incômodo
incômodo 30초 만에
- Incômodo means annoyance, discomfort, or a slight bother in Portuguese.
- It is used both for physical feelings and social inconveniences.
- The phrase 'Desculpe o incômodo' is essential for polite daily interactions.
- It is a masculine noun that can also function as an adjective meaning 'uncomfortable'.
The word incômodo is a fundamental noun in the Portuguese language, primarily translating to 'annoyance', 'discomfort', 'bother', or 'inconvenience'. While English speakers might use separate words for a physical ache and a social nuisance, Portuguese elegantly wraps these concepts into this single term. At its core, an incômodo is anything that disrupts your state of comfort, whether that disruption is physical, mental, or social. It is the pebble in your shoe, the loud neighbor at midnight, or the slight guilt you feel when asking a busy friend for a favor. Understanding this word is essential for navigating social etiquette in Brazil and Portugal, as it is the foundation of many polite apologies.
- Physical Discomfort
- In a medical or physical context, it refers to a sensation that isn't quite 'pain' (dor) but is definitely not comfortable. It's that nagging feeling in your lower back after sitting too long or the irritation caused by a tight collar.
Sinto um pequeno incômodo no meu dente quando bebo algo gelado.
- Social Nuisance
- Socially, it describes the act of being a burden or causing trouble for others. When you walk into a room and realize you've interrupted a meeting, that feeling of being an intruder is an incômodo.
Furthermore, the word can describe environmental factors. A flickering light in an office, the constant hum of an air conditioner, or a draft coming through a window are all examples of environmental incômodos. They are not catastrophic problems, but they are persistent enough to prevent full relaxation or focus. In legal terms, particularly in property law, 'incômodo' can refer to nuisances that affect a neighbor's quiet enjoyment of their home. This versatility makes it one of the most frequently used nouns in daily conversation, appearing in everything from doctor's visits to formal emails and casual complaints among friends.
Espero não estar sendo um incômodo ao ligar a esta hora.
Using incômodo correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and its relationship with specific verbs. The most common verb paired with it is causar (to cause). You will often hear 'causar um incômodo' in professional settings when someone is apologizing for a delay or a change in plans. Another vital verb is sentir (to feel), used for physical or emotional sensations. If you have a scratchy throat, you 'sente um incômodo na garganta'. If you feel out of place at a party, you 'sente um certo incômodo'.
- The Polite Apology
- The phrase 'Desculpe o incômodo' (Sorry for the bother) is a set expression. It is used when knocking on a door, calling someone unexpectedly, or asking for information in a store. It is more formal and softer than simply saying 'Desculpe'.
Pedimos desculpas por qualquer incômodo causado pelas obras na rua.
- Degree of Severity
- You can modify the noun with adjectives like 'leve' (light), 'grande' (big), or 'insuportável' (unbearable). A 'leve incômodo' is a minor itch, while a 'grande incômodo' might be a total lack of privacy in a shared apartment.
Syntactically, 'incômodo' usually follows the definite article 'o' or the indefinite article 'um'. It can also be used in the plural 'incômodos', though this is less common and usually refers to a series of specific problems or physical ailments. In literature, you might see 'os incômodos da velhice' (the ailments of old age). In modern digital communication, if an app sends too many notifications, a user might complain about the 'incômodo das notificações constantes'. This noun is incredibly flexible, transitioning from the physical world to the digital and social realms with ease.
Para evitar incômodos, por favor, desligue o celular durante a sessão.
In the real world, you will encounter incômodo in a variety of specific environments. In Brazilian or Portuguese hospitals and clinics, doctors will rarely ask if you have 'pain' immediately; they might start by asking if you feel any 'incômodo'. This is a softer way to probe for symptoms without alarming the patient. It allows the patient to describe sensations like pressure, tingling, or stiffness that don't qualify as sharp pain. Similarly, in the hospitality industry—hotels, restaurants, and airplanes—staff are trained to use this word to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Customer Service
- If a waiter accidentally spills a drop of water on the table, they will say, 'Perdoe-me pelo incômodo'. If a hotel room is being cleaned later than expected, the manager might offer a discount for the 'incômodo'.
O barulho da construção vizinha é um incômodo constante para os moradores.
- Public Spaces
- On public transport, signs often remind passengers to avoid 'incômodo aos demais passageiros' by not playing loud music or blocking the doors. It serves as a polite but firm directive for civic behavior.
In personal relationships, the word is used to express boundaries. If a friend keeps calling during dinner, you might eventually say, 'Isso está se tornando um incômodo'. It is less aggressive than saying 'You are annoying me', focusing instead on the situation or the action itself. In academic and professional writing, 'incômodo' is used to describe theoretical friction or societal unease. A sociologist might write about the 'incômodo social' caused by economic inequality. This range—from a tiny physical itch to a massive societal problem—demonstrates why 'incômodo' is a pillar of the Portuguese vocabulary.
Não quero ser um incômodo, mas você poderia me emprestar uma caneta?
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing the noun incômodo with its adjective counterpart or with related words like 'inconveniente'. While 'incômodo' can be an adjective (meaning uncomfortable), its use as a noun is much more specific. Beginners often forget the circumflex accent over the second 'o', which is crucial for both spelling and pronunciation. Without the accent, the word doesn't exist in Portuguese, or might be mistaken for a conjugated form of the verb 'incomodar' (though the stress would be different).
- Noun vs. Adjective
- 'O sofá é incômodo' (The sofa is uncomfortable - Adjective). 'O sofá causou um incômodo nas minhas costas' (The sofa caused a discomfort in my back - Noun). Make sure you know which role the word is playing in your sentence.
Erro comum: 'Eu sou um incômodo' (meaning I am a bother) is grammatically correct but often sounds too heavy. Better: 'Não quero incomodar'.
- False Friend: Inconvenience
- While 'inconveniente' exists in Portuguese, it often describes a person who lacks social tact (someone 'awkward' or 'inappropriate'). If a flight is delayed, 'incômodo' or 'transtorno' are much better choices than 'inconveniente'.
Another mistake is using 'incômodo' for severe agony. If you have a broken leg, calling it an 'incômodo' is an extreme understatement and might lead to a misdiagnosis. Conversely, using 'dor' (pain) for a tiny itch is an overstatement. Native speakers are very precise with this distinction. Finally, watch out for the pronunciation of the nasal 'in-'. Many students pronounce it like the English 'in', but in Portuguese, it’s a nasal vowel where the air comes out of the nose and mouth simultaneously, and the 'n' is not fully articulated as a consonant.
Correto: 'Sinto um incômodo na vista'. Incorreto: 'Sinto uma dor de vista' (unless it is actually painful).
Portuguese is rich with synonyms for incômodo, each carrying a slightly different weight or register. Depending on whether you are at a business meeting or a backyard barbecue, you might want to swap 'incômodo' for something more specific. The most common alternative in casual Brazilian Portuguese is chateação, which specifically refers to the annoyance caused by something boring or irritating. If the bother is more about a logistical mess, transtorno is the preferred term.
- Incômodo vs. Transtorno
- An 'incômodo' is a feeling or a minor event. A 'transtorno' is a major disruption. A late bus is an incômodo; a canceled bus route is a transtorno.
Essa burocracia é um verdadeiro transtorno para nós.
- Incômodo vs. Amolação
- 'Amolação' is very informal. It comes from the verb 'amolar' (to sharpen/grind). It implies someone is 'grinding' your nerves. Use this with friends when complaining about a persistent telemarketer.
Other words include estorvo, which refers to a person or thing that is physically in the way (like a large box in a narrow hallway), and moléstia, which is more old-fashioned and often refers to a physical ailment or a serious disturbance. In Portugal, you might also hear maçada, which describes a bothersome task or a 'drag'. Understanding these nuances allows you to express your frustration—or your apologies—with the precision of a native speaker, ensuring you don't overstate a minor itch or understate a major logistical nightmare.
Desculpe a amolação, mas você tem um isqueiro?
재미있는 사실
The root 'commodus' is also where we get the English word 'commodity' and the Portuguese word 'cômodo' (room/comfortable). So an 'incômodo' is literally something that doesn't 'fit' or isn't 'convenient'.
발음 가이드
- Pronouncing the 'n' as a hard consonant instead of nasalizing the 'i'.
- Stressing the first or last syllable instead of the second.
- Pronouncing the 'ô' as an open 'o' (like in 'hot') instead of a closed 'o' (like in 'go').
- Mixing it up with the verb 'incomodar' which has a different stress pattern.
- Forgetting the nasal quality of the first syllable entirely.
수준별 예문
Desculpe o incômodo.
Sorry for the bother.
Fixed expression for politeness.
O barulho é um incômodo.
The noise is a bother.
Noun following the article 'um'.
Não quero causar incômodo.
I don't want to cause trouble.
Verb 'causar' followed by the noun.
O incômodo passou logo.
The discomfort passed quickly.
Subject of the sentence.
Sinto um pequeno incômodo.
I feel a small discomfort.
Direct object of 'sentir'.
É um incômodo para você?
Is it a bother for you?
Interrogative sentence.
Sem incômodo nenhum!
No bother at all!
Common response to an apology.
O incômodo é grande.
The bother is big.
Adjective 'grande' modifying the noun.
Sinto um incômodo no pé por causa do sapato.
I feel a discomfort in my foot because of the shoe.
Physical usage of the noun.
Este atraso é um grande incômodo para nós.
This delay is a big inconvenience for us.
Modified by 'grande'.
Desculpe o incômodo, mas onde fica o banheiro?
Sorry for the bother, but where is the bathroom?
Polite opener.
O incômodo da luz forte me deu dor de cabeça.
The discomfort of the bright light gave me a headache.
Environmental factor.
Não sinto mais nenhum incômodo na garganta.
I don't feel any more discomfort in my throat.
Negation with 'nenhum'.
O incômodo de esperar na fila é chato.
The bother of waiting in line is annoying.
Gerund phrase as a modifier.
Você pode evitar o incômodo se chegar cedo.
You can avoid the inconvenience if you arrive early.
Verb 'evitar' (to avoid).
O incômodo foi causado pela chuva.
The inconvenience was caused by the rain.
Passive voice.
Houve um certo incômodo durante a reunião de hoje.
There was a certain unease during today's meeting.
Social discomfort.
Ela expressou seu incômodo com a situação atual.
She expressed her discomfort with the current situation.
Abstract usage.
O incômodo de viver em uma cidade barulhenta é real.
The bother of living in a noisy city is real.
Generalizing a feeling.
Para não gerar incômodo, ele decidiu sair mais cedo.
To not cause trouble, he decided to leave earlier.
Purpose clause with 'gerar' (to generate/cause).
Senti um incômodo ao ver como eles tratavam o estagiário.
I felt a discomfort seeing how they treated the intern.
Moral/ethical discomfort.
O principal incômodo da viagem foi a falta de internet.
The main inconvenience of the trip was the lack of internet.
Identifying a specific problem.
Apesar do incômodo, o resultado final valeu a pena.
Despite the inconvenience, the final result was worth it.
Concessive phrase with 'apesar de'.
O incômodo constante me impediu de dormir bem.
The constant bother prevented me from sleeping well.
Adjective 'constante' modifying the noun.
A nova lei causou um incômodo generalizado na população.
The new law caused widespread unease among the population.
Political/societal context.
O incômodo estético da obra de arte era intencional.
The aesthetic discomfort of the artwork was intentional.
Specialized context (art).
Ele tentou disfarçar seu incômodo com um sorriso forçado.
He tried to hide his discomfort with a forced smile.
Psychological nuance.
O incômodo de ser observado o tempo todo é exaustivo.
The discomfort of being watched all the time is exhausting.
Complex noun phrase.
Evite qualquer incômodo desnecessário aos convidados.
Avoid any unnecessary inconvenience to the guests.
Imperative with 'evitar'.
O incômodo provocado pela divergência de opiniões foi visível.
The unease caused by the difference of opinions was visible.
Past participle 'provocado' as an adjective.
Há um incômodo latente que ninguém quer admitir.
There is a latent unease that no one wants to admit.
Abstract adjective 'latente'.
O incômodo burocrático atrasou o projeto em meses.
The bureaucratic bother delayed the project by months.
Compound concept (bureaucratic bother).
A narrativa explora o incômodo existencial do protagonista.
The narrative explores the protagonist's existential unease.
Literary analysis.
O incômodo causado pela dissonância cognitiva é poderoso.
The discomfort caused by cognitive dissonance is powerful.
Psychological terminology.
Sua presença trazia um incômodo indescritível ao ambiente.
His presence brought an indescribable unease to the room.
High-level vocabulary ('indescritível').
O incômodo da verdade muitas vezes supera o conforto da mentira.
The discomfort of the truth often outweighs the comfort of a lie.
Philosophical comparison.
A empresa busca minimizar o incômodo ambiental de suas fábricas.
The company seeks to minimize the environmental nuisance of its factories.
Technical/corporate usage.
O incômodo provocado pelo silêncio era quase palpável.
The unease caused by the silence was almost palpable.
Metaphorical language.
Não se pode ignorar o incômodo ético desta decisão.
One cannot ignore the ethical unease of this decision.
Formal argumentation.
O incômodo das pequenas coisas pode arruinar um grande dia.
The bother of small things can ruin a great day.
Aphoristic style.
O autor utiliza o incômodo como uma ferramenta de subversão.
The author uses discomfort as a tool of subversion.
Academic literary theory.
O incômodo de uma consciência pesada não conhece repouso.
The unease of a guilty conscience knows no rest.
Poetic/philosophical personification.
A legislação sobre o incômodo sonoro é bastante rigorosa aqui.
The legislation on noise nuisance is quite strict here.
Legal terminology.
Havia um incômodo sutil na cadência de sua fala.
There was a subtle unease in the cadence of his speech.
Extremely nuanced observation.
O incômodo visceral que sentiu foi um alerta instintivo.
The visceral discomfort he felt was an instinctive alert.
Strong descriptive adjective 'visceral'.
O incômodo da finitude humana permeia toda a sua obra.
The unease of human finitude permeates his entire work.
Philosophical abstraction.
Trata-se de um incômodo passageiro, sem maiores consequências.
It is a passing inconvenience, without major consequences.
Formal register ('Trata-se de').
O incômodo da dúvida é o motor da investigação científica.
The discomfort of doubt is the engine of scientific investigation.
Abstract metaphor.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
— A standard way to say 'sorry for bothering you'. Used in almost any polite interaction.
Desculpe o incômodo, mas você tem horas?
— Used to introduce a request politely. 'Without wanting to cause trouble...'
Sem querer causar incômodo, você poderia baixar o som?
— Describes a bother that will go away soon. 'A passing annoyance.'
A dor de cabeça é apenas um incômodo passageiro.
— A promise to be as unobtrusive as possible. 'To cause the least bother possible.'
Vamos tentar causar o menor incômodo possível durante a reforma.
— Refers to any potential bother, often used in professional apologies.
Pedimos desculpas por qualquer incômodo.
— To feel a bit uneasy or uncomfortable about something.
Senti um certo incômodo com aquele comentário.
— To prevent more serious problems or annoyances later.
É melhor resolver isso agora para evitar maiores incômodos.
— To be a person or thing that is annoying.
Não quero ser um incômodo para sua família.
— A general way to refer to the small troubles of everyday life.
Temos que lidar com os pequenos incômodos da vida.
— A situation or place where there are no bothers.
Queremos umas férias livres de incômodos.
관용어 및 표현
— To go out of one's way to do something, often causing oneself trouble.
Não se ponha em incômodo por minha causa.
Neutral— To take the trouble to do something. Similar to 'take the bother'.
Ele nem se deu ao incômodo de ligar.
Neutral— A persistent problem that one has become used to or even 'fond' of in a sarcastic way.
Esse barulho no carro já é meu incômodo de estimação.
Informal— To remove the source of annoyance or discomfort.
O remédio tirou o incômodo rapidamente.
Neutral— Used to describe a service or situation that is perfectly smooth.
A viagem foi incômodo zero.
Informal— Doing something very easily without any stress.
Ela resolveu o problema sem o menor incômodo.
Neutral— A situation or person that is very problematic or complaining.
Aquele projeto está cheio de incômodos.
Informal— A polite way to refer to health issues that come with getting older.
São apenas os incômodos da idade, nada sério.
Neutral— To live in poor conditions or in a state of constant stress.
Eles vivem no incômodo desde que a obra começou.
Neutral— An ironic expression for a bother that actually leads to a good result.
Aquele atraso foi um santo incômodo; evitamos o acidente.
Informal어휘 가족
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동사
형용사
관련
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기억법
Think of 'in-comfort-mode'. When you are NOT in comfort mode, you are in 'incômodo'. The 'cô' sounds like 'comfort'.
시각적 연상
Imagine a tiny pebble inside a shoe. It's not a knife (pain), but it's an 'incômodo' that ruins your walk.
Word Web
어원
Derived from the Latin 'incommodum', which is the neuter of 'incommodus'.
원래 의미: In Latin, it meant 'unsuitable', 'inconvenient', or 'troublesome'. It is a combination of 'in-' (not) and 'commodus' (suitable/convenient).
Romance (Latin origin).Summary
The word 'incômodo' is the ultimate polite tool in Portuguese. Whether you are at the doctor describing a mild ache or at a neighbor's house asking to borrow sugar, this word softens your request and shows social awareness. For example: 'Sinto um incômodo no ouvido' (I feel a discomfort in my ear).
- Incômodo means annoyance, discomfort, or a slight bother in Portuguese.
- It is used both for physical feelings and social inconveniences.
- The phrase 'Desculpe o incômodo' is essential for polite daily interactions.
- It is a masculine noun that can also function as an adjective meaning 'uncomfortable'.
예시
O barulho constante era um grande incômodo.
관련 콘텐츠
이 단어를 다른 언어로
emotions 관련 단어
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2동요된, 충격을 받은. 그녀는 사고 소식에 깊이 동요되었다.
abalar
A2흔들다, 동요시키다. 그 소식은 그녀를 깊이 동요시켰다.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1낙담하여, 풀이 죽어서. 깊은 좌절감이나 심신이 지친 상태에서 어떤 행동을 하는 방식을 묘사할 때 사용됩니다.
abatido
A2그는 소식을 듣고 매우 낙담한 표정이었다.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2공공연하게, 솔직하게, 숨김없이.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.