malpassado, eu não quero.

If the steak isn't rare, I don't want it.

Conditional 'se' with future subjunctive 'estiver'.

Eu pedi ao ponto, mas veio malpassado.

I ordered medium, but it came rare.

Contrast using 'mas' (but).

Para selar a carne e deixá-la malpassada, use fogo alto.

To sear the meat and leave it rare, use high heat.

Instructional language with 'para' + infinitive.

Muitas pessoas no Brasil adoram carne malpassada.

Many people in Brazil love rare meat.

Generalizing with 'muitas pessoas'.

O segredo de um bom bife malpassado é o descanso da carne.

The secret to a good rare steak is letting the meat rest.

Noun phrase as subject.

Ela disse que prefere bife malpassado a bem-passado.

She said she prefers rare steak to well-done.

Indirect speech with 'disse que'.

Aquele restaurante é famoso pelo seu bife malpassado.

That restaurant is famous for its rare steak.

Use of 'famoso por'.

Não é perigoso comer carne malpassada?

Isn't it dangerous to eat rare meat?

Interrogative with 'não é...?'.

O chef insiste que o filé mignon deve ser servido malpassado.

The chef insists that the filet mignon must be served rare.

Subjunctive trigger 'insiste que'.

Embora esteja malpassado, o bife está frio no meio.

Although it is rare, the steak is cold in the middle.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + subjunctive.

A textura da carne malpassada é muito mais macia.

The texture of rare meat is much softer.

Descriptive noun phrase.

Ele se recusou a comer porque a carne não estava malpassada o suficiente.

He refused to eat because the meat wasn't rare enough.

Compound sentence with 'porque'.

Ao cortar o bife malpassado, o suco da carne se espalhou pelo prato.

Upon cutting the rare steak, the meat juice spread across the plate.

Gerund-like 'Ao' + infinitive construction.

Dificilmente você encontrará alguém que goste de frango malpassado.

You will hardly find someone who likes rare chicken.

Adverb 'dificilmente' + future tense.

A preferência por carne malpassada varia de região para região.

The preference for rare meat varies from region to region.

Abstract subject 'a preferência'.

O ponto malpassado preserva melhor os nutrientes da carne.

The rare point preserves the meat's nutrients better.

Use of 'melhor' as an adverb.

A apreciação de um corte malpassado exige um paladar apurado.

The appreciation of a rare cut requires a refined palate.

Sophisticated vocabulary like 'apreciação' and 'apurado'.

O crítico gastronômico elogiou o ponto malpassado impecável do restaurante.

The food critic praised the restaurant's impeccable rare point.

Complex subject and descriptive adjectives.

Para atingir o malpassado perfeito, a temperatura interna deve ser monitorada.

To achieve the perfect rare, the internal temperature must be monitored.

Passive voice 'deve ser monitorada'.

O debate sobre os riscos da carne malpassada é recorrente na saúde pública.

The debate about the risks of rare meat is recurring in public health.

Formal academic tone.

Servir um bife malpassado sem o devido descanso é um erro crasso.

Serving a rare steak without proper resting is a gross error.

Use of the idiom 'erro crasso'.

A carne, ainda malpassada, exalava um aroma defumado irresistível.

The meat, still rare, emanated an irresistible smoky aroma.

Appositive phrase 'ainda malpassada'.

Muitos puristas defendem que a carne bovina só deve ser consumida malpassada.

Many purists argue that beef should only be consumed rare.

Complex verb 'defender que'.

A sutileza entre o malpassado e o ponto para mal é o que define um grande chef.

The subtlety between rare and medium-rare is what defines a great chef.

Philosophical/Technical comparison.

A obra literária, tal qual um bife malpassado, era crua e visceral.

The literary work, just like a rare steak, was raw and visceral.

Metaphorical use of 'malpassado'.

O projeto foi entregue de forma malpassada, carecendo de refinamento técnico.

The project was delivered in an 'undercooked' manner, lacking technical refinement.

Figurative use in a professional context.

Sua argumentação, embora malpassada, continha lampejos de genialidade.

His argument, though 'undercooked' (unrefined), contained flashes of genius.

Abstract application of culinary terms.

A dialética entre o cozido e o malpassado reflete tensões culturais profundas.

The dialectic between the cooked and the rare reflects deep cultural tensions.

Highly academic/philosophical structure.

Ele saboreava a vida com a mesma voracidade que dedicava a um bife malpassado.

He savored life with the same voracity he dedicated to a rare steak.

Literary comparison.

A carne malpassada servia como metáfora para a fragilidade da existência humana.

The rare meat served as a metaphor for the fragility of human existence.

Deeply metaphorical usage.

Não se pode negligenciar a importância do malpassado na construção da identidade gaúcha.

One cannot neglect the importance of 'rare' in the construction of the Gaucho identity.

Sociological/Cultural analysis.

A precisão térmica exigida pelo malpassado assemelha-se à precisão de um cirurgião.

The thermal precision required by 'rare' resembles the precision of a surgeon.

Complex analogy.

Collocations courantes

bife malpassado

carne malpassada

ponto malpassado

comer malpassado

servir malpassado

ficar malpassado

pedir malpassado

gostar de malpassado

picanha malpassada

hambúrguer malpassado

Phrases Courantes

Ao ponto para mal

— Between rare and medium.

Eu quero meu bife ao ponto para mal, por favor.

Bem malpassado

— Very rare, almost raw.

Gosto do meu medalhão bem malpassado.

Quase cru

— Almost raw, often used to describe very rare meat.

A carne veio quase crua, do jeito que eu gosto.

No ponto malpassado

— At the rare stage.

A carne já está no ponto malpassado.

Passou do ponto

— Overcooked (the opposite of what's desired).

Infelizmente, a carne passou do ponto e não está mais malpassada.

Selar a carne

— To sear the meat to keep it rare.

Você precisa selar a carne para que ela fique malpassada.

Carne sangrenta

— Bloody meat (very rare).

Algumas pessoas têm nojo de carne sangrenta.

Ponto da carne

— The level of doneness of the meat.

Qual é o seu ponto da carne favorito?

Malpassado, por favor

— Rare, please.

O garçom perguntou o ponto e eu disse: malpassado, por favor.

Gosto de carne assim

— I like meat like this (pointing to rare meat).

O bife está malpassado? Ótimo, gosto de carne assim.

Souvent confondu avec

malpassado vs cru

Cru means raw (uncooked), while malpassado is seared but rare.

malpassado vs ao ponto

Ao ponto is medium; learners often think it means rare.

malpassado vs passado

Passado can mean 'past' or 'cooked', but without 'mal', it often implies well-done or even spoiled.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Estar malpassado"

— Literally about meat, but can informally mean someone is 'not quite there' or 'half-baked'.

Aquele rapaz parece estar malpassado hoje.

slang/informal

"Conversa malpassada"

— A conversation that wasn't fully developed or felt 'raw'.

Tivemos uma conversa malpassada sobre o futuro.

informal

"Ideia malpassada"

— An idea that hasn't been fully thought through.

Essa sua ideia ainda está malpassada.

informal

"Negócio malpassado"

— A business deal that was done in a hurry and lacks detail.

Aquele foi um negócio malpassado e perigoso.

informal

"Trabalho malpassado"

— A job done without much care or finishing.

Não me entregue um trabalho malpassado.

informal

"Plano malpassado"

— A plan that is not yet mature or ready for execution.

O plano de marketing ainda está malpassado.

informal

"Sentimento malpassado"

— A feeling that hasn't been fully processed.

Ela ainda lida com sentimentos malpassados do divórcio.

literary

"Projeto malpassado"

— A project lacking proper preparation.

O governo apresentou um projeto malpassado.

journalistic

"Carne de pescoço"

— Not using 'malpassado', but refers to a 'tough meat' situation (a difficult person/problem).

Aquele cliente é carne de pescoço.

informal

"Encher linguiça"

— To 'fill the sausage' (to talk a lot without saying anything), often related to meat preparation metaphors.

O palestrante ficou só enchendo linguiça.

informal

Facile à confondre

malpassado vs mau

Sounds identical to 'mal' in Brazil.

'Mau' is an adjective (bad), 'mal' is an adverb (badly). In 'malpassado', it's always 'mal'.

Um homem mau come bife malpassado.

malpassado vs passado

It's the second half of the word.

'Passado' can mean 'the past' or 'overcooked' if used alone in some contexts.

O passado ficou para trás; hoje quero meu bife malpassado.

malpassado vs sangrento

Similar meaning.

'Sangrento' is more graphic (bloody) and less technical than 'malpassado'.

O bife estava tão malpassado que parecia sangrento.

malpassado vs selado

Both involve light cooking.

'Selado' is even rarer than 'malpassado' (just seared).

Eu não quero malpassado, quero apenas selado.

malpassado vs cru

Visual similarity.

'Cru' has no cooking at all.

O carpaccio é cru, o bife é malpassado.

Structures de phrases

Eu quero [noun] malpassado.

Eu quero bife malpassado.

A [noun] está malpassada.

A carne está malpassada.

Eu prefiro [noun] malpassado do que [noun] bem-passado.

Eu prefiro bife malpassado do que bem-passado.

Se você [verb], a carne ficará malpassada.

Se você grelhar rápido, a carne ficará malpassada.

O segredo do [noun] reside no ponto malpassado.

O segredo do sabor reside no ponto malpassado.

Nada supera a [noun] malpassada em termos de [noun].

Nada supera a picanha malpassada em termos de suculência.

Any

[Noun] malpassado, por favor.

Medalhão malpassado, por favor.

Any

Não gosto de [noun] malpassado.

Não gosto de hambúrguer malpassado.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely common in culinary contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Eu quero carne malpassado. → Eu quero carne malpassada.
Carne is feminine, so the adjective must end in 'a'.
O bife está cru. → O bife está malpassado.
Cru means raw; malpassado means rare (cooked on the outside).
Eu gosto de bife maupassado. → Eu gosto de bife malpassado.
Though it sounds like 'mau' in Brazil, the correct spelling is with 'l'.
O ponto é passado. → O ponto é malpassado.
'Passado' alone often implies well-done or overcooked.
Eu quero bife mal-passado (with hyphen). → Eu quero bife malpassado.
Modern Portuguese spelling usually omits the hyphen in this compound.

Astuces

The Rodízio Strategy

In a Brazilian rodízio, meat comes to you. If you see a piece you like, just say 'malpassado' and the server will cut the rarest part for you.

Gender Matters

Always remember: 'O bife malpassado' but 'A carne malpassada'. This is a frequent test for Portuguese learners.

The Brazilian 'L'

Practice saying 'mau' instead of 'mal' to sound more like a local in Rio or São Paulo.

Resting is Key

If you are cooking 'malpassado' at home, let the meat rest for 5 minutes so the juices don't run out when you cut it.

Beyond Beef

While 90% used for beef, you can use it for tuna (atum malpassado) or lamb (cordeiro malpassado).

Be Specific

If you are picky, say 'bem malpassado' for very rare or 'ao ponto para mal' for medium-rare.

BBQ Etiquette

At a friend's BBQ, it's polite to compliment the 'ponto'. Say: 'O ponto está perfeito, bem malpassado!'

Health First

If you have a sensitive stomach, you might prefer 'ao ponto' over 'malpassado' when traveling.

Root Meaning

Think of 'mal' as 'under' in this case—'undercooked' but in a good way.

Figurative Use

Don't be surprised if a boss calls a project 'malpassado'; they mean it needs more work!

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'MAL' as 'MINIMAL' cooking and 'PASSADO' as 'PAST' the fire. Minimal time past the fire equals a rare steak.

Association visuelle

Visualize a bright red 'M' (for Malpassado) stamped onto the center of a juicy red steak.

Word Web

carne bife ponto sangue grelha churrasco fogo restaurante

Défi

Go to a local Brazilian steakhouse and try to order your favorite cut using the word 'malpassado' or 'ao ponto para mal' correctly.

Origine du mot

The word is a compound of the adverb 'mal' and the past participle 'passado'. 'Mal' comes from the Latin 'male', meaning badly or insufficiently. 'Passado' comes from the verb 'passar', which derives from the Vulgar Latin 'passare', meaning to step or go through.

Sens originel : The original literal meaning is 'insufficiently gone through [the fire]'.

Romance (Latin-based).

Contexte culturel

Be aware that some people avoid 'malpassado' meat due to health concerns or religious reasons. Always offer 'bem-passado' as an alternative when hosting.

In the US/UK, 'rare' is standard. However, Brazilian 'malpassado' is often slightly more cooked than a French 'bleu'.

MasterChef Brasil Alex Atala (famous Brazilian chef) Churrascaria Fogo de Chão

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At a Restaurant

Qual o ponto da carne?
Quero malpassado.
Está muito cru.
Pode passar mais um pouco?

At a Barbecue

Quem quer malpassado?
Saiu uma picanha malpassada!
Essa está no ponto.
Gosto de carne sangrenta.

Cooking at Home

Não deixe passar do ponto.
Quero que fique malpassado.
Vou selar a carne.
Use fogo alto.

Food Criticism

O ponto estava perfeito.
Veio malpassado demais.
Faltou suculência.
A carne estava tenra.

Butcher Shop

Um corte para fazer malpassado.
Essa carne é macia?
Quero bifes grossos.
Para grelhar rápido.

Amorces de conversation

"Como você prefere o seu bife: malpassado ou bem-passado?"

"Você acha que carne malpassada é mais saborosa?"

"Qual é a melhor churrascaria para comer carne malpassada aqui?"

"Você já teve problemas em restaurantes com o ponto da carne?"

"Você sabe preparar um bife malpassado perfeito em casa?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva a sua experiência favorita em uma churrascaria brasileira.

Por que algumas pessoas têm receio de comer carne malpassada?

Escreva um diálogo entre um cliente exigente e um garçom sobre o ponto da carne.

Qual é a importância do churrasco na cultura do seu país comparada ao Brasil?

Você prefere cozinhar em casa ou comer fora? Fale sobre como você prepara sua carne.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, a proper malpassado should be warm in the center, though not hot. If it is cold, it is usually considered 'selado' or simply under-prepared.

Yes, in reputable restaurants and churrascarias, eating meat malpassada is very common and generally safe. However, standard food safety advice applies.

The most common way is to say 'ao ponto para mal'. This indicates you want it closer to rare than to medium.

Technically yes, but it is highly discouraged for health reasons. Chicken is almost always served 'bem-passado' (well-done).

The direct opposite is 'bem-passado', which means well-done meat with no pink visible.

It is written as one word: 'malpassado'.

Yes, it becomes 'malpassados' for masculine plural and 'malpassadas' for feminine plural.

It's a literal combination meaning 'badly cooked' or 'little cooked', which evolved into the technical term for 'rare'.

It is a bit informal. In a nice restaurant, 'malpassado' is more professional.

M-A-L-P-A-S-S-A-D-O. Remember the 'l' and the double 's'.

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