This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 adjective 10 min read

chocante

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips chocante in 30 Seconds

Explanation chocante in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'chocante' as a simple way to describe something very surprising. Think of it as a step above 'muito diferente' (very different) or 'muito novo' (very new). You will mostly use it to describe colors like 'rosa-choque' (shocking pink) or to react to simple, surprising news. At this stage, focus on the fact that it doesn't change for boys or girls (masculine or feminine). If you see a bright neon shirt, you can say 'A cor é chocante'. If a friend tells you they are moving to Brazil tomorrow, you can say 'Isso é chocante!'. It is a useful 'reaction word' to have in your vocabulary to show that you are engaged in a conversation and understanding the weight of what is being said. Avoid complex grammar; just use it with 'é' (it is) or 'foi' (it was).

At the A2 level, you can start using 'chocante' to describe more varied situations, such as news stories or movie endings. You should be comfortable using the plural form 'chocantes'. You are beginning to understand that 'chocante' is often used for things that are a bit negative or 'too much'. For example, 'O preço é chocante' (The price is shocking). You should also distinguish between the thing that is shocking ('a notícia é chocante') and how you feel ('eu estou chocado'). This is a great level to practice using 'chocante' with the verb 'achar' (to find/think). For example: 'Eu achei o filme chocante' (I found the movie shocking). You are moving beyond simple reactions and starting to express your opinion about why something was impactful.

At the B1 level, you should use 'chocante' to discuss social issues, current events, and more complex narratives. You can use it to describe 'revelações chocantes' (shocking revelations) in a story or 'estatísticas chocantes' (shocking statistics) in a presentation. At this stage, you should be able to explain *why* something is shocking using connectors like 'porque' or 'visto que'. You will also start encountering the word in more formal contexts, such as newspaper articles or documentaries. You should understand the nuance that 'chocante' can be a way to express moral disapproval. For example, 'O comportamento dele foi chocante' implies that what he did was not just surprising, but also wrong according to social standards. You are now using the word to navigate social norms and values.

At the B2 level, you should be able to use 'chocante' and its synonyms with precision. You should know when to use 'chocante' versus 'estarrecedor' (appalling) or 'impactante' (impactful). You can use 'chocante' in more complex sentence structures, such as 'O que eu acho mais chocante é que...' (What I find most shocking is that...). You should also be aware of the word's use in different registers, from the sensationalism of tabloid journalism to the descriptive nature of art criticism. At this level, you can use 'chocante' to discuss the intent of an author or director to provoke the audience. You are not just reacting to shock; you are analyzing it and discussing its causes and effects on society or the individual.

At the C1 level, your use of 'chocante' should reflect a deep understanding of its emotional and social weight. You might use it to describe 'contrastes chocantes' in urban development or 'negligência chocante' in a legal case. You should be comfortable using it in academic or professional settings to emphasize a point that requires urgent attention. At this level, you also understand the historical or cultural context of what makes something 'chocante' in a Portuguese-speaking country versus your own. You can use the word to engage in sophisticated debates about ethics, aesthetics, and politics, using it as a tool to highlight injustices or radical changes in thought. Your vocabulary also includes related terms like 'choque cultural' (culture shock) and 'contraproducente' (counterproductive) to round out your arguments.

At the C2 level, 'chocante' is just one of many tools in your highly nuanced vocabulary. You use it with total native-like fluency, often employing it in ironic or highly stylized ways. You can discuss the 'estética do chocante' (the aesthetics of the shocking) in postmodern art or the 'efeito chocante' of a specific rhetorical device. You understand the subtle difference in how the word might be received in a formal speech in Lisbon versus a casual conversation in Rio de Janeiro. You are capable of using the word to write compelling editorials, deep psychological analyses, or complex literary works. For you, 'chocante' is not just a description of surprise, but a precisely calibrated term used to evoke a specific, powerful response from your audience, fully aware of all its connotations and historical baggage.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

chocante in 30 Seconds

Means 'shocking' in English, used for surprises that are often unpleasant or intense.
It is a uniform adjective, so it doesn't change for masculine or feminine nouns.
Commonly used in news for scandals and in fashion for very bright neon colors.
Can be used as a reaction: 'Que chocante!' (How shocking!) to show surprise.

The Portuguese word chocante is a powerful adjective that translates primarily to 'shocking' in English. It is derived from the verb chocar (to shock, to collide, or to hatch). In a social or emotional context, it describes something that causes a sudden, often unpleasant, surprise or a sense of moral outrage. However, its usage is nuanced and extends beyond just negative events. For instance, in the world of fashion or interior design, chocante can refer to colors that are extremely bright or 'loud,' similar to the English term 'shocking pink' (rosa-choque). When you encounter this word, you are dealing with something that stands out aggressively from the norm, demanding immediate attention and often forcing an emotional reaction. It is a common word in news media to describe crimes or scandals, but it is equally at home in a casual conversation about a surprising plot twist in a movie or a friend's unexpected behavior.

Emotional Impact: The word implies a breach of expectations or social norms that leaves the observer stunned.
Visual Intensity: Used to describe aesthetics that are jarring, bold, or impossible to ignore, like neon lights.

A revelação sobre o passado do político foi absolutamente chocante para todos os eleitores.

Translation: The revelation about the politician's past was absolutely shocking for all voters.

In everyday Brazilian and Portuguese life, you will hear this word used to react to the news. If a news anchor reports a particularly grizzly crime or a massive corruption scandal, the headline might simply read 'Um crime chocante'. It carries a weight of disbelief. Unlike 'surpreendente' (surprising), which can be neutral or positive, chocante almost always carries a visceral edge. It suggests that the person experiencing the 'shock' needs a moment to process what they have seen or heard. It is also used in academic or sociological contexts to describe 'chocante desigualdade' (shocking inequality), highlighting a gap that is so wide it feels morally wrong.

Ela apareceu na festa com um vestido verde chocante.

Furthermore, the word is frequently used in discussions about art and culture. A 'filme chocante' might be one that uses extreme violence or provocative themes to challenge the audience. In this context, the word isn't necessarily a criticism; it can be a description of the artist's intent to provoke a reaction. When people use this word, they are signaling that their baseline for 'normal' has been disrupted. Whether it is a 'preço chocante' (a shockingly high or low price) or a 'verdade chocante' (a shocking truth), the word serves as an intensifier for the impact of the information being shared.

News Media: Frequent in headlines to grab attention regarding scandals or tragedies.

Using chocante correctly requires understanding its role as an adjective and its placement in a sentence. In Portuguese, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. This is the most common way to use 'chocante'. For example, 'uma imagem chocante' (a shocking image). By placing it after the noun, you are identifying the noun first and then describing the quality of shock it possesses. However, for stylistic emphasis, particularly in literature or journalism, you might occasionally see it before the noun, though this is much rarer and can change the poetic feel of the sentence.

O resultado do exame foi chocante para os médicos.

The result of the exam was shocking for the doctors.

Another common structure is using 'chocante' with the verb ser (to be). Because 'chocante' describes an inherent quality or a state of being of the subject, ser is the standard choice. 'É chocante que...' (It is shocking that...) is a frequent way to introduce a clause that describes a surprising situation. Note that when you use this structure, the following verb is often in the subjunctive mood if there is a sense of emotional reaction or uncertainty, although in casual speech, people often stick to the indicative.

With Verbs of Perception: You can use it with 'achar' (to find/think). 'Eu achei a notícia chocante' (I found the news shocking).
As an Exclamation: Simply saying 'Que chocante!' (How shocking!) is a valid reaction to a story.

When describing colors, 'chocante' functions as a specific qualifier. While 'rosa-choque' is the most famous example, you can describe other colors as being 'chocantes' if they have that neon, eye-searing quality. In this usage, it is less about emotional distress and more about visual saturation. If you are writing a formal report, avoid overusing 'chocante'. Instead, use more precise terms like 'alarmante' (alarming) or 'surpreendente' (surprising) unless the situation truly warrants a description of total shock. In creative writing, however, 'chocante' is excellent for building tension and conveying the visceral reaction of a character to a plot development.

As estatísticas de violência são chocantes.

In the Lusophone world, chocante is a staple of the 24-hour news cycle. If you turn on a Brazilian news channel like GloboNews or a Portuguese one like SIC Notícias, you will inevitably hear a journalist describe a political scandal or a natural disaster as 'chocante'. It is the go-to word for anything that breaks the expected order of things in a dramatic way. In social media, particularly on platforms like Twitter (X) or Instagram, users often comment 'Isso é chocante!' on viral videos that show incredible feats, accidents, or public outbursts. It serves as a digital gasp.

Você viu aquele documentário? O final é chocante!

Did you see that documentary? The ending is shocking!

In a more domestic or casual setting, you might hear it during 'fofoca' (gossip). If a neighbor does something completely out of character—like selling their house overnight and moving to another country—the reaction from the community will be 'Que coisa chocante!'. It is also used in the context of prices. In Brazil, where inflation and price fluctuations are common topics of conversation, someone might say 'O preço da carne está chocante' to express that the cost has reached an unbelievable or upsetting level.

In Cinema/TV: Used to describe 'plot twists' or 'reviravoltas' that change the whole story.
In Fashion: Describing 'cores chocantes' (shocking colors) in a runway show or a bold outfit.

Interestingly, the word can also be found in legal and police jargon. A 'crime de impacto chocante' refers to a crime that, due to its cruelty or the status of the victim, causes a significant public outcry. This leads to the word appearing in official police reports and court proceedings when discussing the social impact of a defendant's actions. Finally, in the world of sports, a 'derrota chocante' (shocking defeat) describes a situation where a favorite team loses to an underdog in a spectacular fashion, a common occurrence in the passionate football culture of Portugal and Brazil.

A derrota do Brasil na Copa foi chocante para o país inteiro.

One of the most common mistakes English speakers make when learning Portuguese adjectives is trying to change the gender of adjectives that end in '-e'. You might be tempted to say 'um crime chocante' and 'uma notícia chocanta'. This is incorrect. Chocante is a uniform adjective, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns. Always keep it as 'chocante' regardless of what you are describing. Another error involves pluralization. While the gender doesn't change, the number does. If you are talking about multiple shocking things, you must add an 's' to make it 'chocantes'.

Incorrect Gender: Using 'chocanta' for feminine nouns. Correct: 'notícia chocante'.
Missing Plural: Saying 'fatos chocante'. Correct: 'fatos chocantes'.

Errado: Aquela cena foi chocanta.
Certo: Aquela cena foi chocante.

Another common mistake is confusing 'chocante' with 'chocado'. While 'chocante' describes the thing that causes the shock (the stimulus), 'chocado' (or 'chocada') describes the person who feels the shock (the state). If you say 'Eu sou chocante', you are saying 'I am shocking' (perhaps you are a very scandalous person). If you want to say 'I am shocked', you should say 'Eu estou chocado' (using the verb estar for a temporary state). This distinction is crucial for clear communication. Furthermore, don't confuse 'chocante' with 'chocando', which is the gerund of 'chocar' and usually refers to a bird hatching eggs or a car currently colliding with something.

Finally, be careful with intensity. Overusing 'chocante' for minor surprises can make your speech sound overly dramatic or 'clickbaity'. If something is just a little surprising, 'surpreendente' or 'curioso' might be more appropriate. Save 'chocante' for things that truly take your breath away or cause a significant emotional disturbance. In academic writing, ensure that if you use 'chocante', you back it up with data or a very strong argument, as it is a word that carries a lot of subjective emotional weight.

Não diga 'chocante' se algo for apenas 'interessante'.

Portuguese offers a rich palette of words to describe various levels of surprise and shock. If chocante feels too strong or not quite right, consider these alternatives. Surpreendente is the most common neutral alternative, meaning simply 'surprising'. It can be used for both good and bad news. If you want to emphasize that something is so shocking it leaves you speechless or 'stunned', you can use estarrecedor. This word is often used in journalism for particularly horrific crimes or massive political scandals; it carries a heavier, more somber tone than 'chocante'.

Estarrecedor: More formal and intense. Use for things that cause deep dismay or horror.
Impactante: Neutral to positive. Something that has a strong impact or is very striking.

O documentário apresentou dados estarrecedores sobre o desmatamento.

The documentary presented appalling/shocking data about deforestation.

If you are talking about something scandalous in a moral or social sense, escandaloso is a great choice. It implies that the event should be condemned. For visual shock, like bright colors or loud patterns, berrante is the specific term. A 'cor berrante' is a 'screaming' color, very similar to 'rosa-choque'. If something is shocking because it is incredibly impressive or awesome, you might use impressionante. While 'chocante' can sometimes be positive (like a shocking plot twist that is brilliantly written), 'impressionante' is the safer bet for positive amazement.

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear people use slang like passado (literally 'past', but meaning 'I'm floored/shocked'). For example: 'Eu estou passada!' (I'm shocked!). Another informal term is tenso, which describes a situation that is shockingly tense or difficult. Understanding these synonyms allows you to fine-tune your emotional expression. Whether you want to sound formal and horrified (estarrecedor) or casual and surprised (passado), choosing the right alternative to 'chocante' will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and sophisticated.

Berrante: Specific for colors or sounds that are too loud or jarring.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The same root 'chocar' is used for a hen sitting on eggs (hatching). So, etymologically, a 'shocking' news story and a 'hatching' egg share the same ancestor!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃuˈkɐ̃.tɨ/

US /ʃoˈkɐ̃.tʃi/

The stress is on the second syllable: cho-CAN-te.

Rhymes With

brilhante importante semelhante bastante amante adiante durante viajante

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ch' like 'k' (it should always be 'sh').
Not nasalizing the 'an' syllable.
Pronouncing the final 'e' too strongly like 'eh' instead of 'ee' or 'i'.
Stressing the first syllable.
Changing the 'e' to 'a' for feminine nouns.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to 'shocking'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering it is invariable for gender.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of the nasal 'an' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Clear and distinct sound in most dialects.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

muito notícia surpresa cor achar

Learn Next

estarrecedor escandaloso impactante chocado choque

Advanced

estupefato perplexo inaudito abismado assombroso

Grammar to Know

Uniform Adjectives

O crime chocante / A notícia chocante (No change for gender).

Subjunctive after Emotional Expressions

É chocante que ele *esteja* aqui. (Use 'esteja' instead of 'está').

Adjective Placement

Uma notícia chocante (Adjective usually follows the noun).

Pluralization of Adjectives in -e

Casos chocantes (Add -s for plural).

Ser vs Estar with Adjectives

A notícia *é* chocante (Inherent quality) vs Eu *estou* chocado (Temporary state).

Examples by Level

A cor do carro é chocante.

The color of the car is shocking (bright).

Simple adjective use after the noun.

Isso é muito chocante!

That is very shocking!

Using 'isso' (that) as a subject.

O preço da maçã é chocante.

The price of the apple is shocking.

Using 'é' for a state/quality.

Ela tem um vestido rosa-choque.

She has a shocking pink dress.

Compound color name using 'choque'.

O fim do livro foi chocante.

The end of the book was shocking.

Past tense 'foi'.

Uma notícia chocante apareceu na TV.

A shocking piece of news appeared on TV.

Adjective following a feminine noun.

Não é chocante?

Isn't it shocking?

Interrogative form with negation.

Ele deu um grito chocante.

He gave a shocking scream.

Adjective describing a sound/action.

Eu achei o filme muito chocante.

I found the movie very shocking.

Using the verb 'achar' (to find/think).

As fotos da festa são chocantes.

The photos from the party are shocking.

Plural form 'chocantes'.

É chocante ver como a cidade mudou.

It is shocking to see how the city changed.

Impersonal 'É chocante' followed by an infinitive.

Ela recebeu uma mensagem chocante ontem.

She received a shocking message yesterday.

Adjective modifying the object.

O resultado do jogo foi chocante.

The result of the game was shocking.

Describing a sports event.

Eles contaram uma história chocante.

They told a shocking story.

Adjective for a narrative.

O comportamento dele na escola é chocante.

His behavior at school is shocking.

Describing behavior.

Você não acha essa cor chocante?

Don't you find this color shocking?

Questioning an opinion.

A desigualdade social neste país é chocante.

The social inequality in this country is shocking.

Abstract noun modified by 'chocante'.

Houve uma revelação chocante durante o julgamento.

There was a shocking revelation during the trial.

Use of 'houve' (there was).

É chocante que ele tenha dito isso.

It is shocking that he said that.

Subjunctive mood 'tenha dito' after 'é chocante que'.

O documentário mostra fatos chocantes sobre o clima.

The documentary shows shocking facts about the climate.

Plural agreement.

A rapidez da doença foi chocante para a família.

The speed of the disease was shocking for the family.

Emotional context.

Eles vivem em condições chocantes.

They live in shocking conditions.

Describing living standards.

A falta de educação dele foi chocante.

His lack of manners was shocking.

Using 'falta de' (lack of).

A empresa faliu de uma forma chocante.

The company went bankrupt in a shocking way.

Adverbial phrase 'de uma forma chocante'.

A discrepância entre os dois relatos é chocante.

The discrepancy between the two accounts is shocking.

Formal vocabulary 'discrepância'.

O filme usa imagens chocantes para criticar a guerra.

The movie uses shocking images to criticize the war.

Discussing artistic intent.

É chocante a facilidade com que as mentiras se espalham.

The ease with which lies spread is shocking.

Subject-predicate inversion for emphasis.

A notícia teve um impacto chocante na bolsa de valores.

The news had a shocking impact on the stock market.

Economic context.

Considero chocante a omissão das autoridades.

I consider the authorities' omission shocking.

Using 'considerar' + object + adjective.

A transformação da paisagem foi chocante.

The transformation of the landscape was shocking.

Describing environmental change.

O nível de corrupção revelado é simplesmente chocante.

The level of corruption revealed is simply shocking.

Using 'simplesmente' as an intensifier.

Ela deu uma resposta chocante ao entrevistador.

She gave a shocking answer to the interviewer.

Describing a verbal interaction.

A negligência médica foi considerada chocante pelo júri.

The medical negligence was considered shocking by the jury.

Passive voice 'foi considerada'.

O contraste chocante entre a opulência e a miséria.

The shocking contrast between opulence and misery.

Noun phrase with strong antonyms.

A evidência chocante de que o sistema falhou.

The shocking evidence that the system failed.

Appositive clause 'de que...'.

É chocante constatar a apatia da população.

It is shocking to note the apathy of the population.

Formal verb 'constatar'.

A obra de arte causou uma reação chocante no público.

The artwork caused a shocking reaction in the audience.

Artistic context.

As implicações éticas dessa decisão são chocantes.

The ethical implications of this decision are shocking.

Abstract philosophical context.

O autor utiliza um realismo chocante em sua prosa.

The author uses a shocking realism in his prose.

Literary criticism.

A velocidade da erosão costeira é chocante.

The speed of coastal erosion is shocking.

Scientific/environmental context.

A banalidade do mal, em sua forma mais chocante.

The banality of evil, in its most shocking form.

Philosophical reference (Arendt).

O desfecho chocante subverte todas as expectativas do leitor.

The shocking outcome subverts all the reader's expectations.

High-level literary analysis.

A chocante crueza da realidade muitas vezes supera a ficção.

The shocking rawness of reality often surpasses fiction.

Complex abstract subject.

É de um cinismo chocante a postura adotada pela empresa.

The stance adopted by the company is of a shocking cynicism.

Sophisticated 'É de um [noun] [adjective]' structure.

A chocante indiferença perante o sofrimento alheio.

The shocking indifference towards the suffering of others.

Use of 'perante' (in the face of).

A simetria chocante entre os dois eventos históricos.

The shocking symmetry between the two historical events.

Comparative historical analysis.

O relato possui uma honestidade chocante e desarmante.

The account possesses a shocking and disarming honesty.

Pairing adjectives for nuance.

A disparidade de recursos é, sob qualquer ótica, chocante.

The disparity of resources is, from any perspective, shocking.

Parenthetical phrase 'sob qualquer ótica'.

Common Collocations

notícia chocante

crime chocante

revelação chocante

cor chocante

preço chocante

final chocante

realidade chocante

comportamento chocante

imagem chocante

verdade chocante

Common Phrases

Que chocante!

— A common exclamation used to react to surprising news.

Ele ganhou na loteria? Que chocante!

É chocante ver...

— Used to introduce a surprising observation.

É chocante ver tanta pobreza.

Nada chocante

— Used to say something is not surprising at all (often sarcastic).

Ele chegou atrasado? Nada chocante.

Simplesmente chocante

— Used for emphasis.

O estado da casa era simplesmente chocante.

Absolutamente chocante

— Another way to add intensity.

Isso é absolutamente chocante.

Um contraste chocante

— Describes two things that are very different.

Há um contraste chocante entre os dois irmãos.

De modo chocante

— In a shocking manner.

Ele agiu de modo chocante.

Algo chocante

— Something shocking.

Eu tenho algo chocante para te contar.

Parecer chocante

— To seem shocking.

Isso pode parecer chocante no início.

Achar chocante

— To find something shocking.

Muitas pessoas acharam o anúncio chocante.

Often Confused With

chocante vs chocado

Chocado is the person feeling the shock; chocante is the thing causing it.

chocante vs chocando

Chocando is the gerund (hatching or colliding right now).

chocante vs chocalho

A chocalho is a rattle; sounds similar but unrelated.

Idioms & Expressions

"rosa-choque"

— Shocking pink; a very bright, neon pink color.

Ela comprou uma bolsa rosa-choque.

common

"choque de realidade"

— A reality check; a sudden realization of the truth.

Perder o emprego foi um choque de realidade.

neutral

"choque de ordem"

— A sudden, forceful attempt to restore order or law.

A prefeitura prometeu um choque de ordem no centro.

political

"choque cultural"

— Culture shock; the feeling of disorientation in a new culture.

Mudar para o Japão foi um choque cultural.

neutral

"bater de frente"

— To collide or clash (related to the root 'chocar').

Ele gosta de bater de frente com o chefe.

informal

"dar um choque"

— To give a shock (electric or emotional).

Essa notícia vai dar um choque nela.

neutral

"ficar em choque"

— To be in a state of shock.

Eu fiquei em choque quando soube.

informal

"chocar o ovo"

— To hatch an egg (literal meaning of the root verb).

A galinha está chocando os ovos.

neutral

"chover no molhado"

— To state the obvious (sometimes used when news isn't actually shocking).

Dizer que ele mentiu é chover no molhado.

idiomatic

"cair o queixo"

— To be jaw-droppingly shocking.

É de cair o queixo essa notícia.

informal

Easily Confused

chocante vs surpreendente

Both mean surprising.

Surpreendente is neutral; chocante is usually intense or negative.

Um presente surpreendente vs Um crime chocante.

chocante vs estarrecedor

Both mean shocking.

Estarrecedor is much more formal and implies a paralyzing level of shock.

Dados estarrecedores sobre a fome.

chocante vs berrante

Used for colors.

Berrante is only for visual/auditory things; chocante is for emotions too.

Uma gravata berrante.

chocante vs impressionante

Both imply a strong reaction.

Impressionante is often positive (impressive); chocante is often negative.

Uma vista impressionante.

chocante vs escandaloso

Both relate to scandals.

Escandaloso focuses on the breach of morality; chocante focuses on the surprise.

Um gasto escandaloso.

Sentence Patterns

O [noun] é chocante.

O preço é chocante.

Eu achei o [noun] chocante.

Eu achei o filme chocante.

É chocante que [subjunctive clause].

É chocante que ela tenha partido.

Um [noun] de impacto chocante.

Um crime de impacto chocante.

A chocante [abstract noun] de [noun].

A chocante apatia da sociedade.

Sob uma ótica [adjective], é chocante.

Sob uma ótica ética, é chocante.

Any

Que [noun] chocante!

Que notícia chocante!

Any

[Noun] + [color] + chocante.

Um carro verde chocante.

Word Family

Nouns

choque (shock)

chocadeira (incubator)

Verbs

chocar (to shock/hatch/collide)

Adjectives

chocado (shocked)

chocante (shocking)

impacto

surpresa

colisão

escândalo

espanto

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news media and casual reactions.

Common Mistakes

Eu sou chocante. → Eu estou chocado.
You are saying 'I am a shocking person' instead of 'I am feeling shocked'.
Uma notícia chocanta. → Uma notícia chocante.
Adjectives ending in -e do not have a feminine -a form.
Fatos chocante. → Fatos chocantes.
Adjectives must agree in number (plural) with the noun.
O choque notícia. → A notícia chocante.
You cannot use the noun 'choque' as an adjective directly like in English 'shock news'.
É chocante que ele está aqui. → É chocante que ele esteja aqui.
Expressions of emotion usually require the subjunctive mood.

Tips

Use for emphasis

Add 'simplesmente' before 'chocante' to sound like a native reacting to something crazy.

Gender neutrality

Remember that adjectives ending in -e like 'chocante', 'inteligente', and 'forte' don't change for gender.

Colors

Use 'chocante' to describe any neon color that feels 'too much' for the eyes.

Media Literacy

When reading Brazilian news, 'chocante' is often a sign of sensationalist reporting. Read critically!

The Nasal 'AN'

Practice the nasal sound in 'chan' by trying to say 'ah' while pushing air through your nose.

Avoid Clichés

In academic writing, try to explain *why* something is shocking instead of just using the word 'chocante'.

Showing Empathy

Saying 'Isso é chocante' when someone tells you bad news shows that you care and are listening.

Final 'E'

In Portugal, the final 'e' is almost silent. In Brazil, it sounds like a 'chee'.

The Collision

Remember that 'chocar' is to collide. A shocking event 'collides' with your expectations.

Subjunctive

Level up your Portuguese by using the subjunctive after 'É chocante que...'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Shocking' event that makes you 'Choke' (Cho-cante). The 'ch' is soft like 'shhh', because you are speechless from the shock.

Visual Association

Imagine a neon pink (rosa-choque) lightning bolt hitting a newspaper. The bright color and the bolt represent the word perfectly.

Word Web

News Neon Surprise Scandal Crime Pink Impact Disbelief

Challenge

Try to find three 'notícias chocantes' in a Portuguese newspaper today and explain why they are shocking to a friend.

Word Origin

Derived from the Portuguese verb 'chocar', which comes from the Old French 'choquer' (to strike or collide). It entered Portuguese as a term for physical impact before evolving to describe emotional impact.

Original meaning: Striking against something or causing a collision.

Romance (Latin root via French).

Cultural Context

Be careful using it for tragedies; ensure your tone is appropriately somber.

Similar to 'shocking' but slightly more common in everyday news descriptions.

Rosa-choque (song by Rita Lee) Jornal Nacional headlines Brazilian Telenovela plot twists

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Watching the News

Que notícia chocante!
Os detalhes são chocantes.
Houve um crime chocante.
É chocante o que aconteceu.

Fashion & Design

Essa cor é muito chocante.
Gosto desse rosa-choque.
Um contraste chocante de cores.
O design é chocante.

Social Discussions

A desigualdade é chocante.
É chocante o descaso.
Condições chocantes de vida.
Uma realidade chocante.

Movies & Books

O final foi chocante.
Uma reviravolta chocante.
Cenas chocantes no filme.
Um livro chocante.

Daily Gossip

Você soube? É chocante!
Achei o comportamento dele chocante.
Uma fofoca chocante.
Nada mais me parece chocante.

Conversation Starters

"Você viu aquela notícia chocante no jornal hoje de manhã?"

"Qual foi o filme com o final mais chocante que você já viu?"

"Você acha que a diferença entre ricos e pobres no Brasil é chocante?"

"O que você faria se recebesse uma revelação chocante sobre sua família?"

"Você gosta de usar roupas com cores chocantes ou prefere algo discreto?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva um momento na sua vida que você considerou absolutamente chocante.

Escreva sobre uma notícia recente que teve um impacto chocante na sua opinião.

Se você pudesse mudar uma realidade chocante no mundo, qual seria e por quê?

Como você reage quando vê algo chocante nas redes sociais? Você compartilha?

Pense em uma cor chocante. O que essa cor faz você sentir e por quê?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Usually, yes, but not always. In fashion, a 'cor chocante' is just very bright. In movies, a 'final chocante' can be a sign of a great, surprising plot twist.

No. 'Chocante' is a uniform adjective. It ends in 'e', so it stays the same for both masculine and feminine nouns.

It translates to 'shocking pink'. It is a very bright, neon-like pink color that was very popular in the 80s.

You should say 'Eu estou chocado' (if male) or 'Eu estou chocada' (if female). Don't use 'chocante' to describe your own feeling of surprise.

Yes, it is used throughout the Portuguese-speaking world, though the pronunciation of the final 'e' differs between countries.

It's better to use 'surpreendente' or 'maravilhoso' for good surprises. 'Chocante' usually implies a bit of distress or disbelief.

The plural is 'chocantes'. For example: 'Eles viram coisas chocantes'.

Only if you are being very formal or describing something truly horrific. In daily life, 'chocante' is much more common.

Yes, if the sound is very sudden and jarring, you could call it a 'som chocante', though 'estrondo' (crash) is more specific.

The root 'choque' can refer to an electric shock, but the adjective 'chocante' is almost always used for emotional or visual impact.