abater in 30 Seconds
- Abater is primarily used for felling trees and slaughtering animals for food in a formal or technical manner.
- It is the standard verb for financial deductions, such as subtracting expenses from taxes or total bills.
- The word can describe shooting down aircraft or demolishing physical structures like walls and buildings.
- As an adjective (abatido), it describes someone who looks exhausted, pale, or emotionally crushed.
The Portuguese verb abater is a multifaceted term that primarily describes the act of bringing something down, whether physically, biologically, or metaphorically. At its core, the word carries the weight of a forceful descent or a reduction. In the most literal sense, it is the standard verb used in forestry and agriculture. When a lumberjack fells a massive oak tree, they are performing the action of abater uma árvore. Similarly, in the context of livestock and the food industry, it is the technical and formal term for slaughtering animals for human consumption. Unlike the general verb 'matar' (to kill), abater implies a systematic, often industrial or necessary process, such as abater o gado (slaughtering cattle).
- Physical Action
- To knock down, fell, or bring to the ground. This applies to trees, buildings, or even enemy aircraft in a military context (abater um avião).
- Biological/Agricultural
- To slaughter animals for food or to cull a herd due to disease. It is the professional term used by veterinarians and farmers.
- Financial/Quantitative
- To deduct, discount, or reduce a total amount, such as subtracting expenses from a tax return (abater despesas no IRS).
- Psychological/Emotional
- To discourage, weaken, or make someone feel depressed. A person who is 'abatido' is someone whose spirit has been 'brought down' by grief or exhaustion.
"O lenhador precisou abater o pinheiro que estava em risco de cair sobre a casa durante a tempestade."
Beyond the physical, abater is essential in the world of finance and bureaucracy in Portugal and Brazil. If you have a coupon or a discount, you are effectively 'abating' the price. In the Portuguese tax system, 'deduções à coleta' are amounts you abate from your total tax bill based on health or education spending. This makes the word indispensable for anyone living in a Lusophone country dealing with paperwork or shopping.
Finally, the emotional spectrum of the word is vital for B1 learners. If someone says 'Estou me sentindo um pouco abatido hoje,' they aren't saying they were physically knocked down, but rather that their mood or energy is low. It is a more sophisticated way of saying 'desanimado' or 'triste.' It suggests a loss of vigor, often due to illness or bad news. This versatility—from the forest to the tax office to the human heart—makes abater a cornerstone of intermediate Portuguese vocabulary.
Using abater correctly requires understanding its transitive nature. In almost every context, it requires a direct object—the thing being brought down or reduced. Whether you are discussing environmental policy or your personal bank account, the structure remains consistent. Because it is a regular -er verb, its conjugation follows the standard patterns of the second conjugation, making it relatively easy to master once the meanings are clear.
"O governo decidiu abater as taxas de importação para estimular o comércio externo."
Context: Economic policy - reducing import taxes.
- With Animals (Livestock)
- 'É necessário abater o animal sem sofrimento.' (It is necessary to slaughter the animal without suffering.)
- With Objects (Trees/Walls)
- 'Eles vão abater o muro para ampliar a estrada.' (They are going to tear down the wall to widen the road.)
- With Finances (Discounts)
- 'Pode abater este valor na minha próxima fatura?' (Can you deduct this amount from my next invoice?)
- With Emotions (Mood)
- 'A notícia do acidente abateu toda a família.' (The news of the accident devastated/saddened the whole family.)
In the passive voice, abater is frequently used as an adjective: abatido/a. This is the form you will most likely use to describe your feelings or the state of something that has been brought down. For example, 'O avião foi abatido' (The plane was shot down) or 'Ela parece abatida' (She looks weary/downcast). Note that when used for people, it often refers to their physical appearance—looking pale, tired, or thin due to stress or sickness.
"Não deixes que os problemas te abatam; mantém o espírito forte."
Translation: Don't let the problems bring you down; keep your spirit strong.
The word abater is not just a vocabulary list item; it is a word that echoes through various sectors of Lusophone society. If you are watching the evening news in Lisbon or São Paulo, you will hear it in reports about environmental conservation. Journalists often report on the abate ilegal de árvores (illegal felling of trees) in the Amazon or local parks. It is a formal, serious word used to describe the destruction of nature or the controlled management of forests.
In the supermarket or at a butcher shop (talho in Portugal, açougue in Brazil), the concept of abate is central to food safety and ethics. You might see labels certifying that the animal was 'abatido' according to specific humanitarian standards. In rural communities, the 'dia de abate' (slaughter day) is a traditional event, especially regarding pigs (a 'matança do porco'), though 'abate' remains the more formal term used in official regulations and by veterinary authorities.
- Business
- During tax season in Portugal (IRS), every conversation revolves around what you can abater. 'Posso abater as faturas do ginásio?' (Can I deduct the gym invoices?). It is the synonym for 'deduzir' in everyday financial talk.
- Healthcare
- Doctors might use the adjective abatido to describe a patient's state. 'O paciente apresenta um estado bastante abatido' means the patient looks very weak, drained, or lethargic, which is a clinical observation of their general appearance.
"Com a crise, muitas lojas decidiram abater as margens de lucro para atrair mais clientes."
Translation: With the crisis, many stores decided to reduce profit margins to attract more customers.
Lastly, in sports commentary, specifically in contact sports or soccer, abater can be used figuratively to describe a team being demoralized by a sudden goal. 'O golo aos 90 minutos abateu a moral da equipa' (The goal at the 90th minute crushed the team's morale). It captures that moment of sudden physical and emotional collapse.
One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with abater is confusing it with the English word 'abate' (to become less intense). While they share a Latin root, the English 'abate' is often intransitive (e.g., 'the storm abated'), whereas the Portuguese abater is almost always transitive (you must abate *something*). If you want to say the storm calmed down, you would use 'acalmar' or 'estiar', not 'abater'.
Another common mistake is using abater to mean 'to kill' in a general sense, like in a movie or a murder mystery. You wouldn't say 'O vilão abateu o herói' unless the villain shot him down from a plane or treated him like livestock. For humans, 'matar' or 'assassinar' are the standard terms. Using abater for a person is highly specific and usually implies a cold, clinical, or military action, which can sound unintentionally harsh or strange in casual conversation.
- Mistake: Confusing with 'Abaixar'
- Learners often say 'Vou abater a televisão' when they mean 'abaixar o volume' (lower the volume). Abater is for reducing values or physical structures, not for adjusting settings like volume or temperature.
- Mistake: Overusing the Adjective 'Abatido'
- While 'abatido' means tired/sad, don't use it for a simple 'I am tired' after a workout. Use 'cansado' for that. 'Abatido' implies a deeper, more visible state of being drained, often related to health or deep sadness.
Finally, be careful with the financial context. While you can abater a debt (liquidar/pagar) or abater a value (descontar), you don't 'abater' a person's salary in the sense of 'lowering' their pay grade—that would be 'reduzir o salário'. Abater is specifically for subtracting a specific amount from a total. Understanding these boundaries will prevent you from sounding like a direct translation tool and more like a native speaker.
Because abater covers so much ground, it has several synonyms depending on the specific 'flavor' of the action. Choosing the right one will elevate your Portuguese from B1 to B2 and beyond. Let's look at the most common alternatives and how they differ in nuance and register.
- Derrubar vs. Abater
Derrubar is more common for physical objects like walls, trees, or people in a fight. It focuses on the act of 'making something fall.' Abater is more formal and often implies a planned or technical action (like felling a tree for timber).
"Ele derrubou o copo" (He knocked over the glass) vs. "Ele abateu a árvore" (He felled the tree).- Descontar vs. Abater
Descontar is the everyday word for a discount in a shop. Abater is more frequently used in accounting, taxes, and formal financial deductions. If you have a 10% discount, you use 'desconto.' If you are subtracting business expenses from your taxes, you use 'abater.'
"Descontaram 5 euros" vs. "Vou abater as despesas no imposto."- Sacrificar vs. Abater
In a veterinary context, sacrificar is used when an animal is 'put down' or 'euthanized' because it is suffering. Abater is used when the animal is killed for meat. This is a crucial distinction for animal lovers and professionals alike.
"O cão foi sacrificado" (The dog was put down) vs. "O porco foi abatido" (The pig was slaughtered).- Desanimar vs. Abater
Desanimar is simply to lose motivation. Abater is stronger; it suggests being 'crushed' or significantly weakened by circumstances. Abater often has a physical component—you look visibly 'abatido' (pale, slumped).
"Não desanimes!" (Don't lose heart!) vs. "A doença abateu-o muito" (The illness really took a toll on him).
How Formal Is It?
"O relatório sugere abater o passivo da empresa."
"Eles vão abater o pinheiro amanhã."
"O golo deles abateu-nos por completo."
"O lobo foi abatido pelo caçador na história."
"Abate o facho, rapaz!"
Fun Fact
It shares the same root as the English word 'abate' and 'battery'. In the Middle Ages, it was used to describe knocking someone off their horse in a joust.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the first 'a' too openly like 'father'.
- Stress on the second syllable (a-BA-ter) instead of the last.
- Making the 'b' too explosive (it should be soft in European Portuguese).
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize in context, but has multiple meanings.
Requires knowledge of -er verb endings and correct preposition usage in financial contexts.
Pronunciation is straightforward, but choosing it over 'matar' or 'derrubar' shows proficiency.
Distinguishing between 'abate' (noun) and 'abate' (verb) is key.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
Eu vou abater o preço.
I will lower the price.
Simple present future intent.
Eles abatem a árvore.
They cut down the tree.
Third-person plural.
O talho vai abater o boi.
The butcher shop is going to slaughter the ox.
Future with 'ir'.
O homem está abatido.
The man is downcast/tired.
Adjective use of the past participle.
Não abatas a parede.
Don't knock down the wall.
Negative imperative.
Nós abatemos o valor.
We deducted the value.
Past tense (pretérito perfeito).
Ela abate a carne.
She slaughters the meat (prepares it).
Third-person singular.
O sol abate o calor.
The sun brings down the heat (figurative).
Metaphorical use.
O lenhador abateu o sobreiro velho.
The lumberjack felled the old cork oak.
Pretérito perfeito.
Precisamos de abater estas despesas.
We need to deduct these expenses.
Infinitive after 'precisar de'.
O caçador abateu um javali.
The hunter shot down a wild boar.
Hunting context.
Sinto-me abatido hoje.
I feel worn out today.
Reflexive verb 'sentir-se' with adjective.
Eles vão abater o prédio antigo.
They are going to demolish the old building.
Demolition context.
O desconto abate o custo total.
The discount reduces the total cost.
Financial context.
A febre abateu a criança.
The fever weakened the child.
Health context.
Vamos abater o gado amanhã.
We are going to slaughter the cattle tomorrow.
Future intent.
Podes abater o IVA nesta fatura.
You can deduct the VAT on this invoice.
Modal verb 'poder' + infinitive.
O exército conseguiu abater o drone.
The army managed to shoot down the drone.
Military context.
O luto abateu o seu espírito por meses.
Grief crushed his spirit for months.
Abstract direct object.
É proibido abater árvores protegidas.
It is forbidden to fell protected trees.
Impersonal expression 'é proibido'.
O banco vai abater a dívida gradualmente.
The bank will reduce the debt gradually.
Financial reduction.
Ela parecia abatida após a longa viagem.
She seemed weary after the long trip.
Copular verb 'parecer' + adjective.
O granizo abateu a plantação de milho.
The hail flattened the corn plantation.
Natural disaster context.
Temos de abater as calorias com exercício.
We have to burn off (reduce) the calories with exercise.
Figurative use in health.
A empresa teve de abater vários ativos.
The company had to write off several assets.
Accounting terminology.
O cansaço acabou por abater a sua resistência.
Fatigue eventually broke down his resistance.
Compound verb 'acabar por'.
O governo autorizou o abate de lobos.
The government authorized the culling of wolves.
Noun form 'o abate'.
Se não abateres o stress, ficarás doente.
If you don't reduce the stress, you will get sick.
Future subjunctive.
O caça foi abatido em território inimigo.
The fighter jet was shot down in enemy territory.
Passive voice.
A tempestade abateu-se sobre a vila.
The storm fell/descended upon the village.
Pronominal use 'abater-se sobre'.
Ele tentou abater a moral do oponente.
He tried to crush the opponent's morale.
Psychological strategy.
O valor será abatido no próximo mês.
The value will be deducted next month.
Future passive.
O escândalo abateu a credibilidade do político.
The scandal undermined the politician's credibility.
Abstract noun as object.
É crucial abater as emissões de carbono.
It is crucial to cut down carbon emissions.
Environmental jargon.
O desânimo abateu-se sobre os investigadores.
Discouragement settled upon the researchers.
Pronominal use for atmosphere.
A lei prevê abater prejuízos em lucros futuros.
The law provides for offsetting losses against future profits.
Technical legal context.
O navio foi abatido pelas ondas gigantes.
The ship was overcome by the giant waves.
Literary/Dramatic use.
O filósofo procura abater os preconceitos.
The philosopher seeks to dismantle prejudices.
Intellectual context.
A proposta foi abatida logo na primeira ronda.
The proposal was shot down right in the first round.
Metaphorical use in business.
O semblante abatido denunciava a sua dor.
The downcast face betrayed his pain.
Literary adjective placement.
A súbita tragédia abateu o fulgor daquela era.
The sudden tragedy extinguished the brilliance of that era.
High-level literary usage.
Abateram-se as esperanças de um acordo célere.
Hopes for a swift agreement were dashed/collapsed.
Pronominal passive construction.
O decreto visa o abate sistemático do excesso de burocracia.
The decree aims at the systematic reduction of excess bureaucracy.
Noun form in administrative context.
O cansaço não conseguiu abater a sua férrea vontade.
Fatigue could not crush his iron will.
Abstract contrast.
A ave de rapina abateu-se sobre a presa com precisão.
The bird of prey swooped down on the prey with precision.
Specific biological movement.
Cumpre abater as barreiras que impedem o progresso.
It is necessary to tear down the barriers that prevent progress.
Formal 'Cumpre' + infinitive.
O valor residual foi abatido à conta de exploração.
The residual value was written off to the operating account.
Specific accounting preposition 'abater a'.
Nada abateria a sua convicção inabalável.
Nothing would shake his unshakable conviction.
Conditional tense.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To pay off or reduce a debt significantly.
Ele usou o bónus para abater a dívida do cartão.
— To feel physically or emotionally drained/depressed.
Sinto-me abatido com este calor.
— A controlled culling of specific animals.
O governo propôs o abate seletivo de javalis.
— To deduct at the source (usually taxes from a paycheck).
O imposto é abatido diretamente na fonte.
— To overcome or reduce fatigue (often by resting).
Uma sesta ajudou a abater o cansaço.
— Scrapping old cars (often for a financial incentive).
Existe um incentivo estatal para o abate de viaturas antigas.
— To break down someone's opposition.
A persistência dele abateu a resistência dela.
— To cool down or reduce the sensation of heat.
A brisa marítima ajuda a abater o calor.
Idioms & Expressions
— To humble someone who is being arrogant (literally: to lower the crest/comb).
O chefe abateu-lhe a crista na reunião.
Informal— To not let oneself be discouraged by difficulties.
Apesar dos problemas, ela não se deixou abater.
Neutral— To have a snack or kill one's hunger (rare/regional).
Vamos abater o bicho com uma sandes.
Colloquial— Extremely tired or mistreated (literally: downcast like a dog).
Chegou a casa abatido como um cão.
Informal— To lower the sails (nautical) or to end something (theatrical).
É hora de abater o pano sobre esta discussão.
Literary— To lower one's expectations or ambitions.
Ele teve de abater o voo e aceitar um cargo menor.
Metaphorical— To surrender or stop fighting.
Eles finalmente abateram as armas e aceitaram a paz.
Formal— To look visibly sad or defeated in the face.
Ficou com o semblante abatido após a crítica.
Neutral— To lower one's intensity or 'cool down' (Brazilian slang).
Abate o facho, menino! Estás muito agitado.
Slang (BR)— To destroy the psychological strength of a group.
A propaganda visava abater a moral das tropas.
FormalWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'A-Batter' (a baseball batter). The batter hits the ball DOWN to the ground. Abater = to bring down.
Visual Association
Visualize a tree falling in a forest with a giant minus sign (-) on its trunk. You are 'subtracting' the tree from the forest and 'subtracting' money from a bill.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'abater' in three different ways today: once for a physical object, once for money, and once for a feeling.
Word Origin
From the Vulgar Latin *abbattuere, composed of 'ad-' (to) and 'battuere' (to beat/strike).
Original meaning: To strike down or beat down.
Romance (Latin root).Cultural Context
Be careful using 'abater' for pets. Use 'adormecer' (put to sleep) or 'sacrificar' to be more sensitive. Using 'abater' for a dog sounds like you are treating it as livestock.
English speakers often use 'cut' for trees and 'slaughter' for animals. Portuguese uses 'abater' for both to sound more professional/technical.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Agriculture
- abate de gado
- peso de abate
- autorização de abate
- abate sanitário
Finance/Taxes
- abater no IRS
- abater à coleta
- abatimento de dívida
- abater despesas
Environment
- abater árvores
- licença de abate
- abate ilegal
- abate florestal
Military/Aviation
- abater o alvo
- avião abatido
- abater um míssil
- ordem de abate
Psychology
- estar abatido
- sentir-se abatido
- semblante abatido
- moral abatida
Conversation Starters
"Sabias que podes abater as despesas do ginásio no IRS em Portugal?"
Summary
The verb 'abater' is your go-to word for 'bringing down'—whether it's a tree in the forest, a cow on a farm, a drone in the sky, a price in a shop, or someone's mood. Example: 'Vou abater o custo' (I will reduce the cost).
- Abater is primarily used for felling trees and slaughtering animals for food in a formal or technical manner.
- It is the standard verb for financial deductions, such as subtracting expenses from taxes or total bills.
- The word can describe shooting down aircraft or demolishing physical structures like walls and buildings.
- As an adjective (abatido), it describes someone who looks exhausted, pale, or emotionally crushed.
Related Content
More nature words
à beira
B1On the edge or brink of.
à beira de
B1On the edge of; almost in a state of.
à distância
A2At a far point in space or time.
a favor de
B1In favor of; supporting.
à sombra
A2In an area of darkness or coolness caused by the blocking of direct sunlight.
à volta
A2Around; in the vicinity.
abanar
A2To wave or swing back and forth, like an animal's tail; to wag.
Abelha
A2Bee; a stinging winged insect that produces honey.
abeto
A2An evergreen coniferous tree, typically with flat needles.
abismo
A2A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.
