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A2 verb 6 min read

acovardar

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips acovardar in 30 Seconds
Explanation acovardar in your Level:
At the A1 level, you usually learn basic emotions like 'medo' (fear). The word 'acovardar' might be too complex for a beginner, but you can understand it as the action of 'making someone afraid'. Think of it as 'to make a coward'. You might see it in simple stories where a big animal scares a small one. It is important to know that it comes from 'covarde' (coward), a word you might learn early on. At this stage, focus on the idea that this verb is about losing your bravery. You won't use it often, but recognizing the root 'covard-' helps you connect it to the English 'coward'. It is a regular verb, so it follows the same patterns as 'falar' or 'estudar'. If you see 'Ele se acovardou', just think 'He became a coward'.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to use more descriptive verbs. 'Acovardar' is useful when you want to describe why someone didn't do something they were supposed to do. You will mostly use the reflexive form 'acovardar-se'. For example, 'Eu me acovardei e não falei com ela' (I chickened out and didn't talk to her). This level is where you begin to distinguish between just being afraid ('ter medo') and the action of losing your nerve ('acovardar-se'). You should practice the past tense, as this word is very common when telling stories about things that happened. It is a great word to add variety to your speaking, moving beyond basic A1 vocabulary. You can use it to talk about sports, school challenges, or social situations where someone felt intimidated.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'acovardar' in both its transitive and reflexive forms. You can use it to discuss more abstract concepts, like being intimidated by a difficult exam or a new job. You should also start to notice the word in news articles or more complex books. At this stage, you can compare 'acovardar' with synonyms like 'intimidar' or 'amedrontar'. You might use it in the conditional tense to talk about hypothetical situations: 'Eu não me acovardaria se estivesse no seu lugar' (I wouldn't chicken out if I were in your place). This word helps you express character traits and moral decisions more clearly in your Portuguese conversations and writing assignments. It adds a layer of sophistication to your descriptions of people's behavior under pressure.
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At the B2 level, you understand the social and moral weight of the word 'acovardar'. You can use it to critique political figures, social movements, or literary characters. You are aware that calling someone 'acovardado' is a strong statement about their lack of integrity or courage. You can use the word in the subjunctive mood to express desires or doubts: 'Duvido que ele se acovarde diante do juiz' (I doubt he will back down before the judge). You also begin to recognize the word in idiomatic contexts or in more formal speeches. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the difference between physical fear and the moral failure of 'acovardamento'. You can participate in debates about courage and use this verb to describe the opposite of 'enfrentar' (to face/confront).
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At the C1 level, your use of 'acovardar' is nuanced and precise. You can use it to describe subtle psychological states in creative writing or academic analysis. You understand how the word functions in various registers, from formal legal warnings to informal social jabs. You can explore the etymology and use the word to create specific tones in your discourse. For instance, you might use it to describe a market's reaction to economic instability ('O mercado se acovardou diante da inflação'). You are also familiar with related nouns like 'acovardamento' and can use them fluently. Your mastery allows you to use the word ironically or metaphorically in complex discussions about human nature, philosophy, or history. You can discuss the nuances between 'acovardar-se' and 'sucumbir' (to succumb).
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At the C2 level, 'acovardar' is a tool for precise expression in any context. You can use it in high-level literary analysis, complex legal arguments, or philosophical treatises. You are aware of its historical usage in Portuguese literature and how its meaning has evolved or stayed consistent. You can use the word to articulate very specific types of surrender or intimidation that other words cannot capture. Your command of the language allows you to use 'acovardar' in complex sentence structures with perfect grammatical accuracy, including rare tenses or literary constructions. You can distinguish between the 'acovardamento' of an individual and the collective 'acovardamento' of a society. At this level, you can also teach others the deep cultural implications of the word and its role in the Portuguese-speaking world's concept of honor and bravery.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

acovardar in 30 Seconds

  • To intimidate or lose courage.
  • Often used as 'acovardar-se' (to chicken out).
  • Derived from 'covarde' (coward).
  • Common in sports, politics, and literature.
The Portuguese verb acovardar is a fascinating term rooted in the concept of fear and the loss of courage. At its core, it means to intimidate someone or to cause them to lose their bravery. However, it is most frequently used in its pronominal form, acovardar-se, which translates to 'to become a coward' or 'to chicken out' in English. This word is not just about a momentary fright; it describes a psychological shift where a person allows fear to dictate their actions or, more often, their lack of action. In Portuguese culture, where 'coragem' (courage) is highly valued in social and historical contexts, using the word acovardar carries a significant weight. It implies a retreat from duty, a failure to stand up for oneself, or a buckling under pressure.
Transitive Usage
When used transitively, it means the subject is actively making someone else feel afraid or small. For example, a bully might 'acovardar' a classmate. It is the act of stripping away another person's resolve.
Pronominal Usage (Reflexive)
This is the most common form. 'Acovardar-se' happens internally. It is the moment you decide not to take a risk because you are scared. It is often used in political or social critiques to describe leaders who fail to act decisively.

O soldado prometeu que jamais iria se acovardar no campo de batalha, independentemente do perigo.

As ameaças do chefe serviram apenas para acovardar os funcionários novos.

Contextual Nuance
While 'medo' (fear) is a natural emotion, 'acovardar' implies a moral or character-based surrender. It is often used in literature to highlight a character's weakness or a turning point where they fail a test of will. It is less about the jump-scare in a horror movie and more about the choice to stay silent when one should speak up.

Não se deixe acovardar pelas dificuldades da vida; enfrente-as com a cabeça erguida.

O time se acovardou no segundo tempo e acabou sofrendo o empate.

Using acovardar correctly requires understanding its conjugation as a regular '-ar' verb and its tendency to be reflexive. When you want to say someone 'chickened out', you must use the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, se). For example, 'Eu me acovardei' (I chickened out). If you are using it to describe an external force making someone afraid, it functions as a standard transitive verb: 'A escuridão acovarda os pequenos' (The darkness intimidates the little ones).
Grammar Focus: Reflexive Pronouns
Remember that in Brazilian Portuguese, the pronoun often comes before the verb (Ele se acovardou), whereas in European Portuguese, it often follows the verb with a hyphen (Ele acovardou-se), especially in formal writing.

Nós não nos vamos acovardar diante de injustiças sociais.

O rugido do leão costuma acovardar qualquer outro animal na savana.

Tense Variations
In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), it often describes a specific moment of failure: 'Na hora H, ele se acovardou' (At the crucial moment, he lost his nerve). In the future, it serves as an exhortation: 'Você não se acovardará!' (You will not back down!).

Se você se acovardar agora, perderá a única chance de vencer o torneio.

A magnitude do projeto acabou por acovardar os investidores menos experientes.

You will encounter acovardar in various settings, ranging from formal literature to intense sports debates. In Brazilian news, it is frequently used in political commentary to describe a lack of political will or the fear of taking unpopular but necessary measures. In historical documentaries, it describes the actions of groups or individuals during conflicts.
In Literature and Film
Authors like Machado de Assis or Jorge Amado might use this word to describe the psychological state of a protagonist facing a moral dilemma. In dubbed movies, 'Don't chicken out!' is often translated as 'Não se acovarde!'.

No clássico da literatura, o herói quase se acovarda antes de enfrentar o dragão.

In Daily Life
While not as common as 'ter medo' in casual conversation, it is used when the speaker wants to emphasize the 'cowardice' aspect. If a friend is afraid to jump into a pool, you might jokingly say 'Não se acovarde, a água está ótima!'.

O jornalista criticou o governo por se acovardar diante das grandes corporações.

Muitos jovens se acovardam na hora de declarar seu amor por alguém.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with acovardar is forgetting that it is primarily a reflexive verb when describing someone's internal state. Saying 'Ele acovardou' is technically possible in some dialects but often sounds incomplete; 'Ele se acovardou' is the standard and more natural way to express that he became afraid.
Confusion with 'Amedrontar'
While similar, 'amedrontar' focuses more on the feeling of fear itself, while 'acovardar' focuses on the result of that fear: the lack of courage or the act of becoming a coward. You 'amedronta' a child with a story, but a soldier 'se acovarda' in battle.

Erro comum: 'Eu acovardei de pular.' Correto: 'Eu me acovardei e não pulei.'

Spelling Slip-ups
Learners sometimes spell it 'acovardar' with a 'u' (acuvardar) because of the English 'coward', but in Portuguese, it consistently uses 'o' from 'covarde'.

Não confunda: acovardar (verb) com covarde (adjective/noun).

Cuidado para não usar 'acovardar' quando você apenas quer dizer que alguém está com um pouco de susto; é uma palavra forte.

To expand your vocabulary, it is essential to know words that orbit the meaning of acovardar. Depending on the intensity and context, you might choose a different verb.
Intimidar
More common in professional or legal contexts. It means to make someone feel small or fearful through threats or power. 'O advogado tentou intimidar a testemunha.'
Amedrontar
Directly related to 'medo' (fear). It is the act of causing fear. 'O trovão amedronta o cachorro.'

Enquanto acovardar implica uma falha de caráter, amedrontar é uma reação emocional mais simples.

Recuar
A more neutral word meaning 'to retreat' or 'to step back'. It can be a strategic move, whereas 'acovardar-se' is always seen as negative.

Ele não recuou, mas também não se acovardou perante o perigo evidente.

A diferença entre ser cauteloso e se acovardar é muito tênue em situações de alto risco.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"O réu não se acovardou perante as perguntas do promotor."

Neutral

"Ela se acovardou e não fez a apresentação."

Informal

"Ele se acovardou todo quando viu o tamanho do cara."

Child friendly

"Não precisa se acovardar, o escuro não faz mal."

Slang

"Ele amarelou e se acovardou na frente da galera."

Fun Fact

The word literally describes the action of 'making someone turn tail'. It's a visual metaphor from the animal kingdom applied to human behavior.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɐ.ku.vɐɾ.ˈdaɾ/
US /a.ko.vaɾ.ˈdaʁ/
The stress is on the final syllable '-dar'.
Rhymes With
acordar guardar tardar estudar falar cantar olhar andar
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing the 'o' like 'u' (acuvardar) due to English influence.
  • Missing the reflexive pronoun 'se' when needed.
  • Stress on the wrong syllable (e.g., a-CO-vardar).
  • Confusing the 'v' with a 'b' sound (common for Spanish speakers).
  • Dropping the final 'r' in casual speech without adjusting the vowel quality.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The word is recognizable due to its root, but its reflexive nature can be tricky for beginners.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct placement of reflexive pronouns and knowledge of '-ar' verb endings.

Speaking 4/5

The 'v' sound and the final 'r' require practice for non-native speakers.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation usually makes it easy to catch in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

medo covarde coragem falar se

Learn Next

amedrontar intimidar sucumbir enfrentar desafiar

Advanced

pusilanimidade temeridade estremecer vacilar soçobrar

Grammar to Know

Reflexive Verb Pronoun Placement

Ele **se** acovardou (BR) vs Acovardou-**se** (PT).

Future Subjunctive Formation

Se você se **acovardar**, perderá.

Imperfect Subjunctive Formation

Se ele se **acovardasse**, seria triste.

Transitive vs. Intransitive (Reflexive)

O medo **acovarda** (Transitive) vs. Ele **se acovarda** (Reflexive).

Gerund Usage

Ele está **se acovardando**.

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Examples by Level

1

O gato grande faz o pequeno se acovardar.

The big cat makes the small one get scared/chicken out.

Uses 'fazer' + infinitive 'acovardar'.

2

Não se acovarde, é só um cachorro!

Don't be a coward, it's just a dog!

Imperative form 'não se acovarde'.

3

Ele se acovarda quando vê a chuva.

He gets scared/chickens out when he sees the rain.

Present tense reflexive 'se acovarda'.

4

Eu me acovardei na frente do professor.

I chickened out in front of the teacher.

Pretérito Perfeito 'me acovardei'.

5

O escuro pode acovardar as crianças.

The dark can intimidate the children.

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.

6

Você vai se acovardar agora?

Are you going to chicken out now?

Future with 'ir' + 'se acovardar'.

7

Ninguém quer se acovardar.

Nobody wants to chicken out.

'Querer' + 'se acovardar'.

8

Ela nunca se acovarda.

She never chickens out.

Adverb 'nunca' + reflexive verb.

1

Eu me acovardei e não pulei na piscina fria.

I chickened out and didn't jump into the cold pool.

Reflexive past tense 'me acovardei'.

2

O barulho alto acovardou o passarinho.

The loud noise intimidated the little bird.

Transitive past tense 'acovardou'.

3

Eles se acovardam sempre que precisam falar em público.

They chicken out whenever they need to speak in public.

Present tense plural 'se acovardam'.

4

Não deixe o medo te acovardar.

Don't let fear intimidate you.

Imperative 'deixe' + object 'te' + infinitive.

5

Nós nos acovardamos diante daquela montanha russa.

We chickened out before that roller coaster.

Pretérito Perfeito 'nos acovardamos'.

6

Se você se acovardar, não vai ganhar o prêmio.

If you chicken out, you won't win the prize.

Conditional 'se' + future subjunctive 'se acovardar'.

7

A tempestade acovarda até os marinheiros mais corajosos.

The storm intimidates even the bravest sailors.

Present tense transitive 'acovarda'.

8

Ela se acovardou na hora de pedir o aumento.

She chickened out when it was time to ask for the raise.

Pretérito Perfeito 'se acovardou'.

1

Muitos se acovardam diante da pressão do grupo.

Many chicken out under peer pressure.

Reflexive present tense.

2

O exército inimigo tentou acovardar a população local.

The enemy army tried to intimidate the local population.

Infinitive after 'tentou'.

3

Eu esperava que ele não se acovardasse naquele momento crítico.

I hoped he wouldn't chicken out at that critical moment.

Imperfect Subjunctive 'se acovardasse'.

4

As dificuldades financeiras podem acovardar os novos empreendedores.

Financial difficulties can intimidate new entrepreneurs.

Transitive use with modal 'podem'.

5

Sempre que ele vê um desafio, ele acaba se acovardando.

Whenever he sees a challenge, he ends up chickening out.

Gerund 'acovardando' after 'acaba'.

6

Não é vergonha se acovardar às vezes, mas é preciso tentar de novo.

It's no shame to chicken out sometimes, but you need to try again.

Infinitive as a subject/complement.

7

O discurso do líder serviu para acovardar os oponentes.

The leader's speech served to intimidate the opponents.

Infinitive after 'serviu para'.

8

Se nós nos acovardarmos, perderemos nossa liberdade.

If we chicken out, we will lose our freedom.

Future Subjunctive 'nos acovardarmos'.

1

O governo foi acusado de se acovardar perante as ameaças externas.

The government was accused of backing down before external threats.

Reflexive infinitive in a passive construction.

2

A complexidade do problema não deve acovardar os pesquisadores.

The complexity of the problem should not intimidate the researchers.

Transitive use with 'deve'.

3

Ele se acovardou miseravelmente quando teve que assumir a responsabilidade.

He chickened out miserably when he had to take responsibility.

Pretérito Perfeito with adverb 'miseravelmente'.

4

É fundamental que a justiça não se acovarde diante do poder econômico.

It is fundamental that justice does not back down before economic power.

Present Subjunctive 'se acovarde'.

5

Muitas empresas se acovardam e não investem em inovação por medo do risco.

Many companies chicken out and don't invest in innovation for fear of risk.

Reflexive present tense plural.

6

Ameaças anônimas costumam acovardar aqueles que buscam a verdade.

Anonymous threats usually intimidate those who seek the truth.

Transitive usage with 'costumam'.

7

Ao se acovardar, ele perdeu o respeito de todos os seus colegas.

By chickening out, he lost the respect of all his colleagues.

Gerundial construction 'ao' + infinitive.

8

Não permitiremos que ninguém venha nos acovardar em nossa própria casa.

We will not allow anyone to come and intimidate us in our own home.

Subjunctive 'venha' + infinitive.

1

A retórica agressiva do ditador visava acovardar qualquer dissidência política.

The dictator's aggressive rhetoric aimed to intimidate any political dissent.

Imperfect tense 'visava' + infinitive.

2

Houve um acovardamento generalizado da imprensa durante o regime autoritário.

There was a widespread 'chickening out' of the press during the authoritarian regime.

Noun form 'acovardamento' used here for context.

3

Seria lamentável que a academia se acovardasse diante de dogmas religiosos.

It would be regrettable if academia backed down before religious dogmas.

Conditional 'seria' + imperfect subjunctive 'se acovardasse'.

4

O mercado financeiro costuma se acovardar ao menor sinal de instabilidade política.

The financial market usually chickens out at the slightest sign of political instability.

Reflexive infinitive with 'costuma'.

5

A magnitude da tragédia acovardou até os socorristas mais experientes.

The magnitude of the tragedy intimidated even the most experienced rescuers.

Transitive past tense.

6

Não se pode permitir que o medo do fracasso venha a acovardar o espírito criativo.

One cannot allow the fear of failure to intimidate the creative spirit.

Passive 'pode-se' + 'venha a' + infinitive.

7

Ele se acovardou na defesa de seus princípios para manter o cargo.

He backed down in the defense of his principles to keep his position.

Reflexive past tense with prepositional phrase.

8

A estratégia do silêncio serve muitas vezes para acovardar o oponente na negociação.

The strategy of silence often serves to intimidate the opponent in a negotiation.

Infinitive after 'serve para'.

1

A pusilanimidade do conselho em se acovardar diante do escândalo foi sua ruína.

The council's pusillanimity in backing down before the scandal was its ruin.

Reflexive infinitive as part of a complex noun phrase.

2

O processo de acovardamento moral é frequentemente lento e imperceptível.

The process of moral intimidation/weakening is often slow and imperceptible.

Noun context related to the verb.

3

Raros são os que não se acovardam quando confrontados com o abismo da existência.

Rare are those who do not chicken out when confronted with the abyss of existence.

Relative clause with negative reflexive verb.

4

A dialética do medo busca acovardar o intelecto para que este aceite a servidão.

The dialectic of fear seeks to intimidate the intellect so that it accepts servitude.

Transitive infinitive in a philosophical context.

5

Ainda que o mundo se acovarde, eu permanecerei firme em minha verdade.

Even if the world chickens out, I will remain firm in my truth.

Concessive 'ainda que' + present subjunctive 'se acovarde'.

6

O historiador notou como a elite se acovardara durante as invasões bárbaras.

The historian noted how the elite had chickened out during the barbarian invasions.

Pluperfect 'acovardara' (literary form).

7

Não permitas que a sombra da dúvida venha a acovardar tua vontade soberana.

Do not allow the shadow of doubt to intimidate your sovereign will.

Archaic/Literary imperative 'não permitas'.

8

A arte tem o poder de confrontar o que nos tenta acovardar diariamente.

Art has the power to confront what tries to intimidate us daily.

Infinitive after 'tenta'.

Common Collocations

acovardar-se diante de
acovardar o inimigo
não se acovardar
acovardar os oponentes
sentir-se acovardado
acovardar o povo
acovardar-se na hora H
tentativa de acovardar
acovardar a alma
acovardar os subordinados

Common Phrases

Não se acovarde!

— Don't chicken out! A common encouragement.

Vai lá, você consegue. Não se acovarde!

Acovardou-se feio.

— He chickened out badly/shamefully.

Ele prometeu ajudar, mas acovardou-se feio.

Sem se acovardar.

— Without backing down or being afraid.

Enfrentou o problema sem se acovardar.

Acovardar-se perante o destino.

— To give up or lose courage regarding one's fate.

Não podemos nos acovardar perante o destino.

Acovardar os mais fracos.

— To bully or intimidate those who are weaker.

É fácil acovardar os mais fracos.

Na hora de agir, se acovardou.

— When it was time to act, he lost his nerve.

Ele tinha o plano, mas na hora de agir, se acovardou.

Não se deixe acovardar.

— Don't let yourself be intimidated.

Mantenha sua posição, não se deixe acovardar.

Acovardar-se por nada.

— To get scared or back down for no reason.

Você está se acovardando por nada, o exame é fácil.

Um gesto para acovardar.

— An action intended to intimidate.

Aquele olhar foi um gesto para acovardar.

Acovardado pelo medo.

— Paralyzed or made cowardly by fear.

Ele ficou acovardado pelo medo de falhar.

Often Confused With

acovardar vs amedrontar

Amedrontar is just the feeling of fear; acovardar is the loss of courage/character.

acovardar vs assustar

Assustar is a sudden shock (to scare); acovardar is a lasting state of being a coward.

acovardar vs recuar

Recuar is a physical or strategic movement back; acovardar is a moral or emotional retreat.

Idioms & Expressions

"amarelar"

— To turn yellow; the most common slang for chickening out.

Ele ia pular de paraquedas, mas amarelou.

informal
"dar para trás"

— To back out of a deal or a challenge.

Combinamos tudo, mas ele deu para trás.

informal
"enfiar o rabo entre as pernas"

— To put the tail between the legs; to retreat in shame or fear.

Depois da bronca, ele enfiou o rabo entre as pernas.

informal
"perder o rebolado"

— To lose one's composure or nerve.

Diante da pergunta, ele perdeu o rebolado.

informal
"tremer nas bases"

— To shake at the foundations; to be very afraid.

Ele tremeu nas bases quando viu o tamanho do desafio.

informal
"fugir da raia"

— To flee the arena; to avoid a confrontation or duty.

Não fuja da raia agora que precisamos de você.

informal
"ficar com o pé atrás"

— To be hesitant or suspicious (often out of fear).

Fiquei com o pé atrás depois daquela ameaça.

informal
"cair o queixo"

— Usually surprise, but can be shock that leads to inaction.

O susto foi tanto que meu queixo caiu e me acovardei.

informal
"bater em retirada"

— To beat a retreat; to run away.

Eles bateram em retirada assim que a polícia chegou.

neutral
"perder a estribeira"

— To lose control or nerve.

Ele perdeu a estribeira e acabou se acovardando.

informal

Easily Confused

acovardar vs covarde

It's the adjective/noun form.

Acovardar is the action; covarde is the person or the quality.

Ele é um covarde (He is a coward) vs Ele se acovardou (He chickened out).

acovardar vs covardia

It's the noun for the concept.

Covardia is the state of being a coward; acovardar is the process of becoming one.

Que covardia! (What cowardice!)

acovardar vs acordar

Similar spelling.

Acordar means 'to wake up' or 'to agree'. It has nothing to do with fear.

Eu acordo cedo (I wake up early).

acovardar vs guardar

Similar ending.

Guardar means 'to keep' or 'to save'.

Vou guardar o dinheiro.

acovardar vs acovardado

It's the past participle.

It acts as an adjective meaning 'intimidated'.

Ele parecia acovardado.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Não se [verb]!

Não se acovarde!

A2

Eu me [verb] porque...

Eu me acovardei porque o mar estava forte.

B1

Sempre que [subject] [verb]...

Sempre que ele vê o chefe, ele se acovarda.

B1

[Subject] tentou [verb] [object].

O ladrão tentou acovardar a vítima.

B2

É necessário que não se [verb].

É necessário que não se acovarde diante do juiz.

B2

Ao se [verb], [result].

Ao se acovardar, ele perdeu a oportunidade.

C1

Ainda que se [verb], [subject] [verb].

Ainda que o mundo se acovarde, eu lutarei.

C2

O [noun] de [subject] foi evidente.

O acovardamento de Pedro foi evidente.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

Related

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How to Use It

frequency

Medium; common in specific domains like sports and politics.

Common Mistakes
  • Eu acovardei. → Eu me acovardei.

    In Portuguese, verbs describing a change in emotional or mental state are usually reflexive.

  • Ele acuvardou. → Ele acovardou.

    The root is 'covarde', which uses an 'o', not a 'u'.

  • Não se acovarda! → Não se acovarde!

    The imperative for '-ar' verbs ends in '-e'.

  • O medo se acovardou ele. → O medo o acovardou.

    When the verb is transitive (fear intimidating him), you don't use 'se'; you use the object pronoun 'o'.

  • Ele é acovardar. → Ele é covarde.

    Don't use the infinitive verb where an adjective is needed.

Tips

The Coward Connection

Just remember 'A-COWARD-AR'. If you know the English word 'coward', you already know 80% of this Portuguese verb.

Reflexive Mastery

Always pair it with 'me, te, se, nos' when talking about someone losing their nerve. 'Ele se acovardou' is the gold standard.

Usage in Sports

Listen to Brazilian football narrators. When a team stops attacking, they often say they 'se acovardaram'. It's a great place to hear the word.

Beyond 'Medo'

Stop saying 'Ele teve medo'. Start saying 'Ele se acovardou' to sound more like a native and express a deeper meaning.

Formal Writing

In formal Portuguese, place the 'se' after the verb: 'acovardou-se'. It looks much more professional.

The Final R

In Brazil, the final 'R' in 'acovardar' is often silent or a soft breath. Focus on the 'DA' syllable.

Context Clues

If you hear 'covard-', you know it's about fear or cowardice. The rest of the word tells you if it's a person, an action, or a quality.

Daily Challenge

Think of one thing you were afraid to do today and say: 'Eu não me acovardei!'

Slang Alternative

Use 'amarelar' with friends, but keep 'acovardar' for more serious or general situations.

Spelling Check

It's 'acOvardar', not 'acUvardar'. Don't let the English 'coward' spelling trick you into using a 'u'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A COWARD'. The word 'A-COVARD-AR' literally contains the word coward in the middle. 'A' (to) + 'COVARD' (coward) + 'AR' (verb ending) = To make a coward.

Visual Association

Imagine a dog with its tail between its legs (the origin of the word). Whenever you say 'acovardar', visualize that dog retreating from a challenge.

Word Web

medo covarde coragem intimidar recuar enfrentar pavor bravura

Challenge

Try to use 'acovardar-se' in a sentence about a time you were afraid to try a new food or a new activity.

Word Origin

From the Portuguese word 'covarde' (coward), which comes from the Old French 'couard'.

Original meaning: Derived from 'cauda' (tail), referring to an animal that puts its tail between its legs when afraid.

Romance (Latin root 'cauda').

Cultural Context

Calling someone 'acovardado' is a direct attack on their character. Use it only when you intend to be very critical or in a safe, joking context with close friends.

In English, we often use 'chicken out' or 'back down', which are less formal than 'acovardar'. 'Intimidate' is the closest formal equivalent.

Machado de Assis uses the theme of moral acovardamento in several of his short stories. In the Brazilian anthem, there is a focus on not fearing death ('não teme... a própria morte'), the opposite of acovardar. The phrase 'O Brasil não se acovarda' is a common political slogan.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Sports

  • O time se acovardou.
  • Não podemos nos acovardar no ataque.
  • Ele se acovardou na hora do pênalti.
  • O técnico pediu para não se acovardarem.

Politics

  • O governo se acovardou diante da crise.
  • Não se acovarde perante as ameaças.
  • O acovardamento das instituições.
  • A oposição tentou acovardar o ministro.

Personal Growth

  • Não se acovarde diante dos seus sonhos.
  • Eu me acovardei, mas vou tentar de novo.
  • Vença o medo que te acovarda.
  • É normal se acovardar às vezes.

History/Conflict

  • O exército se acovardou.
  • Eles não se acovardaram diante da invasão.
  • A população foi acovardada pela violência.
  • Lutar sem se acovardar.

Daily Social Life

  • Você vai se acovardar agora?
  • Ele se acovardou e não pediu o telefone dela.
  • Não se deixe acovardar por comentários.
  • A gente se acovardou de entrar na casa mal-assombrada.

Conversation Starters

"Você já se acovardou em uma situação importante?"

"O que você faz para não se acovardar diante de um desafio?"

"Você acha que as pessoas se acovardam mais hoje em dia do que no passado?"

"É possível acovardar alguém sem usar palavras?"

"Qual é a melhor maneira de ajudar alguém que se acovardou?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma vez que você se acovardou e o que aprendeu com isso.

Como a sociedade tenta acovardar as pessoas que pensam diferente?

Descreva uma situação em que você não se acovardou, apesar de estar com muito medo.

O que significa, para você, a palavra 'acovardar' no contexto da coragem moral?

Pense em um personagem de livro que se acovardou. Como isso mudou a história?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is moderately common. People usually use 'ter medo' for simple fear, but 'acovardar-se' or 'amarelar' are used when someone specifically fails to do something because they are scared.

'Intimidar' is usually something someone does to you (transitive), while 'acovardar-se' is something you do to yourself by giving in to fear (reflexive).

Yes, you can say 'O barulho acovardou o cão' (The noise intimidated the dog).

Yes, it follows the regular '-ar' conjugation pattern (eu acovardo, tu acovardas, ele acovarda, etc.).

The most direct translation is 'Não se acovarde!' or the slang 'Não amarela!'

It can be. Calling someone 'acovardado' suggests they lack courage, which is often a sensitive topic.

The noun form is 'acovardamento', though 'covardia' is much more common to describe the general concept.

Yes, for example: 'A empresa se acovardou diante da concorrência' (The company chickened out before the competition).

'Eu me acovardei'.

Not always. Use 'se' if the person is becoming a coward. Don't use 'se' if they are making someone else a coward.

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Test Yourself 30 questions

writing

Write a sentence using 'acovardar-se' in the past tense.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
writing

Translate: 'Don't let the storm intimidate you.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
speaking

Pronounce: 'acovardar-se'. Pay attention to the 'v' and 'dar'.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
listening

Listen to the sentence: 'Não se acovarde diante da vida.' What is the advice?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
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/ 30 correct

Perfect score!

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