Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 noun 12 min de lecture

nevão

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces nevão en 30 secondes

Explication nevão in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn basic weather terms. You likely already know 'sol' (sun) and 'chuva' (rain). The word 'nevão' is a step further. It comes from 'neve' (snow). Think of 'nevão' as 'big snow'. In Portugal, snow is rare in many places, so people get excited when they see it. At this level, you only need to know that 'nevão' means a lot of snow falling at once. You should remember it is 'o nevão' (masculine). Even if you don't use it often, you will see it in pictures of mountains or hear it on the news during winter. Just remember: Neve = snow, Nevão = heavy snow. It is a simple way to expand your vocabulary by using suffixes. If you can say 'Está a cair neve' (It is snowing), you are ready to understand 'Está a cair um nevão' (A heavy snow is falling).

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the A2 level, you can start to use 'nevão' in simple past and future sentences. You should understand that 'nevão' is a noun and it usually follows verbs like 'cair' (to fall) or 'haver' (there is/are). For example, 'Houve um nevão ontem' (There was a heavy snow yesterday). You are also learning about Portuguese suffixes, and '-ão' is the most common one to make things 'big'. You should be able to distinguish 'nevão' from 'chuva' (rain) and 'vento' (wind). At this stage, you might use it to describe a holiday to the mountains. 'Fomos à Serra da Estrela e vimos um nevão.' (We went to Serra da Estrela and saw a heavy snowstorm). You should also notice that adjectives change to match 'nevão': 'um nevão branco', 'um nevão frio'. This helps you practice gender agreement with masculine nouns.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B1 level, you are expected to understand and use 'nevão' in more detailed contexts, such as discussing travel plans or weather impacts. You should know that a 'nevão' can 'cortar estradas' (block roads) or 'cancelar voos' (cancel flights). At this level, you are becoming more aware of regional differences, such as 'nevão' being more common in Portugal and 'nevasca' in Brazil. You can use 'nevão' to describe a sequence of events: 'Devido ao nevão, ficámos retidos na aldeia' (Due to the snowstorm, we were stuck in the village). You should also be comfortable with the plural form 'nevões'. Your vocabulary is growing to include related terms like 'correntes de neve' (snow chains) which are necessary during a 'nevão'. You can participate in conversations about the climate and express your opinion on whether you like this kind of weather.

At the B2 level, you should use 'nevão' with more sophisticated adjectives and in complex grammatical structures. You might talk about the 'intensidade do nevão' or how the 'nevão paralisou a cidade'. You can use the word in the passive voice: 'A cidade foi atingida por um forte nevão'. You should also understand its use in news reports and more formal writing. At this level, you can compare 'nevão' with other weather phenomena like 'temporal' (storm) or 'vaga de frio' (cold snap). You are expected to use correct prepositions, such as 'apesar do nevão' (despite the snowstorm) or 'por causa do nevão' (because of the snowstorm). Your ability to describe the atmosphere and the social consequences of a 'nevão' should be quite fluid, allowing you to explain why certain regions are more prone to these events.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 level, 'nevão' becomes a tool for more nuanced and descriptive language. You can use it in metaphorical senses, although it's primarily literal. You should be able to discuss the meteorological causes of a 'nevão', such as 'depressões' (low-pressure systems) or 'massas de ar polar'. Your vocabulary should include very specific related words like 'sincelo' or 'nevão de curta duração'. You can write detailed essays or reports about environmental changes and how the frequency of 'nevões' might be changing over time. You understand the stylistic choice between 'nevão' and 'nevasca' in literature. You can also appreciate how the word is used in poetry to create a sense of stillness or isolation. Your command of the plural 'nevões' and its agreement with complex modifiers is perfect.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of the word 'nevão' and its place in the Portuguese language. You can use it in any context, from a scientific discussion about cryospheric processes to a high-level literary analysis. You are aware of the word's etymology and its relationship to other Romance languages. You can use 'nevão' in highly idiomatic or creative ways, perhaps in wordplay or advanced rhetoric. You understand the historical significance of specific 'nevões' in Portuguese history and can discuss them with the same ease as a native speaker. Your pronunciation is flawless, capturing the nasal 'ão' perfectly. You can also identify and mimic regional accents from areas where 'nevões' are common, understanding how local people might talk about the weather with specialized, local terminology.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

nevão en 30 secondes

Nevão is a masculine noun in Portuguese meaning a heavy snowfall or snowstorm, formed from 'neve' plus the augmentative suffix '-ão'.
It is primarily used to describe intense weather events that cause accumulation and potential disruption, especially in mountainous regions like Serra da Estrela.
Grammatically, it is always masculine (o nevão) and its plural form is 'nevões', which is a common point of difficulty for learners.
While 'nevão' is standard in European Portuguese, 'nevasca' is the more common equivalent in Brazilian Portuguese for a blizzard.

The Portuguese word nevão is a powerful noun that translates most directly to a 'heavy fall of snow' or a 'snowstorm'. Linguistically, it is a fascinating example of how the Portuguese language utilizes suffixes to alter the intensity and scale of a base concept. The word is formed by taking the root neve (snow) and adding the augmentative suffix -ão. While in English we might need adjectives like 'massive', 'huge', or 'heavy' to describe such a weather event, Portuguese encapsulates that entire magnitude within a single, punchy word. In European Portuguese, nevão is the standard term for a blizzard or a significant accumulation of snow that disrupts daily life, whereas in Brazilian Portuguese, you are more likely to encounter the word nevasca, though nevão remains perfectly intelligible.

Meteorological Context: A nevão is not just a few flakes falling from the sky. It implies a volume of snow that covers the landscape quickly, often accompanied by wind and low visibility. It is the kind of weather that closes schools in the Serra da Estrela or blocks the roads in Trás-os-Montes.
Social Impact: Because heavy snow is relatively rare in most of Portugal's low-lying coastal cities like Lisbon or Porto, the mention of a nevão in the news often carries a tone of urgency or even wonder. It is a word associated with 'contingency plans' (planos de contingência) and 'civil protection' (proteção civil).

As estradas da montanha foram cortadas devido ao forte nevão que caiu durante a madrugada.

Understanding the word nevão also requires an appreciation for the emotional weight it carries. For children, a nevão is a source of joy and the promise of a day off; for commuters and authorities, it is a logistical nightmare. The word appears frequently in literature to set a cold, isolated, or even magical atmosphere. It is distinct from granizo (hail) or saraiva (large hail), as it specifically refers to frozen precipitation in the form of flakes. When you hear this word on the radio, you know that the 'white mantle' (manto branco) is about to transform the geography of the region. It is a word of movement and accumulation, suggesting a dynamic process rather than a static state.

Ninguém estava preparado para aquele nevão histórico que paralisou a cidade.

The Augmentative Suffix: The suffix -ão usually increases the size or intensity of the noun. Just as portão is a big gate (from porta), a nevão is a 'big snow'.

Historically, the term has been used to describe the rare instances when snow reaches the lower altitudes of Portugal. While countries like Canada or Russia might see these as common occurrences, in the Portuguese linguistic landscape, a nevão is an event of significance. It evokes images of the Serra da Estrela, where skiing and winter tourism thrive. The word is often paired with verbs like cair (to fall), abater-se (to fall upon/strike), or enfrentar (to face/brave). It is a robust, evocative word that demands attention in any conversation about winter weather.

O nevão cobriu as casas com um espesso manto branco.

Using nevão correctly involves more than just knowing its definition; you must understand its grammatical behavior and the common collocations that surround it. As a masculine noun, it always takes masculine articles and adjectives: o nevão, um nevão, este nevão, nevão forte. One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is treating it as feminine because 'neve' is feminine. To master this word, you should practice it in various tenses and contexts, from simple descriptions to complex conditional sentences.

Common Verb Pairings: The most natural verb to use with nevão is cair (to fall). We say 'Caiu um nevão' (A heavy snow fell). Other useful verbs include esperar (to expect), prever (to forecast), and provocar (to cause/provoke, as in 'O nevão provocou o caos').

Se cair um nevão amanhã, não poderemos ir trabalhar.

When describing the intensity of the event, adjectives play a crucial role. You will often hear nevão intenso, nevão súbito (sudden), or nevão persistente. If the snowstorm is particularly violent, you might use the word tempestade alongside it, but nevão usually carries that weight on its own. In a sentence, it often acts as the subject that performs an action (like blocking a road) or the object of a meteorological observation.

Ficámos presos no hotel por causa do nevão.

Prepositional Usage: We often use the preposition durante (during) or após (after) with nevão. For example: 'A eletricidade falhou durante o nevão' (The electricity failed during the snowstorm).

In more advanced usage, nevão can be part of a metaphorical expression, though this is less common than with words like 'tempestade' or 'chuva'. One might say 'um nevão de críticas' (a blizzard of criticism), but this is quite literary. Primarily, stick to its literal meaning. When you want to emphasize the duration, you can say 'um nevão de três dias'. If you want to talk about the aftermath, you talk about the consequências do nevão. The word is versatile enough to be used in casual conversation and formal news reporting alike.

O nevão de 1954 ainda é recordado pelos mais velhos.

Os nevões frequentes nesta região tornam a agricultura difícil.

In the real world, the frequency with which you hear nevão depends heavily on your geography and the time of year. If you are living in the Algarve or Lisbon, you might only hear it on the national news (telejornal) when reporters are covering weather in the north. However, if you are in the Beira Alta or the mountainous regions of Northern Portugal, nevão is a standard part of the winter vocabulary. It is a word that rings through the corridors of weather stations and sits at the top of newspaper headlines during a cold snap.

The News and Media: Reporters love this word because it is dramatic. You will hear phrases like 'Nevão corta acessos à Serra da Estrela' (Snowstorm cuts access to Serra da Estrela). It is used to signal significant events that affect the nation's infrastructure.

A meteorologista avisou que um nevão se aproxima da fronteira.

In casual conversation, people use nevão when recounting travel stories or warning friends about road conditions. If someone says, 'Apanhei um nevão no caminho para casa' (I got caught in a snowstorm on the way home), they are emphasizing the difficulty and the intensity of the experience. It is much more descriptive than simply saying it was snowing. In the context of winter sports, you'll hear it at ski resorts like Vodafone Ski Resort in the Serra da Estrela, where a nevão is often celebrated as it means better conditions for skiing and snowboarding.

Vimos o nevão pela janela enquanto bebíamos chocolate quente.

Regional Variations: While nevão is common in Portugal, if you travel to Brazil, you will more likely hear 'nevasca'. In Portugal, 'nevasca' sounds a bit more literary or Brazilian, while nevão is the 'street' word for a big snow event.

Furthermore, in literature and cinema (dubbed or subtitled), nevão is the go-to word for 'blizzard'. If a character is lost in the snow in a Portuguese translation of a Jack London story, they are lost in a nevão. It is a word that carries a sense of isolation and the overwhelming power of nature. Even in songs, particularly those from the interior regions of Portugal (like Fado from Coimbra or folk music from the north), the word might be used to evoke a sense of cold, longing, or the harshness of winter life in the mountains.

O nevão isolou a aldeia do resto do mundo por dois dias.

Learning a new language involves navigating a minefield of potential errors, and nevão has its fair share of traps for the unwary English speaker. The most frequent errors involve gender, pluralization, and confusing it with similar-sounding or related meteorological terms. Because Portuguese is a gendered language, and 'snow' (neve) is feminine, the brain naturally wants to make its augmentative feminine too. However, the suffix -ão almost always dictates a masculine gender, regardless of the gender of the root word.

Gender Confusion: Mistake: *A nevão foi forte. Correct: O nevão foi forte. Remember that while a neve is feminine, o nevão is masculine. This is a non-negotiable rule of Portuguese grammar.

Comprei correntes para o carro por causa do nevão (de + o nevão).

Another common hurdle is the plural form. Many learners try to pluralize -ão words by simply adding an 's' (*nevãos), but nevão follows the -ões pattern. Therefore, the plural is nevões. This is a pattern shared with words like coração (corações) and estação (estações). Getting this right immediately elevates your Portuguese from a beginner level to a more intermediate, natural-sounding level.

Houve vários nevões no inverno passado.

Confusion with 'Nevasca': Learners often ask if they can use nevasca and nevão interchangeably. While they mean the same thing, using nevasca in a purely European Portuguese context might sound slightly 'foreign' or 'bookish', whereas nevão is the natural, everyday choice.

Finally, avoid using nevão for light snow. If you see a few flakes, it's just neve. Calling a light dusting a nevão is an exaggeration that native speakers will find humorous. Save the word for when the ground is truly covered and the sky is white. Also, be careful not to confuse it with névoa (mist/fog). Though they share a similar root in some minds, a névoa won't require a shovel, but a nevão certainly will!

Cuidado para não confundir nevão com névoa; um é neve, o outro é nevoeiro.

To truly master the vocabulary of winter and weather, you need to understand how nevão fits into a broader web of related terms. Portuguese offers a variety of words to describe frozen precipitation and atmospheric conditions, each with its own nuance. By comparing nevão to these alternatives, you can choose the most precise word for any situation, whether you're writing a weather report or telling a story about a mountain hike.

Nevão vs. Nevasca: As mentioned, nevasca is the preferred term in Brazil. In Portugal, nevão is more common. Both describe a blizzard, but nevasca often implies stronger winds (like a true blizzard), while nevão focuses on the volume of falling snow.
Nevão vs. Granizo / Saraiva: Granizo and saraiva refer to hail. Granizo is the general term, while saraiva usually refers to larger, more damaging hailstones. Unlike nevão, hail can occur in warm weather during thunderstorms.

O nevão é suave ao toque, ao contrário do granizo que pode magoar.

Other related terms include geada (frost) and sincelo (rime ice). Geada is common in the Portuguese interior and refers to the white coating on the ground on cold mornings, but it is not falling snow. Sincelo is a more specific term for freezing fog that creates beautiful ice crystals on trees. If you want to describe a light dusting of snow, you might use the phrase uma leve camada de neve instead of nevão. For a full-scale storm with wind, tempestade de neve is a perfectly valid and slightly more formal alternative.

Depois do nevão, a paisagem ficou coberta de sincelo.

Comparisons at a Glance

Nevão: Heavy snowfall (Focus on quantity).
Nevasca: Blizzard (Focus on wind/storm - BR preference).
Neve: Snow (General term).
Nevoeiro: Fog (Often confused by beginners, but very different!).

In summary, while nevão is your primary word for a significant snow event, being aware of these alternatives allows for much greater precision. Using sincelo or geada correctly will make you sound like a true connoisseur of the Portuguese language and its regional nuances. Always consider the intensity and the physical state of the water (flakes vs. ice vs. mist) when choosing your word.

Não foi apenas um nevão; foi uma autêntica tempestade de gelo.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The suffix '-ão' is a 'super-suffix' in Portuguese. It can mean something big (nevão), a profession (cirurgião), or just be a standard ending. It is one of the most versatile parts of the language.

Guide de prononciation

UK /nɨ.ˈvɐ̃w̃/

US /ne.ˈvɐ̃w̃/

The stress is on the last syllable: ne-VÃO.

Rime avec

avião coração estação mão pão chão portão balão

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'ão' as 'ow' (like 'cow'). It must be nasal.
Making the first 'e' too open like in 'net'. In PT-PT, it's very closed.
Treating the 'v' as a 'b'.
Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
Failing to nasalize the final diphthong sufficiently.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'neve'. The suffix is standard.

Écriture 4/5

Pluralization 'nevões' and gender 'o' can be tricky.

Expression orale 5/5

The nasal 'ão' is one of the hardest sounds for English speakers.

Écoute 3/5

Clear sound, but can be confused with other '-ão' words if speed is high.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

neve chuva frio tempo cair

Apprends ensuite

nevasca sincelo geada granizo visibilidade

Avancé

precipitação congelamento ventania isolamento contingência

Grammaire à connaître

Augmentative Suffix -ão

neve -> nevão, casa -> casarão

Plural of -ão nouns

nevão -> nevões, balão -> balões

Gender of -ão nouns

O nevão, o coração (mostly masculine)

Contractions with 'de' and 'em'

Do nevão (de+o), No nevão (em+o)

Adjective agreement with masculine nouns

O nevão forte, os nevões fortes

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

Hoje caiu um nevão na montanha.

Today a heavy snow fell on the mountain.

Simple past 'caiu' with masculine noun 'nevão'.

O nevão é muito branco.

The heavy snow is very white.

Masculine adjective 'branco' matches 'nevão'.

Eu gosto do nevão.

I like the heavy snow.

Contraction 'do' (de + o).

Vês aquele nevão?

Do you see that heavy snow?

Demonstrative 'aquele' matches masculine 'nevão'.

O nevão é frio.

The heavy snow is cold.

Basic subject-verb-adjective structure.

Não há nevão em Lisboa.

There is no heavy snow in Lisbon.

Negative 'não há' structure.

O nevão começou agora.

The heavy snow started now.

Simple past 'começou'.

Olha o nevão lá fora!

Look at the heavy snow outside!

Imperative 'olha'.

Ontem houve um nevão forte na Guarda.

Yesterday there was a strong snowstorm in Guarda.

Adjective 'forte' follows the noun.

Nós vimos o nevão pela janela.

We saw the snowstorm through the window.

Prepositional phrase 'pela janela'.

As crianças brincam no nevão.

The children play in the heavy snow.

Contraction 'no' (em + o).

O nevão tapou os carros todos.

The snowstorm covered all the cars.

Verb 'tapar' in the past tense.

Amanhã pode cair um nevão.

Tomorrow a heavy snow might fall.

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive 'cair'.

Eles não gostam deste nevão.

They don't like this snowstorm.

Demonstrative 'deste' (de + este).

O nevão é perigoso para conduzir.

The snowstorm is dangerous for driving.

Adjective 'perigoso' + 'para' + infinitive.

Onde está o nevão?

Where is the snowstorm?

Interrogative 'onde'.

O nevão bloqueou a estrada principal durante a noite.

The snowstorm blocked the main road during the night.

Past tense 'bloqueou' showing a completed action.

Se o nevão continuar, não haverá aulas.

If the snowstorm continues, there will be no classes.

Conditional 'se' + future subjunctive.

Tivemos de cancelar a viagem por causa do nevão.

We had to cancel the trip because of the snowstorm.

Compound verb 'tivemos de' + 'por causa de'.

A meteorologia previu um nevão para este fim de semana.

The weather forecast predicted a snowstorm for this weekend.

Verb 'prever' in the past tense.

O nevão de ontem foi o maior dos últimos dez anos.

Yesterday's snowstorm was the biggest of the last ten years.

Superlative 'o maior'.

É difícil caminhar quando há um nevão tão intenso.

It is difficult to walk when there is such an intense snowstorm.

Adverb 'tão' used for emphasis.

Muitas árvores caíram com o peso do nevão.

Many trees fell with the weight of the snowstorm.

Noun phrase 'o peso do nevão'.

Espero que o nevão pare em breve.

I hope the snowstorm stops soon.

Subjunctive 'pare' after 'espero que'.

O país foi surpreendido por um nevão inesperado na primavera.

The country was surprised by an unexpected snowstorm in spring.

Passive voice 'foi surpreendido'.

As autoridades alertaram para a chegada de um nevão persistente.

The authorities warned of the arrival of a persistent snowstorm.

Verb 'alertar para'.

Apesar do nevão, os comboios continuaram a circular.

Despite the snowstorm, the trains continued to run.

Concessive phrase 'apesar do'.

O nevão causou o caos no trânsito das grandes cidades.

The snowstorm caused traffic chaos in the big cities.

Idiomatic expression 'causar o caos'.

Duvido que este nevão dure mais do que um dia.

I doubt that this snowstorm will last more than a day.

Subjunctive 'dure' after 'duvido que'.

O nevão transformou a aldeia num cenário de conto de fadas.

The snowstorm transformed the village into a fairy tale setting.

Verb 'transformar em'.

Foi necessário mobilizar o exército devido à gravidade do nevão.

It was necessary to mobilize the army due to the severity of the snowstorm.

Impersonal 'foi necessário'.

O nevão foi acompanhado por ventos de 100 km/h.

The snowstorm was accompanied by winds of 100 km/h.

Passive construction 'foi acompanhado por'.

A magnitude do nevão pôs à prova a resiliência das infraestruturas locais.

The magnitude of the snowstorm tested the resilience of local infrastructure.

Idiom 'pôr à prova'.

O nevão assolou a região, deixando milhares de pessoas sem eletricidade.

The snowstorm devastated the region, leaving thousands of people without electricity.

Gerund 'deixando' showing consequence.

Raramente se viu um nevão desta envergadura em terras tão baixas.

Rarely has a snowstorm of this magnitude been seen in such low lands.

Passive 'se' construction and 'desta envergadura'.

O nevão serviu de pretexto para uma reflexão sobre as alterações climáticas.

The snowstorm served as a pretext for a reflection on climate change.

Nouns used in an abstract, intellectual context.

Após o nevão, seguiu-se um período de degelo extremamente perigoso.

After the snowstorm, an extremely dangerous period of thawing followed.

Pronominal verb 'seguiu-se'.

A crónica descreve detalhadamente o isolamento provocado pelo nevão.

The chronicle describes in detail the isolation caused by the snowstorm.

Adverb 'detalhadamente'.

O nevão, embora belo, trouxe consigo inúmeros transtornos logísticos.

The snowstorm, although beautiful, brought with it numerous logistical inconveniences.

Concessive 'embora' with adjective.

Não fosse o nevão, teríamos chegado ao nosso destino a tempo.

Were it not for the snowstorm, we would have reached our destination on time.

Hypothetical 'Não fosse' structure.

A fúria do nevão parecia querer apagar todos os vestígios da civilização.

The fury of the snowstorm seemed to want to erase all traces of civilization.

Personification and literary tone.

O nevão obliterou as fronteiras entre o céu e a terra num branco absoluto.

The snowstorm obliterated the boundaries between heaven and earth in an absolute white.

Sophisticated verb 'obliterou'.

Sob o jugo do nevão, a montanha impunha o seu silêncio ancestral.

Under the yoke of the snowstorm, the mountain imposed its ancestral silence.

Metaphorical 'sob o jugo'.

A ocorrência de tais nevões é um fenómeno cíclico nestas latitudes setentrionais.

The occurrence of such snowstorms is a cyclical phenomenon in these northern latitudes.

Academic register and 'setentrionais' (northern).

O nevão agiu como um catalisador para a solidariedade entre os vizinhos.

The snowstorm acted as a catalyst for solidarity among neighbors.

Abstract noun 'catalisador'.

A narrativa é entrecortada por descrições líricas de nevões infindáveis.

The narrative is interspersed with lyrical descriptions of endless snowstorms.

Passive 'é entrecortada' and adjective 'infindáveis'.

O impacto socioeconómico do nevão foi escrupulosamente analisado pelo governo.

The socio-economic impact of the snowstorm was scrupulously analyzed by the government.

High-level adverb 'escrupulosamente'.

Nada fazia prever que aquele nevão se tornaria um marco na história da região.

Nothing suggested that that snowstorm would become a landmark in the region's history.

Complex structure 'Nada fazia prever'.

Collocations courantes

grande nevão

forte nevão

cair um nevão

enfrentar um nevão

limpar o nevão

nevão histórico

prever um nevão

vítima do nevão

depois do nevão

nevão persistente

Phrases Courantes

Caiu um nevão de todo o tamanho

— An idiomatic way to say a massive snowstorm happened. It emphasizes the scale.

Ontem caiu um nevão de todo o tamanho na serra!

Preso no nevão

— Stuck in the snowstorm. Used for people or vehicles unable to move.

Ficámos presos no nevão durante três horas.

O nevão fechou a estrada

— The snowstorm closed the road. A very common news headline.

O nevão fechou a estrada nacional 338.

Um nevão de bradar aos céus

— A snowstorm so intense it's shocking or worthy of complaint.

Foi um nevão de bradar aos céus, ninguém conseguia sair de casa.

À espera do nevão

— Waiting for the snowstorm. Often used when a forecast is issued.

Estamos todos à espera do nevão prometido.

Sob o nevão

— Under the snowstorm. Describes being outside while it happens.

Caminhámos quilómetros sob o nevão.

Proteção contra o nevão

— Protection against the snowstorm. Refers to clothing or shelter.

Precisamos de melhor proteção contra o nevão.

O rasto do nevão

— The trail or aftermath of the snowstorm.

O rasto do nevão era visível em toda a vila.

Nevão repentino

— Sudden snowstorm. Used when the weather changes quickly.

Um nevão repentino apanhou os turistas desprevenidos.

Alerta de nevão

— Snowstorm alert. Official warning from authorities.

O governo emitiu um alerta de nevão para o norte.

Souvent confondu avec

nevão vs nevoeiro

Nevoeiro is fog. You can see through a nevão (sometimes), but you breathe in a nevoeiro.

nevão vs nevasca

Nevasca is more common in Brazil; nevão is more common in Portugal.

nevão vs geada

Geada is frost on the ground, not falling snow.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Fazer um nevão de um floco"

— To exaggerate a small problem into a huge one (similar to making a mountain out of a molehill).

Não exageres, estás a fazer um nevão de um floco.

Informal

"Branco como um nevão"

— Extremely white or pale. Used for skin or objects.

Ele ficou branco como um nevão quando ouviu a notícia.

Neutral

"Um nevão de problemas"

— A large number of problems arriving at once.

Esta semana tem sido um nevão de problemas no escritório.

Metaphorical

"Cair como um nevão"

— To arrive in large quantities or with great impact.

As críticas caíram como um nevão sobre o ministro.

Literary

"Em tempo de nevão, não se olha a pinhão"

— In difficult times, one shouldn't be too picky about small things (rare/regional).

Aceita a ajuda, em tempo de nevão não se olha a pinhão.

Proverbial

"Perdido no nevão"

— Completely confused or without direction (metaphorical).

Com tantas opções, sinto-me perdido no nevão.

Informal

"Nevão de riso"

— An outburst of laughter (uncommon, poetic).

A piada provocou um nevão de riso na sala.

Poetic

"Limpar o nevão"

— To clear up a big mess or settle a complicated situation.

Ele teve de limpar o nevão que o seu antecessor deixou.

Informal

"O nevão da idade"

— White hair due to old age.

O nevão da idade já se notava no seu cabelo.

Literary

"Frio de nevão"

— Extremely cold weather, even if it's not snowing.

Está um frio de nevão lá fora, agasalha-te!

Colloquial

Facile à confondre

nevão vs nevoeiro

Similar sound and both are weather related.

Nevoeiro is fog (clouds at ground level). Nevão is a heavy snowstorm.

O nevoeiro impede a visibilidade, mas o nevão cobre o chão.

nevão vs nevasca

They mean the same thing but are regional.

Nevasca is used in Brazil. Nevão is used in Portugal.

No Brasil dizem nevasca, em Portugal dizemos nevão.

nevão vs granizo

Both are frozen precipitation.

Granizo is ice pellets (hail). Nevão is snow flakes.

O granizo faz barulho no telhado, o nevão é silencioso.

nevão vs névoa

Similar root sound.

Névoa is mist. Nevão is a snowstorm.

A névoa é leve, o nevão é pesado.

nevão vs saraiva

Another type of frozen precipitation.

Saraiva is large hail. Nevão is heavy snow.

A saraiva partiu o vidro, mas o nevão apenas o cobriu.

Structures de phrases

O nevão é [adjective].

O nevão é lindo.

Houve um nevão em [place].

Houve um nevão em Bragança.

Devido ao nevão, [consequence].

Devido ao nevão, não há autocarros.

Apesar do nevão, [unexpected action].

Apesar do nevão, ele foi correr.

O nevão, embora [adjective], [action].

O nevão, embora intenso, não causou danos.

Sob o efeito do nevão, [literary description].

Sob o efeito do nevão, a vila parecia adormecida.

Espero que o nevão [subjunctive].

Espero que o nevão não demore.

Se não fosse o nevão, [conditional].

Se não fosse o nevão, teríamos chegado.

Famille de mots

Noms

neve

nevoeiro

nevasca

nevisco

Verbes

nevar

neviscar

enevoar

Adjectifs

nevado

nevoso

enevoado

Apparenté

gelo

geada

sincelo

frio

inverno

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in winter, rare in summer. Common in northern/mountainous regions.

Erreurs courantes

A nevão → O nevão
Learners think it's feminine because 'neve' is feminine. Suffix '-ão' makes it masculine.
Os nevãos → Os nevões
The plural of words ending in '-ão' can be tricky. This one always ends in '-ões'.
Está nevão → Está a cair um nevão
You can't use 'nevão' as an adjective or with 'está' directly like 'está sol'. Use 'haver' or 'cair'.
Confusing with nevoeiro → Nevão
Nevoeiro is fog. Using it for a snowstorm will confuse native speakers.
Using it for light snow → Neve
'Nevão' implies intensity. For a few flakes, just use 'neve'.

Astuces

Gender Trap

Don't say 'a nevão'. It's always 'o nevão'. Remember: -ão endings are usually masculine.

Location Matters

Use 'nevão' when talking about Serra da Estrela or the North of Portugal for a natural feel.

Nasal Power

Focus on the nasal quality of 'ão'. If your nose doesn't vibrate, you're not saying it right!

Intensity

Save 'nevão' for the big stuff. If it's just light snow, stick with 'neve' or 'nevisco'.

Portugal vs Brazil

In Portugal, say 'nevão'. In Brazil, say 'nevasca'. Both are correct, but regional preference is strong.

The Plural

Remember the 'o' becomes 'oe' in the plural: nevão -> nevões. This is a key intermediate grammar point.

News Vocabulary

Look for 'nevão' in winter headlines. It's often paired with 'cortar' (to cut/block).

Descriptive Writing

Combine 'nevão' with 'manto branco' to write beautiful descriptions of winter.

Differentiate

Listen for the 'v' sound. If you hear 'f', it might be 'feijão' (bean) - very different!

Sentence Building

Practice with 'por causa de'. Example: 'Atrasámo-nos por causa do nevão'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'NEVE' (snow) + 'BIG' (the 'ão' sound is big and round). NEV-ÃO is a BIG snow.

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant 'O' (from the end of nevão) falling like a massive snowball onto a mountain.

Word Web

neve frio branco inverno montanha tempestade gelo serra

Défi

Try to use 'nevão' in a sentence that also includes the word 'estrada' and 'fechada'. For example: 'O nevão deixou a estrada fechada'.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Latin 'nix, nivis' (snow). The Portuguese root 'neve' evolved from the accusative form 'nivem'.

Sens originel : The root means 'snow'. The suffix '-ão' was added later in the development of Portuguese to denote size or intensity.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Western Romance > Galician-Portuguese.

Contexte culturel

Be careful when discussing 'nevões' with people whose livelihoods (like farming) are destroyed by them; it's not always a 'winter wonderland' for everyone.

English speakers often use 'blizzard', which implies wind. 'Nevão' focuses more on the 'amount' of snow, though it covers the same situations.

The 'Nevão de 1954' in Portugal is a famous historical event. The song 'Neve' by various Portuguese artists often alludes to these storms. Literary descriptions in the works of Miguel Torga often feature 'nevões' in the Trás-os-Montes region.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Weather Forecast

Aviso de nevão
Cotas de neve
Previsão de nevão
Acumulação de neve

Travel and Roads

Estrada cortada
Correntes obrigatórias
Trânsito condicionado
Limpa-neves em ação

Winter Sports

Neve fresca
Pistas abertas
Condições ideais
Depois do nevão

Daily Life

Ficar em casa
Agasalhar-se bem
Lareira acesa
Chocolate quente

Emergency/News

Plano de emergência
Aldeias isoladas
Cortes de energia
Proteção Civil

Amorces de conversation

"Já viste o nevão que está a cair na serra?"

"Alguma vez ficaste preso num nevão enquanto conduzias?"

"Gostas de ver o nevão ou preferes o tempo quente?"

"Achais que este nevão vai durar muitos dias?"

"Qual foi o maior nevão que já viste na tua vida?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreve como seria o teu dia ideal se acordasses e houvesse um enorme nevão lá fora.

Escreve sobre uma memória de infância relacionada com a neve ou um nevão.

Quais são os prós e contras de um nevão para uma cidade pequena?

Imagina que estás isolado numa cabana durante um nevão. O que farias?

Como é que o clima da tua região mudaria se houvesse um nevão todos os anos?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It is masculine (o nevão). Even though the base word 'neve' is feminine, the suffix '-ão' changes the gender to masculine. This is a very common rule in Portuguese for augmentatives.

'Neve' is the general word for snow. 'Nevão' is a heavy fall of snow or a snowstorm. You use 'nevão' when there is a lot of it and it's falling intensely.

Yes, people will understand you, but they prefer the word 'nevasca'. If you use 'nevão' in Brazil, you might sound like you are from Portugal.

The plural is 'nevões'. You replace the '-ão' with '-ões'. For example: 'Houve dois nevões este mês'.

It is common in conversation, but the event itself is extremely rare in Lisbon. People mostly use it when talking about the mountains or the news.

Usually, yes. It implies a significant meteorological event, not just a few flakes. It suggests accumulation and intensity.

It is a nasal diphthong. Imagine saying 'ah-o' while holding your nose. It's a sound that doesn't exist in English, so it takes practice.

The most common are 'cair' (to fall), 'haver' (to be/exist), 'provocar' (to cause), and 'limpar' (to clean).

Yes, like 'um nevão de críticas' (a blizzard of criticism), but it's much more common in its literal sense compared to 'tempestade'.

There isn't a single word, but 'seca' (drought) or 'degelo' (thaw) are opposites in terms of weather state or process.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes