ultrapassar en 30 secondes
- Ultrapassar primarily means 'to overtake' or 'to exceed'.
- It is used for traffic, numbers, budgets, and personal goals.
- The adjective 'ultrapassado' means 'outdated' or 'obsolete'.
- It is a regular -ar verb and is used as a direct transitive verb.
The Portuguese verb ultrapassar is a versatile and essential word that every learner aiming for B2 proficiency must master. At its core, it signifies the act of going beyond a certain point, whether that point is physical, numerical, or metaphorical. It is composed of the prefix ultra- (meaning beyond or extreme) and the base verb passar (to pass). When you use this word, you are describing an action that breaks a boundary or moves ahead of something else.
- Physical Movement
- In the context of driving or racing, it means to overtake or pass another vehicle. If you are on the highway and a car is moving slowly, you move to the left lane to ultrapassar that car.
É perigoso ultrapassar em linha contínua.
- Numerical Limits
- When talking about statistics, budgets, or speeds, it means to exceed. For example, if the temperature goes above 40 degrees, it has ultrapassado the normal range.
Metaphorically, ultrapassar is used to describe overcoming obstacles or surpassing expectations. In a professional setting, an employee might ultrapassar as metas (exceed the goals) set by the company. In personal growth, one might ultrapassar os seus medos (overcome their fears). This nuance of 'overcoming' makes it a very powerful word in motivational and business contexts. It implies a sense of progress and victory over a limitation.
A empresa conseguiu ultrapassar a crise financeira com inovação.
- Social and Conceptual Boundaries
- It can also refer to being outdated or obsolete. When something is 'ultrapassado' (the past participle used as an adjective), it means it has been left behind by time or modern standards, like an old technology or an antiquated idea.
Esses métodos de ensino estão totalmente ultrapassados.
In summary, whether you are driving on the A1 in Portugal, analyzing a quarterly report in Brazil, or discussing the evolution of social norms, ultrapassar is the go-to verb for describing the movement from one side of a boundary to the other. It captures the essence of progress, excess, and obsolescence all in one three-syllable word. Its usage spans from the literal to the highly abstract, making it a cornerstone of advanced Portuguese vocabulary.
Using ultrapassar correctly requires understanding its transitive nature. In most cases, it acts directly on an object—the thing being passed or exceeded. Let's break down the grammatical structures across different contexts to ensure you can deploy it naturally in conversation and writing.
- Direct Object Construction
- The most common structure is [Subject] + [Verb] + [Direct Object]. For example: 'O carro ultrapassou o camião' (The car overtook the truck). Notice there is no preposition between the verb and the object.
Não deves ultrapassar a velocidade permitida nesta estrada.
- The Passive Voice
- In formal reports or news, you might see the passive voice: 'A meta foi ultrapassada' (The goal was exceeded). This emphasizes the result rather than the actor.
When dealing with abstract concepts like 'expectations' or 'limits', the verb often pairs with 'as' or 'os'. For instance, 'ultrapassar as expectativas' is a set phrase meaning to exceed expectations. If you are describing a person who has gone too far in their behavior, you say they 'ultrapassaram os limites do respeito'.
O sucesso do filme ultrapassou tudo o que tínhamos imaginado.
- The Adjective Form: Ultrapassado
- The past participle 'ultrapassado' functions as an adjective meaning 'outdated' or 'obsolete'. It must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: 'computadores ultrapassados' (masculine plural) or 'ideias ultrapassadas' (feminine plural).
Esta tecnologia já está ultrapassada e precisa de ser substituída.
Finally, consider the temporal use. If a deadline has passed, you can say 'o prazo foi ultrapassado'. However, in casual speech, 'passar' is more common for time. 'Ultrapassar' adds a layer of formality or suggests that the passing of the deadline is a significant breach. By varying your use of 'ultrapassar' from literal driving to figurative success, you demonstrate a sophisticated command of the language's nuances.
Understanding where ultrapassar appears in daily life will help you recognize its importance. It isn't just a word for textbooks; it is a word of the road, the office, and the newsroom. From the bustling streets of São Paulo to the quiet highways of the Alentejo, you will encounter this verb in several distinct spheres.
- On the Road (Trânsito)
- This is the most literal and frequent place to hear the word. Road signs might say 'Proibido ultrapassar' (No overtaking). GPS systems will use it when giving directions or warnings about traffic flow. Driving instructors will constantly remind students about the rules for 'efetuar uma ultrapassagem' (performing an overtaking maneuver).
Atenção: é proibido ultrapassar neste trecho da rodovia.
- In Corporate and Financial Settings
- Business news and meetings are full of 'ultrapassar'. When a company's revenue exceeds its forecast, or when a startup overtakes a competitor in market share, this is the verb of choice. It conveys a sense of competitive edge and growth.
In the world of sports, commentators use ultrapassar during races (Formula 1, cycling, athletics) to describe one athlete passing another. It adds excitement and technical precision to the commentary. Similarly, in technology discussions, you'll hear about how new software has 'ultrapassado' the capabilities of its predecessors, rendering them obsolete.
O piloto brasileiro conseguiu ultrapassar o rival na última volta.
- News and Current Affairs
- Journalists use the word to report on records being broken—be it record-breaking temperatures, inflation rates, or population growth. 'A inflação ultrapassou a marca dos 10%' is a typical headline structure.
O número de visitantes ultrapassou um milhão este ano.
Finally, you will hear it in personal conversations about boundaries. If someone is being rude or intrusive, a friend might say, 'Acho que ele ultrapassou os limites'. This usage is crucial for navigating social dynamics and expressing discomfort or setting boundaries in Portuguese-speaking cultures.
Even advanced learners can stumble when using ultrapassar. Because it overlaps with several English verbs (pass, exceed, overcome, overtake), the potential for interference is high. Let's look at the most frequent errors and how to avoid them to ensure your Portuguese sounds natural and precise.
- Mistake 1: Overusing 'Ultrapassar' for Time
- English speakers often say 'The time passed' and want to use 'ultrapassar'. However, for the simple passage of time, use 'passar'. Use 'ultrapassar' only if a specific time limit or deadline was exceeded. Incorrect: 'As horas ultrapassaram rapidamente.' Correct: 'As horas passaram rapidamente.'
O tempo passa voando! (Not ultrapassa)
- Mistake 2: Confusing 'Ultrapassar' with 'Superar'
- While they are often synonyms, 'superar' is more common for emotional or internal struggles (overcoming grief, overcoming a weakness). 'Ultrapassar' is more common for external, measurable limits. You 'superar' a trauma, but you 'ultrapassar' a budget.
Another common error is using prepositions where they aren't needed. As a direct transitive verb, ultrapassar does not require 'a', 'de', or 'por' before the object. For example, say 'ultrapassar o carro', not 'ultrapassar ao carro'. This is a common influence from other Romance languages or confusion with verbs like 'chegar a'.
Nós ultrapassámos todos os obstáculos. (Direct object)
- Mistake 3: Misusing the Adjective 'Ultrapassado'
- Sometimes learners use 'ultrapassado' to mean 'passed' in a general sense. Remember that as an adjective, it almost always carries the negative connotation of being 'out of date'. If you just mean 'the passed car', you would say 'o carro que foi ultrapassado'.
Este telemóvel está ultrapassado; ninguém o usa mais.
Finally, be careful with the word 'exceder'. While 'ultrapassar' and 'exceder' are very close, 'exceder' is often more formal and used specifically for quantities. In driving, you always 'ultrapassa' a car, you never 'excede' a car. Mastering these distinctions will elevate your Portuguese from 'understandable' to 'native-like'.
To truly master ultrapassar, you must know its 'neighbors'—those words that share a similar space but carry different shades of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on the context, the register (formal vs. informal), and the specific type of 'passing' you are describing.
- Ultrapassar vs. Exceder
- 'Exceder' is specifically about quantity and limits. It is very common in legal and technical documents. While you can 'ultrapassar a velocidade', saying 'exceder a velocidade' is slightly more formal. However, you cannot 'exceder' a car on the road; only 'ultrapassar' works there.
O peso da carga excedeu o limite do camião.
- Ultrapassar vs. Superar
- 'Superar' often implies a personal victory or an improvement over a previous state. If you break your own record, you 'superou a sua marca'. If you pass a physical barrier or a competitor, 'ultrapassar' is more literal. 'Superar' feels more emotional and triumphant.
Other alternatives include vencer (to win/overcome) and transpor (to cross/surmount). 'Vencer' is used when the obstacle is seen as an opponent (vencer uma dificuldade). 'Transpor' is more literary and is used for physical barriers like mountains or metaphorical barriers like 'transpor fronteiras'.
Eles conseguiram transpor os obstáculos geográficos.
- Ultrapassar vs. Passar
- 'Passar' is the general word for 'to pass'. If you walk past a store, you 'passa por uma loja'. 'Ultrapassar' is more specific—it implies going from behind to in front of something, or crossing a specific threshold. 'Passar' is neutral; 'ultrapassar' is intentional and directional.
Eu passei pela tua casa ontem, mas não parei.
In some contexts, you might also use suplantar, which is a very formal way to say 'to replace' or 'to supersede', often used in academic or highly formal business writing. By expanding your vocabulary to include these synonyms, you can express the exact nature of the 'passing' you have in mind.
Exemples par niveau
O carro azul quer ultrapassar o carro vermelho.
The blue car wants to overtake the red car.
Simple present tense of -ar verb.
É proibido ultrapassar aqui.
It is forbidden to overtake here.
Infinitive after 'É proibido'.
O ciclista vai ultrapassar o autocarro.
The cyclist is going to overtake the bus.
Immediate future with 'ir' + infinitive.
Eu não gosto de ultrapassar outros carros.
I don't like to overtake other cars.
Negative sentence with 'gostar de'.
Podes ultrapassar agora.
You can overtake now.
Modal verb 'poder' + infinitive.
O comboio ultrapassou a estação.
The train passed the station.
Preterite tense (past action completed).
Eles querem ultrapassar a meta.
They want to pass the finish line.
Subject-verb agreement (3rd person plural).
O meu irmão ultrapassou-me na corrida.
My brother overtook me in the race.
Pronominal use with '-me'.
A conta do jantar ultrapassou os 100 euros.
The dinner bill exceeded 100 euros.
Used for numerical limits.
Não deves ultrapassar o limite de velocidade.
You should not exceed the speed limit.
Modal 'dever' + infinitive.
Ontem, o meu pai ultrapassou um camião muito grande.
Yesterday, my father overtook a very big truck.
Preterite tense with time marker 'ontem'.
A temperatura ultrapassou os 30 graus hoje.
The temperature exceeded 30 degrees today.
Common use for weather/measurements.
Nós ultrapassámos a montanha no mapa.
We passed the mountain on the map.
1st person plural preterite.
O preço da gasolina ultrapassou os dois euros.
The price of gasoline exceeded two euros.
Numerical exceeding.
Ela ultrapassou a colega no trabalho.
She overtook her colleague at work (in terms of progress).
Metaphorical use for progress.
O cão ultrapassou o gato no jardim.
The dog overtook the cat in the garden.
Physical action.
Precisamos de ultrapassar estas dificuldades iniciais.
We need to overcome these initial difficulties.
Metaphorical 'overcome'.
O projeto ultrapassou o orçamento previsto.
The project exceeded the planned budget.
Standard business context.
Este computador já está um pouco ultrapassado.
This computer is already a bit outdated.
Past participle as adjective.
Ela ultrapassou as expectativas do chefe.
She exceeded the boss's expectations.
Common collocation: ultrapassar expectativas.
O atleta ultrapassou o recorde nacional.
The athlete broke (exceeded) the national record.
Use with records/marks.
Não podemos ultrapassar o prazo de entrega.
We cannot exceed the delivery deadline.
Use with deadlines (prazos).
Ele ultrapassou os limites da paciência dela.
He exceeded the limits of her patience.
Abstract limits.
A população da cidade ultrapassou um milhão.
The city's population exceeded one million.
Statistical use.
A empresa conseguiu ultrapassar a crise com sucesso.
The company managed to overcome the crisis successfully.
Overcoming obstacles.
É necessário ultrapassar velhos preconceitos.
It is necessary to overcome old prejudices.
Social/Abstract use.
A sua coragem ultrapassou o seu medo.
His courage surpassed his fear.
Internal comparison.
O número de inscritos ultrapassou todas as previsões.
The number of registrants exceeded all forecasts.
Exceeding expectations/forecasts.
Eles ultrapassaram a concorrência em tecnologia.
They overtook the competition in technology.
Competitive context.
O barulho ultrapassou o nível permitido por lei.
The noise exceeded the level permitted by law.
Legal/Regulatory context.
A beleza da paisagem ultrapassa qualquer descrição.
The beauty of the landscape surpasses any description.
Literary/Abstract use.
Muitas vezes, a realidade ultrapassa a ficção.
Often, reality surpasses fiction.
Philosophical expression.
A obra de Saramago ultrapassa as fronteiras da literatura nacional.
Saramago's work goes beyond the borders of national literature.
High-level cultural context.
O governo não pode ultrapassar as suas competências constitucionais.
The government cannot exceed its constitutional powers.
Political/Legal terminology.
A inflação galopante ultrapassou a capacidade de resposta do Banco Central.
Galloping inflation exceeded the Central Bank's response capacity.
Complex economic context.
É imperativo ultrapassar a dicotomia entre teoria e prática.
It is imperative to move beyond the dichotomy between theory and practice.
Academic/Philosophical register.
A sofisticação do ataque informático ultrapassou as defesas da rede.
The sophistication of the cyberattack bypassed the network defenses.
Technical context.
O seu génio artístico ultrapassa o entendimento comum.
His artistic genius surpasses common understanding.
Sublime/Abstract use.
A empresa suplantou e ultrapassou os seus rivais históricos.
The company supplanted and overtook its historical rivals.
Synonym pairing for emphasis.
As consequências desta decisão ultrapassarão gerações.
The consequences of this decision will transcend generations.
Temporal/Metaphorical extension.
A transcendência do ser humano reside na capacidade de ultrapassar a sua própria finitude.
The transcendence of the human being lies in the capacity to go beyond one's own finiteness.
Highly philosophical/existential.
A narrativa ultrapassa o mero relato de factos, atingindo uma dimensão mítica.
The narrative goes beyond the mere reporting of facts, reaching a mythical dimension.
Literary criticism register.
O impacto da inteligência artificial poderá ultrapassar os paradigmas éticos atuais.
The impact of artificial intelligence could surpass current ethical paradigms.
Future speculative/Academic.
A complexidade do ecossistema ultrapassa a nossa capacidade atual de modelação matemática.
The complexity of the ecosystem surpasses our current capacity for mathematical modeling.
Scientific/Formal.
Ao ultrapassar as convenções sociais, a artista chocou a burguesia da época.
By defying social conventions, the artist shocked the bourgeoisie of the time.
Historical/Social analysis.
A subtileza da ironia ultrapassou a compreensão dos leitores menos atentos.
The subtlety of the irony escaped (went beyond) the understanding of less attentive readers.
Nuanced cognitive use.
O desenvolvimento tecnológico ultrapassou a legislação, criando um vazio jurídico.
Technological development outpaced legislation, creating a legal vacuum.
Sociopolitical analysis.
A sua retórica ultrapassa o populismo barato, revelando uma estratégia profunda.
His rhetoric goes beyond cheap populism, revealing a deep strategy.
Political analysis.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
— To act in a way that is no longer logical or reasonable.
Essa atitude ultrapassa os limites do bom senso.
— To run a red light (though 'passar' is more common, 'ultrapassar' implies a violation).
Ele foi multado por ultrapassar o sinal vermelho.
— To outdo oneself or improve beyond one's own records.
O atleta ultrapassou-se a si mesmo na final.
— To be out of date or no longer relevant.
Este modelo de negócio está ultrapassado.
— To achieve more than what was planned.
A equipa de vendas ultrapassou a meta este mês.
— To set a new record by exceeding the old one.
Ela ultrapassou o recorde mundial de natação.
— To overtake on the left (the legal way in most PT countries).
Deve-se sempre ultrapassar pela esquerda.
Expressions idiomatiques
— To go too far in behavior or speech.
Desta vez, tu ultrapassaste a marca com as tuas piadas.
Informal— To cross the line; to do something unacceptable.
Ele ultrapassou os limites ao falar assim com o pai.
Neutral— To leave someone far behind after overtaking them.
Ele ultrapassou-me e pôs-se a milhas.
Slang/Informal— Metaphorically, to achieve success in an unexpected or unconventional way.
Ele ultrapassou a concorrência pela direita com aquela ideia.
Neutral— A variation of 'water under the bridge' (rare, usually 'não movem moinhos', but 'ultrapassar' is sometimes used creatively).
Isso já foi, ultrapassa isso.
Informal— To pass the point of no return (historical idiom).
Ao assinar o contrato, ele ultrapassou o Rubicão.
Formal/Literary— When the student becomes better than the teacher.
O aluno finalmente ultrapassou o mestre.
Neutral— To be ahead of one's time.
A sua visão artística ultrapassava o tempo em que vivia.
LiterarySummary
Ultrapassar is your essential verb for 'going beyond'. Whether you're passing a truck on the highway (ultrapassar um camião) or exceeding your sales targets (ultrapassar as metas), it signifies movement past a boundary. Example: 'Ela ultrapassou todos os obstáculos para vencer.'
- Ultrapassar primarily means 'to overtake' or 'to exceed'.
- It is used for traffic, numbers, budgets, and personal goals.
- The adjective 'ultrapassado' means 'outdated' or 'obsolete'.
- It is a regular -ar verb and is used as a direct transitive verb.
Contenu associé
Expressions liées
Plus de mots sur general
a cerca de
B1Cela signifie 'à environ' ou 'à peu près' en parlant de distance ou de temps futur.
à direita
A2À droite. Utilisé pour indiquer une direction ou un emplacement.
à esquerda
A2À gauche. Utilisé pour indiquer une direction ou un emplacement.
a fim de
A2Afin de; avoir envie de. 'Il étudie afin de réussir.' / 'J'ai envie d'une glace.'
à frente
A2En face de; devant. 'Il est assis à frente de moi.'
a frente
A2À l'avant; devant.
À frente de
A2Devant ou à la tête de. 'La voiture est à frente de la maison' (La voiture est devant la maison).
a tempo
A2À temps, ponctuellement. Utilisé pour indiquer qu'une action se produit avant qu'il ne soit trop tard.
à volta de
A2Autour de. Utilisé pour l'espace (autour de la table) ou les estimations (environ dix euros).
abaixo
A1En dessous de; plus bas que.
