At the A1 level, 'refutar' is a very advanced word. Most beginners focus on simple disagreement using 'não' or 'eu não acho'. However, you might hear it in very simple news clips. Think of it as a 'super-no'. It means proving that something is wrong. At this stage, you don't need to use it, but recognizing it as a formal version of 'dizer que não é verdade' (saying it's not true) is helpful. Focus on the fact that it ends in -ar, like 'falar' or 'estudar'. If you see it, just know someone is arguing professionally. You might see it in a simple headline like 'Ele refuta o erro' (He refutes the error). It is important to realize that Portuguese has many formal words that look like English words, and 'refutar' is one of them. This makes it a 'cognate' – a word that looks and means the same in both languages. This is a great shortcut for English speakers. Even as a beginner, knowing that 'refutar' = 'refute' gives you a powerful word for your receptive vocabulary. You might not use it in a restaurant, but you'll understand it when watching the news. Just remember it's a formal word. Don't use it with your friends when you disagree about what pizza to order, or you will sound like a lawyer! Keep it in your 'news and school' box of words. As you progress, you will see how it fits into more complex sentences. For now, just remember: Refutar = Proving something is wrong.
At the A2 level, you are starting to handle more complex social situations and basic professional topics. 'Refutar' is a useful word to recognize when you read news articles or watch short informative videos in Portuguese. You should understand that it is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object. You refute an idea, a statement, or a person's claim. You can start using it in simple formal writing, such as a basic email or a school essay. For example, 'Eu quero refutar essa ideia' (I want to refute this idea). It's a great way to sound more educated. In the A2 level, you should also be aware of its basic past tense conjugation: 'ele refutou' (he refuted). This is common in reporting what someone said. 'O governo refutou a notícia' (The government refuted the news). Learning 'refutar' at this stage helps you distinguish between simple denial ('negar') and a more logical challenge. It also helps you build your 'academic' vocabulary, which will be essential as you move toward B1. You might notice that 'refutar' is often used with 'argumentos' (arguments). If you can remember the pair 'refutar argumentos', you are already using the language more naturally. Try to look for this word in newspapers like 'Metro' or simple online blogs. It will appear when people are debating opinions. Even if you don't use it every day, knowing it exists will help you follow more 'serious' Portuguese content. It's a stepping stone to higher-level fluency.
At the B1 level, you are expected to express opinions and explain your reasons. 'Refutar' becomes a key tool for your 'debate' toolkit. Instead of just saying 'Eu não concordo' (I don't agree), you can say 'Eu gostaria de refutar esse ponto' (I would like to refute this point). This shows you have a more nuanced command of the language. You should be able to use it in various tenses, including the imperfect ('ele refutava') and the future ('ele refutará'). At B1, you should also understand the difference between 'refutar' and its synonyms like 'rebater' or 'desmentir'. You might use 'refutar' in a classroom setting or a business meeting when discussing strategies or theories. It's also important to start using it with adverbs, such as 'refutar categoricamente' (to categorically refute) or 'refutar totalmente' (to totally refute). This adds emphasis to your speech. You will likely encounter this word in longer texts, such as opinion pieces or editorials. Understanding 'refutar' allows you to follow the logic of an author as they dismantle an opposing viewpoint. It is a word that bridges the gap between 'everyday Portuguese' and 'intellectual Portuguese'. Start practicing by writing short paragraphs where you take a common myth and 'refute' it. For example, 'Muitas pessoas acham que o sol gira em torno da terra, mas a ciência refuta isso.' This practice will solidify your understanding of how the word functions to provide evidence-based disagreement.
At the B2 level, you should be using 'refutar' with ease in both speaking and writing. You are now at a 'vantage' level where you can participate in complex discussions. Use 'refutar' to handle objections in a professional presentation or to analyze a text in a literature class. You should be familiar with its noun form, 'refutação' (refutation), and use it to structure your arguments: 'A minha refutação baseia-se em...' (My refutation is based on...). At this level, you should also be comfortable using 'refutar' in the subjunctive mood to express doubt or hypothetical situations: 'Duvido que eles consigam refutar esses dados' (I doubt they can refute these data). You will notice 'refutar' used in very specific ways in different domains—journalism, law, and science. You should be able to pick up on the tone the word sets; it is authoritative and objective. You might also start to see it in the passive voice: 'A hipótese foi amplamente refutada pelos especialistas' (The hypothesis was widely refuted by the specialists). This is a hallmark of B2-level academic writing. You should also be able to distinguish 'refutar' from 'impugnar' (legal) and 'contestar' (challenging). Knowing when to choose 'refutar' over these other options shows a high degree of linguistic awareness. Your goal at B2 is to use 'refutar' not just correctly, but naturally, as a way to signal logical transitions in your discourse.
At the C1 level, 'refutar' is a standard part of your professional and academic vocabulary. You should be able to use it with precision and rhetorical flair. You aren't just proving things wrong; you are 'refutando com veemência' (refuting vehemently) or 'refutando ponto a ponto' (refuting point by point). You understand the subtle implications of using this verb in a high-stakes negotiation or a legal brief. At this level, you should also explore the etymological roots (from Latin 'refutare') and how it relates to other words in the 'futar' family, although 'refutar' is the most common. You can use it to engage with complex philosophical or social theories. For example, you might write an essay 'refuting' the concept of a specific economic model. You should also be aware of the stylistic choices involving 'refutar'. Sometimes, a writer might choose NOT to use 'refutar' to sound less aggressive, opting for 'pôr em causa' (to call into question) instead. Recognizing these choices in others' writing is a key C1 skill. Your use of 'refutar' should be seamless, appearing in complex sentence structures with multiple clauses. You should also be able to use it in the 'Personal Infinitive' (Infinitivo Pessoal), which is a unique feature of Portuguese: 'Para eles refutarem a teoria, precisarão de mais tempo' (For them to refute the theory, they will need more time). Mastery of 'refutar' at C1 means it is no longer a 'big word' you are trying to fit in, but a natural tool for precise communication.
At the C2 level, your command of 'refutar' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You use it with absolute precision, understanding all its connotations and historical weight. You can use it in highly specialized contexts, such as 'refutar um sofisma' (refuting a sophism/fallacy) in a philosophical debate. You are also aware of its place in the history of the Portuguese language and how its usage has evolved. You might use it in creative writing to create a specific character voice—perhaps an arrogant intellectual or a meticulous lawyer. At this level, you can also play with the word's placement in a sentence for rhetorical effect, using inversion or other advanced stylistic devices. You are also capable of critiquing the 'refutação' of others, identifying flaws in their logic or their evidence. You understand the power dynamics involved in 'refutar' someone in a public forum and can navigate these situations with linguistic grace. Whether you are writing a doctoral thesis, a supreme court brief, or a complex novel, 'refutar' is a word you can deploy with total confidence. You also recognize very rare or archaic synonyms and can explain why 'refutar' is the superior choice in modern standard Portuguese. At C2, the word is not just a verb; it's a part of your intellectual identity in the Portuguese-speaking world.

refutar 30秒で

  • Refutar means to prove an argument or theory wrong using logic or evidence.
  • It is a formal verb mostly used in academic, legal, and professional contexts.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate for learners.
  • It differs from 'negar' (to deny) because it requires proof, not just a 'no'.

The Portuguese verb refutar is a high-level, sophisticated term primarily used when someone wants to prove that a statement, an argument, a theory, or an accusation is false or incorrect. While in English we use 'refute' in similar academic or formal contexts, in Portuguese, it carries a strong weight of logical evidence. It is not merely about saying 'I disagree' (which would be discordar); rather, it is about providing the necessary proof or reasoning to dismantle an opposing view. You will encounter this word frequently in legal proceedings, scientific papers, political debates, and serious journalistic reporting. It implies a process of intellectual confrontation where facts are used as weapons to invalidate a claim.

Formal Context
In a courtroom, a lawyer might refutar the evidence presented by the prosecution by showing it was tampered with. This requires a formal structure and objective proof.
Scientific Context
Scientists work constantly to refutar old hypotheses when new data emerges. It is the cornerstone of the scientific method.

O cientista conseguiu refutar a teoria antiga com novos dados experimentais.

Translation: The scientist managed to refute the old theory with new experimental data.

Beyond the strictly academic, refutar is also used in daily life when someone makes a strong claim about you or a situation that you know for a fact is untrue. If a friend accuses you of forgetting their birthday, and you show them the gift you bought three days prior, you have effectively refutado their accusation. However, because the word is quite formal, using it in a very casual setting like a bar might sound slightly pretentious or overly dramatic, unless you are being intentionally ironic. Most speakers would opt for desmentir (to debunk/deny) in casual conversation.

Ela não pôde refutar os argumentos apresentados no debate.

Translation: She could not refute the arguments presented in the debate.

In terms of grammar, refutar follows the regular conjugation of first-conjugation verbs ending in -ar. This makes it relatively easy for learners to use once they understand the semantic depth. It is synonymous with impugnar, rebater, and contrariar, though each has a slightly different nuance. Impugnar is more legalistic, rebater is more energetic (like hitting a ball back), and contrariar is more general. Understanding these subtle differences helps a student move from a basic level to a more advanced, native-like command of Portuguese. When you use refutar, you are signaling that you are engaging in a logical, evidence-based discussion.

Using refutar correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb. It almost always follows the structure: [Subject] + [Conjugated Form of Refutar] + [Direct Object]. The direct object is usually an abstract noun representing a thought, a statement, or a piece of evidence. Because it is a formal word, it often appears in the passive voice or with modal verbs like poder (can/to be able to) or conseguir (to manage to). For example, "A tese foi refutada" (The thesis was refuted) is a common academic construction.

Common Structure 1
[Subject] refuta [Argument/Theory]. Example: "O advogado refuta a testemunha."
Common Structure 2
[Evidence] serve para refutar [Claim]. Example: "Este documento serve para refutar a acusação."

É difícil refutar fatos tão óbvios.

Translation: It is difficult to refute such obvious facts.

When practicing, try to pair refutar with nouns like argumento (argument), teoria (theory), hipótese (hypothesis), acusação (accusation), or afirmação (statement). In more advanced Portuguese, you might see it in the subjunctive mood during hypothetical discussions: "Caso ele refute a nossa proposta, precisaremos de um plano B" (In case he refutes our proposal, we will need a plan B). This demonstrates the verb's flexibility across different grammatical moods while maintaining its core meaning of proving something wrong.

Ninguém conseguiu refutar a lógica do professor.

Translation: No one managed to refute the professor's logic.

Another interesting way to use refutar is in the context of self-correction or internal debate. One might say, "Eu tentei refutar meus próprios preconceitos" (I tried to refute my own prejudices). This usage elevates the conversation to a more philosophical or psychological level, showing that the verb isn't just for external arguments but also for internal critical thinking. Whether you are writing a formal essay for a Portuguese exam or participating in a high-level business meeting, using refutar correctly will significantly boost your perceived fluency and intellectual depth in the language.

You are most likely to hear the word refutar in environments where formal discourse is the norm. If you turn on a Portuguese news channel like SIC Notícias or GloboNews, especially during a political segment, you will hear journalists and politicians using it to describe the back-and-forth of policy debates. For example, "O ministro refutou as críticas da oposição" (The minister refuted the opposition's criticisms). In these contexts, it sounds professional and decisive.

News & Media
Reporters often use it to summarize a response to a scandal or a controversial statement.
Academic Lectures
Professors use it when discussing the history of science or philosophy, explaining how one thinker's ideas were eventually proven wrong by another.

Durante a entrevista, o candidato tentou refutar as acusações de corrupção.

Translation: During the interview, the candidate tried to refute the accusations of corruption.

In Brazil and Portugal, the word is also common in the legal system. Lawyers must refutar the arguments of the opposing counsel in their written briefs (petições). If you ever find yourself watching a legal drama in Portuguese or reading about a famous court case, keep an ear out for this verb. It signals a critical turning point in the argument. Additionally, in the world of literature and high-end opinion pieces in newspapers like Público or Folha de S. Paulo, refutar is the verb of choice for intellectual rebuttal.

Os dados do IBGE servem para refutar a ideia de que a economia está estagnada.

Translation: The IBGE data serves to refute the idea that the economy is stagnant.

Interestingly, with the rise of social media and "fact-checking," the word has seen a resurgence in digital spaces. Fact-checking agencies in Brazil, like Lupa or Aos Fatos, often use refutar when they provide evidence that a viral fake news story is false. So, while it is a formal word, its relevance in the modern world of information and misinformation is higher than ever. If you are following Portuguese-speaking influencers who discuss politics, science, or social issues, you will definitely encounter this word in their videos and posts.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with refutar is confusing it with rejeitar (to reject) or negar (to deny). While they are related, they are not interchangeable. Negar is a simple statement of denial: "Eu nego que fiz isso" (I deny I did that). It doesn't necessarily involve proof. Refutar, however, implies that you are providing a counter-argument or evidence. You can deny something without refuting it, but you cannot refute something without a reason. Confusing these can make your speech sound less precise.

Refutar vs. Negar
Negar = To say 'no'. Refutar = To prove 'no' with evidence.
Refutar vs. Rejeitar
Rejeitar = To refuse to accept (like a gift or a job offer). Refutar = To prove a claim is false.

Errado: Eu refutei o convite para a festa.

Correction: You should use 'recusei' or 'rejeitei'. You don't 'refute' an invitation unless you're proving the invitation is logically impossible!

Another mistake is using refutar in overly casual contexts. If your friend says they think blue is a better color than red, saying "Eu vou refutar sua opinião" sounds very stiff and robotic. In casual settings, it is better to use discordar (to disagree) or rebater (to counter/come back at). Use refutar when the stakes are higher or when you are dealing with facts rather than just preferences. Misusing the register of the word can make you sound like you're reading from a textbook rather than having a natural conversation.

Cuidado: Não use refutar quando você quer apenas dizer que não gosta de algo.

Note: Only use it when proving something is factually or logically incorrect.

Lastly, watch out for the spelling. Because of the English 'refute', some learners might try to spell it with an 'e' at the end or change the 'u' to an 'o'. In Portuguese, it is strictly refutar. Also, remember that it is a regular verb. Some learners overthink and try to conjugate it irregularly. Stick to the standard -ar pattern: refuto, refutas, refuta, refutamos, refutam. Keeping these distinctions in mind will help you use the word with the precision and authority it deserves.

If you find refutar too formal for a specific situation, or if you want to vary your vocabulary, there are several excellent alternatives in Portuguese. The most common synonym for everyday use is desmentir. This literally means 'to un-lie' and is used when you want to show that something said was a lie or a mistake. It is much more common in social media and casual talk. Another strong alternative is rebater, which suggests a quick and forceful response, often used in debates or sports commentary.

Desmentir
More casual. Used for debunking lies or rumors. "Ele desmentiu os boatos."
Impugnar
Highly formal and legal. Used to challenge the validity of a document or election. "O partido vai impugnar o resultado."
Contradizer
To say the opposite. It can be a simple contradiction without the 'proof' element required by refutar.

O jogador rebateu as críticas sobre seu desempenho em campo.

Translation: The player countered the criticisms about his performance on the field.

In academic writing, you might also see invalidar (to invalidate) or contestar (to contest). Invalidar is very close to refutar but focuses on the result (the argument is now invalid), whereas refutar focuses on the action of proving it wrong. Contestar is slightly weaker; it means you are challenging something, but you might not have successfully proven it wrong yet. Choosing the right word depends on how certain you are and how formal the setting is.

A nova evidência pode invalidar todo o processo anterior.

Translation: The new evidence may invalidate the entire previous process.

Finally, for a more literary or old-fashioned feel, you might encounter redarguir. This is very rare today and mostly found in 19th-century literature or very archaic legal texts. As a modern learner, sticking to refutar for formal contexts and desmentir or rebater for everything else will serve you best. By mastering these synonyms, you show that you understand the nuances of the Portuguese language and can adapt your speech to any social or professional environment.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The root '-futa' in Latin is also related to the word 'confutare' (to confute). It originally had a sense of 'pouring back' or 'cooling down' hot liquid, which evolved metaphorically into 'cooling down' an argument.

発音ガイド

UK /ʁe.fu.ˈtaɾ/
US /he.fu.ˈtaʁ/
The stress is on the last syllable: re-fu-TAR.
韻が合う語
cantar falar estudar amar lutar pensar chegar olhar
よくある間違い
  • Stressing the second syllable (re-FU-tar) like the English 'refute'.
  • Pronouncing the first 'e' too openly (like 'reh' instead of 're').
  • Making the 'u' sound like 'you' (ref-you-tar) instead of a pure 'oo' sound.
  • Dropping the final 'r' in formal speech (common in some casual Brazilian dialects).
  • Confusing the initial 'r' sound with the English 'r' (it should be more in the throat).

難易度

読解 3/5

Easy to recognize for English speakers due to the cognate 'refute'.

ライティング 4/5

Requires knowledge of -ar verb endings and formal context.

スピーキング 5/5

Stress on the final syllable can be tricky for beginners.

リスニング 3/5

Clear pronunciation in formal speech makes it easy to catch.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

negar argumento prova falar verdade

次に学ぶ

impugnar corroborar validade premissa falácia

上級

epistemologia dialética contrainformação paradigma

知っておくべき文法

Regular -ar verbs in the present tense

Eu refuto, Tu refutas, Ele refuta...

Direct Object Pronouns with Infinitives

Vou refutá-lo (I will refute it/him).

Passive Voice with 'Ser'

A ideia foi refutada (The idea was refuted).

Personal Infinitive

Para eles refutarem a tese, precisam de dados.

Subjunctive for doubt

Duvido que ele refute a evidência.

レベル別の例文

1

Eu não posso refutar isso.

I cannot refute that.

Simple present with negative 'não' and modal 'posso'.

2

Ele refuta a ideia.

He refutes the idea.

Third person singular present tense.

3

Você refuta o plano?

Do you refute the plan?

Interrogative sentence using the present tense.

4

Nós refutamos o erro.

We refute the error.

First person plural 'nós' form.

5

Eles refutam a notícia.

They refute the news.

Third person plural 'eles' form.

6

Ela quer refutar o fato.

She wants to refute the fact.

Using the infinitive 'refutar' after 'quer'.

7

É fácil refutar você.

It is easy to refute you.

Impersonal 'É' + adjective + infinitive.

8

Não refute o meu pai.

Don't refute my father.

Imperative (negative command) form.

1

O advogado refutou a testemunha ontem.

The lawyer refuted the witness yesterday.

Pretérito Perfeito (simple past) tense.

2

Eles tentaram refutar a teoria antiga.

They tried to refute the old theory.

Compound verb: 'tentaram' + infinitive.

3

Ninguém conseguiu refutar seus argumentos.

No one managed to refute his arguments.

Pronoun 'ninguém' + past tense of 'conseguir'.

4

Ela vai refutar todas as acusações.

She is going to refute all the accusations.

Immediate future: 'ir' + infinitive.

5

O relatório refuta a nossa hipótese.

The report refutes our hypothesis.

Subject-verb agreement with a formal noun.

6

Nós precisamos refutar essa mentira.

We need to refute this lie.

Verb 'precisar' + infinitive.

7

O cientista refutou os dados do teste.

The scientist refuted the test data.

Past tense of a regular -ar verb.

8

Como você pode refutar a verdade?

How can you refute the truth?

Question word 'Como' + modal 'pode' + infinitive.

1

Se você tiver provas, poderá refutar o que ele disse.

If you have proof, you will be able to refute what he said.

Future conditional structure with 'Se' + future subjunctive.

2

Eu estava tentando refutar a lógica dele quando ele saiu.

I was trying to refute his logic when he left.

Past continuous: 'estava tentando' + infinitive.

3

É importante refutar boatos antes que eles se espalhem.

It is important to refute rumors before they spread.

Impersonal expression + infinitive + subjunctive clause.

4

A empresa refutou categoricamente as reclamações dos clientes.

The company categorically refuted the customers' complaints.

Use of the adverb 'categoricamente' for emphasis.

5

Sempre que ele fala, alguém tenta refutá-lo.

Whenever he speaks, someone tries to refute him.

Object pronoun 'lo' attached to the infinitive.

6

Nós já refutamos essa ideia em reuniões anteriores.

We have already refuted this idea in previous meetings.

Use of 'já' with the past tense to indicate completed action.

7

Ela refutava as teorias da conspiração com paciência.

She used to refute conspiracy theories with patience.

Pretérito Imperfeito (used to/was refuting).

8

Ainda não conseguimos refutar totalmente a tese dele.

We haven't yet managed to totally refute his thesis.

Negation 'ainda não' + compound verb.

1

Embora os dados pareçam sólidos, é possível refutá-los.

Although the data seems solid, it is possible to refute it.

Concessive clause 'Embora' + subjunctive.

2

O autor dedica um capítulo inteiro para refutar seus críticos.

The author dedicates an entire chapter to refuting his critics.

Preposition 'para' + infinitive.

3

A teoria da relatividade refutou conceitos da física clássica.

The theory of relativity refuted concepts of classical physics.

Historical use of the verb in scientific context.

4

Duvido que o governo consiga refutar esses novos documentos.

I doubt the government will be able to refute these new documents.

Verb of doubt 'Duvido' + Present Subjunctive.

5

Se os fatos fossem outros, poderíamos refutar a conclusão.

If the facts were different, we could refute the conclusion.

Hypothetical 'Se' + Imperfect Subjunctive + Conditional.

6

O réu tentou refutar a evidência de DNA sem sucesso.

The defendant tried to refute the DNA evidence without success.

Formal vocabulary: 'réu', 'evidência'.

7

Eles estão refutando a proposta com base em custos elevados.

They are refuting the proposal based on high costs.

Present continuous 'estão refutando'.

8

A refutação foi tão brilhante que o debate terminou ali.

The refutation was so brilliant that the debate ended there.

Using the noun form 'refutação'.

1

O artigo científico visa refutar a premissa de que o clima é estável.

The scientific article aims to refute the premise that the climate is stable.

Verb 'visar' (to aim) + infinitive.

2

Ao refutar a acusação, o político demonstrou grande eloquência.

Upon refuting the accusation, the politician showed great eloquence.

Gerund-like use of 'Ao' + infinitive.

3

Não basta negar; é preciso refutar ponto por ponto.

It is not enough to deny; it is necessary to refute point by point.

Contrast between 'negar' and 'refutar'.

4

A tese foi refutada por meio de uma análise estatística rigorosa.

The thesis was refuted by means of a rigorous statistical analysis.

Passive voice: 'foi refutada'.

5

Dificilmente alguém poderá refutar a profundidade desta obra.

Hardly anyone will be able to refute the depth of this work.

Adverb 'Dificilmente' + future tense.

6

O filósofo passou a vida tentando refutar o niilismo.

The philosopher spent his life trying to refute nihilism.

Verb 'passar' + time + gerund + infinitive.

7

Caso eles refutem os termos do contrato, a venda será cancelada.

In case they refute the terms of the contract, the sale will be cancelled.

Conditional 'Caso' + Present Subjunctive.

8

A capacidade de refutar argumentos falaciosos é essencial na retórica.

The ability to refute fallacious arguments is essential in rhetoric.

Complex noun phrase as subject.

1

A dialética hegeliana pressupõe que toda tese pode ser refutada por uma antítese.

Hegelian dialectic presupposes that every thesis can be refuted by an antithesis.

Philosophical terminology and passive infinitive.

2

Refutar o óbvio é um exercício de futilidade intelectual.

Refuting the obvious is an exercise in intellectual futility.

Infinitive used as a subject noun.

3

O ensaio busca refutar a hegemonia do pensamento neoliberal na academia.

The essay seeks to refute the hegemony of neoliberal thought in academia.

High-level vocabulary: 'hegemonia', 'neoliberal'.

4

Não há como refutar a evidência empírica apresentada no julgamento.

There is no way to refute the empirical evidence presented in the trial.

Impersonal 'Há' with negation.

5

A sofisticação do seu discurso permitiu-lhe refutar as críticas mais ácidas.

The sophistication of his speech allowed him to refute the most caustic criticisms.

Clitic pronoun 'lhe' and advanced adjective 'ácidas'.

6

O historiador logrou refutar o mito da fundação pacífica da colônia.

The historian succeeded in refuting the myth of the peaceful foundation of the colony.

Literary verb 'lograr' (to succeed in).

7

Instado a refutar as provas, o suspeito permaneceu em silêncio.

Urged to refute the evidence, the suspect remained silent.

Past participle 'Instado' used as an opening clause.

8

A refutação cabal de tal doutrina exige um conhecimento enciclopédico.

The complete refutation of such a doctrine requires encyclopedic knowledge.

Noun form with formal adjective 'cabal'.

よく使う組み合わせ

refutar um argumento
refutar uma teoria
refutar acusações
refutar categoricamente
refutar uma hipótese
refutar ponto a ponto
tentar refutar
conseguir refutar
refutar evidências
refutar boatos

よく使うフレーズ

Não há como refutar.

— It is impossible to prove it wrong. Used when facts are undeniable.

Os resultados são claros; não há como refutar.

Refutar por completo.

— To prove something entirely wrong. No part of the original claim remains.

A nova descoberta refutou por completo o livro anterior.

Pronto para refutar.

— Prepared to provide a counter-argument. Common in debates.

Eu estou pronto para refutar qualquer pergunta.

Refutar com fatos.

— To use concrete evidence rather than just words.

Precisamos refutar essas ideias com fatos, não com opiniões.

Dificuldade em refutar.

— When an argument is so strong it is hard to find flaws.

Ele teve grande dificuldade em refutar a tese dela.

Refutar a lógica.

— To show that the reasoning behind a statement is flawed.

Você não pode refutar a lógica matemática.

Refutar o óbvio.

— To try to prove something wrong that is clearly true (often used ironically).

Tentar refutar o óbvio é perda de tempo.

Refutar em público.

— To disprove someone's claim in a public setting.

Ele foi refutado em público durante a conferência.

Refutar a validade.

— To prove that something (like a test) isn't legitimate.

O advogado tentou refutar a validade do teste de bafômetro.

Refutar a premissa.

— To show that the starting point of an argument is wrong.

Para ganhar o debate, você deve refutar a premissa dele.

よく混同される語

refutar vs rejeitar

Rejeitar is to refuse to accept something offered. Refutar is to prove something is false.

refutar vs negar

Negar is just saying 'no'. Refutar is proving 'no' with evidence.

refutar vs recusar

Recusar is to decline (an invitation or request). You don't 'refute' a party invitation.

慣用句と表現

"Cair por terra"

— When an argument is refuted and loses all value. It 'falls to the ground'.

Depois da prova de DNA, a versão dele caiu por terra.

Informal/Neutral
"Dar um xeque-mate"

— To provide a refutation so strong that the argument is over (from chess).

O advogado deu um xeque-mate ao refutar o álibi.

Neutral
"Tapara o sol com a peneira"

— To try to deny or refute something obvious with a weak argument.

Tentar refutar o aquecimento global é tapar o sol com a peneira.

Informal
"Pôr em xeque"

— To challenge or call into question, a precursor to refuting.

Sua atitude pôs em xeque toda a sua argumentação.

Neutral
"Não deixar pedra sobre pedra"

— To destroy an argument completely by refuting every part of it.

A crítica não deixou pedra sobre pedra ao refutar o livro.

Literary
"Cortar o mal pela raiz"

— To refute a rumor or lie immediately before it grows.

Ela refutou o boato logo no início para cortar o mal pela raiz.

Informal
"Água mole em pedra dura..."

— Used when constant small refutations eventually break a major theory.

Ele continuou refutando pequenos pontos até que a teoria mudou.

Informal
"Dar o braço a torcer"

— To finally admit you've been refuted and were wrong.

Ele finalmente deu o braço a torcer quando refutaram sua ideia.

Informal
"Falar para as paredes"

— When your refutation is ignored by someone stubborn.

Tentar refutar a opinião dele é como falar para as paredes.

Informal
"Ver para crer"

— The mindset that requires proof to refute or accept a claim.

Eu preciso ver os dados para refutar essa notícia.

Neutral

間違えやすい

refutar vs reputar

Sounds very similar (only one letter difference).

Reputar means to consider or deem someone to be something (e.g., 'Reputo-o inteligente'). Refutar is to disprove.

Eu o reputo inteligente, por isso não posso refutar sua lógica.

refutar vs refutação

It's the noun form.

Refutar is the action (verb); refutação is the result or the process (noun).

A sua refutação foi excelente.

refutar vs desfutar

Sounds similar (common error for 'desfrutar').

Desfrutar means to enjoy. Refutar means to disprove.

Vou desfrutar do feriado em vez de refutar teorias.

refutar vs rebater

Close synonym.

Rebater is more physical/energetic; refutar is more logical/intellectual.

Ele rebateu a bola e depois refutou o juiz.

refutar vs refugiar

Similar prefix and ending.

Refugiar means to take refuge or shelter.

Ele se refugiou na biblioteca para refutar a tese.

文型パターン

A1

Eu não [verbo] isso.

Eu não refuto isso.

A2

Ele [verbo no passado] a [substantivo].

Ele refutou a notícia.

B1

É preciso [verbo] os [substantivo plural].

É preciso refutar os boatos.

B2

Embora [subjuntivo], não podemos [verbo].

Embora pareça verdade, não podemos refutar.

C1

Visando [verbo] a [substantivo]...

Visando refutar a acusação, o advogado falou.

C2

A [substantivo] do [substantivo] foi [particípio].

A lógica do argumento foi refutada.

B1

Alguém [verbo] o que você disse.

Alguém refutou o que você disse.

A2

Nós vamos [verbo] o plano.

Nós vamos refutar o plano.

語族

名詞

refutação (refutation)
refutador (one who refutes)

動詞

refutar (to refute)

形容詞

refutável (refutable)
irrefutável (irrefutable)
refutado (refuted)

関連

argumento
prova
lógica
debate
contestação

使い方

frequency

Common in media, academic, and professional writing; less common in daily spoken slang.

よくある間違い
  • Eu refuto o seu convite. Eu recuso o seu convite.

    You refuse an invitation, you don't 'prove it wrong'.

  • Ela refutou de que eu saí. Ela refutou que eu saí.

    Refutar is a direct transitive verb; it doesn't usually take the preposition 'de'.

  • O argumento foi refutado. O argumento foi refutado.

    Wait, this is correct! A common mistake is thinking it needs to be 'refutado por eu' instead of 'por mim'.

  • Eu refutei a porta. Eu fechei a porta.

    Confusion with 'fechar' due to phonetics. Refutar is only for abstract ideas.

  • Não me refuta! Não me refute!

    Incorrect imperative conjugation. For 'você', use 'refute'.

ヒント

The Ref-u-Tar Method

Imagine a Referee (Ref) pointing at a player (u) and saying 'You are wrong' (Tar). Ref-u-Tar. It's a formal way to call a foul on an argument.

Writing Essays

When writing for a Portuguese exam like Celpe-Bras, use 'refutar' instead of 'não concordar' to immediately raise your score for vocabulary range.

Legal Language

If you are reading a Brazilian legal document, 'refutar' is often paired with 'impugnar'. They are the bread and butter of legal rebuttals.

Final Stress

Always remember that in Portuguese verbs ending in -ar, -er, -ir, the stress is on that last syllable. Say it loud: refu-TAR!

Transitive Nature

Always have a 'target' for your refutation. You can't just 'refutar' into the air; you must refute *something*.

Casual Alternative

If you feel 'refutar' is too heavy, use 'rebater'. It's like hitting a ball back in tennis—quick and effective.

Scientific Method

In science, we don't just 'find' things; we try to 'refutar' hypotheses to find the truth. Use this in your lab reports.

News Watching

Watch a political debate in Portuguese and count how many times they say 'refutar'. It's a great listening exercise.

Latin Roots

Knowing it comes from 'refutare' helps you connect it to 'refute' in English, 'réfuter' in French, and 'refutar' in Spanish.

Polite Disagreement

Using 'refutar' can actually be more polite than 'você está mentindo' (you are lying) because it focuses on the logic, not the person.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'REF' (referee) in a game who uses a 'whistle' (evidence) to 'refutar' (refute) a bad play. A REF-u-TAR proves the play was wrong.

視覚的連想

Imagine a scientist holding a giant red 'X' stamp and slamming it onto a paper that says 'THEORY'. The sound of the stamp is the 'TAR' in 'refutar'.

Word Web

refutar argumento prova lógica debate ciência verdade mentira

チャレンジ

Try to find one 'fake news' story today and write a sentence in Portuguese using 'refutar' to explain why it is wrong.

語源

From the Latin verb 'refutare', which meant to drive back, repel, or check.

元の意味: To repel or push back an attack or an argument.

Romance (Latin-based).

文化的な背景

Be careful when refuting someone in a hierarchy (like a boss or an elder) in Portuguese culture. Use 'Eu gostaria de sugerir um ponto diferente' instead of 'Vou refutar você' to avoid sounding disrespectful.

The word 'refute' is often misused in English to mean 'deny' or 'disagree'. In Portuguese, 'refutar' strictly retains its formal requirement for proof, making it slightly more precise than its English cousin's common usage.

Galileu Galilei refutou o geocentrismo. O método de Karl Popper foca na refutabilidade (falsifiability). Machado de Assis frequentemente usa personagens que tentam refutar a moralidade social.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Academic Debate

  • Gostaria de refutar...
  • A evidência refuta...
  • Uma teoria refutada.
  • Base para refutar.

Legal Proceedings

  • Refutar o depoimento.
  • Refutar as provas.
  • O réu refuta.
  • Refutar a sentença.

News/Journalism

  • O governo refuta.
  • Refutar boatos.
  • Nota para refutar.
  • Refutar críticas.

Science

  • Refutar a hipótese.
  • Dados que refutam.
  • Refutabilidade.
  • Refutar resultados.

Everyday Arguments

  • Não me refute.
  • Vou refutar isso.
  • Fácil de refutar.
  • Tentar refutar.

会話のきっかけ

"Como você faria para refutar uma notícia falsa que viu na internet?"

"Você acha que é sempre possível refutar uma opinião pessoal?"

"Qual foi a última vez que alguém conseguiu refutar um argumento seu?"

"Na sua opinião, qual é a melhor maneira de refutar uma acusação injusta?"

"Você conhece alguma teoria científica famosa que foi refutada recentemente?"

日記のテーマ

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve que refutar uma mentira sobre você. Como você se sentiu?

Descreva um debate que você assistiu onde um lado conseguiu refutar o outro brilhantemente.

Se você pudesse refutar uma regra da sua infância, qual seria e por quê?

Como a capacidade de refutar ideias erradas ajuda a sociedade a progredir?

Pense em um preconceito comum e escreva três argumentos para refutá-lo.

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, but it sounds very formal. Usually, you refute a claim that is presented as a fact. If someone says 'I like blue', you can't really refute that because it's a preference, not a logical claim.

Yes, especially in news, politics, and formal education. Brazilians use it frequently in professional settings and in writing.

It is a regular -ar verb. For 'I', it is 'refutei'. For 'he/she', it is 'refutou'. For 'they', it is 'refutaram'.

Desmentir is more common for daily lies or rumors. Refutar is for logical arguments or scientific theories. Desmentir is 'to call out a lie'; Refutar is 'to prove an argument wrong'.

Usually, you refute a person's *argument* or *claims*, but in shorthand, you can say 'O advogado refutou a testemunha' (The lawyer refuted the witness), meaning he proved the witness's story was false.

Both are possible. 'Ele refutou a teoria' (Direct object) or 'Ele refutou que estivesse lá' (Refuted that he was there).

Yes, it means 'refutable'. Its opposite, 'irrefutável' (irrefutable), is even more common, used to describe undeniable proof.

You would say 'não refutado' or 'ainda não refutado'.

No. This is a common mistake. You reject a gift (rejeitar), but you refute a statement (refutar).

In formal speech, yes. In some casual Brazilian accents, it might be dropped or softened, but for learners, it's better to pronounce it.

自分をテスト 190 問

writing

Escreva uma frase usando 'refutar' no passado.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Traduza: 'I want to refute your argument.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Como você refutaria uma mentira sobre você?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva uma frase com 'irrefutável'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Use 'refutar' em uma frase sobre política.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Traduza: 'It is easy to refute this idea.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva o presente do indicativo de refutar para 'nós'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Crie uma frase com 'refutar categoricamente'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Qual o contrário de refutar? Use em uma frase.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva uma frase curta para uma criança usando refutar.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Traduza: 'They couldn't refute the facts.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva uma frase usando o futuro de refutar.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Use 'refutação' em uma frase.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Traduza: 'The theory was refuted.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva uma pergunta usando 'refutar'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Use 'refutar ponto a ponto' em uma frase.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Traduza: 'No one refutes the truth.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Escreva uma frase com 'tentar refutar'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Use 'refutar' no infinitivo pessoal para 'vocês'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing

Crie um diálogo curto com a palavra refutar.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Pronuncie a palavra 'refutar' focando na sílaba tônica.

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Eu refuto o seu argumento.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Como você diria 'I refuted the news' em português?

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga 'irrefutável' três vezes rápido.

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Explique o que é 'refutar' em português.

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Nós refutamos a mentira.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Como você pergunta 'Can you refute this?'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'A teoria foi refutada ontem.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'É impossível refutar os fatos.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Pronuncie 'refutação' corretamente.

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Eu refutei categoricamente as críticas.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Como se diz 'He managed to refute the witness'?

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Duvido que eles refutem a prova.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Refutar o óbvio é tolice.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Explique a diferença entre refutar e negar falando.

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'O advogado logrou refutar a acusação.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Eles refutaram ponto a ponto.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Como você diria 'The data refutes our hypothesis'?

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Uma refutação brilhante.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking

Diga: 'Refutar é essencial na ciência.'

Read this aloud:

正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça e identifique o verbo: 'O ministro refutou a crise.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça e diga se é passado ou presente: 'Nós refutamos a ideia.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Identifique o objeto: 'O cientista refutou a hipótese.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

A palavra ouvida foi 'refutação' ou 'refutado'?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça e complete: 'É difícil ______ fatos.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Qual o sentimento do falante em 'Eu refuto isso!'?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

A frase foi 'refutável' ou 'irrefutável'?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

O que foi refutado? 'O relatório refutou os dados.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça: 'Eles refutaram categoricamente.' O que significa?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Identifique o tempo verbal: 'Eu refutarei.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça e escolha a tradução: 'Ninguém conseguiu refutar.'

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

A sílaba tônica ouvida foi 'tar'?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça: 'Refutaram ponto a ponto.' Quantos pontos foram refutados?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Qual a primeira letra da palavra ouvida? (Refutar)

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening

Ouça: 'A tese foi refutada.' Quem fez a ação?

正解! おしい! 正解:
正解! おしい! 正解:

/ 190 correct

Perfect score!

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