esgotante
esgotante 30초 만에
- Esgotante means 'exhausting' or 'draining' and is used to describe activities that consume all your energy.
- It is a gender-neutral adjective in Portuguese, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns.
- It is much stronger than 'cansativo' (tiring) and is often linked to the concept of professional or mental burnout.
- Always use 'esgotante' for the cause (the task) and 'esgotado' for the person (the feeling of being exhausted).
The Portuguese word esgotante is a powerful adjective used to describe something that is not just tiring, but utterly draining. Derived from the verb esgotar (to drain or empty), it suggests that the activity in question takes every last drop of energy from a person. While the English word 'exhausting' is the most direct translation, esgotante often carries a heavier weight in Portuguese conversation, frequently associated with situations that lead to 'burnout' or total physical and mental collapse. It is a word that transcends mere physical fatigue, often touching upon the psychological and emotional toll of modern life. When you call a task esgotante, you are signaling that it has pushed you to your absolute limit. It is commonly used in professional contexts to describe high-pressure jobs, in sports to describe grueling training sessions, and in personal life to describe emotionally taxing relationships or periods of grief. The beauty of this word lies in its etymological roots—'gota' means 'drop', so 'esgotar' is literally to take something out until not a single drop remains. This imagery is very present in the minds of native speakers, even if subconsciously.
- Physical Exhaustion
- Used for marathons, heavy labor, or long days of travel where the body feels completely spent.
- Mental/Cognitive Drain
- Used for exams, complex problem solving, or periods of intense concentration that leave the brain feeling 'fried'.
- Emotional Burden
- Used for arguments, caregiving for the sick, or navigating difficult social dynamics that sap one's spirit.
Trabalhar doze horas por dia sem descanso é absolutamente esgotante.
In Brazilian and European Portuguese alike, the word maintains a consistent meaning. However, in the corporate 'hustle culture' of major cities like São Paulo or Lisbon, you will hear it used with increasing frequency to describe the pace of life. It’s also a key term in medical and psychological discussions regarding 'Síndrome de Burnout' (Esgotamento Profissional). Because it is an adjective ending in '-e', it is gender-neutral; you can use it to describe a 'trabalho' (masculine) or a 'viagem' (feminine) without changing the ending. This makes it a versatile tool for learners to express high levels of fatigue across various scenarios. Furthermore, the word implies a process of depletion. If you say a lecture was 'esgotante', you mean it slowly sucked the life out of you until the end. It is rarely used for short, sharp bursts of effort, but rather for sustained, taxing experiences.
Using esgotante correctly involves understanding its placement and its relationship with the verbs 'ser' and 'parecer'. Most commonly, it follows the noun it modifies. For example, 'uma rotina esgotante' (an exhausting routine). Because it describes an inherent quality of an activity or a period of time, we almost always use the verb ser (to be - permanent/characteristic) rather than estar. If you say 'O dia é esgotante', you are characterizing the day itself. If you want to describe how you feel, you would use the past participle esgotado/a with the verb estar (e.g., 'Eu estou esgotado'). This distinction is vital: 'esgotante' is the cause, 'esgotado' is the effect. Mixing them up is a common mistake for English speakers who might want to say 'I am exhausting' (Eu sou esgotante), which would imply that you are the one making other people tired!
- With Abstract Nouns
- 'A espera foi esgotante' (The wait was exhausting). Here, it modifies the experience of waiting.
- As a Predicate Adjective
- 'Este ritmo de vida é esgotante' (This pace of life is exhausting). It follows the verb 'ser' to define the subject.
A maratona de reuniões foi esgotante para toda a equipe.
When constructing complex sentences, esgotante often pairs with intensifiers like 'extremamente', 'absolutamente', or 'terrivelmente'. For instance, 'Foi uma experiência terrivelmente esgotante'. It can also be used in comparative structures: 'Este projeto é mais esgotante do que o anterior' (This project is more exhausting than the previous one). In more literary or formal writing, you might find it used to describe the depletion of natural resources, though 'exaurível' or 'finito' are more common there. In daily speech, it's your go-to word for complaining about a long commute, a difficult boss, or a toddler who won't stop running. It provides a level of dramatic emphasis that 'cansativo' simply lacks. If 'cansativo' is a 5/10 on the fatigue scale, 'esgotante' is a solid 9 or 10. It implies that there is nothing left in the tank.
You will encounter esgotante in a variety of environments, ranging from the casual to the highly professional. In a corporate setting, it is the standard word for describing high-burnout environments. HR professionals might discuss 'condições de trabalho esgotantes' (exhausting working conditions). In sports and fitness, coaches use it to describe 'treinos esgotantes' (exhausting workouts) designed to push athletes to their physiological limits. If you watch Portuguese or Brazilian news, you'll hear it during reports on long-running political negotiations or humanitarian crises, where the 'processo esgotante' refers to the long, wearying nature of the events. It's also very common in literature and cinema, especially in dramas where characters undergo significant hardship.
- In the News
- 'As negociações de paz têm sido esgotantes para ambos os lados.'
- At the Gym
- 'Essa série de agachamentos é esgotante, mas vale a pena.'
O diretor descreveu as filmagens no deserto como esgotante e desafiadoras.
Socially, if a friend tells you their week was 'esgotante', they are looking for empathy, not just stating a fact. They are telling you they are at their breaking point. In Portuguese culture, which often values social connection and 'desabafo' (venting), using such a strong word is an invitation for the listener to offer support or share their own taxing experiences. You might also hear it in the context of parenting. New parents frequently describe the 'rotina esgotante' of caring for a newborn. In these contexts, the word emphasizes the lack of sleep and the constant demand for attention. Paradoxically, it can sometimes be used in a positive, albeit weary, way—such as after a long day of sightseeing or a successful but difficult project: 'Foi esgotante, mas conseguimos!' (It was exhausting, but we did it!). This usage highlights that while the energy is gone, the result was worth the depletion.
The most frequent error for learners of Portuguese is the confusion between esgotante (the cause) and esgotado (the state). In English, 'exhausting' and 'exhausted' look similar but function differently; the same is true in Portuguese. If you say 'Eu sou esgotante', you are telling people that you are a person who drains others. Unless you are intentionally calling yourself a 'vampiro emocional' (emotional vampire), you probably mean 'Eu estou esgotado' (I am exhausted). Another common pitfall is overusing 'esgotante' for minor inconveniences. If you just walked up a flight of stairs, 'cansativo' is more appropriate. Using 'esgotante' for small things can make you sound hyperbolic or overly dramatic, though in some informal Brazilian contexts, hyperbole is a stylistic choice.
- Esgotante vs. Cansativo
- 'Cansativo' is 'tiring'. 'Esgotante' is 'exhausting'. Don't use the latter for a 15-minute walk.
- Esgotante vs. Exaustivo
- 'Exaustivo' often means 'thorough' or 'comprehensive' in Portuguese (like an exhaustive search), though it can mean tiring. 'Esgotante' is strictly about fatigue.
Errado: Eu sou esgotante depois do trabalho. (I am exhausting...) Correto: O trabalho é esgotante; eu estou esgotado.
Learners also sometimes forget that 'esgotante' doesn't change gender. They might try to say 'uma tarefa esgotanta', which is incorrect. The '-e' ending is the same for both 'o trabalho' and 'a tarefa'. Furthermore, be careful with the spelling. It is 'esgotante' with an 's', related to 'gota'. Some learners mistakenly use a 'z' because of the sound, but it always follows the spelling of 'esgotar'. Lastly, avoid using it to describe people unless you mean they are tiring to be around. If you say 'João é esgotante', you are saying João is a difficult, draining person to talk to. If you mean João is tired, say 'João está esgotado'. This distinction is crucial for maintaining good social relationships!
Portuguese is a rich language with many shades of fatigue. While esgotante is the standard for 'exhausting', you might want to vary your vocabulary depending on the intensity and the context. Cansativo is the most common alternative, suitable for everyday tasks. If you want to sound more formal or describe something that is physically crushing, estafante is an excellent choice. It specifically refers to 'estafa', which is a state of total physical or mental overwork. Another strong synonym is extenuante, which is very common in sports and medicine to describe something that 'extenuates' or weakens the body's reserves. For something that feels like a constant, heavy burden, you might use massacrante (literally 'massacring' or 'crushing').
- Esgotante vs. Estafante
- 'Estafante' is slightly more formal and emphasizes the 'overwork' aspect. 'Esgotante' emphasizes the 'emptying' of energy.
- Esgotante vs. Penoso
- 'Penoso' implies something that causes pain or great effort (like a 'painful' process), while 'esgotante' is about the loss of energy.
- Esgotante vs. Fatigante
- 'Fatigante' is a more clinical or formal way to say 'tiring', often used in technical or academic texts.
A subida da montanha foi extenuante, mas a vista compensou.
In informal Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear puxado. 'O dia foi puxado' (The day was 'pulled' / tough/tiring). This is a very common way to express that things were difficult without using the more dramatic 'esgotante'. Another informal option is moedor (literally 'grinder'), used for something that 'grinds you down'. Understanding these nuances allows you to tailor your speech to the situation. Use 'esgotante' when you want to emphasize the total depletion of your resources, 'estafante' when you want to sound a bit more sophisticated about your workload, and 'puxado' when you're just chatting with friends about a busy day at the office. By mastering these alternatives, you'll sound much more like a native speaker who understands the many flavors of being tired.
How Formal Is It?
재미있는 사실
The word literally means 'to take the last drop out'. When you feel 'esgotado', you are figuratively a glass that has been turned upside down until dry.
발음 가이드
- Pronouncing the final 'e' as a strong 'ay' like in 'café'. It should be a soft 'ee' (Brazil) or almost silent (Portugal).
- Missing the nasal sound on the 'an'. The 'n' is not fully pronounced; it just nasals the 'a'.
- Using a 'z' sound for the 's'. It is a soft 's' or 'sh' sound depending on the region.
- Stressing the first syllable instead of the 'tan'.
- Confusing the 'o' sound with 'u' in the middle of the word.
난이도
Easy to recognize if you know 'exhaust' or 'gota'.
Requires remembering not to change the gender ending.
The nasal 'an' and the final 'te' can be tricky for English speakers.
In fast speech, the 'es-' prefix can be very subtle.
다음에 무엇을 배울까
선수 학습
수준별 예문
O trabalho é esgotante.
The work is exhausting.
Adjective follows the noun 'trabalho'.
A aula foi esgotante.
The class was exhausting.
Feminine noun 'aula' but adjective 'esgotante' does not change.
Correr é esgotante.
Running is exhausting.
Used with an infinitive verb as a subject.
Um dia esgotante.
An exhausting day.
Simple noun-adjective phrase.
O jogo foi esgotante.
The game was exhausting.
Past tense 'foi' (from ser).
Esta tarefa é esgotante.
This task is exhausting.
Demonstrative 'esta' with feminine noun.
Viajar de ônibus é esgotante.
Traveling by bus is exhausting.
Describes the experience of an action.
Não gosto de exercícios esgotantes.
I don't like exhausting exercises.
Plural form 'esgotantes'.
Tive uma semana esgotante no escritório.
I had an exhausting week at the office.
Modifies 'semana'.
A rotina de cuidar de um bebê é esgotante.
The routine of taking care of a baby is exhausting.
Complex subject 'A rotina de...'.
Foi um voo esgotante de dez horas.
It was an exhausting ten-hour flight.
Adjective modifying 'voo'.
Estudar para os exames é esgotante.
Studying for exams is exhausting.
Verb phrase as subject.
O sol estava muito forte e a caminhada foi esgotante.
The sun was very strong and the walk was exhausting.
Two clauses joined by 'e'.
Achei o filme longo e esgotante.
I found the movie long and exhausting.
Object complement after 'achei'.
Limpar a casa toda sozinha é esgotante.
Cleaning the whole house alone is exhausting.
Adverb 'sozinha' adds context.
Eles tiveram uma discussão esgotante ontem.
They had an exhausting argument yesterday.
Emotional context for the word.
Manter dois empregos é um ritmo esgotante.
Holding two jobs is an exhausting pace.
Noun phrase 'um ritmo esgotante'.
O processo de divórcio foi longo e esgotante para todos.
The divorce process was long and exhausting for everyone.
Prepositional phrase 'para todos' shows who is affected.
É esgotante ter que lidar com tanta burocracia.
It is exhausting to have to deal with so much bureaucracy.
Impersonal 'É' construction.
A subida da montanha foi física e mentalmente esgotante.
The climb up the mountain was physically and mentally exhausting.
Adverbs 'física e mentalmente' modify the context.
O treinamento militar é propositalmente esgotante.
Military training is purposely exhausting.
Adverb 'propositalmente' (purposely).
Viver em uma cidade grande pode ser esgotante às vezes.
Living in a large city can be exhausting sometimes.
Modal verb 'pode ser'.
A busca por um novo apartamento tem sido esgotante.
The search for a new apartment has been exhausting.
Present perfect 'tem sido'.
A negociação foi tão esgotante que todos saíram cansados.
The negotiation was so exhausting that everyone left tired.
Consecutive clause with 'tão... que'.
A jornada de trabalho de doze horas é simplesmente esgotante.
The twelve-hour workday is simply exhausting.
Intensifier 'simplesmente'.
O debate político tornou-se esgotante e repetitivo.
The political debate became exhausting and repetitive.
Pronominal verb 'tornar-se' (to become).
Cuidar de parentes doentes é uma tarefa nobre, mas esgotante.
Caring for sick relatives is a noble but exhausting task.
Contrast 'nobre, mas esgotante'.
O ritmo esgotante da vida moderna afeta a saúde mental.
The exhausting pace of modern life affects mental health.
Subject is 'O ritmo esgotante'.
Depois de uma maratona esgotante, ele finalmente cruzou a linha.
After an exhausting marathon, he finally crossed the line.
Prepositional phrase 'Depois de'.
A pesquisa para a tese foi um processo esgotante de três anos.
The research for the thesis was an exhausting three-year process.
Adjective modifying 'processo'.
Lidar com clientes difíceis o dia todo é esgotante.
Dealing with difficult customers all day is exhausting.
Gerund-like infinitive 'Lidar'.
Considero este tipo de cobrança excessiva e esgotante.
I consider this type of demand excessive and exhausting.
Verb 'considerar' + object + adjectives.
A manutenção de uma fachada de perfeição é psicologicamente esgotante.
Maintaining a facade of perfection is psychologically exhausting.
Abstract psychological context.
O autor descreve a guerra como um ciclo esgotante de violência.
The author describes the war as an exhausting cycle of violence.
Metaphorical usage.
A burocracia estatal pode tornar qualquer iniciativa esgotante.
State bureaucracy can make any initiative exhausting.
Causative structure with 'tornar'.
Foi uma jornada esgotante, marcada por privações e desafios constantes.
It was an exhausting journey, marked by hardships and constant challenges.
Participial phrase 'marcada por'.
O esgotante escrutínio da mídia afetou a vida privada da celebridade.
The exhausting media scrutiny affected the celebrity's private life.
Adjective before noun for stylistic emphasis.
As constantes mudanças no projeto revelaram-se esgotantes para a equipe técnica.
The constant changes in the project proved exhausting for the technical team.
Verb 'revelar-se' (to prove to be).
A busca incessante pelo lucro a qualquer custo é socialmente esgotante.
The incessant search for profit at any cost is socially exhausting.
Adverb 'socialmente'.
O interrogatório foi conduzido de forma esgotante durante toda a noite.
The interrogation was conducted in an exhausting manner throughout the night.
Adverbial phrase 'de forma esgotante'.
A dialética entre o desejo e a realidade pode ser um exercício esgotante para o espírito.
The dialectic between desire and reality can be an exhausting exercise for the spirit.
Highly formal/philosophical register.
O esgotante labor cotidiano muitas vezes obscurece a beleza da existência.
Exhausting daily labor often obscures the beauty of existence.
Literary word 'labor'.
Sob um regime esgotante de censura, a arte encontra formas de resistência.
Under an exhausting regime of censorship, art finds ways of resistance.
Metaphorical use for oppression.
A complexidade da psique humana torna a psicanálise um percurso esgotante e fascinante.
The complexity of the human psyche makes psychoanalysis an exhausting and fascinating journey.
Paired adjectives 'esgotante e fascinante'.
O declínio do império foi um processo esgotante de séculos de erosão institucional.
The decline of the empire was an exhausting process of centuries of institutional erosion.
Historical/Academic context.
A esgotante tarefa de traduzir sentimentos em palavras é o fardo do poeta.
The exhausting task of translating feelings into words is the poet's burden.
Gerund subject 'A... tarefa de traduzir'.
Vivenciamos uma era de estímulos constantes que se revela esgotante para o sistema nervoso.
We are experiencing an era of constant stimuli that proves exhausting for the nervous system.
Relative clause 'que se revela...'.
A retórica política atual é, por vezes, esgotante em sua vacuidade.
Current political rhetoric is, at times, exhausting in its emptiness.
Abstract noun 'vacuidade' (emptiness/vacuity).
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
— What an exhausting day! Used to vent after a long day.
Que dia esgotante! Preciso de um banho e cama.
— Exhausting pace of life. Often used to criticize modern society.
Muitas pessoas sofrem com o ritmo de vida esgotante das metrópoles.
— Exhausting task. Used for specific chores or assignments.
Organizar esses arquivos é uma tarefa esgotante.
— Exhausting for the mind. Focuses on mental fatigue.
Resolver problemas matemáticos o dia todo é esgotante para a mente.
— Simply exhausting. Adds emphasis to the level of fatigue.
A situação no hospital é simplesmente esgotante.
— Absolutely exhausting. The highest level of emphasis.
Correr uma maratona sem treino é absolutamente esgotante.
— Physically and mentally exhausting. Covers all bases of fatigue.
O cargo de CEO é física e mentalmente esgotante.
— Nothing more exhausting than... Used for comparison.
Não há nada mais esgotante que o trânsito de sexta-feira.
— To become exhausting. Describes a change in a situation.
O que era um hobby começou a tornar-se esgotante.
— To find (something) exhausting. Used to express opinion.
Eu acho esgotante ter que repetir as mesmas coisas.
관용어 및 표현
— To run out of patience. While 'esgotante' is an adjective, this related verb phrase is very common.
Você está esgotando a minha paciência!
Informal— On the edge of exhaustion. Describes being nearly 'esgotado'.
Depois de meses sem férias, ela está no limite do esgotamento.
Neutral— To suck the energy out. A common way to describe why something is 'esgotante'.
Esse trabalho suga todas as minhas energias.
Informal— To have 'downed' batteries (to be out of energy).
O dia foi tão esgotante que estou com as baterias arriadas.
Informal/Slang— To be 'to the bone'. To be extremely exhausted after an esgotante activity.
O treino foi esgotante, estou no osso.
Slang (Brazil)— To exhaust the subject. To talk about something until there is nothing left to say.
Nós já esgotamos o assunto na reunião anterior.
Neutral— To fall down 'rotten' (to be so tired you just collapse).
A viagem foi esgotante, cheguei em casa e caí de podre.
Informal— To be the 'dust of the kite tail' (to be completely spent).
Depois desse dia esgotante, estou o pó da rabiola.
Slang (Brazil)— To ask for a truce/to give up because something is too esgotante.
O exercício era tão esgotante que ele pediu arrego.
Slang (Brazil)— To grind the mind. Describes a mentally esgotante person or task.
Esse barulho está moendo o meu juízo.
Informal (Regional)어휘 가족
명사
동사
형용사
관련
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'S-GO-TANTE'. When your energy has 'GO-ne' to the last 'gota' (drop), the task was esgotante.
시각적 연상
Imagine an old-fashioned water pump that someone is pumping desperately, but only a tiny, final drop comes out. That process is esgotante.
Word Web
챌린지
Try to describe your most difficult day this month using 'esgotante' in three different sentences: one about work, one about travel, and one about an argument.
어원
From the Portuguese verb 'esgotar', which combines the prefix 'es-' (out/away) with the noun 'gota' (drop).
원래 의미: To remove something drop by drop until nothing remains; to empty a container completely.
Romance (Latin roots: 'ex-' + 'gutta').문화적 맥락
Be careful when calling a person 'esgotante'. It is a strong criticism of their personality, implying they are a burden to others.
English speakers often use 'exhausting' for both the cause and the feeling. Portuguese is stricter about 'esgotante' vs 'esgotado'.
Summary
The word 'esgotante' is your primary tool for expressing extreme fatigue caused by a task. Use it to emphasize that an experience has left you with zero energy, but remember it describes the *thing* doing the draining, not your feelings.
- Esgotante means 'exhausting' or 'draining' and is used to describe activities that consume all your energy.
- It is a gender-neutral adjective in Portuguese, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns.
- It is much stronger than 'cansativo' (tiring) and is often linked to the concept of professional or mental burnout.
- Always use 'esgotante' for the cause (the task) and 'esgotado' for the person (the feeling of being exhausted).
관련 콘텐츠
daily_life 관련 단어
à noite
A2'à noite'라는 표현은 '밤에' 또는 '밤 동안'을 의미합니다. 시간적 배경을 나타낼 때 사용됩니다.
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C1~을 잘 알고 있다
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B2그런데; 그나저나. 화제를 바꾸거나 관련 정보를 추가할 때 사용하는 표현입니다.
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A2'à tarde'라는 표현은 '오후에'라는 뜻입니다. 정오부터 저녁 전까지 일어나는 일을 묘사할 때 사용됩니다.
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C1무언가를 다른 것으로 공급하는 행위; 물품 제공. 예: '도시의 용수 공급은 국가에서 관리합니다.'
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B21. 단추를 사용하여 옷이나 기타 물품을 잠그는 것입니다. 단추 구멍을 통해 단추로 무언가를 고정하는 행위입니다. 2. 단추를 구멍에 넣어 셔츠나 코트를 잠그는 것입니다. '단추를 채우다'라고 생각하세요.
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C1새로운 법안은 모든 시민을 포괄해야 한다.
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B1그는 황금 열쇠로 문을 엽니다. 그 가게는 아침 8시에 문을 엽니다.
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A1April
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A1문을 열고 신선한 공기를 마시세요. (Mun-eul yeolgo sinseonhan gong-gileul masiseyo.)