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A1 adjective #4,000 most common 19 min read

comprido

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips comprido in 30 Seconds

Explanation comprido in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'comprido' is introduced as a basic descriptive adjective used to talk about physical objects and people. Learners focus on its most literal meaning: 'long' in a spatial sense. You will use it to describe hair ('cabelo comprido'), clothes ('vestido comprido'), and simple objects like a table ('mesa comprida') or a pencil ('lápis comprido'). The main challenge at this level is remembering to change the ending to match the gender and number of the noun. Since A1 learners are building their foundation, 'comprido' is often taught alongside its opposite, 'curto' (short). You will practice simple sentences like 'O meu cabelo é comprido' or 'A rua é comprida'. The focus is on clear, direct communication of physical dimensions. You don't need to worry about the nuances between 'comprido' and 'longo' yet; 'comprido' will serve you well for almost all physical descriptions of length.

In A2, you begin to use 'comprido' in more varied contexts, including comparisons and more detailed descriptions. You will learn to say things like 'Este corredor é mais comprido do que o outro' (This hallway is longer than the other). You'll also start using it to describe geographical features in a basic way, such as a 'rio comprido' (long river) or a 'ponte comprida' (long bridge). At this level, you are expected to be more consistent with gender and number agreement. You might also encounter 'comprido' in the context of shopping, specifically for clothes, where you might need to say 'Estas calças são muito compridas' (These pants are very long). The vocabulary expands to include common body parts like 'pernas compridas' (long legs) or 'braços compridos' (long arms). You are starting to see how the word functions within a larger sentence structure, though the meaning remains strictly physical and spatial.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'comprido' in a wide range of everyday situations and beginning to understand its limits. You'll start to notice that 'comprido' is rarely used for time, and you'll begin to consciously choose 'longo' for durations (e.g., 'um longo dia' instead of 'um dia comprido'). Your use of 'comprido' will become more precise. For example, you might describe an 'unha comprida' (long nail) or a 'fio comprido' (long wire/string). You will also be able to use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as result clauses: 'O caminho era tão comprido que ficamos cansados' (The path was so long that we got tired). At B1, you are also expected to distinguish 'comprido' from its paronym 'cumprido' (fulfilled/met) in writing, which is a significant step toward accuracy. You might also start to use intensifiers more naturally, like 'compridíssimo' (extremely long).

By B2, 'comprido' is a tool you use with ease and stylistic awareness. You understand that while 'comprido' is the standard for physical length, 'longo' might be preferred for more abstract or formal physical descriptions. You can use 'comprido' in professional or technical contexts, such as describing the dimensions of a piece of equipment or the layout of a building. Your writing will show consistent agreement and correct spelling, avoiding the common 'o' vs 'u' mistake. You might also use the word in more idiomatic or figurative ways, though these are less common for 'comprido' than for other adjectives. For instance, you might describe a 'discurso comprido' (long speech) if you want to emphasize its literal length on paper, though you'd know 'longo' is more common. You are also more aware of regional variations and how 'comprido' might be used in different parts of the Lusophone world.

At the C1 level, you have a nuanced understanding of 'comprido' and its place within the Portuguese lexicon. You can choose between 'comprido', 'longo', 'extenso', and 'alongado' to convey exact shades of meaning. You might use 'comprido' in literary analysis or complex descriptions where the physical length of something is a key detail. You are fully aware of the phonetic and orthographic differences between 'comprido' and 'cumprido' and can explain them to others. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from a native speaker's, including the use of augmentatives or diminutives for stylistic effect (e.g., 'compridinho'). You can handle 'comprido' in any register, from very informal slang to formal academic writing, understanding when its literal nature is an asset and when a more abstract synonym is required. You also understand its role in historical or classical texts where the usage might slightly differ from modern colloquial speech.

At the C2 level, 'comprido' is part of a vast, perfectly managed vocabulary. You use it with total precision, often employing it in sophisticated wordplay or complex rhetorical structures. You might use it to contrast physical length with metaphorical depth or temporal duration in a single sentence. You have a deep understanding of the etymology of the word and how its usage has evolved. In your own writing, you might use 'comprido' to create specific rhythms or to evoke particular imagery, such as the 'sombras compridas' of a late afternoon in a poem or a high-end prose piece. You are also capable of recognizing and using rare or archaic forms of the word if necessary. For a C2 learner, 'comprido' is no longer just a word for 'long'; it is a precise instrument for measuring and describing the physical world in all its linear complexity.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

comprido in 30 Seconds

Comprido means 'long' in a physical, spatial sense.
It changes to match gender (comprido/comprida) and number (compridos/compridas).
It is primarily used for objects, hair, and distances, not for time.
Commonly confused with 'cumprido' (fulfilled), which is spelled with a 'u'.

The word comprido is a fundamental adjective in the Portuguese language, primarily used to describe physical length. When an English speaker thinks of the word "long" in a spatial sense—measuring something from one end to the other—they are usually looking for comprido. It is one of the first descriptive words a learner encounters because it applies to everyday objects, body parts, and geography. Understanding comprido requires recognizing that Portuguese often distinguishes between horizontal length and vertical height. While a person might be alto (tall), their hair would be comprido (long). This distinction is vital for achieving natural-sounding fluency. The word carries a neutral connotation but can be used to emphasize the extent of something, whether it is a physical distance or a physical attribute.

Physical Dimension: Refers to the extent of an object in space from end to end. It is the opposite of curto (short).

In Brazil and Portugal, you will hear this word constantly when discussing fashion, grooming, and construction. For instance, when a client goes to a hair salon, they might specify they want to keep their hair comprido. In a hardware store, one might ask for a prego mais comprido (a longer nail). The word is versatile because it adapts to gender and number: comprido (masculine singular), comprida (feminine singular), compridos (masculine plural), and compridas (feminine plural). This agreement is a hallmark of Portuguese grammar that learners must internalize early on. Using the wrong ending can lead to confusion, though usually, the context makes the meaning clear.

O corredor daquele hospital é muito comprido e parece não ter fim.

Beyond simple physical objects, comprido is used to describe geographical features like rivers or roads, although longo is a frequent synonym in these cases. However, comprido remains the more common choice for tangible, graspable items. If you are describing a table, a pencil, or a piece of string, comprido is your go-to adjective. It evokes a sense of linear extension. Interestingly, the word is rarely used for time; for durations, Portuguese speakers almost exclusively use longo (e.g., um longo tempo). This is a crucial nuance for English speakers who use "long" for both space and time. Using comprido to describe a movie or a meeting would sound unnatural and technically incorrect in most dialects.

Culturally, the word appears in many descriptive contexts. In Brazilian literature, for example, descriptions of the vast landscapes often use comprido to emphasize the scale of the plains or the length of the Amazonian tributaries. In daily conversation, it is a very "safe" word—it doesn't carry hidden slang meanings or offensive undertones. It is purely functional and descriptive. Whether you are talking about mangas compridas (long sleeves) in the winter or a ponte comprida (long bridge) during a road trip, the word serves as a building block for basic and intermediate communication. Mastering its use also involves training your ear to distinguish it from its phonetically similar cousin, cumprido (fulfilled), which is a common source of spelling errors even for native speakers.

Ela comprou um vestido comprido para a festa de formatura.

Agreement Rule: Always match the gender of the noun. A table (mesa) is comprida, while a path (caminho) is comprido.

Finally, it is worth noting that while comprido is the standard, in some regional dialects or informal speech, people might use compridão as an augmentative to mean "very long." However, for a learner, sticking to the standard form with intensifiers like muito (very) or bastante (quite) is the most effective way to be understood. As you progress, you will find comprido appearing in more complex sentence structures, but its core meaning of linear physical extension remains the anchor of its usage. It is a word that provides clarity and precision in description, making it an essential tool in your Portuguese vocabulary toolkit.

Os braços dele são tão compridos que ele consegue alcançar a prateleira mais alta.

Colloquial Usage: In some contexts, like describing a person's face (rosto comprido), it implies an oblong or elongated shape.

In conclusion, comprido is a literal, spatial adjective. It is the architectural blueprint of length in the Portuguese mind. By focusing on its physical application and its distinction from temporal length, you will avoid the most common pitfalls faced by English speakers. Whether you are describing the cabelo comprido of a friend or the estrada comprida ahead of you, this word is a reliable and necessary part of your linguistic journey.

Using comprido correctly involves more than just knowing its definition; it requires an understanding of Portuguese syntax and noun-adjective agreement. In Portuguese, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. This is the most common placement for comprido. For example, to say "the long table," you would say a mesa comprida. Placing the adjective after the noun provides a descriptive focus that is standard in both spoken and written Portuguese. However, occasionally, for poetic or stylistic emphasis, the adjective can precede the noun, though this is much rarer for comprido than for other adjectives like belo or grande.

Noun Agreement

The ending of the word must change to match the noun:

O caminho (masc.) -> comprido
A rua (fem.) -> comprida
Os fios (masc. pl.) -> compridos
As unhas (fem. pl.) -> compridas

One of the most frequent uses of comprido is in the construction of comparative sentences. If you want to say one thing is longer than another, you use the structure mais comprido que or mais comprido do que. For example, Este lençol é mais comprido do que aquele (This sheet is longer than that one). Conversely, to say something is the longest, you use the superlative form: o mais comprido. This is essential for descriptions where dimensions are being compared, such as in shopping or construction contexts. The word is also frequently paired with intensifiers. You can say something is muito comprido (very long), extremamente comprido (extremely long), or meio comprido (somewhat long).

Para este projeto, precisamos de um cabo de aço muito comprido.

When describing people, comprido is almost exclusively used for specific features rather than the whole person. You would describe someone's pernas compridas (long legs) or dedos compridos (long fingers). Describing a person as a whole using comprido is rare and might sound like you are calling them "elongated" in a strange way; alto (tall) is the correct term for height. This is a common area of confusion for English speakers because "long" can sometimes be used for tallness in very specific English idioms, but in Portuguese, the boundary is strictly spatial and horizontal/linear. Another interesting usage is with clothing. A vestido comprido refers to a maxi dress or a floor-length gown, which is a standard term in the fashion industry.

In more complex sentences, comprido can be part of a result clause. For example: O texto era tão comprido que eu não consegui terminar de ler (The text was so long that I couldn't finish reading it). Here, comprido refers to the physical length of the text on the page. If you were referring to the time it took to read, you might prefer longo, but comprido is perfectly acceptable when emphasizing the amount of paper or the scroll length of a digital document. It's also used in technical descriptions: um ângulo comprido (a long angle) or uma linha comprida (a long line). The word is versatile enough to appear in scientific, literary, and colloquial registers without changing its fundamental nature.

As sombras ficaram mais compridas à medida que o sol se punha.

Comparative Structure: [Noun] + [Verb] + mais comprido + (do) que + [Noun]. Example: A corda é mais comprida que o barbante.

Finally, let's look at the negative and interrogative forms. To ask about length, you would say: Quão comprido é este rio? (How long is this river?). In negative sentences: A saia não é comprida o suficiente (The skirt is not long enough). Notice how comprida agrees with saia. These patterns are consistent across all levels of Portuguese. By practicing these structures, you ensure that comprido becomes a natural part of your descriptive repertoire. Whether you are at a tailor, a construction site, or just describing a sunset, knowing how to manipulate this adjective is key to expressing spatial dimensions accurately.

Você prefere o cabelo curto ou comprido?

In summary, comprido is a workhorse adjective. Its rules are predictable, and its application is broad. Focus on the gender/number agreement and its placement after the noun, and you will be using it like a native speaker in no time. It provides the necessary detail to make your descriptions vivid and precise, covering everything from the length of a fingernail to the span of a bridge.

In the Lusophone world, comprido is a word of the everyday. You don't need to be in a specific professional setting to hear it, though certain environments use it more frequently. One of the most common places is the cabeleireiro (hairdresser) or barbearia (barbershop). Here, the length of hair is a primary topic of conversation. A stylist might ask, "Quer manter o comprimento?" (Do you want to keep the length?), and the client might respond, "Sim, gosto dele bem comprido" (Yes, I like it very long). This context makes the word personal and immediate. It’s also heard in clothing stores (lojas de roupa). When trying on trousers or a dress, a customer might remark, "Ficou um pouco comprido demais" (It turned out a bit too long), prompting the need for ajustes (adjustments) or bainha (hemming).

At the Barber: Used to describe hair or beard length. Example: "Não corte muito, quero que continue comprido."

Another major domain for comprido is construction and home improvement. If you visit a loja de materiais de construção, you will hear people discussing the dimensions of planks, pipes, and cables. A contractor might say, "Precisamos de um cano mais comprido para chegar até o ralo" (We need a longer pipe to reach the drain). In this technical but common setting, comprido is used with precision. It is also found in real estate descriptions. An advertisement for an apartment might mention a varanda comprida (long balcony) or a corredor comprido (long hallway). These descriptions help potential buyers or renters visualize the layout of the space, emphasizing linear extent as a feature of the property.

O pescador contou uma história sobre um peixe muito comprido que ele quase pegou.

In the natural world, comprido is used by people describing animals or plants. A biologist or a nature enthusiast might talk about the pescoço comprido (long neck) of a giraffe or the cauda comprida (long tail) of a monkey. In the countryside, farmers might describe a pastagem comprida (a long stretch of pasture). This usage extends to geography as well. When traveling through Brazil, you might hear about the estrada comprida that connects two distant states. The word evokes the feeling of the journey and the physical distance covered. It’s a word that bridges the gap between the domestic and the wild, the small and the vast.

In literature and media, comprido is used to set the scene. In a novel, an author might describe a character's passos compridos (long strides) to suggest confidence or haste. In news reports, it might be used to describe the length of a queue (fila comprida) at a polling station or a popular event. Hearing the word in these contexts helps learners understand its emotional or descriptive weight. A "long queue" implies waiting and perhaps frustration, while "long strides" implies purpose. These subtle layers of meaning are what make the word so useful across different genres of speech and writing. It is a fundamental part of the Portuguese descriptive palette.

A fila para o show estava tão comprida que dava a volta no quarteirão.

In the Kitchen: Describing ingredients like 'macarrão comprido' (long pasta/spaghetti) or 'grãos compridos' (long grains of rice).

Finally, you will hear comprido in everyday observations and complaints. "Este caminho é muito comprido!" (This path is very long!) is a common exclamation during a hike. Or, "Onde está aquele cabo comprido?" (Where is that long cable?) when looking for a phone charger. The word is deeply integrated into the fabric of life. It’s not a word you have to search for; it will find you in almost any conversation involving physical objects or spaces. By paying attention to these real-world contexts, you can see how the word functions as a building block for more complex communication, providing the necessary detail to describe the world as it is seen and felt.

Ele tem um rosto comprido e olhos muito expressivos.

In summary, comprido is everywhere. From the hair salon to the construction site, from the pages of a novel to the casual complaints of a hiker, it is the standard way to express physical length. Its frequency in daily life makes it an essential word for any learner to master, ensuring they can describe their surroundings with the same ease and precision as a native speaker.

The most frequent and notorious mistake involving comprido is confusing it with its paronym, cumprido. A paronym is a word that sounds similar but has a different meaning and spelling. Comprido (with an 'o') means "long" in terms of physical length. Cumprido (with a 'u') is the past participle of the verb cumprir, which means "to fulfill," "to complete," or "to obey." This error is so common that even native Portuguese speakers frequently make it in written communication. For example, writing "O prazo foi comprido" (The deadline was long) when you mean "O prazo foi cumprido" (The deadline was met) changes the meaning entirely and is grammatically incorrect in the latter sense.

The O vs. U Trap: Comprido = Long (Spatial). Cumprido = Fulfilled (Action). Remember: 'O' is for 'Object' (length), 'U' is for 'Used' (task done).

Another common error for English speakers is using comprido to describe duration or time. In English, we use the word "long" for both space ("a long road") and time ("a long time"). In Portuguese, comprido is strictly for physical, spatial length. If you say "O filme foi muito comprido," a native speaker will understand you, but it sounds very strange; they would almost always say "O filme foi muito longo." Using comprido for time is a classic "false friend" of logic. To sound natural, you must train your brain to switch to longo when the clock is involved. This distinction is one of the key markers of a more advanced learner who has moved beyond literal translation.

Errado: A reunião foi muito comprida.
Correto: A reunião foi muito longa.

A third mistake involves the confusion between comprido and alto. In English, we sometimes use "long" in ways that overlap with "tall," especially in poetic or specific contexts. However, in Portuguese, the distinction is rigid. A person is alto, never comprido. A building is alto. If you call a person comprido, it sounds like you are describing them as a stretched-out object rather than a tall human being. This can sometimes come across as slightly mocking or just very odd. Always use alto for vertical height of people and structures, and comprido for the length of things like hair, limbs, or horizontal objects.

Agreement errors are also prevalent. Since comprido is an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Beginners often default to the masculine singular form comprido for everything. Saying "as calças comprido" instead of "as calças compridas" is a common slip. While people will still understand you, it breaks the flow of the language. In Portuguese, the "song" of the sentence relies on these matching endings. Paying close attention to the noun's gender (o/a) and number (singular/plural) before choosing the form of comprido is essential for grammatical accuracy.

Errado: Ela tem as pernas comprido.
Correto: Ela tem as pernas compridas.

Agreement Checklist: 1. Identify the noun. 2. Determine gender (M/F). 3. Determine number (S/P). 4. Match 'comprido' to these traits.

Lastly, some learners over-rely on comprido and forget that longo exists as a more versatile and often more formal alternative. While comprido is great for everyday objects, longo is often preferred in more abstract or grand contexts, such as uma longa jornada (a long journey) or um longo discurso (a long speech). Using comprido for a speech would sound very literal, as if you were measuring the physical length of the paper the speech was written on. Understanding when to use the more sophisticated longo versus the more literal comprido is a sign of linguistic maturity.

Nota: Use 'longo' para sentimentos, tempos e discursos. Use 'comprido' para mesas, cabelos e ruas.

In summary, the path to mastering comprido is paved with avoiding the 'u' of cumprido, respecting the boundary between space and time, ensuring gender/number agreement, and knowing when to opt for the synonym longo. By keeping these common pitfalls in mind, you will communicate more clearly and sound much more like a native speaker.

While comprido is the standard word for physical length, the Portuguese language offers several alternatives that can add nuance and variety to your speech. The most prominent synonym is longo. In many cases, especially when describing physical distance, longo and comprido are interchangeable. You can say um caminho longo or um caminho comprido. However, longo carries a slightly more formal or literary weight and is the exclusive choice for duration and time. If you want to describe a long period, longo is your only option. Understanding this overlap and distinction is key to choosing the right word for the right moment.

Comprido vs. Longo: Comprido: Physical, literal, everyday objects. Longo: Physical, temporal, abstract, more formal.

Another useful alternative is extenso. This word implies a large area or a vast extent. While comprido is often linear (like a string), extenso can describe something that covers a lot of ground or has significant detail. For example, um relatório extenso (an extensive report) or uma área extensa (an extensive area). It suggests not just length, but volume and depth. If you are talking about a very long piece of writing, extenso is often more appropriate than comprido, as it highlights the amount of information contained within. It’s a more sophisticated choice for academic or professional settings.

A lista de convidados para o casamento está muito extensa.

For something that is extremely long, you might use interminável (interminable/endless) or quilométrico (kilometric/miles long). Interminável adds an emotional layer, usually suggesting that the length is tedious or annoying, such as uma espera interminável (an endless wait). Quilométrico is a common hyperbole in Portuguese. If a woman has very long hair, a friend might say, "Seu cabelo está quilométrico!" It’s a vivid, informal way to emphasize extreme length. These words allow you to express not just the fact of length, but your feeling about it, making your Portuguese more expressive and colorful.

In technical contexts, you might encounter longitudinal. This is used in science, engineering, and geography to describe something running lengthwise. While you wouldn't use it in a casual conversation about a sandwich, you would find it in a textbook or a technical manual. Another specific term is alongado (elongated). This describes something that has been made long or has an unusually long shape, like um rosto alongado (an elongated face) or uma forma alongada (an elongated shape). It’s more descriptive of the form than just the measurement. Knowing these variations helps you move from basic descriptions to precise, adult-level communication.

O artista desenhou figuras com membros alongados, no estilo de Modigliani.

Synonym Comparison

Longo: Versatile, used for time and space.
Extenso: Large in scope or area; detailed.
Interminável: So long it feels like it won't end (often negative).
Alongado: Specifically refers to an elongated shape.

Finally, let's consider the antonyms. The primary opposite of comprido is curto (short). Just like comprido, curto must agree in gender and number. Another opposite, specifically for distance, is breve (brief/short), though this is mostly used for time or concise communication. If a road is not long, it is curta. If a meeting is not long, it is breve. Having a firm grasp of both the synonyms and antonyms of comprido allows you to navigate descriptions with confidence, ensuring you always have the right word for the physical or temporal dimension you are trying to convey.

O caminho foi curto, mas a conversa foi muito produtiva.

In summary, comprido is your foundation, but longo, extenso, interminável, and alongado are the tools that allow you to paint a more detailed picture. By understanding the subtle differences between these words, you can better express the scale, duration, and emotional impact of the things you describe in Portuguese.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Despite sharing the same Latin root as 'complete', 'comprido' split from 'cumprido'. Now, 'comprido' is for space, and 'cumprido' is for tasks!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kõˈpɾidu/

US /kõˈpɾidu/

The stress is on the second syllable: com-PRI-do.

Rhymes With

partido ouvido pedido querido vestido sentido perdido contido

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'm' fully like in English 'computer' (it should just nasalize the vowel).
Rolling the 'r' too much (it is a soft tap).
Confusing the final 'o' with an 'a' when describing masculine nouns.
Pronouncing it as 'cumprido' (starting with a 'koo' sound).
Stress on the last syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Writing 3/5

Hard because of the confusion with 'cumprido'.

Speaking 2/5

Easy, but remember the nasal 'o' and soft 'r'.

Listening 2/5

Easy to hear, but sounds similar to 'cumprido'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

grande pequeno curto muito ser/estar

Learn Next

longo largura altura profundidade extenso

Advanced

cumprimento longitudinal percurso extensão

Grammar to Know

Adjective Agreement

A mesa (f) é comprida (f).

Pluralization of Adjectives

Os caminhos (m.pl) são compridos (m.pl).

Position of Adjectives

Um vestido comprido (usually after the noun).

Comparatives of Superiority

Mais comprido do que...

Nasal Vowels with 'M'

The 'om' in comprido is a nasal vowel sound.

Examples by Level

O meu cabelo está muito comprido.

My hair is very long.

Cabelo is masculine singular, so we use comprido.

Ela usa um vestido comprido.

She wears a long dress.

Vestido is masculine singular.

A mesa da cozinha é comprida.

The kitchen table is long.

Mesa is feminine singular, so we use comprida.

O lápis é comprido.

The pencil is long.

Lápis is masculine singular.

Eu tenho braços compridos.

I have long arms.

Braços is masculine plural, so we use compridos.

A rua é muito comprida.

The street is very long.

Rua is feminine singular.

Eles têm dedos compridos.

They have long fingers.

Dedos is masculine plural.

A régua é comprida.

The ruler is long.

Régua is feminine singular.

Este caminho é mais comprido do que eu pensava.

This path is longer than I thought.

Comparative structure: mais comprido do que.

As calças estão muito compridas para mim.

The pants are too long for me.

Calças is feminine plural, so compridas.

O rio Amazonas é muito comprido.

The Amazon River is very long.

Rio is masculine singular.

Nós precisamos de uma corda mais comprida.

We need a longer rope.

Corda is feminine singular.

O corredor do hotel é muito comprido.

The hotel hallway is very long.

Corredor is masculine singular.

Ela tem as pernas mais compridas da turma.

She has the longest legs in the class.

Superlative: as mais compridas.

O trem é muito comprido e tem muitos vagões.

The train is very long and has many cars.

Trem is masculine singular.

Aquelas cortinas são muito compridas.

Those curtains are very long.

Cortinas is feminine plural.

O texto que ela escreveu é bastante comprido.

The text she wrote is quite long.

Referring to physical length of the text.

As mangas da camisa são compridas demais.

The shirt sleeves are too long.

Mangas is feminine plural.

O túnel é tão comprido que não vejo a saída.

The tunnel is so long that I can't see the exit.

Use of 'tão... que' for result.

Ele prefere usar o cabelo comprido no inverno.

He prefers to wear his hair long in the winter.

Adverbial use of time with spatial adjective.

A ponte que atravessa o lago é muito comprida.

The bridge crossing the lake is very long.

Ponte is feminine singular.

O desfile de carnaval teve uma fila comprida.

The carnival parade had a long line.

Fila is feminine singular.

As unhas compridas dela estão pintadas de vermelho.

Her long nails are painted red.

Unhas is feminine plural.

O cabo do carregador não é comprido o suficiente.

The charger cable is not long enough.

Cabo is masculine singular.

A sombra do prédio ficou mais comprida ao entardecer.

The building's shadow grew longer at dusk.

Sombra is feminine singular.

O autor descreveu a jornada como um caminho comprido e árduo.

The author described the journey as a long and arduous path.

Literary use of comprido for physical path.

Ela comprou um rolo de fita muito comprido para o presente.

She bought a very long roll of ribbon for the gift.

Fita is feminine singular.

Os fios de eletricidade são compridos e perigosos.

The electricity wires are long and dangerous.

Fios is masculine plural.

O terreno é estreito, mas muito comprido.

The plot of land is narrow but very long.

Contrast between estreito and comprido.

Sua explicação foi comprida, mas não muito clara.

Your explanation was long, but not very clear.

Referring to the physical duration/extent of speech.

As raízes da árvore são incrivelmente compridas.

The tree's roots are incredibly long.

Raízes is feminine plural.

O navio deixou um rastro comprido na água.

The ship left a long wake in the water.

Rastro is masculine singular.

A narrativa apresenta um fôlego comprido, estendendo-se por gerações.

The narrative has a long breath, extending through generations.

Figurative use of fôlego (breath/pace).

O tapete comprido no hall de entrada dava um ar de sofisticação.

The long rug in the entrance hall gave an air of sophistication.

Tapete is masculine singular.

Ele deu passos compridos para evitar as poças de água.

He took long strides to avoid the puddles.

Passos is masculine plural.

A extensão comprida da praia permitia longas caminhadas ao luar.

The long stretch of the beach allowed for long walks in the moonlight.

Extensão is feminine singular.

O rosto dele, comprido e pálido, parecia flutuar na penumbra.

His face, long and pale, seemed to float in the twilight.

Describing facial shape.

O vestido de noiva tinha uma cauda tão comprida que precisava de ajuda.

The wedding dress had such a long train that she needed help.

Cauda is feminine singular.

As prateleiras compridas da biblioteca estavam repletas de manuscritos.

The long shelves of the library were full of manuscripts.

Prateleiras is feminine plural.

Um silêncio comprido instalou-se na sala após a notícia.

A long silence settled in the room after the news.

Metaphorical use for a physical feeling of duration.

A obra é um painel comprido das misérias e grandezas humanas.

The work is a long panel of human miseries and grandeurs.

Metaphorical use of painel (panel).

Seus dedos compridos deslizavam pelo piano com uma agilidade assustadora.

His long fingers glided across the piano with terrifying agility.

Descriptive detail in high-level prose.

A estrada, comprida e monótona, parecia sugar a energia dos viajantes.

The road, long and monotonous, seemed to suck the energy from the travelers.

Personification and descriptive adjectives.

O rio serpenteia por um vale comprido, esculpindo a paisagem há milênios.

The river meanders through a long valley, carving the landscape for millennia.

Vale is masculine singular.

Havia um comprido intervalo entre as batidas do seu coração cansado.

There was a long interval between the beats of his tired heart.

Intervalo is masculine singular; spatial word used for time gap.

O olhar comprido que ela lhe lançou dizia mais do que mil palavras.

The long look she gave him said more than a thousand words.

Olhar is used here as a noun.

As sombras compridas projetadas pelos ciprestes davam ao cemitério um ar lúgubre.

The long shadows cast by the cypresses gave the cemetery a lugubrious air.

High-level descriptive vocabulary (lúgubre).

O fôlego comprido do corredor de maratona é fruto de anos de treino.

The long breath (stamina) of the marathon runner is the result of years of training.

Idiomatic use for stamina/endurance.

Common Collocations

cabelo comprido

vestido comprido

manga comprida

caminho comprido

dedos compridos

fila comprida

corredor comprido

ponte comprida

rosto comprido

braços compridos

Common Phrases

De fio a pavio

— From beginning to end. Often implies a 'long' process or story.

Ele contou a história de fio a pavio.

Passo comprido

— A long stride. Used to describe how someone walks.

Ele caminha com passo comprido.

Mesa comprida

— A long table. Common in family gathering contexts.

Sentamos todos em uma mesa comprida.

Cabelo bem comprido

— Very long hair. The 'bem' acts as an intensifier.

Ela quer deixar o cabelo bem comprido.

Caminho mais comprido

— The longest way/route.

Pegamos o caminho mais comprido por engano.

Saia comprida

— Long skirt. Standard fashion term.

Ela prefere saia comprida a saia curta.

Nariz comprido

— Long nose. Physical description.

O boneco tem um nariz comprido.

Fio comprido

— Long wire or thread.

Preciso de um fio comprido para ligar a TV.

Unhas compridas

— Long fingernails.

Ela gosta de manter as unhas compridas.

Braço comprido da lei

— The long arm of the law. Figurative expression.

Ninguém escapa do braço comprido da lei.

Often Confused With

comprido vs cumprido

Means 'fulfilled' or 'met'. It is a verb form, not an adjective for length.

comprido vs longo

Often interchangeable, but 'longo' is used for time and 'comprido' is not.

comprido vs alto

Means 'tall'. Use 'alto' for people's height, 'comprido' for their hair or limbs.

Idioms & Expressions

"Ter o olho comprido"

— To be envious or greedy. Literally 'to have a long eye'.

Não tenha o olho comprido nas coisas dos outros.

Informal

"Botar o olho comprido"

— To eye something with envy or desire.

Ele botou o olho comprido no meu carro novo.

Informal

"Conversa comprida"

— A long, often tedious conversation or 'tall tale'.

Lá vem ele com essa conversa comprida.

Informal

"A perder de vista"

— As far as the eye can see. Often used with 'comprido' objects.

A estrada era comprida a perder de vista.

Neutral

"De cabo a rabo"

— From beginning to end (literally from head to tail).

Li o livro comprido de cabo a rabo.

Informal

"Esticar a conversa"

— To make a conversation longer than necessary.

Não vamos esticar essa conversa comprida.

Informal

"Passos de gigante"

— Very long steps/strides. Implies rapid progress.

Ele deu passos compridos, passos de gigante.

Neutral

"Fila que não acaba mais"

— A line that never ends. Used for very long queues.

Aquela fila comprida não acaba mais.

Informal

"Língua comprida"

— A gossip. Someone who talks too much about others.

Cuidado com ela, tem a língua comprida.

Slang/Informal

"Mão comprida"

— Someone who steals. A thief.

Dizem que aquele rapaz tem a mão comprida.

Slang/Informal

Easily Confused

comprido vs cumprido

They are paronyms (sound similar).

Comprido is an adjective for length. Cumprido is the past participle of 'cumprir' (to fulfill).

O dever foi cumprido. O fio é comprido.

comprido vs longo

Both translate to 'long' in English.

Comprido is strictly spatial/physical. Longo can be spatial, temporal, or abstract.

Um longo inverno. Um cabelo comprido.

comprido vs extenso

Both refer to size.

Extenso implies area or volume of information. Comprido is usually linear length.

Um texto extenso. Uma corda comprida.

comprido vs largo

False friend for English 'large'.

Largo means 'wide'. Comprido means 'long'.

A rua é larga e comprida.

comprido vs alto

Both describe verticality in some contexts.

Alto is 'tall' (height). Comprido is 'long' (length).

Um homem alto com cabelos compridos.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] tem [Noun] comprido.

Ela tem cabelo comprido.

O/A [Noun] é comprido/a.

A mesa é comprida.

[Noun] é mais comprido que [Noun].

O rio é mais comprido que a rua.

[Noun] são muito compridos/as.

As calças são muito compridas.

Um/Uma [Noun] tão comprido/a que [Result].

Um caminho tão comprido que cansa.

Prefiro [Noun] comprido/a.

Prefiro vestido comprido.

[Noun] de [Noun] comprido/a.

Camisa de manga comprida.

Com sua/seu [Noun] comprido/a, [Subject]...

Com seu rosto comprido, ele parecia triste.

Word Family

Nouns

comprimento (length)

compridão (extreme length - colloquial)

Verbs

compridar (to lengthen - rare, usually 'alongar' is used)

Adjectives

comprido (long)

compridíssimo (very long)

cumprir

longo

curto

alongar

distância

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in physical descriptions.

Common Mistakes

Writing 'cumprido' for 'long'. → comprido
Cumprido means fulfilled. Comprido means long. This is the most common spelling error.
Using 'comprido' for a person's height. → alto
A person is 'alto' (tall), not 'comprido'. 'Comprido' is for objects or hair.
Using 'comprido' for time (e.g., 'um tempo comprido'). → um longo tempo
Comprido is for physical space only. Use 'longo' for time.
Forgetting gender agreement (e.g., 'a mesa comprido'). → a mesa comprida
Adjectives must match the gender of the noun they describe.
Forgetting plural agreement (e.g., 'os braços comprido'). → os braços compridos
Adjectives must match the number (singular/plural) of the noun.

Tips

Gender Matching

Always check the noun before you speak. 'A mesa' is feminine, so use 'comprida'. 'O caminho' is masculine, so use 'comprido'.

Comprido vs. Longo

Use 'comprido' for things you can touch. Use 'longo' for things you experience, like time or feelings.

The 'O' Rule

Remember: C-O-M-P-R-I-D-O for length. There is no 'u' in the adjective for long.

Nasal 'O'

The first 'o' is nasal. Don't close your lips too hard on the 'm'; let the air go through your nose.

Be Hyperbolic

In casual Brazilian Portuguese, use 'quilométrico' to describe something that is impressively long, like a queue.

At Home

Use 'comprido' when talking about furniture, curtains, or cables. It's the most natural word for household items.

Clothing

A 'vestido comprido' is a long dress. 'Manga comprida' is long sleeves. These are fixed terms you should memorize.

Describing People

Use 'comprido' for hair and limbs. It adds a nice level of detail to your descriptions of friends or characters.

Using 'Mais'

When comparing, say 'mais comprido do que'. The 'do' is optional but makes you sound more like a native.

Avoid 'Comprido' for Time

Never write 'uma aula comprida'. Always write 'uma aula longa'. This is a hallmark of good Portuguese.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a **COMP**uter cord that is very long. It is a **COMP**rido cord.

Visual Association

Visualize a long, horizontal ruler stretching across a table. The ruler represents the linear nature of 'comprido'.

Word Web

Cabelo Rua Vestido Braço Mesa Caminho Fio Ponte

Challenge

Try to find five objects in your room and describe their length using 'comprido' or 'curto' out loud.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'completus', the past participle of 'complere' (to fill up, to complete). Over time, the meaning evolved in the Iberian Peninsula to describe the 'full' or 'complete' extent of an object, eventually settling on the meaning of physical length.

Original meaning: Filled up or complete.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral descriptive term.

English speakers often struggle because 'long' is used for both time and space. Portuguese is more precise here.

The song 'Cabelo Comprido' by various Brazilian artists. Descriptions of the 'Rio Amazonas' as the most 'comprido' river. Literary descriptions in works by Machado de Assis.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Hairdresser

Quero manter comprido.
Está muito comprido.
Corte só as pontas, quero comprido.
O comprimento está bom.

Shopping for Clothes

Este vestido é muito comprido.
As calças estão compridas.
Você tem uma saia mais comprida?
Preciso fazer a bainha, está comprido.

Construction/DIY

Preciso de um prego comprido.
A tábua é muito comprida.
O cabo não é comprido.
Meça o lado mais comprido.

Describing People

Ele tem braços compridos.
Ela tem pernas compridas.
Ele tem um rosto comprido.
Dedos compridos de pianista.

Travel/Geography

A estrada é comprida.
O rio é muito comprido.
Um túnel comprido.
A ponte mais comprida.

Conversation Starters

"Você prefere ter o cabelo curto ou comprido?"

"Qual é a ponte mais comprida que você já atravessou?"

"Você acha que vestidos compridos são mais elegantes que os curtos?"

"Sua rua é muito comprida ou é curta?"

"Você prefere usar camisas de manga comprida mesmo no calor?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva o caminho mais comprido que você já fez a pé. Como você se sentiu?

Fale sobre uma pessoa que você conhece que tem o cabelo muito comprido.

Se você pudesse construir uma mesa muito comprida para um jantar, quem você convidaria?

Descreva as roupas que você está usando hoje, mencionando se são compridas ou curtas.

Escreva sobre um objeto comprido que é muito importante na sua casa.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it's better to use 'longo'. 'Comprido' is for physical length, like the film strip itself, while 'longo' is for the duration of the movie. Saying 'um filme comprido' sounds strange to native speakers.

'Comprido' is almost always literal and physical (hair, tables). 'Longo' can be physical but is also used for time (long years) and abstract concepts (a long story). 'Longo' is slightly more formal.

Think of an 'Object'. You measure the length of an object. Object starts with 'O', and 'comprido' has an 'o'. 'Cumprido' (fulfilled) has a 'u', like 'Utility' or 'User' performing a task.

Only for their parts (hair, legs, arms, nose). If you want to say a person is tall, use 'alto'. Calling a person 'comprido' sounds like you are describing them as an elongated object.

The feminine plural is 'compridas'. For example: 'As unhas dela são compridas'.

No. That is 'cumprido' with a 'u'. This is a very common mistake. 'O prazo foi cumprido' means the deadline was met. 'O prazo foi comprido' would mean the deadline was physically long, which makes little sense.

Yes, it is extremely common in both Brazil and Portugal for all physical descriptions of length.

Yes, that is perfectly correct. You could also say 'um rio longo'. Both work for geographical distances.

The opposite is 'curto' (short). For example: 'cabelo comprido' vs. 'cabelo curto'.

It is a neutral word. It's used in everyday conversation, but it's also perfectly fine in formal writing when describing physical dimensions.