Meaning
Describing something with all its specific parts and intricacies.
Cultural Background
In Portugal, 'em pormenor' is a mark of education. Using it correctly in a conversation with an older person or a superior shows that you are a 'pessoa culta' (cultured person). Brazilians find 'em pormenor' slightly archaic or very formal. They will almost always use 'em detalhes'. If you use 'pormenor' in São Paulo, people might ask if you lived in Lisbon. In African Lusophone countries, the formal register often follows European Portuguese standards, so 'em pormenor' is common in official documents and news. In the 'juridiquês' (legal jargon) of all Portuguese-speaking countries, 'em pormenor' is used to ensure that no ambiguity remains in a testimony or contract.
Sound like a Native
In Portugal, use 'em pormenor' for reports and 'ao pormenor' when you're looking at something beautiful.
Spelling Matters
Never write 'em por menor'. The word 'pormenor' must be joined when it means 'detail'.
Meaning
Describing something with all its specific parts and intricacies.
Sound like a Native
In Portugal, use 'em pormenor' for reports and 'ao pormenor' when you're looking at something beautiful.
Spelling Matters
Never write 'em por menor'. The word 'pormenor' must be joined when it means 'detail'.
Brazil vs Portugal
If you are in Brazil, stick to 'em detalhes' to avoid sounding like a 19th-century poet.
Test Yourself
Preencha o espaço com a locução correta.
O detetive analisou as pegadas ______.
'Em pormenor' is the standard adverbial phrase for 'in detail'.
Qual destas frases soa mais natural num relatório formal em Portugal?
Apresentação de resultados:
'Em pormenor' is the preferred formal choice in European Portuguese.
Complete o diálogo entre dois colegas de trabalho.
Ana: 'Já leste o novo contrato?' / Pedro: 'Ainda não, preciso de o ler ______ antes de assinar.'
Reading a contract requires thoroughness, making 'em pormenor' the best fit.
Combine a frase com o contexto mais provável.
'Não vamos entrar em pormenores agora.'
This phrase is used to skip details to save time.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesO detetive analisou as pegadas ______.
'Em pormenor' is the standard adverbial phrase for 'in detail'.
Apresentação de resultados:
'Em pormenor' is the preferred formal choice in European Portuguese.
Ana: 'Já leste o novo contrato?' / Pedro: 'Ainda não, preciso de o ler ______ antes de assinar.'
Reading a contract requires thoroughness, making 'em pormenor' the best fit.
'Não vamos entrar em pormenores agora.'
This phrase is used to skip details to save time.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but it's very formal. Brazilians prefer 'em detalhes'.
It's possible, but 'em pormenor' (singular) is the standard idiomatic form in Portugal.
'Minuciosamente' is even more formal and implies a slow, painstaking process.
Yes, to describe their character or appearance in detail.
Only if you're being serious or ironic. Otherwise, it's too long.
Not exactly. It means 'thoroughly'. For 'specifically', use 'especificamente'.
Say 'Não entres em pormenores'.
It depends. 'Ao pormenor' is more common with verbs of seeing/watching.
Yes: 'Em pormenor, o plano consiste em...'
Yes, examiners love it because it shows register awareness.
Related Phrases
Ao pormenor
similarWith extreme attention to detail, often visual.
Pormenorizar
builds onTo detail / To specify.
Em detalhes
synonymIn detail.
Minuciosamente
specialized formMeticulously.
Tintim por tintim
similarBit by bit / In great detail.
