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A2 noun 5 min de lecture

ouvidos

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces ouvidos en 30 secondes

Explication ouvidos in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word ouvidos is introduced as a basic part of the body. Students learn it alongside other anatomy terms like 'olhos' (eyes) and 'boca' (mouth). The primary focus is on simple physical descriptions and expressing basic health needs. For example, a beginner might learn how to say 'Dói-me o ouvido' (My ear hurts) when visiting a doctor. At this stage, it is important to distinguish 'ouvido' from 'orelha' simply by saying 'ouvido' is for hearing and 'orelha' is what you see. Learners will practice the plural form 'ouvidos' to describe having two ears. They might also encounter it in basic classroom instructions like 'Oiçam com os vossos ouvidos' (Listen with your ears). The goal is recognition and simple production in health or descriptive contexts. It is essential to understand that 'ouvidos' is a masculine noun, so it takes the articles 'o' (singular) and 'os' (plural). Beginners should focus on the connection between 'ouvido' and the verb 'ouvir' (to hear), which share the same linguistic root. This helps in building a mental map of related words early on.

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At the A2 level, learners move beyond simple anatomy to use ouvidos in more common daily expressions and slightly more complex sentences. This is the level where students should master the 'ouvido' vs. 'orelha' distinction in various contexts, such as wearing 'fones de ouvido' (headphones) versus 'brincos nas orelhas' (earrings in the ears). A2 students will learn the common idiom 'dar ouvidos a alguém', which means to listen to or pay attention to someone's advice or gossip. They will also practice sentences describing environmental sounds, like 'O barulho da rua chega aos meus ouvidos'. At this stage, the word is used to describe sensory experiences in the past and future tenses, such as 'Ontem, os meus ouvidos doíam por causa do vento'. Understanding the prepositional use, like 'nos ouvidos' (in the ears), becomes more important. Learners will also start to see the word in short stories or news snippets about health and wellness. The focus is on functional use in social and medical situations, ensuring the learner can describe symptoms or social interactions involving listening.

At the B1 level, the use of ouvidos becomes more idiomatic and abstract. Intermediate learners will encounter phrases like 'entrar por um ouvido e sair pelo outro' (to go in one ear and out the other), used to describe someone who isn't paying attention. They will also learn 'fazer ouvidos moucos', which means to intentionally ignore someone. B1 students are expected to use the word in more detailed discussions about music, such as having a 'bom ouvido' for melodies or 'ouvido absoluto' for perfect pitch. The word appears in more complex grammatical structures, such as 'Se tivesses dado ouvidos ao meu conselho, não terias este problema' (If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't have this problem). At this level, the distinction between 'ouvido' (the organ/sense) and 'audição' (the formal sense of hearing) is clarified. Students will use ouvidos to express nuances in communication, such as 'sussurrar ao ouvido' (to whisper in the ear) versus 'gritar nos ouvidos'. The vocabulary expansion includes related terms like 'otite' (ear infection) and 'tímpano' (eardrum), which are often discussed in the context of 'ouvidos'.

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At the B2 level, students use ouvidos with greater precision in professional and academic contexts. They might discuss the impact of noise pollution on 'os ouvidos da população' or the biological complexities of the 'ouvido interno' (inner ear). B2 learners should be comfortable with sophisticated idioms like 'chegar aos ouvidos de' (to reach the ears of an authority or public) and 'ser todo ouvidos' (to be all ears/entirely attentive). This level involves understanding the word's role in literature and media, where it might be used to symbolize receptivity to truth or the burden of hearing secrets. Students will practice advanced sentence structures, such as 'Não obstante o barulho, os seus ouvidos conseguiram captar o sussurro'. They will also explore the use of the word in different registers, recognizing that 'ouvidos' is appropriate for both a formal medical report and an informal conversation about music. The focus is on stylistic variety and the ability to use the word to convey subtle meanings in debates about health, technology (like hearing aids), and interpersonal relationships.

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At the C1 level, learners possess a deep, nuanced understanding of ouvidos and its many metaphorical applications. They can appreciate how the word is used in classical Portuguese literature to represent the gateway to the soul or the conscience. C1 students will analyze phrases like 'ferir os ouvidos' not just as a description of physical pain, but as a reaction to vulgar language or poor music. They are expected to use the word in complex rhetorical ways, such as 'A sua eloquência é música para os meus ouvidos'. This level also covers technical and scientific nuances, where 'ouvidos' might be used in discussions about acoustics, linguistics (the phonetic perception of sounds), and neurology. Learners can distinguish between 'ouvido clínico' (a keen diagnostic ability, not necessarily related to hearing) and 'ouvido apurado' (a sharp sense of hearing). They will be able to write essays or give presentations on topics like 'A proteção dos ouvidos no ambiente de trabalho' using a wide range of synonyms and related technical vocabulary. The mastery at this level is characterized by the ability to use 'ouvidos' to evoke emotion and intellectual depth in both written and spoken Portuguese.

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At the C2 level, the mastery of ouvidos is near-native. The learner understands the most obscure idiomatic uses and historical connotations of the word. They can identify how regional variations in Portugal or Brazil might affect the usage of related terms. C2 students can use 'ouvidos' in highly sophisticated creative writing, employing it in complex metaphors about silence, noise, and human connection. They might encounter the word in archaic texts or legal documents where 'ouvidos' refers to the act of being heard in a formal hearing ('audiência'). At this stage, the learner can play with the word's polysemy, using it to create puns or double meanings in high-level discourse. They understand the phonetic nuances of how 'ouvidos' is pronounced across different dialects and can adapt their own speech accordingly. The focus is on complete linguistic flexibility, allowing the learner to use 'ouvidos' as a tool for persuasion, artistic expression, and precise scientific communication. They can discuss the evolution of the word from its Latin roots and its relationship to other Romance languages with ease.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

ouvidos en 30 secondes

Ouvidos refers to the internal ears and the sense of hearing.
It is masculine plural: os ouvidos, meus ouvidos.
Commonly used in idioms about listening and paying attention.
Distinct from 'orelhas', which are the external parts of the ear.

The Portuguese word ouvidos refers to the ears, specifically focusing on the internal organ and the sense of hearing. While the word orelha refers to the external, visible part of the ear, ouvidos is used when discussing the biological function, medical conditions, or the metaphorical act of listening and paying attention. In everyday conversation, you will use this word when you have a 'dor de ouvidos' (earache) or when you want someone to listen to you 'dar ouvidos'. It is a fundamental noun for expressing sensory perception and communication.

Anatomy: Refers to the internal structures like the eardrum and inner ear canal.
Metaphorical Attention: Used to describe the act of granting someone your focus or belief.

Os meus ouvidos estão muito sensíveis à música alta hoje.

Não dês ouvidos a boatos maldosos.

Usage Context: Commonly found in medical, musical, and interpersonal advice contexts.

Ele tem bons ouvidos para línguas estrangeiras.

A criança tapou os ouvidos por causa do trovão.

Synonyms in Context: Often interchangeable with 'audição' when referring to the sense itself.

Chegou aos meus ouvidos que vais mudar de emprego.

Using ouvidos correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a masculine plural noun. It frequently follows verbs of perception or action like 'abrir', 'fechar', 'tapar', or 'limpar'. In a literal sense, you might say 'Lavo os meus ouvidos com cuidado' (I wash my ears carefully). However, the most common usage is idiomatic. For example, 'abrir os ouvidos' means to start paying close attention, while 'fechar os ouvidos' means to refuse to listen.

Verb Pairing: Verbs like 'doer' (to hurt) are used: 'Dói-me o ouvido' (singular) or 'Doem-me os ouvidos' (plural).

Ela sussurrou segredos nos meus ouvidos.

Tens de ter ouvidos atentos durante a aula.

Prepositional Use: 'Até aos ouvidos' implies being completely submerged or overwhelmed by something.

Estou com trabalho até aos ouvidos.

O som era tão alto que feria os ouvidos.

Possessives: Commonly used with 'meus', 'teus', 'seus' to denote personal experience.

Os ouvidos dele são muito apurados.

You will encounter ouvidos in various settings. In a medical clinic, a doctor might ask 'Tem problemas nos ouvidos?' (Do you have ear problems?). In a music conservatory, a teacher might praise a student's 'bom ouvido' (good ear for music). In social settings, gossip often 'chega aos ouvidos' (reaches the ears) of someone. Literature and poetry also use ouvidos to evoke intimacy or the reception of truth.

Medical Settings: Used when discussing infections, hearing loss, or balance issues (vestibular system).
Music and Arts: Refers to the ability to distinguish notes, rhythms, and languages.

O médico examinou os ouvidos do paciente com um otoscópio.

As paredes têm ouvidos, por isso fala baixo.

Everyday Idioms: Used to warn about privacy or to describe how information spreads.

Ela faz ouvidos moucos às críticas.

O barulho dos aviões incomoda os meus ouvidos.

Legal and Formal: Used in testimonies when someone 'heard' an event occur.

A notícia chegou aos ouvidos das autoridades.

The most frequent error for English speakers is confusing ouvidos with orelhas. In English, the word 'ear' covers both the external flap and the internal organ. In Portuguese, if you say 'Minhas orelhas doem' after a loud concert, it sounds like the skin of your outer ear hurts, rather than the internal mechanism. Another mistake is using the singular 'ouvido' when the plural 'ouvidos' is required by the context of both ears.

Ouvido vs. Orelha: Ouvido = Internal/Sense of hearing. Orelha = External/Visible part.
Preposition Errors: Using 'em' instead of 'a' in idioms like 'dar ouvidos a'.

Errado: Dói-me a orelha (when referring to internal pain). Correto: Dói-me o ouvido.

Não dês ouvidos ao que ele diz (Correct preposition 'a').

Plurality: Often, learners forget that 'ouvidos' is plural when referring to the general sense of hearing.

Ele tapou os ouvidos (Both ears).

A música é para os teus ouvidos.

Gender Agreement: Mistaking 'ouvidos' for feminine because it ends in 's' (though 'o' is masculine).

Os ouvidos cansados precisam de silêncio.

To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to compare ouvidos with related terms. While ouvidos is the most common noun for the organ, 'audição' is the formal term for the sense of hearing. 'Escuta' refers to the act of listening, often in a more active or technical sense (like 'escuta telefónica'). Knowing when to use each will make your Portuguese sound more natural and precise.

Ouvidos vs. Audição: 'Ouvidos' are the physical parts; 'Audição' is the physiological capacity to hear.
Ouvidos vs. Orelhas: 'Orelhas' are for earrings and physical shape; 'Ouvidos' are for sound and pain.

A minha audição está a ficar fraca, preciso de cuidar dos meus ouvidos.

Ele tem uma escuta muito atenta aos detalhes.

Contextual Choice: Use 'ouvido' for 'ear for music' and 'orelha' for 'dog-eared page' (orelha do livro).

O brinco está na orelha, mas a música está nos ouvidos.

Podes confiar em mim, sou todo ouvidos.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The distinction between 'orelha' (from Latin 'auricula') and 'ouvido' is a specific development in Ibero-Romance languages to separate the external structure from the internal function.

Guide de prononciation

UK /owˈvi.ðuʃ/

US /owˈvi.dus/

The stress is on the second syllable: ou-VI-dos.

Rime avec

feridos perdidos sentidos vestidos comidos pedidos nascidos validos

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'ou' like 'ow' in 'cow'. It should be more like 'oh'.
Making the 'd' too hard like an English 'd'. It should be softer, with the tongue against the teeth.
Pronouncing the final 's' as a hard 's' instead of the 'sh' sound common in Portugal.
Confusing the stress and putting it on the first syllable.
Mixing up the 'i' sound with a short 'ih' sound; it must be a long 'ee'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its frequency and context.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the 'ou' spelling and 'd' vs 't' sounds.

Expression orale 3/5

The 'ou' diphthong and final 's' in Portugal can be tricky.

Écoute 2/5

Clear sound, but must distinguish from similar words like 'olvido' (oblivion).

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

ouvir corpo som dor orelha

Apprends ensuite

audição tímpano sussurrar barulho escutar

Avancé

otite vestibular acústica fonética auscultação

Grammaire à connaître

Masculine plural agreement

Os meus ouvidos estão cansados.

Contraction of 'a' + 'os'

Ela falou aos ouvidos do povo.

Use of 'de' for compound nouns

Fones de ouvido.

Preposition 'em' for location

Tenho água nos ouvidos.

Verb 'doer' agreement

Doem-me os ouvidos (Plural subject).

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Exemples par niveau

Eu tenho dois ouvidos.

I have two ears.

Uses the verb 'ter' (to have) and the plural noun 'ouvidos'.

O meu ouvido dói.

My ear hurts.

Singular form 'ouvido' used with the verb 'doer'.

Lavo os meus ouvidos todos os dias.

I wash my ears every day.

Reflexive-style action with 'os meus ouvidos'.

Tu ouves com os ouvidos.

You hear with your ears.

Connects the verb 'ouvir' with the noun 'ouvidos'.

Os ouvidos são pequenos.

The ears are small.

Simple adjective agreement: masculine plural.

Ela tapa os ouvidos.

She covers her ears.

Verb 'tapar' (to cover/plug).

Onde estão os teus ouvidos?

Where are your ears?

Interrogative sentence with possessive 'teus'.

O som entra nos ouvidos.

The sound enters the ears.

Preposition 'em' + 'os' = 'nos'.

Não dês ouvidos a mentiras.

Don't listen to lies.

Imperative 'não dês' with the idiom 'dar ouvidos'.

Preciso de limpar os meus ouvidos.

I need to clean my ears.

Infinitive 'limpar' following 'preciso de'.

O barulho fere os meus ouvidos.

The noise hurts my ears.

Verb 'ferir' meaning to wound or hurt.

Ele usa fones de ouvido para música.

He uses headphones for music.

Compound noun 'fones de ouvido'.

A notícia chegou aos meus ouvidos ontem.

The news reached my ears yesterday.

Idiomatic use of 'chegar aos ouvidos'.

Tens um bom ouvido para música.

You have a good ear for music.

Singular 'ouvido' used for talent/ability.

Os ouvidos dele estão tapados.

His ears are blocked.

Passive construction with 'estar tapados'.

Ela sussurrou algo ao meu ouvido.

She whispered something in my ear.

Prepositional phrase 'ao meu ouvido'.

O que dizes entra por um ouvido e sai pelo outro.

What you say goes in one ear and out the other.

Common idiomatic expression for lack of attention.

Fiz ouvidos moucos ao que ele disse.

I turned a deaf ear to what he said.

The phrase 'fazer ouvidos moucos' means to ignore.

Ele tem ouvido absoluto, consegue identificar qualquer nota.

He has absolute pitch; he can identify any note.

Technical musical term 'ouvido absoluto'.

A água entrou nos meus ouvidos enquanto eu nadava.

Water got into my ears while I was swimming.

Past tense 'entrou' with 'enquanto' (while).

Não deves dar ouvidos a estranhos na internet.

You shouldn't listen to strangers on the internet.

Modal verb 'dever' with the idiom 'dar ouvidos'.

Os meus ouvidos ainda estão a zumbir por causa do concerto.

My ears are still ringing because of the concert.

Continuous tense 'estão a zumbir'.

Ela tem um ouvido apurado para detetar mentiras.

She has a sharp ear for detecting lies.

Adjective 'apurado' (refined/sharp).

A criança puxou as orelhas, mas a dor era no ouvido.

The child pulled their outer ears, but the pain was in the inner ear.

Contrast between 'orelhas' and 'ouvido'.

A exposição prolongada a ruído pode danificar os ouvidos.

Prolonged exposure to noise can damage the ears.

Formal sentence structure with 'pode danificar'.

O segredo foi passado de ouvido em ouvido.

The secret was passed from ear to ear.

Expression for the spread of information.

As paredes têm ouvidos, devemos ter cuidado com o que dizemos.

The walls have ears; we should be careful what we say.

Proverbial expression about privacy.

Ele é todo ouvidos para as tuas novas ideias.

He is all ears for your new ideas.

Idiom 'ser todo ouvidos'.

O médico receitou gotas para os ouvidos inflamados.

The doctor prescribed drops for the inflamed ears.

Medical context with adjective agreement.

A música clássica é um deleite para os meus ouvidos.

Classical music is a delight to my ears.

Metaphorical use of 'deleite' (delight).

Chegou aos ouvidos do diretor que a equipa está insatisfeita.

It reached the director's ears that the team is dissatisfied.

Impersonal construction 'Chegou aos ouvidos de'.

Não consigo tirar esta melodia dos meus ouvidos.

I can't get this melody out of my ears.

Expression for an 'earworm'.

A sua voz era como mel nos meus ouvidos.

Her voice was like honey in my ears.

Simile used in a literary context.

O orador conseguiu prender os ouvidos de toda a audiência.

The speaker managed to capture the ears of the entire audience.

Metaphor for capturing attention.

É imperativo proteger os ouvidos contra a poluição sonora urbana.

It is imperative to protect ears against urban noise pollution.

Advanced vocabulary like 'imperativo' and 'poluição sonora'.

O seu ouvido clínico permitiu-lhe diagnosticar o problema rapidamente.

His clinical 'ear' (intuition) allowed him to diagnose the problem quickly.

Idiom 'ouvido clínico' meaning keen intuition.

As palavras ásperas feriram os ouvidos dos presentes.

The harsh words wounded the ears of those present.

Abstract use of 'ferir' (to wound).

Ele sempre teve um ouvido muito sensível a nuances fonéticas.

He always had a very sensitive ear for phonetic nuances.

Technical use in linguistics.

A verdade, por vezes, é dura de chegar aos ouvidos.

The truth is sometimes hard to reach the ears (to be heard).

Philosophical/Abstract use.

O som dos sinos ecoava nos ouvidos dos habitantes da aldeia.

The sound of the bells echoed in the ears of the village inhabitants.

Descriptive literary style.

A subtileza da composição escapou aos ouvidos menos treinados.

The subtlety of the composition escaped less trained ears.

High-level musical and intellectual context.

O clamor popular finalmente encontrou ouvidos atentos no governo.

The popular outcry finally found attentive ears in the government.

Metaphorical political usage.

As suas promessas caíram em ouvidos moucos.

His promises fell on deaf ears.

Advanced idiomatic use of 'cair em'.

A acústica da sala foi desenhada para mimar os ouvidos mais exigentes.

The room's acoustics were designed to pamper the most demanding ears.

Sophisticated verb 'mimar' (to pamper).

Havia um murmúrio constante que fustigava os seus ouvidos cansados.

There was a constant murmur that whipped his tired ears.

Poetic verb 'fustigar' (to whip/harass).

A ressonância das suas palavras ainda vibra nos meus ouvidos.

The resonance of his words still vibrates in my ears.

Metaphor for lasting impact.

Ouvidos atentos são o primeiro passo para a verdadeira diplomacia.

Attentive ears are the first step toward true diplomacy.

Aphoristic/Philosophical style.

A dissonância cognitiva manifesta-se como um ruído nos ouvidos da razão.

Cognitive dissonance manifests as a noise in the ears of reason.

Highly abstract/Academic metaphor.

Collocations courantes

dor de ouvidos

fones de ouvido

ouvido absoluto

dar ouvidos

ouvido clínico

tapar os ouvidos

limpar os ouvidos

ouvido atento

chegar aos ouvidos

sussurrar ao ouvido

Phrases Courantes

Ser todo ouvidos

— To be ready and eager to listen to what someone has to say.

Podes contar-me tudo, sou todo ouvidos.

Fazer ouvidos moucos

— To pretend not to hear or to ignore someone's request or advice.

O governo fez ouvidos moucos aos protestos.

Entrar por um ouvido e sair pelo outro

— To be heard but immediately forgotten or ignored.

Tudo o que eu digo entra-lhe por um ouvido e sai pelo outro.

Até aos ouvidos

— To be deeply involved or overwhelmed by something.

Estou enterrado em dívidas até aos ouvidos.

Música para os meus ouvidos

— Something that is very pleasant to hear or good news.

Ouvir que ganhei o prémio foi música para os meus ouvidos.

Dar ouvidos a boatos

— To believe or pay attention to rumors.

Não deves dar ouvidos a boatos sem fundamento.

Ter bom ouvido

— To have a good ability to recognize sounds or music.

Ele tem bom ouvido para aprender novas línguas.

Sussurros ao ouvido

— Private conversations or secrets told quietly.

Havia muitos sussurros ao ouvido durante a reunião.

Zumbido nos ouvidos

— A ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (tinnitus).

Depois da explosão, ele ficou com um zumbido nos ouvidos.

Abrir os ouvidos

— To start listening carefully.

Abre bem os ouvidos, porque só vou dizer isto uma vez.

Souvent confondu avec

ouvidos vs orelhas

Orelhas are the external parts; ouvidos are the internal parts and the sense of hearing.

ouvidos vs olvido

Olvido means forgetfulness or oblivion; it sounds similar but is unrelated.

ouvidos vs ouvi

Ouvi is the first-person past tense of 'ouvir' (I heard).

Expressions idiomatiques

"As paredes têm ouvidos"

— Be careful what you say because someone might be listening secretly.

Fala baixo, as paredes têm ouvidos.

Common

"Cair em ouvidos moucos"

— To be ignored or to have no effect on the listener.

Os meus avisos caíram em ouvidos moucos.

Formal/Literary

"Puxar as orelhas"

— Note: Uses 'orelhas' but related. Means to scold or reprimand someone.

A mãe puxou as orelhas ao filho por causa das notas.

Informal

"Dormir sobre o ouvido esquerdos"

— To be carefree or unconcerned about a situation.

Podes dormir sobre o ouvido esquerdo, o problema está resolvido.

Informal

"Chegar aos ouvidos de alguém"

— For information to eventually be heard by a specific person.

Isso vai acabar por chegar aos ouvidos do patrão.

Neutral

"Falar ao ouvido"

— To speak privately or intimately to someone.

Ela falou-me ao ouvido para ninguém ouvir.

Neutral

"Ficar com a pulga atrás da orelha"

— Note: Uses 'orelha'. Means to become suspicious.

Fiquei com a pulga atrás da orelha com aquela explicação.

Informal

"Ouvido de tísico"

— A very sharp sense of hearing (often used for someone who overhears things).

Cuidado, ela tem ouvido de tísico!

Informal

"Entrar pelos ouvidos"

— To be heard clearly or to be easily understood.

A lição entrou-lhe bem pelos ouvidos.

Neutral

"Até à ponta das orelhas"

— Note: Uses 'orelhas'. Means to be completely full or blushing deeply.

Ele ficou vermelho até à ponta das orelhas.

Informal

Facile à confondre

ouvidos vs orelha

Both translate to 'ear' in English.

Orelha is the physical external flap. Ouvido is the internal organ and the sense of hearing.

Pus um brinco na orelha, mas ouvi a música com o ouvido.

ouvidos vs audição

Both relate to hearing.

Audição is the abstract sense or a formal hearing. Ouvido is the physical organ.

A minha audição está má porque tenho um problema no ouvido.

ouvidos vs escuta

Both involve sound.

Escuta is the act of listening intently. Ouvido is the tool used to do it.

Ele está à escuta com os ouvidos colados à porta.

ouvidos vs olvido

Phonetic similarity.

Olvido is a literary term for forgetting. Ouvido is for hearing.

Caiu no olvido, mas ainda soa nos meus ouvidos.

ouvidos vs ruído

Associated with ears.

Ruído is the sound (noise) itself. Ouvido is what perceives it.

O ruído incomoda os meus ouvidos.

Structures de phrases

O meu [noun] dói.

O meu ouvido dói.

Não dês ouvidos a [noun/person].

Não dês ouvidos a ele.

Fazer ouvidos moucos a [something].

Ele faz ouvidos moucos aos meus pedidos.

Chegou aos ouvidos de [person] que [clause].

Chegou aos ouvidos do chefe que eu vou sair.

[Something] é música para os meus ouvidos.

A tua aprovação é música para os meus ouvidos.

Até à ponta dos ouvidos.

Ele está apaixonado até à ponta dos ouvidos.

Uso fones de ouvido para [verb].

Uso fones de ouvido para estudar.

Ter bom ouvido para [noun].

Ela tem bom ouvido para línguas.

Famille de mots

Noms

ouvinte (listener)

audição (hearing)

auditório (auditorium)

auscultação (auscultation/listening to body sounds)

Verbes

ouvir (to hear)

escutar (to listen)

auscultar (to examine by listening)

Adjectifs

auditivo (auditory)

ouvível (audible)

inaudível (inaudible)

Apparenté

orelha

tímpano

som

ruído

música

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very frequent in both spoken and written Portuguese.

Erreurs courantes

Dói-me a orelha (when having an earache). → Dói-me o ouvido.
Orelha refers to the outer ear; an earache is internal, thus 'ouvido'.
Uso brincos nos ouvidos. → Uso brincos nas orelhas.
Earrings are worn on the external part (orelha), not inside the hearing organ.
Dar ouvidos em alguém. → Dar ouvidos a alguém.
The idiom 'dar ouvidos' requires the preposition 'a'.
Os ouvidos são femininas. → Os ouvidos são masculinos.
The noun 'ouvido' is masculine; adjectives must agree in gender.
Fones de orelha. → Fones de ouvido.
The standard term for headphones uses 'ouvido' because they deliver sound to the hearing organ.

Astuces

Gender Agreement

Always remember 'ouvidos' is masculine. This is a common trip-up for learners who might think body parts are feminine. Use 'os' and 'meus'.

Internal vs External

Think of 'Ouvido' as 'Inside' and 'Orelha' as 'Outside'. This will save you from medical and social confusion.

Don't Listen to Gossip

Use 'Não dês ouvidos' to tell someone to ignore rumors. it's a very natural and common phrase.

The 'OU' Sound

Don't separate the 'o' and 'u'. It should sound like the 'o' in 'go' but a bit more rounded. Practice 'ou-vi-dos' slowly.

At the Doctor

If you have an earache, say 'Tenho uma dor de ouvido'. The doctor will understand you mean the internal canal.

Playing by Ear

The phrase 'tocar de ouvido' is very common. Use it to describe talented musicians who don't need sheet music.

Privacy Matters

Remember 'As paredes têm ouvidos' when you're about to share a secret in a public place like a café.

Dog-ears in Books

Interestingly, a folded corner of a book page is called 'orelha de livro', not 'ouvido', because it's a physical external fold.

Headphone Choice

When buying headphones, look for 'fones de ouvido'. This is the standard term in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

Up to your ears

Use 'até aos ouvidos' for being overwhelmed. 'Estou com trabalho até aos ouvidos' is a perfect way to express being busy.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Ouvidos' as 'Over-dos' (over-dose) of sound. If you have an overdose of sound, your 'ouvidos' will hurt!

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant ear inside a house (the internal 'ouvido') while the 'orelha' is just the front door.

Word Web

ouvir som música dor fones silêncio segredo moucos

Défi

Try to use 'dar ouvidos' and 'fazer ouvidos moucos' in the same paragraph about a stubborn friend.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Latin 'auditus', which is the past participle of 'audire' (to hear).

Sens originel : The act of hearing or the sense of hearing.

Romance (Latin root).

Contexte culturel

Be sensitive when using 'ouvidos moucos' around the hard-of-hearing community, as it can be seen as slightly dismissive of actual deafness.

English speakers often struggle with the 'ouvido' vs 'orelha' split because English uses 'ear' for everything.

The proverb 'As paredes têm ouvidos' is used in many Portuguese folk tales. Fado lyrics often mention 'ouvir' and 'ouvidos' in the context of longing (saudade). Medical campaigns in Portugal often use the phrase 'Cuide dos seus ouvidos'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Medical / Health

Infeção nos ouvidos
Limpar os ouvidos
Exame ao ouvido
Perda de audição

Music

Tocar de ouvido
Ouvido absoluto
Bom ouvido musical
Treino de ouvido

Communication

Sussurrar ao ouvido
Dar ouvidos
Chegar aos ouvidos
Ser todo ouvidos

Environment

Barulho nos ouvidos
Tapar os ouvidos
Protetores de ouvidos
Zumbido nos ouvidos

Idiomatic / Social

Até aos ouvidos
Ouvidos moucos
Paredes têm ouvidos
Entrar por um ouvido

Amorces de conversation

"Já alguma vez tiveste uma dor de ouvidos muito forte?"

"Consegues tocar algum instrumento musical de ouvido?"

"Costumas usar fones de ouvido durante muito tempo?"

"O que fazes quando alguém te diz algo que entra por um ouvido e sai pelo outro?"

"Achas que as paredes do teu escritório têm ouvidos?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreve um momento em que tiveste de fazer ouvidos moucos a uma crítica negativa.

Quais são os sons mais agradáveis para os teus ouvidos numa manhã de domingo?

Escreve sobre a importância de proteger os nossos ouvidos num mundo tão barulhento.

Relata uma situação em que uma notícia importante chegou aos teus ouvidos de forma inesperada.

Se fosses 'todo ouvidos' para um conselho hoje, quem gostarias de ouvir?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Generally, no. If the pain is inside, you must use 'ouvido'. If you say 'orelha', people will think you have a skin irritation or a physical injury to the outer flap. For example, 'Dói-me o ouvido' is the standard way to report an earache.

While 'ouvir' (related to 'ouvido') is the passive act of hearing, 'escutar' is the active act of listening. You can 'ouvir' a noise without 'escutar' (paying attention) to what it is. However, in idioms like 'dar ouvidos', 'ouvido' is used for the active part.

The most common term is 'fones de ouvido'. In some regions, especially Brazil, you might just hear 'fones'. In Portugal, 'auscultadores' is also a very common formal term for headphones.

Yes, 'ouvido' is a masculine noun. Therefore, its plural 'ouvidos' is also masculine. You should always use masculine articles and adjectives: 'os ouvidos', 'meus ouvidos', 'ouvidos atentos'.

It is an idiom that means to be completely ready and willing to listen to someone. It's the equivalent of the English 'to be all ears'. Example: 'Podes falar, sou todo ouvidos'.

It is the ability to identify or recreate a musical note without a reference tone. In English, this is called 'perfect pitch' or 'absolute pitch'. It's a highly prized trait in musicians.

This is a common proverb meaning that you should be careful with what you say in private because there might be someone eavesdropping or the information might leak. It exists in many languages.

Not directly as a synonym for 'listener', but you can say someone is a 'bom ouvinte' (good listener). However, you can use 'ouvido' metaphorically to describe someone's capacity, like 'ele é o ouvido do rei' (he is the one the king listens to).

Earrings are 'brincos'. Since they are worn on the external part of the ear, you would say they are 'nas orelhas', not 'nos ouvidos'.

'Mouco' is an old word for deaf. So 'fazer ouvidos moucos' literally means 'to make deaf ears', or more accurately, to pretend to be deaf to someone's requests or advice.

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