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A2 verb #6,000 most common 11 min read

abortar

Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips abortar in 30 Seconds

Explanation abortar in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'abortar' is mostly encountered in its simplest form: to stop a mission or a plan. You might see it in basic action movies or simple video games. It follows the regular '-ar' verb pattern, like 'falar' or 'estudar'. At this stage, you should focus on the idea of 'stopping something important'. For example, 'Aborte a missão!' (Abort the mission!). You don't need to worry about complex medical or legal nuances yet. Just think of it as a very strong way to say 'stop' or 'cancel' when something is already happening. It is a 'cognate,' which means it looks and sounds like the English word 'abort,' making it very easy to remember. Most A1 learners will only use it in the context of 'abortar a missão' as a fun, dramatic phrase. Remember to pronounce the 'a' at the end clearly in 'aborta' (he/she aborts) and the 'ar' in 'abortar' (to abort).

As an A2 learner, you are beginning to use more specific verbs. 'Abortar' becomes useful when you want to describe stopping a process that was already in progress. You might use it in a professional context, like 'abortar um projeto' (to abort a project) or 'abortar um plano' (to abort a plan). It's important to differentiate it from 'cancelar' (to cancel). You cancel a meeting before it starts, but you abort a mission after it has begun. You will also start to see this word in the news, especially regarding aerospace (rocket launches) or medical topics. You should be able to conjugate it in the present (eu aborto, você aborta) and the simple past (eu abortei, você abortou). You are also learning that it can be a sensitive word in medical contexts, so you use it carefully. This level is about expanding the word's use from just 'movie talk' to real-world situations like business and technology.

At the B1 level, you should understand the various nuances and registers of 'abortar'. You can use it metaphorically in social situations, such as 'abortar a missão' when a plan with friends goes wrong. You are also expected to understand the passive voice: 'A operação foi abortada' (The operation was aborted). You will encounter the word in more complex texts, such as articles about social issues or technical manuals. You should be aware of the noun form 'o aborto' and how it is used in discussions about law and ethics. Your grammar should now include the conditional ('eu abortaria') and the subjunctive ('espero que eles não abortem o plano'), allowing you to express doubt or hypothetical situations involving the word. You are beginning to see the difference between the literal medical meaning and the figurative professional meaning, and you can choose the right synonyms like 'interromper' or 'suspender' depending on the situation.

At the B2 level, you can use 'abortar' with precision in professional and academic contexts. You understand the legal and medical debates surrounding 'o direito de abortar' and can follow a news report or a documentary on the subject. You are comfortable with the technical use in computing and engineering, such as 'abortar a execução de um algoritmo'. You also recognize the word's appearance in literature or formal reports where it might describe the failure of a political movement or a large-scale social project ('o movimento abortou antes de ganhar força'). Your usage is nuanced; you know that 'abortar' implies a failure to reach maturity or completion. You can participate in discussions about sensitive topics using this word while maintaining the appropriate formal register. You also understand regional differences in how the word might be perceived in different Portuguese-speaking countries.

By C1, 'abortar' is a word you use with total confidence and stylistic flair. You can use it in highly abstract ways, such as 'abortar uma ideia' (to abort an idea in its infancy) or 'abortar um processo histórico'. You understand the etymological roots (from the Latin 'abortare') and how this history informs its current usage. You are sensitive to the micro-nuances between 'abortar', 'malograr', 'fracassar', and 'fenecer' in literary Portuguese. In professional writing, you use 'abortar' to describe the strategic termination of initiatives. You can navigate complex legal texts regarding reproductive rights, understanding the specific terminology like 'aborto retido' or 'interrupção terapêutica'. Your pronunciation and intonation are natural, and you can use the word in sarcastic or idiomatic ways without sounding awkward. You are also aware of the historical context of the word in Lusophone cultures and how it has evolved over the decades.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'abortar' is equivalent to that of an educated native speaker. You can use the word in philosophical or highly technical discourse. You might analyze the use of the word in political rhetoric or classical literature. You are familiar with rare or archaic uses of the word and its derivatives. You can argue for or against complex legal frameworks using the word with absolute precision. You understand the deep cultural connotations the word carries in countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Angola, including the religious and social pressures that influence its use. You can switch effortlessly between the slang 'abortar a missão' and the most formal medical or legal terminology. Your understanding of the word is not just linguistic but deeply cultural and contextual, allowing you to use it as a tool for sophisticated communication in any setting imaginable.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

abortar in 30 Seconds

Abortar primarily means to terminate a pregnancy, whether naturally or through a medical procedure.
It is widely used in technical fields to mean stopping a process in progress, like a flight or computer script.
In slang and casual speech, 'abortar a missão' is a common way to say 'cancel the plan.'
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate, but it carries significant emotional and social weight.

The Portuguese verb abortar is a multifaceted term that English speakers often associate primarily with medical contexts, but its utility in Portuguese extends far beyond the clinical sphere. At its core, abortar signifies the act of stopping something before it reaches its natural conclusion or intended state of completion. While the English cognate 'abort' shares this dual nature, the Portuguese usage in everyday conversation, professional environments, and technical fields like computing or aerospace is remarkably frequent and precise.

Biological and Medical Context: In a medical sense, abortar describes the termination of a pregnancy. This can refer to a spontaneous miscarriage (aborto espontâneo) or a medical procedure. Because of the legal and social weight of this topic in Lusophone countries, the word is often handled with specific linguistic care in public discourse.

Infelizmente, a paciente acabou por abortar naturalmente durante o primeiro trimestre da gestação devido a complicações genéticas imprevistas.

Technical and Operational Context: In aviation, computing, and project management, abortar is the standard term for cancelling a process that has already begun. For instance, a pilot might 'abort' a takeoff (abortar a decolagem) if a warning light appears. In software, a system might 'abort' a command if it encounters a fatal error.

The verb is regular and follows the first conjugation (-ar) pattern, making it relatively simple to conjugate across all tenses. However, its emotional and technical weight varies significantly depending on whether you are in a hospital, a boardroom, or a cockpit. Understanding the nuance of abortar requires recognizing that it implies a process was already in motion. You don't 'abort' a plan before it starts; you 'abort' it once the wheels are turning and a problem arises that necessitates an immediate halt to prevent further damage or failure.

O capitão decidiu abortar a missão de resgate assim que percebeu que as condições climáticas colocariam a equipe em perigo extremo.

Social and Figurative Usage: In informal Brazilian or Portuguese slang, you might hear someone say 'abortar a missão' when they decide to give up on a social plan, like going to a party that seems boring. It adds a dramatic, semi-humorous flair to the act of quitting or changing plans at the last minute.

In summary, abortar is a powerful verb that conveys the interruption of a vital or significant process. Whether you are discussing biology, technology, or social dynamics, it carries an inherent sense of urgency and finality. For a learner, mastering this word involves distinguishing between its literal medical meaning and its broad metaphorical applications in everyday life and professional settings.

Using abortar correctly requires attention to the direct object of the verb. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually acts upon something—a mission, a pregnancy, a process, or a plan. Unlike some verbs that require complex prepositions, abortar typically connects directly to its object, making the sentence structure straightforward for English speakers.

Eles tiveram que abortar o lançamento do satélite devido a uma falha técnica no motor principal.

In the sentence above, the verb functions identically to the English 'to abort.' However, pay attention to the tense. When discussing a completed action, we use the Pretérito Perfeito: 'Eles abortaram o projeto.' If you are describing a continuous or habitual action, or an action that was interrupted, you might use the Pretérito Imperfeito: 'Eles abortavam os planos sempre que surgia um problema.'

Common Direct Objects: Frequent nouns paired with abortar include: missão (mission), plano (plan), projeto (project), processo (process), decolagem (takeoff), and gravidez (pregnancy).

One subtle aspect of abortar is its use in the passive voice, which is common in news reporting. 'O projeto foi abortado' (The project was aborted). This shifts the focus from who stopped the project to the fact that it has been stopped. In more formal writing, you might see the 'se' impersonal construction: 'Abortou-se a operação por falta de verbas' (The operation was aborted due to lack of funds).

Se a pressão continuar a subir, o sistema irá abortar a operação automaticamente para evitar uma explosão.

When using abortar in the context of pregnancy, it is important to distinguish between 'abortar' (the action) and 'ter um aborto' (to have a miscarriage). While 'ela abortou' can mean both a spontaneous or induced termination, 'ela teve um aborto espontâneo' is more specific and common in medical or sensitive contexts to describe a miscarriage.

Imperative Usage: In high-stress situations, like a movie scene or a technical failure, you might hear the imperative: 'Aborte a missão!' (Abort the mission!). Note that in Brazil, 'Aborta!' is often used informally as a command to stop whatever is happening immediately.

A diretoria decidiu abortar a fusão das empresas após a queda brusca nas ações da bolsa de valores.

Finally, consider the nuances of meaning when translating. While 'cancelar' is a generic 'to cancel,' abortar implies that the thing being cancelled was already 'alive' or 'running.' You cancel a meeting (cancelar uma reunião) because it hasn't happened yet, but you abort a process (abortar um processo) that is currently in progress. This distinction is key to achieving a native-like level of precision in your Portuguese.

The word abortar echoes through various corridors of Portuguese-speaking society, from the sterile rooms of a hospital to the high-tech hubs of aerospace engineering and the energetic slang of the streets. Understanding its placement helps you navigate different social registers with ease.

The News and Media: You will frequently encounter abortar in news headlines. It often appears in political reporting concerning legislation on reproductive rights, where terms like 'descriminalizar o ato de abortar' (decriminalizing the act of aborting) are central to the debate. Additionally, it is common in economic news when large-scale infrastructure projects or corporate mergers are halted.

'O governo federal decidiu abortar a construção da nova rodovia por falta de licenciamento ambiental,' informou o âncora do jornal.

In the world of technology and aviation, abortar is the standard technical term. Pilots speaking Portuguese to air traffic control will use 'abortar a decolagem' if they need to stop on the runway. Similarly, in IT environments in Brazil or Portugal, developers might talk about 'abortar a execução do script' (aborting the script execution) when a code loop becomes infinite or errors occur.

Action Movies and Pop Culture: If you watch dubbed or original Portuguese-language thrillers, abortar is a staple of high-stakes dialogue. 'Aborte a missão, agora!' is the classic command given when a spy's cover is blown or a military operation goes south. It carries a gravitas that 'pare' or 'cancele' simply lacks.

In daily social life, especially among younger generations, abortar has found a home in the 'mission' metaphor. If a group of friends is planning to go to the beach but it starts raining, someone might text the group chat: 'Ih, galera, vamos abortar a missão praia?' This usage is lighthearted and turns a serious word into a relatable part of social planning and sudden changes of heart.

Cara, o trânsito está horrível! Melhor a gente abortar a ideia de ir ao shopping hoje e ficar em casa.

Legal and Medical Institutions: In hospitals and law courts, the word is used with clinical and legal precision. Doctors discuss the risks of 'abortar' in certain medical conditions, and lawyers debate the 'direito de abortar' (right to abort). In these contexts, the word is stripped of its metaphorical uses and carries profound professional significance.

Whether you are listening to a podcast about space exploration, watching a political debate, or chatting with friends about weekend plans, abortar is a versatile tool. It bridges the gap between the extremely serious and the everyday, making it a vital addition to any Portuguese learner's vocabulary at the A2 level and beyond.

Learning abortar seems easy because it is a cognate, but this 'friendliness' can lead to several common pitfalls. One of the most frequent errors is using abortar when cancelar or parar would be more appropriate. English speakers often 'abort' a plan, but in Portuguese, if the plan hasn't even started, you should usually use cancelar.

The 'Already in Progress' Rule: A common mistake is saying 'Eu vou abortar o jantar' if you simply want to cancel a reservation. Unless the dinner is currently happening and you are fleeing the restaurant, use 'cancelar'. Abortar implies stopping a process that is already 'live' or 'running'.

Incorrect: Eu abortei o compromisso de amanhã.
Correct: Eu cancelei o compromisso de amanhã.

Another mistake involves the reflexive usage. In English, we might say 'the project aborted,' but in Portuguese, the project doesn't 'abort itself' in the same way. You should say 'O projeto foi abortado' (passive) or 'O sistema abortou o projeto' (active). Using abortar-se is rare and usually grammatically awkward in most contexts.

Sensitivity and Register: Using abortar in a casual context about serious topics can be seen as insensitive. While 'abortar a missão' is fine for a party, using the word lightly in medical discussions or when someone has experienced a loss is a major social faux pas. In those cases, use 'perder o bebê' (lose the baby) or 'ter um aborto espontâneo'.

Confusion with 'Abafar' is another minor but present issue for beginners. 'Abafar' means to stifle or hush up something. While both involve stopping something, abortar is about ending a process, whereas 'abafar' is about hiding or suppressing information or a sound. Make sure you aren't 'stifling' a mission when you mean to 'abort' it.

Não confunda: abortar (cancelar algo em andamento) com adiar (mudar para uma data posterior).

Lastly, remember the pronunciation of the 'r' at the end. In many Brazilian dialects, it's a soft 'h' sound or a tapped 'r', while in Portugal, it's a more distinct alveolar tap. Failing to pronounce the final 'r' in the infinitive can make it sound like the imperative 'aborta', which changes the meaning from 'to abort' to 'abort it!'. Pay attention to your verb endings to ensure your intended meaning is clear.

To truly master Portuguese, you must know when to use abortar and when to reach for a synonym that might fit the context better. While abortar is specific and powerful, other verbs offer different shades of meaning regarding stopping or ending something.

Interromper vs. Abortar: Interromper means to interrupt or pause. It suggests that the action might resume later. Abortar, on the other hand, implies a permanent stop. If you 'interromper' a meeting, you take a break. If you 'abortar' a meeting, it's over and failed.

Precisamos interromper a aula por cinco minutos, mas não vamos abortar o cronograma de hoje.

Cancelar vs. Abortar: Cancelar is the most common word for 'to cancel.' Use it for appointments, subscriptions, or events that haven't started. Abortar is reserved for things that have already been set in motion, like a takeoff or a biological process.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter malograr or fracassar. These verbs focus on the failure aspect. If a plan 'malogrou,' it means it failed or didn't bear fruit. While abortar is the action of stopping it, malograr is the resulting state of failure. They are often used together to describe unsuccessful ventures.

Parar vs. Abortar: Parar is the generic 'to stop.' It can be used for almost anything. Abortar is a specialized kind of stopping. You 'parar' at a red light, but you 'abortar' a mission. Using abortar where parar is expected makes you sound like a character in a sci-fi movie.

O motorista parou o carro, mas o sistema de segurança abortou o desligamento automático.

For medical contexts, synonyms are very sensitive. Instead of the verb abortar, people often use the noun phrase interrupção voluntária da gravidez (voluntary interruption of pregnancy) in formal and legal discussions to be more precise and less emotionally charged. In everyday speech, 'perder o bebê' is the standard way to describe a miscarriage sympathetically. Understanding these alternatives ensures you are not only grammatically correct but also socially and emotionally intelligent in your Portuguese interactions.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The Latin root 'oriri' means 'to rise' (like the word 'orient'). So, 'aboriri' literally meant 'to un-rise' or 'to disappear'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɐ.buɾ.ˈtaɾ/

US /a.boʁ.ˈta(ʁ)/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'tar'.

Rhymes With

cantar falar andar olhar amar pensar chegar estar

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like the English 'abort' with a silent final 'r'. In Portuguese, the final 'r' must be pronounced.
Using an open 'a' sound at the start in Portugal (it should be closed).
Confusing the pronunciation with 'abotoar' (to button).
Stressing the second syllable 'bor' instead of the last 'tar'.
Failing to pronounce the 'o' clearly, making it sound like 'aburtar'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize as a cognate, but requires context to know if it's medical or technical.

Writing 3/5

Regular conjugation makes it easy, but choosing the right object is key.

Speaking 3/5

Pronouncing the final 'r' and the closed 'a' in Portugal takes practice.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects makes it easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

parar cancelar missão plano projeto

Learn Next

interromper suspender fracassar malograr gestação

Advanced

descriminalização jurisprudência anomalia protocolo inexorável

Grammar to Know

Regular -ar verbs in the Pretérito Perfeito

Eu abortei, você abortou, nós abortamos, eles abortaram.

Passive Voice with 'ser'

A missão foi abortada pelo comandante.

Future Subjunctive for conditions

Se eles abortarem o plano, ficaremos tristes.

Direct Object Pronouns

O plano era bom, mas eles o abortaram.

Infinitive Personal

Para nós abortarmos o projeto, precisamos de autorização.

Examples by Level

O piloto vai abortar o voo.

The pilot is going to abort the flight.

Simple future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Aborte a missão agora!

Abort the mission now!

Imperative form (você).

Eles abortam o plano.

They abort the plan.

Present tense, third person plural.

Eu não quero abortar o jogo.

I don't want to abort the game.

Negative sentence with 'querer'.

Você precisa abortar o processo.

You need to abort the process.

Modal verb 'precisar' + infinitive.

Nós abortamos a viagem.

We aborted the trip.

Past tense (pretérito perfeito).

Ela aborta a ideia.

She aborts the idea.

Present tense, third person singular.

O robô vai abortar a tarefa.

The robot is going to abort the task.

Simple future with 'ir'.

A empresa decidiu abortar o novo projeto.

The company decided to abort the new project.

Main verb 'decidir' followed by infinitive.

Tivemos que abortar a decolagem no último segundo.

We had to abort the takeoff at the last second.

Compound past 'ter que' + infinitive.

O sistema abortou a instalação do software.

The system aborted the software installation.

Pretérito perfeito.

Se chover, vamos abortar a caminhada.

If it rains, we are going to abort the hike.

Conditional 'se' + future.

Por que você quer abortar a operação?

Why do you want to abort the operation?

Question form with 'querer'.

Eles abortaram o lançamento por causa do vento.

They aborted the launch because of the wind.

Pretérito perfeito with causal phrase.

O médico explicou os riscos de abortar.

The doctor explained the risks of aborting.

Infinitive used as a noun.

Não podemos abortar o plano agora.

We cannot abort the plan now.

Negative modal 'poder'.

Espero que o governo não aborte as reformas econômicas.

I hope the government doesn't abort the economic reforms.

Present subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

A missão foi abortada devido a uma falha de comunicação.

The mission was aborted due to a communication failure.

Passive voice (ser + past participle).

Se tivéssemos mais tempo, não precisaríamos abortar.

If we had more time, we wouldn't need to abort.

Imperfect subjunctive + conditional.

Ela decidiu abortar a carreira de modelo para estudar medicina.

She decided to abort her modeling career to study medicine.

Figurative use of the verb.

O computador abortou o processo após detectar um vírus.

The computer aborted the process after detecting a virus.

Pretérito perfeito.

É necessário abortar qualquer tentativa de fraude.

It is necessary to abort any attempt at fraud.

Impersonal expression 'é necessário'.

Eles estavam prestes a abortar quando a ajuda chegou.

They were about to abort when help arrived.

'Prestes a' + infinitive.

O projeto de lei sugere descriminalizar o ato de abortar.

The bill suggests decriminalizing the act of aborting.

Medical/Legal context.

A instabilidade política forçou o Banco Central a abortar a queda dos juros.

Political instability forced the Central Bank to abort the interest rate cut.

Complex sentence with direct object 'Banco Central'.

Muitas startups acabam por abortar seus planos iniciais após o primeiro ano.

Many startups end up aborting their initial plans after the first year.

'Acabar por' + infinitive.

O diretor temia que a falta de verba abortasse a produção do filme.

The director feared that the lack of funds would abort the film's production.

Imperfect subjunctive after a verb of fear.

A operação militar teria sido bem-sucedida se não tivessem decidido abortar.

The military operation would have been successful if they hadn't decided to abort.

Conditional perfect + pluperfect subjunctive.

O organismo pode abortar o feto se houver uma anomalia cromossômica grave.

The organism may abort the fetus if there is a serious chromosomal anomaly.

Technical/Biological context.

Não convém abortar o diálogo neste momento crucial da negociação.

It is not advisable to abort the dialogue at this crucial moment of the negotiation.

'Não convém' + infinitive.

O script foi programado para abortar caso a memória exceda o limite.

The script was programmed to abort if the memory exceeds the limit.

Passive voice + future subjunctive.

Ela sentiu que precisava abortar aquele relacionamento tóxico.

She felt she needed to abort that toxic relationship.

Metaphorical/Emotional use.

A retórica inflamada do candidato pode abortar qualquer chance de consenso.

The candidate's inflamed rhetoric may abort any chance of consensus.

Subject is an abstract noun phrase.

O historiador argumenta que a revolução abortou devido à falta de apoio popular.

The historian argues that the revolution aborted due to the lack of popular support.

Intransitive use in a historical context.

Embora a lei permita abortar em casos específicos, o estigma permanece.

Although the law allows aborting in specific cases, the stigma remains.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

A empresa viu-se obrigada a abortar a fusão diante das sanções regulatórias.

The company found itself forced to abort the merger in the face of regulatory sanctions.

Reflexive 'ver-se' + past participle.

É imperativo que não abortemos os esforços de preservação ambiental.

It is imperative that we do not abort environmental preservation efforts.

Impersonal 'é imperativo que' + subjunctive.

O fracasso da missão não se deveu a um erro humano, mas à decisão de abortar prematuramente.

The failure of the mission was not due to human error, but to the decision to abort prematurely.

Noun phrase 'decisão de abortar'.

A semente não germinou, como se a própria natureza tivesse decidido abortar o processo.

The seed did not germinate, as if nature itself had decided to abort the process.

Simile with 'como se' + pluperfect subjunctive.

Ao abortar a decolagem, o comandante evitou uma catástrofe iminente.

By aborting the takeoff, the commander avoided an imminent catastrophe.

Gerundial 'Ao' + infinitive.

A ontologia do ser, em certas correntes, sugere que o nada pode abortar a existência.

The ontology of being, in certain currents, suggests that nothingness can abort existence.

Philosophical/Abstract context.

A interrupção sistêmica veio abortar uma sequência de eventos até então tida como inexorável.

The systemic interruption came to abort a sequence of events hitherto regarded as inexorable.

Formal 'vir a' + infinitive.

O autor utiliza a metáfora do fruto abortado para descrever a desilusão pós-revolucionária.

The author uses the metaphor of the aborted fruit to describe post-revolutionary disillusionment.

Literary analysis.

A jurisprudência atual tende a não punir quem decide abortar sob coação extrema.

Current jurisprudence tends not to punish those who decide to abort under extreme duress.

Legal terminology.

Pudesse o tempo voltar, ele jamais permitiria que as circunstâncias abortassem seu sonho.

Could time turn back, he would never allow circumstances to abort his dream.

Inverted 'pudesse' for hypothetical condition.

A decisão de abortar o protocolo de segurança foi alvo de escrutínio rigoroso pela comissão ética.

The decision to abort the safety protocol was the subject of rigorous scrutiny by the ethics committee.

Passive construction with 'alvo de'.

Não se trata apenas de abortar uma ação, mas de reavaliar todo o paradigma operacional.

It is not just a matter of aborting an action, but of reappraising the entire operational paradigm.

'Não se trata apenas de'.

O gênio criativo, por vezes, aborta obras-primas por um excesso de perfeccionismo paralisante.

The creative genius sometimes aborts masterpieces due to an excess of paralyzing perfectionism.

Sophisticated subject-verb agreement.

Common Collocations

abortar a missão

abortar a decolagem

abortar o projeto

abortar o lançamento

abortar o processo

abortar naturalmente

decidir abortar

forçado a abortar

tentativa de abortar

abortar prematuramente

Common Phrases

Vamos abortar?

— Shall we give up on this plan? Used casually among friends.

Tá chovendo muito. Vamos abortar o churrasco?

Aborta a ideia!

— Forget that idea! Stop thinking about it.

Aborta a ideia de viajar agora, estamos sem dinheiro.

Missão abortada.

— Mission aborted. Used when something fails or is stopped.

O encontro foi um desastre. Missão abortada.

Abortar o plano.

— To stop a plan that was in motion.

Eles tiveram que abortar o plano de fuga.

Direito de abortar.

— The right to have an abortion. Used in legal/political debates.

O debate sobre o direito de abortar é intenso.

Abortar o voo.

— To cancel a flight, usually during or just before takeoff.

O comandante abortou o voo por segurança.

Abortar a execução.

— To stop a computer program or script from running.

Pressione Ctrl+C para abortar a execução.

Abortar a tentativa.

— To stop trying to do something.

Após três erros, o sistema aborta a tentativa de login.

Abortar o ataque.

— To stop an ongoing military or sports attack.

O exército recebeu ordens para abortar o ataque.

Abortar a parceria.

— To end a business partnership abruptly.

Eles decidiram abortar a parceria após a polêmica.

Often Confused With

abortar vs abotoar

Means 'to button' (like a shirt). Sounds similar but totally different meaning.

abortar vs abordar

Means 'to approach' or 'to board' (a ship/subject). Very common confusion for learners.

abortar vs absorver

Means 'to absorb'. The starting 'ab-' can cause confusion in fast speech.

Idioms & Expressions

"Abortar a missão"

— To give up on a social plan or a task because it's no longer viable or interesting.

O bar estava muito cheio, então decidimos abortar a missão.

Informal

"Aborta!"

— Stop what you are doing immediately! (Brazilian slang).

Aborta! O chefe está vindo!

Slang

"Nascer morto"

— Literal: born dead. Figurative: a project that was doomed to fail from the start (related to the concept of abortion).

Aquele projeto já nasceu morto.

Neutral

"Dar com os burros n'água"

— To fail in an attempt (can be used when a plan is 'aborted' by failure).

Tentamos abrir a empresa, mas demos com os burros n'água.

Informal

"Ficar pelo caminho"

— To be left behind or 'aborted' before reaching the end.

Muitos alunos ficaram pelo caminho durante o curso.

Neutral

"Pôr uma pedra sobre o assunto"

— To stop talking about something, to 'abort' a discussion.

Vamos pôr uma pedra sobre o assunto e seguir em frente.

Neutral

"Chutar o balde"

— To give up or 'abort' a situation out of frustration.

Ele cansou do trabalho e chutou o balde.

Informal

"Tirar o time de campo"

— To withdraw or 'abort' one's participation in a situation.

Quando a briga começou, eu tirei meu time de campo.

Informal

"Cortar o mal pela raiz"

— To stop something at the very beginning (similar to aborting an idea).

Precisamos cortar esse problema pela raiz.

Neutral

"Bater em retirada"

— To retreat or 'abort' a position.

Os investidores bateram em retirada após a crise.

Neutral

Easily Confused

abortar vs abordar

Similar spelling and sound.

Abordar is to approach a person or a topic. Abortar is to stop a process.

Vou abordar o tema na reunião (I will approach the theme). Vou abortar o projeto (I will stop the project).

abortar vs cancelar

Similar meaning of stopping something.

Cancelar is for things that haven't started. Abortar is for things already in progress.

Cancelei o hotel. Abortei a decolagem.

abortar vs parar

Both mean to stop.

Parar is general. Abortar implies a failure or a decisive end to a significant process.

Pare o carro. Aborte a missão.

abortar vs interromper

Both involve stopping an action.

Interromper is often temporary (a pause). Abortar is usually permanent.

Interrompemos para o comercial. Abortamos o experimento.

abortar vs fracassar

Both relate to failure.

Fracassar is the result (to fail). Abortar is the action taken to stop (to abort).

O plano fracassou. O capitão abortou o plano.

Sentence Patterns

Eu vou [verb] a [noun].

Eu vou abortar a missão.

Eles decidiram [verb] o [noun].

Eles decidiram abortar o projeto.

A [noun] foi [verb] devido a [reason].

A decolagem foi abortada devido ao clima.

Se [subject] [verb-subjunctive], o resultado será [noun].

Se o sistema abortar, o resultado será uma falha crítica.

Diante de [noun], não restou alternativa senão [verb].

Diante da crise, não restou alternativa senão abortar a fusão.

O ato de [verb] implica uma [noun] de [noun].

O ato de abortar implica uma interrupção de um ciclo vital.

Espero que você não [verb-subjunctive].

Espero que você não aborte seus sonhos.

Você precisa [verb] agora!

Você precisa abortar agora!

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in technical, medical, and dramatic contexts; moderately common in casual speech as a metaphor.

Common Mistakes

Eu abortei o jantar amanhã. → Eu cancelei o jantar de amanhã.
You can't abort something that hasn't started. Use 'cancelar' for future events.
Ele abortou da missão. → Ele abortou a missão.
The verb 'abortar' is direct transitive; it does not take the preposition 'de'.
O plano se abortou. → O plano foi abortado.
The reflexive form is rare. Use the passive voice with 'ser' instead.
Eu abordo o lançamento. → Eu aborto o lançamento.
Confusing 'abordar' (to approach) with 'abortar' (to abort).
A missão abortou. → A missão foi abortada.
While sometimes used intransitively, it is much more common and clearer to use the passive voice.

Tips

Think Like a Pilot

Use 'abortar' when the situation feels high-stakes or like a 'mission'. It adds more impact than simply saying 'cancelar'.

Direct Action

Remember that 'abortar' takes a direct object. You abort 'something'. No need for extra prepositions like 'de' or 'com'.

Sensitivity Matters

When discussing health, 'interrupção da gravidez' is often used in formal Portuguese to sound more professional and less blunt.

Casual Abort

If a plan with friends is failing, say 'Gente, vamos abortar?'. It's a very natural way to suggest giving up on the current plan.

IT Context

If you are a programmer, 'abortar' is the perfect word for when a process crashes or is manually stopped.

Safety First

In aviation, 'abortar a decolagem' is a specific safety procedure. Use it when talking about planes and safety.

Expand Your Synonyms

Don't over-rely on 'abortar'. Use 'interromper' for pauses and 'cancelar' for future events to sound more native.

The Final R

In Portugal, make the final 'r' a tap. In Brazil, it can be a soft 'h' sound. Both are correct, but don't drop it entirely!

Metaphorical Seeds

In books, you might see 'abortar' used for plants that don't grow or dreams that don't come true. It's a poetic way to describe failure.

Legal Rights

When reading about laws, 'descriminalização do aborto' is the standard phrase for the legal movement to make it legal.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A-BORT-AR'. 'A' for 'Away', 'BORT' sounds like 'Birth' or 'Board'. You are going 'Away' from the 'Birth' or 'Boarding' (decolagem).

Visual Association

Visualize a red 'ABORT' button on a spaceship console. In Portuguese, the button would say 'ABORTAR'.

Word Web

Missão Gravidez Plano Projeto Decolagem Sistema Falha Interrupção

Challenge

Try to use 'abortar' in three different ways today: once for a computer problem, once for a social plan, and once in a sentence about a movie.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'abortare', which is the frequentative form of 'aboriri' (to perish, to set, to fail).

Original meaning: To miscarry, to fail to be born, or to set (as in the sun).

Romance (Latin-derived).

Cultural Context

Be extremely careful using this word in medical contexts. It is a highly sensitive topic. In casual conversation, stick to the figurative 'abortar a missão'.

English speakers use 'abort' similarly in tech and aviation, but Portuguese speakers use 'abortar' more frequently as a synonym for 'giving up' on a task.

The phrase 'Aborte a missão' appears in almost every dubbed Hollywood action movie in Brazil. Political slogans like 'Nem presa, nem morta' (Neither imprisoned nor dead) are common in Brazilian debates about the right to abort. Technical manuals for Brazilian-made Embraer aircraft use 'abortar a decolagem' as a standard safety term.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Aviation

Abortar a decolagem
Procedimento de abortar
Decisão de abortar
Abortar o pouso

Medical

Abortar naturalmente
Direito de abortar
Abortar com segurança
Risco de abortar

Computing

Abortar a tarefa
O sistema abortou
Abortar o download
Comando para abortar

Business

Abortar a fusão
Abortar o investimento
Abortar a estratégia
Abortar o contrato

Social/Informal

Abortar a missão
Vamos abortar?
Melhor abortar
Aborta tudo!

Conversation Starters

"Você já teve que abortar um projeto importante no trabalho?"

"O que faz um piloto decidir abortar uma decolagem?"

"Você acha que é melhor abortar um plano ruim ou tentar consertá-lo?"

"Quando foi a última vez que você decidiu 'abortar a missão' em uma festa?"

"Como a tecnologia ajuda a abortar erros antes que eles aconteçam?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve que abortar um plano de viagem no último minuto. O que aconteceu?

Reflita sobre a importância de saber quando abortar um projeto que não está funcionando.

Descreva uma cena de filme onde o herói precisa abortar uma missão perigosa.

Como você se sente quando um sistema de computador aborta uma tarefa que você estava fazendo?

Discuta a diferença entre cancelar um compromisso e abortar um processo em andamento.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. While it is the primary medical meaning, it is very commonly used in aviation, computing, and everyday slang to mean stopping any process or plan that has already started.

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb. It follows the same conjugation rules as 'falar' or 'trabalhar' in all tenses.

Only if the meeting is currently happening and you decide to end it abruptly because of a problem. If the meeting hasn't started yet, use 'cancelar'.

The most common and sensitive way is 'aborto espontâneo' or 'perder o bebê'. The verb is 'abortar naturalmente'.

Yes, it is a very popular informal phrase used when someone decides to give up on a plan, like going to a party or finishing a difficult task.

They are very different! 'Abortar' means to stop/abort. 'Abordar' means to approach someone or to board a vessel/topic. Don't mix them up!

In a medical context, it is a clinical term, but because the topic is controversial, it should be used with care. In technical or slang contexts, it is not offensive at all.

Usually, we say 'o sistema abortou a operação' (active) or 'a operação foi abortada' (passive). Using it reflexively ('o sistema se abortou') is uncommon.

The noun is 'o aborto'. In technical medical settings, 'o abortamento' is also used.

For 'você', it is 'aborte'. For 'tu', it is 'aborta'. In Brazil, 'aborta' is often used even for 'você' in informal speech.