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A2 verb #7,000 le plus courant 10 min de lecture

piar

Top 7,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces piar en 30 secondes

Explication piar in your Level:

At the A1 level, focus on the literal meaning of 'piar'. It is one of the basic animal sounds you learn, alongside 'latir' (to bark) and 'miar' (to meow). You will mostly see it in the context of 'pintinhos' (chicks) and 'pássaros' (birds). It is a regular verb ending in -ar, so it follows the simplest conjugation rules: pio, pias, pia, piamos, piam. At this stage, just think of it as 'the sound a bird makes'. You might see it in children's books or simple descriptions of nature. For example: 'O pássaro pia na árvore' (The bird chirps in the tree). It's a useful word to expand your basic vocabulary of verbs that describe the world around you. Don't worry about the slang or figurative meanings yet; just associate the sound 'pi-pi-pi' with the verb 'piar'.

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At the A2 level, you begin to see 'piar' used in common negative expressions. You will learn that 'não piar' means 'not to say a word'. This is very common in stories or when describing a situation where someone was very quiet. You might hear: 'Ele estava com tanto medo que não piou' (He was so afraid that he didn't say a peep). You should also be aware of the noun 'o pio' (the chirp). At this level, you are building the bridge between the literal bird sound and the human behavior of being silent. You can start using it to describe people who are unusually quiet in specific situations. It's a great way to make your Portuguese sound more natural and less like a textbook.

By B1, you should be comfortable with 'piar' in various tenses and moods. You'll start noticing the idiom 'piar fininho'. This is a very frequent expression in Brazilian and Portuguese media and casual conversation. It describes someone who was once arrogant but is now acting humble. You might read it in a news article about a politician who lost their influence: 'O ex-ministro agora pia fininho'. You should also be able to use the imperative 'Não pie!' correctly, understanding that it's a strong command to be silent. At this level, you understand the social nuances—that 'piar' is often about power, fear, or submission when applied to humans.

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At the B2 level, you can explore the stylistic uses of 'piar'. Authors use it to create specific atmospheres—the silence of a forest where not even a bird chirps, or the tense silence of a room. You'll recognize 'piar' in more complex grammatical structures, like the personal infinitive or the future subjunctive. You should also be able to distinguish between 'piar' and its synonyms like 'chilrear' or 'pipilar' based on the specific bird or the quality of the sound. You might also encounter the Brazilian slang usage where 'piar' means 'to show up' (e.g., 'Pia lá no rolê'), and you'll know that this is highly informal and regional. You are now analyzing the word as a tool for tone and register.

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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the word's etymological roots and its role in Portuguese idiomatic heritage. You can use 'piar' and its derivatives (like 'pianinho') with perfect nuance in both formal writing (to describe silence) and informal speech (to tease friends). You understand the subtle difference between 'ele não falou nada' and 'ele não piou', recognizing the latter as more emphatic and descriptive of a total lack of even the smallest sound. You can discuss the cultural implications of the word, such as how animal metaphors are used in Portuguese to describe human traits. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use 'piar' as a precise instrument for expression.

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At the C2 level, 'piar' is a word you can play with. You might use it in poetry or advanced rhetoric to evoke the fragility of a sound or the absolute nature of a silence. You understand its historical development from Latin and how it fits into the broader family of Romance bird-sound verbs. You can identify regional variations in its usage across the Lusophone world, from Angola to Portugal to Brazil. You can use the word in sophisticated puns or metaphors, and you have a total command of all its slang, idiomatic, and literal forms. To you, 'piar' is not just a verb; it's a versatile linguistic element that carries centuries of cultural and social meaning.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

piar en 30 secondes

Piar is the primary Portuguese verb for the chirping or peeping sound made by small birds and chicks.
It is frequently used figuratively to mean 'to say a word', especially in negative contexts like 'not saying a peep'.
The idiom 'piar fininho' describes someone who was previously arrogant but has become humble or submissive.
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate, but its usage requires understanding social context.

The Portuguese verb piar is a fascinating example of an onomatopoeic word that has successfully migrated from the natural world into the nuances of human social interaction. At its most basic, literal level, piar describes the high-pitched, repetitive sound made by small birds, particularly chicks (pintinhos) or songbirds. It is the Portuguese equivalent of 'to chirp', 'to peep', or 'to tweet'. However, as you progress in your Portuguese journey, you will find that piar carries a heavy weight in colloquial speech, often used to describe the act of speaking or making a sound in contexts where silence is expected or where someone is being intimidated.

Literal Usage: Used primarily in nature, farming, or domestic settings involving birds. If you are on a farm in Minas Gerais, you might hear someone say that the chicks are hungry because they won't stop piando.

Os passarinhos começaram a piar assim que o sol nasceu.

Translation: The little birds started to chirp as soon as the sun rose.

Beyond the literal, the figurative use is where the word truly shines in daily conversation. In Brazil and Portugal, piar is often used as a synonym for 'to say a single word' or 'to breathe a word', usually in negative constructions. If a parent tells a child, 'Não pia!', they aren't telling them not to sound like a bird; they are telling them to be absolutely silent, often as a stern warning. This transition from bird sound to human speech suggests a sound that is small, insignificant, or perhaps even annoying to the listener.

Figurative Usage: 'Ele não piou sobre o assunto' means 'He didn't say a peep about the subject'. It emphasizes total silence or a refusal to comment.

Depois da bronca, ele não piou mais.

Translation: After the scolding, he didn't say another peep.

Furthermore, there is the idiomatic expression 'piar fininho'. This is used when someone who was previously arrogant or loud suddenly becomes quiet, submissive, or humble, usually because they have been put in their place or are facing a superior force. It evokes the image of a large bird suddenly making the tiny sound of a chick. Understanding this word requires recognizing the shift from biological description to social metaphor, a common trait in Romance languages where animal behaviors provide a rich vocabulary for human characterization.

Ele chegou todo valente, mas agora está piando fininho.

Translation: He arrived all brave, but now he is talking small (acting submissive).

Using piar correctly involves mastering its conjugation as a regular '-ar' verb and understanding the context—whether you are talking about biology or social behavior. As an intransitive verb in its literal sense, it doesn't require a direct object. You simply state who is making the sound. In its figurative sense, it is almost exclusively used in the negative or in specific idiomatic phrases.

In the Present Tense: When describing an ongoing action. 'O pássaro pia na janela' (The bird chirps at the window). In the figurative present, it might be used to describe a habit: 'Ele nunca pia quando o chefe está por perto' (He never says a word when the boss is around).

Eu ouço os pintinhos piando no quintal.

Translation: I hear the chicks chirping in the backyard.

In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), piar often marks a specific moment of silence or a single sound. 'Ela não piou' is a powerful way to say she remained completely silent during an event. It carries more weight than 'ela não falou' (she didn't speak) because it implies she didn't even make the smallest sound of protest or acknowledgement.

O suspeito não piou durante o interrogatório.

Translation: The suspect didn't say a peep during the interrogation.

Imperative Mood: The command 'Não pie!' is very common in informal, high-tension situations. It is a sharp, aggressive way to tell someone to shut up. Use it with caution, as it can be perceived as quite rude or dominating.

When using the expression 'piar fininho', the verb is often in the gerund form (piando) to describe a state of being. 'Desde que perdeu o emprego, ele está piando fininho' (Since he lost his job, he has been acting very humble/subdued). This construction focuses on the change in the person's demeanor over time.

Se você continuar assim, vai acabar piando fininho na mão dele.

Translation: If you keep this up, you'll end up being submissive in his hands.

In Literature: Authors often use 'piar' to create atmosphere. A cold morning might be described as so quiet that 'nem um pássaro piava' (not even a bird was chirping), emphasizing a desolate or peaceful setting.

You will encounter piar in a variety of settings, ranging from the most rural to the most urban. In rural areas of Brazil, such as the interior of São Paulo or the Northeast, piar is part of the daily vocabulary of anyone dealing with poultry. You'll hear it in markets, on farms, and in children's songs about animals. For example, the famous nursery rhyme 'Meu Pintinho Amarelinho' mentions the chick's sound, though usually using the noun form 'pio' or the verb 'piando'.

Escute o piar daquela coruja na mata.

Translation: Listen to the chirping/hoot of that owl in the woods.

In urban environments, however, the word shifts into the realm of slang and colloquialisms. In a heated argument in a Rio de Janeiro 'favela' or a São Paulo 'quebrada', you might hear someone say 'Não pia!' as a threat. In this context, it effectively means 'Don't you dare say a word' or 'Don't even try to respond'. It is a word of the streets, carrying a sense of authority and potential conflict. It's also heard in police procedurals on TV, where suspects are told not to 'piar' during a raid.

In the Media: Journalists might use the term metaphorically in political commentary. 'A oposição não piou sobre a nova lei' (The opposition didn't say a word about the new law), suggesting a surprising silence or lack of resistance.

Another place you'll hear it is in the workplace, albeit informally. If a project fails and everyone is looking for someone to blame, you might hear a colleague whisper, 'Ninguém vai piar sobre o erro do chefe' (No one is going to peep about the boss's mistake). Here, it captures the tension of a situation where speaking up feels risky. It's the sound of the 'small' person in the face of the 'big' person.

Se o gerente perguntar, ninguém pia, ok?

Translation: If the manager asks, no one says a peep, okay?

Social Settings: Among friends, 'piar' can be used jokingly. If a friend who is usually very talkative is suddenly quiet because they are embarrassed, you might tease them: 'Por que você está aí sem piar?' (Why are you there without saying a peep?).

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers learning Portuguese is trying to use piar for all bird sounds. While 'chirp' is a good general translation, Portuguese has specific verbs for different birds. For instance, a crow 'grasna', a dove 'arrulha', and a rooster 'canta'. Using piar for a large bird like an eagle might sound a bit silly to a native speaker, as piar specifically evokes the tiny, high-pitched sound of a small bird.

Confusing Piar with Falar: Don't use 'piar' as a direct replacement for 'falar' (to speak) in positive sentences. You wouldn't say 'Eu pio com você amanhã' to mean 'I'll talk to you tomorrow'. Piar in a human context is almost always about the *absence* of speech or a very specific *type* of submissive speech.

Errado: Eu vou piar a verdade. (Incorrect for 'I will speak the truth')

Correct: Eu vou falar a verdade.

Another mistake is confusing the verb piar with the noun pio. While 'o pio' is the chirp itself, 'piar' is the action. Also, be careful with the word 'pia', which is the third-person singular of the verb but also the common noun for 'sink' (as in a kitchen sink). Context usually makes this clear, but as a beginner, seeing 'A pia está cheia' might confuse you—it means 'The sink is full', not 'The bird is full'.

Overusing the Slang: In some Brazilian slang, 'piar' means to show up at a party or event ('Pia lá em casa' - Come by my house). However, this is very regional and very informal. Using it in a business meeting would be highly inappropriate and confusing.

Cuidado: Não confunda o som do pássaro com a pia da cozinha.

Translation: Careful: don't confuse the bird's sound with the kitchen sink.

Lastly, learners often forget the 'fininho' in the expression 'piar fininho'. If you just say someone is 'piando', it might just mean they are talking a little. To convey the specific meaning of being humbled or submissive, the 'fininho' (thinly/finely) is essential to the idiom.

Portuguese is rich in verbs for animal sounds and human communication. Depending on what you want to emphasize, you might choose an alternative to piar. If you are talking about birds, but want to describe a more melodic or complex sound, you should use cantar (to sing) or trilar (to trill). Chilrear is another excellent word, specifically for the collective 'twittering' of many birds together.

Piar vs. Chilrear: 'Piar' is the sound of one or a few small birds/chicks. 'Chilrear' is the busy, social noise of a flock of birds in a tree.

Enquanto o pintinho pia, as andorinhas chilreiam no céu.

Translation: While the chick chirps, the swallows twitter in the sky.

When looking for human alternatives in the sense of 'not saying a peep', you could use abrir a boca (to open one's mouth). 'Ele não abriu a boca' is very close to 'ele não piou', but 'piar' adds a layer of 'he didn't even make a tiny sound'. Another alternative is dar um pio, which turns the verb into a noun phrase. 'Não dê um pio!' (Don't give a chirp/Don't make a sound) is a very common command.

Piar vs. Murmurar: 'Murmurar' (to murmur) implies speaking low and often complaining. 'Piar' (figuratively) implies the absolute minimum sound or a total lack thereof.

For the submissive sense of 'piar fininho', you might use baixar a bola (to lower the ball/to humble oneself) or ficar pianinho. Interestingly, 'ficar pianinho' is a very common slang variation that means to stay quiet and behave, often after being reprimanded. It combines the bird sound imagery with the musical 'piano' (softly).

Depois do susto, ele ficou pianinho.

Translation: After the scare, he stayed very quiet/well-behaved.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The sound 'pi' is one of the most universal onomatopoeias for small birds across many different languages.

Guide de prononciation

UK /piˈaɾ/

US /piˈaɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: pi-AR.

Rime avec

cantar falar olhar andar mar lugar voar chegar

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it as 'pie' like the English food.
Making the 'p' too aspirated (Portuguese 'p' is softer).
Stress on the first syllable (PI-ar) instead of the second.
Not tapping the 'r' at the end.
Confusing the sound with 'pior' (worse).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in text, especially with bird contexts.

Écriture 2/5

Regular conjugation makes it easy to write correctly.

Expression orale 3/5

Mastering the 'r' and the idiomatic 'piar fininho' takes practice.

Écoute 3/5

Can be confused with 'pia' (sink) or 'pior' (worse) in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

pássaro falar silêncio pintinho pia

Apprends ensuite

chilrear trilar grunhir latir miar

Avancé

onomatopeia submissão intimidar metáfora coloquialismo

Grammaire à connaître

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Eu pio, você pia, nós piamos.

Gerund formation (-ando)

O pássaro está piando.

Infinitive as a noun

O piar dos pássaros é relaxante.

Negative Imperative with 'não'

Não pie agora!

Future Subjunctive for hypothetical sounds

Se ele piar, nós saberemos.

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Exemples par niveau

O pintinho pia: pi, pi, pi.

The chick chirps: pi, pi, pi.

Simple present tense, 3rd person singular.

Os passarinhos piam de manhã.

The little birds chirp in the morning.

Regular -ar verb plural conjugation.

Eu ouço um pássaro piar.

I hear a bird chirping.

Infinitive after another verb (ouço).

O passarinho não está piando.

The little bird is not chirping.

Present continuous with 'estar' + gerund.

Você gosta de ouvir o piar dos pássaros?

Do you like to hear the chirping of the birds?

Piar used as a verbal noun.

O pintinho pia quando tem fome.

The chick chirps when it is hungry.

Conditional 'quando' with present tense.

Muitos pássaros piam no jardim.

Many birds chirp in the garden.

Subject-verb agreement (Muitos pássaros -> piam).

O pássaro azul pia alto.

The blue bird chirps loudly.

Adverbial use of 'alto' with the verb.

Ele ficou com medo e não piou.

He got scared and didn't say a peep.

Pretérito perfeito (past tense) in the negative.

Não pie durante a aula!

Don't make a sound during class!

Negative imperative form.

Ela não piou sobre a surpresa.

She didn't say a word about the surprise.

Figurative use meaning 'to reveal information'.

Os alunos não piam quando o diretor entra.

The students don't say a word when the principal enters.

Present tense used to describe a habitual action.

Eu não vou piar para ninguém, eu prometo.

I won't say a peep to anyone, I promise.

Future construction (ir + infinitive).

Ninguém piou durante o filme de terror.

No one said a word during the horror movie.

Indefinite pronoun 'ninguém' as subject.

O bebê não piou a noite toda.

The baby didn't make a sound all night.

Figurative use for a human baby.

Se você piar, eles vão nos descobrir.

If you make a sound, they will discover us.

Future subjunctive (Se você piar).

Depois que o pai chegou, o menino começou a piar fininho.

After the father arrived, the boy started acting submissive.

Idiomatic expression 'piar fininho'.

Ela não piou quando viu o erro do colega.

She didn't say a word when she saw her colleague's mistake.

Nuance of choosing to remain silent.

O chefe falou grosso e todo mundo piou fininho.

The boss spoke tough and everyone acted submissively.

Contrast between 'falar grosso' and 'piar fininho'.

Não adianta piar agora, o problema já foi criado.

It's no use complaining/speaking now, the problem is already created.

Figurative use meaning 'to complain'.

Ele sempre pia fininho na frente da esposa.

He always acts submissively in front of his wife.

Habitual action with idiom.

Ninguém ousou piar contra a decisão da empresa.

No one dared to say a word against the company's decision.

Infinitive after the verb 'ousar' (to dare).

Eu ouvi você piando sobre o meu segredo!

I heard you chirping (gossiping/speaking) about my secret!

Gerund used to describe a perceived action.

Se ele piar qualquer coisa, me avise.

If he says anything at all, let me know.

Future subjunctive implying any sound at all.

O silêncio era tanto que nem um pássaro piava naquela floresta.

The silence was so great that not even a bird was chirping in that forest.

Imperfect tense (piava) for setting the scene.

A oposição não piou a respeito das novas medidas econômicas.

The opposition didn't say a peep regarding the new economic measures.

Metaphorical use in a political context.

Ele tentou reclamar, mas o segurança o fez piar fininho rapidinho.

He tried to complain, but the security guard made him act submissively very quickly.

Causative construction (fez + infinitive).

Não quero que você pie uma palavra sobre o que aconteceu aqui.

I don't want you to say a single word about what happened here.

Present subjunctive after 'querer que'.

O passarinho piava tristemente na gaiola.

The little bird chirped sadly in the cage.

Use of adverb (tristemente) to modify the verb.

É impressionante como ele pia fininho quando o assunto é dinheiro.

It's impressive how he gets quiet/submissive when the subject is money.

Idiomatic use in a specific context.

Ninguém piou durante o minuto de silêncio.

No one made a sound during the minute of silence.

Literal and figurative overlap (absolute silence).

Se você continuar piando desse jeito, vai ser expulso.

If you keep complaining like that, you're going to be kicked out.

Gerund describing annoying speech.

A testemunha, coagida, não piou diante do magistrado.

The witness, coerced, did not say a word before the magistrate.

Formal register with past tense.

Diante da evidência irrefutável, o réu não teve como piar.

Faced with irrefutable evidence, the defendant had no way to speak up/defend himself.

Figurative use meaning 'to offer a counter-argument'.

O governo espera que a imprensa não pie sobre os gastos excessivos.

The government expects the press not to peep about the excessive spending.

Subjunctive mood in a complex sentence.

Naquele regime autoritário, ninguém ousava piar contra o ditador.

In that authoritarian regime, no one dared to say a word against the dictator.

Imperfect tense for historical description.

O piar intermitente dos filhotes indicava que a mãe estava próxima.

The intermittent chirping of the chicks indicated that the mother was near.

Verbal noun (O piar) with an adjective.

Ele sempre foi arrogante, mas agora que perdeu o poder, pia fininho.

He was always arrogant, but now that he lost power, he acts submissively.

Contrast of character over time.

Não piou sequer um agradecimento após receber a ajuda.

He didn't even peep a thank you after receiving help.

Emphasis on the lack of even a minimal sound.

A natureza parece piar em uníssono durante a primavera.

Nature seems to chirp in unison during spring.

Poetic/metaphorical use.

O silêncio sepulcral era apenas quebrado pelo piar lúgubre de uma coruja.

The sepulchral silence was only broken by the lugubrious hooting of an owl.

High literary register with sophisticated adjectives.

Submetido a um escrutínio rigoroso, o palestrante acabou por piar fininho.

Subjected to rigorous scrutiny, the speaker ended up acting submissively.

Complex sentence structure with passive voice.

Não houve quem piasse contra a injustiça perpetrada.

There was no one who would speak up against the injustice perpetrated.

Imperfect subjunctive in a relative clause.

O poeta descreve o piar dos pássaros como a alma da alvorada.

The poet describes the chirping of birds as the soul of the dawn.

Abstract metaphorical use.

A criança, num canto, não piava, absorta em seus próprios pensamentos.

The child, in a corner, didn't make a sound, absorbed in their own thoughts.

Literary description of state of being.

Ele, que outrora rugia como leão, hoje não passa de um ser que pia fininho.

He, who once roared like a lion, today is nothing more than a being who acts submissively.

Sophisticated comparison and relative clauses.

O piar das aves é o metrônomo da vida no campo.

The chirping of birds is the metronome of life in the countryside.

Metaphorical noun use.

Ainda que piasse, suas palavras seriam levadas pelo vento.

Even if he were to speak up, his words would be carried by the wind.

Concessive clause with 'Ainda que' + subjunctive.

Collocations courantes

ouvir piar

parar de piar

começar a piar

não piar nada

piar alto

piar baixo

piar de fome

piar de medo

mandar não piar

costumar piar

Phrases Courantes

Não pie!

— Don't say a word! Be quiet!

Não pie enquanto eu falo!

Sem piar

— Without making a sound.

Ele saiu da sala sem piar.

Piar por piar

— To speak without purpose or meaning.

Ele só está piando por piar, não sabe de nada.

Nem um pio

— Not a single sound/word.

Não quero ouvir nem um pio!

Piar antes da hora

— To speak or celebrate too early.

Não pie antes da hora, o jogo não acabou.

Onde o pássaro pia

— Refers to a remote or specific place (rare).

Fomos até onde o pássaro pia.

Piar de alegria

— To make happy little sounds.

A criança piava de alegria com o presente.

Vou piar lá

— I'll show up there (slang).

Vou piar na sua festa mais tarde.

Piar na rede

— To post or talk on social media (modern slang).

Ele piou no Twitter sobre o caso.

Deixa piar

— Let them talk (dismissive).

Deixa piar, eu não me importo com críticas.

Souvent confondu avec

piar vs pia

Pia is a kitchen sink. Context: 'A pia está suja' vs 'O pássaro pia'.

piar vs pior

Pior means 'worse'. Pronunciation: /piˈaɾ/ vs /ˈpjoɾ/.

piar vs pepiar

Pepiar is a more repetitive, constant version of piar.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Piar fininho"

— To act humble, submissive, or scared after being arrogant.

Depois que o erro foi descoberto, ele piou fininho.

informal

"Não piar um 'a'"

— To not say even the simplest thing.

Ela não piou um 'a' sobre a festa surpresa.

colloquial

"Ficar pianinho"

— To stay quiet and behave well, usually out of fear or respect.

Fique pianinho aí no seu canto.

slang

"Piar na hora errada"

— To say something at an inappropriate moment.

Você sempre pia na hora errada!

neutral

"Não ter onde piar"

— To be completely helpless or without a home (rare).

O coitado não tem nem onde piar.

regional

"Piar mais alto"

— To be the one who speaks up or has more influence.

Quem tem dinheiro sempre pia mais alto.

metaphorical

"Piar na cara"

— To speak truth or insult someone directly to their face.

Eu pio na cara dele se for preciso.

slang

"Calar o piar"

— To silence someone.

O juiz calou o piar do advogado.

literary

"Piar de galo"

— To try to act big or authoritative (often ironically).

Ele quer piar de galo, mas é só um pinto.

colloquial

"Piar no ouvido"

— To whisper or gossip into someone's ear.

Ela vive piando no ouvido da diretora.

informal

Facile à confondre

piar vs miar

Both are animal sounds ending in -iar.

Miar is for cats (meow), piar is for birds (chirp).

O gato mia, o pássaro pia.

piar vs piar

Verb vs Noun.

Piar is the action, pia is the sink or the 3rd person singular.

Eu pio, você pia na pia.

piar vs pipilar

Synonyms.

Pipilar is more technical/ornithological; piar is everyday.

O cientista observou a ave pipilar.

piar vs chilrear

Synonyms.

Chilrear implies a group of birds and a more complex sound.

As aves chilreiam na floresta.

piar vs grasnar

Both bird sounds.

Grasnar is for ducks/crows (quack/caw), piar is for small birds.

O corvo grasna, o canário pia.

Structures de phrases

[Subject] [piar conjugated].

O pássaro pia.

Não [piar conjugated] sobre [noun].

Ele não piou sobre o acidente.

[Subject] está piando fininho.

Ele está piando fininho agora.

Ouvir o [verbal noun] de [animal].

Ouvir o piar da coruja.

Sem que ninguém piasse...

Sem que ninguém piasse, ele saiu.

Ainda que piasse, [consequence].

Ainda que piasse, ninguém ouviria.

Mandar [alguém] não piar.

Mandei ele não piar.

Começar a piar de [fome/medo].

Os pintinhos começaram a piar de fome.

Famille de mots

Noms

pio (chirp)

piado (chirping sound)

piadeira (continuous chirping)

Verbes

piar (to chirp)

pepiar (to chirp repeatedly)

pipilar (to chirp)

Adjectifs

piador (that chirps)

pianinho (quiet/submissive - slang)

Apparenté

pássaro

pintinho

bico

ninho

silêncio

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in nature contexts and very common in specific idioms.

Erreurs courantes

Eu pio para você amanhã. → Eu falo com você amanhã.
Don't use 'piar' as a general replacement for 'to speak' in positive sentences.
O cachorro está piando. → O cachorro está latindo.
Piar is only for birds, not dogs.
Eu não piar nada. → Eu não piei nada.
Remember to conjugate the verb in the past tense.
A pia está piando. → A pia está vazando (leaking) or O pássaro está piando.
Don't confuse the kitchen sink with the bird sound action.
Ele pia fininho para a música. → Ele canta baixinho para a música.
'Piar fininho' is an idiom for submission, not for singing softly.

Astuces

Literal Birds

Use 'piar' for chicks and small birds. For roosters, use 'cantar'.

Silence

Use 'não piou' to describe someone who was too scared to speak.

Humble Pie

'Piar fininho' is the perfect equivalent for someone 'eating humble pie'.

Regularity

Since it's a regular -ar verb, use it to practice your basic conjugation skills.

Stress the End

Always stress the 'AR' at the end of the infinitive: pi-AR.

Onomatopoeia

Think of the sound 'pi-pi-pi' to help you remember the word.

Aggression

Avoid saying 'Não pie!' to your boss or elders; it's quite disrespectful.

Atmosphere

In creative writing, describe a forest as 'sem um pio' to indicate total silence.

Context

If you hear 'pia' near a kitchen, it's the sink. If you hear it in a forest, it's a bird.

Brazilian Slang

Remember 'Pia lá' means 'Come over' in some Brazilian circles.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a tiny 'P'ink 'I'nsect being eaten by a bird that goes 'PI-AR!'. Or just remember the sound 'pi-pi-pi'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a tiny yellow chick (pintinho) standing on a kitchen sink (pia) and going 'pi-pi-pi'. This connects the verb 'piar' with the noun 'pia'.

Word Web

pássaro pintinho som silêncio bico pena voar natureza

Défi

Try to use 'piar fininho' to describe a character in a movie you recently watched who got intimidated.

Origine du mot

From the Latin 'pipare', which means 'to chirp' or 'to peep'.

Sens originel : The word is onomatopoeic in origin, mimicking the sound /pi/ made by birds.

Romance (Indo-European).

Contexte culturel

Be careful using 'Não pie!' as it can be very aggressive or silencing in a negative way.

While English uses 'chirp' or 'peep', we don't use 'chirp' as often to mean 'shut up' or 'be submissive' in the same way Portuguese uses 'piar'.

The song 'Meu Pintinho Amarelinho' (popular nursery rhyme). Brazilian news headlines often use 'pia fininho' for fallen politicians. Literary works by Guimarães Rosa often use rural verbs like 'piar' to set the scene.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Nature/Outdoors

Ouvir o piar
Pássaro piando
Ninho de pássaros
Canto e piar

Arguments/Conflict

Não pie!
Piar fininho
Não piou nada
Calar o bico

Farms/Animals

Pintinho piando
Piar de fome
Criação de aves
O pio da coruja

Secrets/Gossip

Não piar para ninguém
Piar no ouvido
Abrir o bico
Sem piar

Slang (Brazil)

Pia lá
Piar no rolê
Piar na rede
Pianinho

Amorces de conversation

"Você gosta de acordar com o som dos pássaros piando?"

"Você já teve que 'piar fininho' em alguma situação difícil?"

"O que você faz quando alguém te manda não piar?"

"Qual é o som de pássaro mais bonito que você já ouviu?"

"Você acha que os políticos piam fininho quando são confrontados?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva uma manhã tranquila no campo, mencionando o som dos pássaros piando.

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve que guardar um segredo e não pôde piar para ninguém.

Reflita sobre o significado da expressão 'piar fininho' na sociedade atual.

Crie um diálogo entre duas pessoas onde uma manda a outra não piar.

Como o som de 'piar' faz você se sentir? Descreva suas emoções.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, dogs 'latem' (bark). 'Piar' is strictly for birds or small, high-pitched sounds.

The literal meaning isn't, but telling someone 'Não pie!' can be very rude and aggressive.

It means someone is being submissive or humble, often after they were acting too big or made a mistake.

It is regular: eu piei, você piou, nós piamos, eles piaram.

Yes, but only in Brazilian slang. 'Pia lá' means 'Show up there' or 'Come over'.

They are very similar, but 'piar' is much more common in daily speech.

The noun is 'o pio' (the chirp) or 'o piado' (the sound of chirping).

Sometimes people say a baby is 'piando' if it's making tiny, high-pitched sounds, but it's metaphorical.

Yes, both literally and in the figurative sense of 'not saying a peep'.

It comes from the Latin 'pila' (stone basin), which is unrelated to the bird sound 'piar' (from 'pipare').

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