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A2 verb #7,000 most common 9 min read

desagradar

Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips desagradar in 30 Seconds

Explanation desagradar in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are just beginning to express likes and dislikes. While 'desagradar' is technically an A2 word, you might encounter it in simple sentences about food or weather. At this stage, you should focus on the basic idea that 'desagradar' is the opposite of 'agradar'. Think of it as a fancy way to say 'não é bom' (is not good) or 'não gosto' (I don't like). You will mostly see it in the present tense, third person singular: 'Isso desagrada' (That is unpleasant). It's important to start noticing that the thing you don't like is the one doing the action in the sentence. For example, if you don't like a cold room, the room is 'desagradando' you. Don't worry too much about complex prepositions yet; just focus on recognizing the word when you see it in a text about someone's preferences.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'desagradar' to describe social situations and general opinions. This is where you learn that 'desagradar' often needs the preposition 'a'. For example, 'A comida desagradou ao João' (The food displeased João). You can use it to talk about movies, books, or people's behavior. It's a great word to use when you want to sound slightly more formal than just using 'não gostar'. You should practice the present and past tense forms: 'desagrada' and 'desagradou'. You will also start to see it in negative sentences like 'Eu não quero desagradar você' (I don't want to displease you). This is a very common social phrase used to show politeness and consideration for others' feelings.

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'desagradar' in a variety of tenses and contexts, including the future and the conditional. You can start using it to discuss more abstract concepts, such as political decisions or company policies. At this level, you should also understand the difference between 'desagradar' and 'incomodar' (to bother). You might use 'desagradar' in professional emails to politely express that something was not satisfactory: 'O atraso desagradou à nossa equipe' (The delay displeased our team). You should also be aware of how to use it with indirect object pronouns like 'lhe' and 'nos'. For example, 'A proposta não nos desagrada' (The proposal doesn't displease us). This shows a more nuanced control of Portuguese grammar and social register.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'desagradar' with precision in debates and formal writing. You should understand its use in the subjunctive mood, which is common in expressions of fear or doubt: 'Temo que isso lhe desagrade' (I fear that this might displease him). You can also use it to discuss public opinion and complex social dynamics. You should be able to explain *why* something 'desagrada', using more advanced vocabulary. For instance, 'A falta de transparência do governo desagradou profundamente à população' (The government's lack of transparency deeply displeased the population). At this stage, you should also be familiar with the noun form 'desagrado' (displeasure) and how to use it in phrases like 'expressar seu desagrado' (to express one's displeasure).

At the C1 level, 'desagradar' becomes a tool for stylistic nuance. You will encounter it in literature and high-level journalism, often used to create a specific tone or to avoid repetition. You should be able to use it in complex sentence structures, including those with inverted word order or literary flourishes. You will understand how 'desagradar' can be used ironically or to imply a subtle social snub. For example, 'O seu silêncio desagradou mais do que qualquer palavra' (Your silence displeased more than any word). You should also be comfortable with all its idiomatic uses, such as 'desagradar a gregos e troianos'. Your use of prepositions and pronouns with this verb should be flawless, reflecting a deep understanding of Portuguese syntax and regional variations between Brazil and Portugal.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'desagradar' and its place in the history and evolution of the Portuguese language. You can analyze its use in classical texts and understand the subtle shifts in meaning it has undergone over centuries. You use the verb with total spontaneity, choosing it over synonyms to achieve a precise rhetorical effect. You are aware of its most obscure uses and can use it in highly formal, academic, or legal contexts without hesitation. For a C2 speaker, 'desagradar' is not just a verb, but a part of a rich tapestry of words used to describe the complexities of human interaction, aesthetic judgment, and social harmony. You can even discuss the philosophical implications of 'desagradar' in the context of ethics or aesthetics.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

desagradar in 30 Seconds

Desagradar means to displease or be unpleasant to someone, acting as the opposite of the verb agradar.
It is primarily an indirect transitive verb, often requiring the preposition 'a' before the person being displeased.
The word is used in social, professional, and political contexts to describe negative reactions to actions or events.
Commonly found in the expression 'desagradar a gregos e troianos', meaning to fail to please anyone.

The Portuguese verb desagradar is a sophisticated and essential term for any learner reaching the A2 level and beyond. At its most fundamental level, it translates to 'to displease', 'to offend', or 'to be unpleasant to' someone. It is the semantic opposite of the verb agradar (to please). When you use desagradar, you are describing a situation where an action, a person, an object, or a statement fails to meet someone's expectations or causes a negative emotional reaction, ranging from mild dissatisfaction to outright offense.

Core Concept: The verb functions as an indirect transitive verb in many contexts, meaning it often requires the preposition 'a'. For example, 'Isso desagrada ao meu pai' (That displeases my father).

A nova política da empresa acabou por desagradar a todos os funcionários.

In social contexts, desagradar is frequently used to discuss public opinion, artistic works, or interpersonal dynamics. If a movie is poorly received, a critic might say it 'desagradou ao público'. If a friend makes a comment that feels slightly rude, you might say the comment 'desagradou' you. It is a more formal and precise word than simply saying 'não gostar' (to not like). While 'não gostar' focuses on the person's feeling, desagradar focuses on the thing that is causing the feeling.

Grammatical Nuance: In European Portuguese, the use of the preposition 'a' is very strict. In Brazilian Portuguese, you might occasionally hear it used as a direct transitive verb in informal speech, though the formal standard remains indirect.

Não quero desagradar ninguém com a minha opinião sincera.

Furthermore, the word appears in several idiomatic expressions, most notably 'desagradar a gregos e troianos', which means to fail to please anyone or to try (and fail) to please two opposing sides. This reflects the word's utility in describing complex social balances. Understanding desagradar allows you to express dissatisfaction with a level of nuance that basic verbs lack. It suggests a mismatch between an input and a preference.

O cheiro forte da tinta costuma desagradar aos clientes da loja.

Register: While not strictly academic, it carries a certain weight. Using it in a conversation shows a higher level of Portuguese proficiency than using 'ser ruim' (to be bad) or 'não ser bom' (to not be good).

Sua atitude arrogante começou a desagradar até os seus amigos mais próximos.

Tentei não desagradar os meus sogros durante a visita.

In summary, desagradar is about the impact of an external stimulus on internal satisfaction. It is a verb of reaction and reception.

Using desagradar correctly requires an understanding of its syntax, which can be tricky for English speakers. In English, 'to displease' is a direct transitive verb: 'You displease me'. In Portuguese, 'desagradar' is primarily an indirect transitive verb, meaning it needs the preposition a. This makes it function similarly to the verb gostar or responder.

The Preposition 'A': Whenever you specify who is being displeased, you must include 'a'. For example: 'A notícia desagradou aos investidores' (The news displeased the investors).

O comportamento do aluno desagradou à professora.

When using pronouns, this prepositional nature remains important. Instead of saying 'Isso me desagrada' (which is common and accepted in Brazil), the strictly formal or European construction would often be 'Isso desagrada-me' or 'Isso me desagrada' depending on the placement rules, but the underlying logic is that the 'me' is an indirect object.

Conjugation Patterns: As a regular -ar verb, it follows standard conjugation rules. Eu desagrado, tu desagradas, ele desagrada, nós desagradamos, eles desagradam. In the past tense: eu desagradei, ele desagradou.

Eu temo que o resultado final vá desagradar ao diretor.

You can also use desagradar in the impersonal sense or with abstract subjects. 'Desagrada pensar que...' (It is unpleasant to think that...). This usage is very common in formal writing and debates.

Sempre desagrada ver injustiças acontecendo no mundo.

Negation: Negating the verb is straightforward: 'Não quero desagradar ninguém'. However, remember that 'não desagradar' is not exactly the same as 'agradar'. It simply means you are avoiding causing offense.

A decisão não desagradou totalmente os moradores, mas deixou dúvidas.

Espero que a minha ausência não desagrade aos anfitriões.

In the passive voice, though less common, you might see 'ser desagradado por', but it is much more natural to say 'sentir-se desagradado' (to feel displeased).

Ele sentiu-se desagradado com as críticas que recebeu.

Mastery of these sentence patterns marks a transition into more fluent, natural Portuguese usage.

You will encounter desagradar in a variety of real-world contexts, ranging from the news to casual dinner conversations. It is a staple of Brazilian and Portuguese media, especially in political and social commentary.

News and Politics: Journalists often use this verb to describe how a new law or governmental decision is received by the public. 'O novo imposto desagradou à classe média'. It provides a neutral yet descriptive way to report dissatisfaction.

A declaração do ministro desagradou profundamente aos aliados do governo.

In the arts and entertainment world, desagradar is the go-to verb for critics. When a highly anticipated sequel fails to live up to the hype, headlines might read: 'O final da série desagradou aos fãs'. It implies a failure to satisfy a specific audience's tastes or expectations.

Business and Professional Life: In a corporate setting, you might hear this word during performance reviews or strategy meetings. A manager might say, 'O atraso na entrega desagradou ao cliente'. It is professional and avoids the more emotional or informal 'deixou o cliente bravo' (made the client angry).

Mudanças no horário de trabalho podem desagradar a alguns funcionários.

In everyday social life, it’s used when discussing preferences. If you’re planning a group trip, someone might say, 'Temos que escolher um destino que não desagrade a ninguém'. This highlights the word's role in consensus-building and social harmony.

O tom de voz dele costuma desagradar as pessoas que não o conhecem bem.

Literature and Formal Writing: In novels, 'desagradar' is used to describe a character's internal reaction to their environment. 'A frieza do quarto desagradou ao viajante'. It adds a layer of descriptive quality that 'não gostou' lacks.

Nada parecia desagradar mais ao velho do que o barulho das crianças.

Essa escolha de cores pode desagradar aos compradores mais conservadores.

Whether you are reading a newspaper in Lisbon or watching a soap opera in Rio de Janeiro, 'desagradar' will appear as a key verb for expressing negative reception in a controlled, articulate manner.

Even advanced learners of Portuguese can stumble when using desagradar. The most frequent errors involve preposition usage, confusion with similar-sounding verbs, and incorrect subject-verb agreement.

Mistake 1: Omitting the Preposition 'A': In formal Portuguese, 'desagradar' is an indirect transitive verb. Many learners treat it like 'displease' in English and omit the 'a'. Incorrect: 'Isso desagradou o chefe'. Correct: 'Isso desagradou ao chefe'.

Muitos alunos esquecem de colocar a preposição antes do objeto que desagrada.

Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Desgostar': While 'desgostar' means 'to dislike', 'desagradar' means 'to displease'. Use 'desgostar' when the person is the subject ('Eu desgosto de brócolis') and 'desagradar' when the thing is the subject ('Brócolis me desagrada').

Mistake 3: Incorrect Pronoun Usage: Because it is indirect, you should technically use 'lhe' instead of 'o/a' for 'him/her'. Incorrect: 'A notícia o desagradou'. Correct: 'A notícia desagradou-lhe' (formal) or 'A notícia lhe desagradou'.

É comum errar o pronome ao tentar desagradar alguém em uma frase formal.

Mistake 4: Overusing it for Personal Dislike: 'Desagradar' is a bit heavy for 'I don't like this coffee'. For simple personal tastes, 'não gostar' is much more natural. Use 'desagradar' for more significant social or aesthetic offenses.

Não use desagradar para coisas muito simples, soa exagerado.

A falta de pontualidade pode desagradar à maioria dos convidados.

By paying attention to these details, you will avoid the typical 'foreigner' sounding mistakes and speak with much higher precision.

The Portuguese language offers many synonyms for desagradar, each with its own nuance and level of formality. Choosing the right one can help you express exactly how 'unpleasant' something is.

Ofender: 'Ofender' is stronger than 'desagradar'. While 'desagradar' might just mean you didn't like the color of someone's shirt, 'ofender' means you feel personally attacked or insulted.

O comentário não apenas desagradou, mas ofendeu a todos.

Incomodar: 'Incomodar' means 'to bother' or 'to annoy'. It is more about physical or persistent mental irritation. 'O barulho me incomoda' is more common than 'O barulho me desagrada'.

Chatear: In Brazil, 'chatear' is very common for 'to annoy' or 'to make someone upset'. It is much more informal than 'desagradar'.

Fiquei chateado porque a notícia me desagradou.

Desgostar: As mentioned before, 'desgostar' is the direct opposite of 'gostar'. It is used when the person is the subject: 'Eu desgostei do filme'.

Muitas vezes, o que nos faz desgostar de algo é o fato de ele nos desagradar esteticamente.

Repugnar: This is a very strong version of 'desagradar', meaning 'to disgust' or 'to be repulsive to'. It implies a strong visceral reaction.

A ideia de mentir para os pais desagrada a ele, mas a ideia de roubar o repugna.

Understanding these synonyms allows you to tailor your speech to the specific intensity of the situation, making your Portuguese sound more natural and expressive.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'gratitude' comes from the same Latin root 'gratus'. So, 'desagradar' is literally 'to un-gratify'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dɨ.zɐ.ɡɾɐ.ˈdaɾ/

US /de.za.ɡɾa.ˈdaʁ/

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

Rhymes With

olhar falar andar cantar estar chegar pensar amar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 's' as an 's' instead of a 'z'. It should be 'de-za-gradar'.
Stress on the wrong syllable, like 'de-sa-GRA-dar'.
Missing the nasal quality of the 'a' in some regional accents.
Pronouncing the 'de' too strongly like 'dee' instead of 'deh' or 'dih'.
Forgetting to roll the 'r' slightly in the 'gra' syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'agradar'.

Writing 4/5

Tricky due to the preposition 'a' and pronoun placement.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is regular but requires the 'z' sound for 's'.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with 'desgostar' if heard quickly.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

agradar gostar bom ruim preposição

Learn Next

desagradável descontentamento ofensa incomodar irritar

Advanced

ignominioso detestável execrável abominar

Grammar to Know

Indirect Transitive Verbs

Desagradar requires 'a' like 'obedecer' or 'responder'.

Crase (Contraction)

Desagradar + a + a (feminine noun) = à. 'Desagradar à mãe'.

Pronoun Placement

In formal Portuguese: 'Isso desagradou-me'. In Brazil: 'Isso me desagradou'.

Subjunctive with Emotions

Sinto muito que isso te desagrade.

Verbs of Affect

The thing that causes the feeling is the subject.

Examples by Level

A sopa fria pode desagradar.

The cold soup can be unpleasant.

Simple present tense.

O barulho desagrada o bebê.

The noise displeases the baby.

Direct object used informally.

Eu não quero desagradar você.

I don't want to displease you.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

A chuva desagrada muita gente.

The rain displeases many people.

Third person singular.

O cheiro forte desagrada.

The strong smell is unpleasant.

Intransitive use.

Isso desagrada ao meu amigo.

This displeases my friend.

Use of 'ao' (a + o).

A cor da parede desagrada.

The color of the wall is unpleasant.

Subject is 'a cor'.

O filme novo desagradou.

The new movie was displeasing.

Past tense (pretérito perfeito).

A notícia desagradou aos pais.

The news displeased the parents.

Indirect transitive with 'aos'.

Sua atitude desagradou à professora.

Your attitude displeased the teacher.

Use of 'à' (a + a).

Não gostamos de desagradar ninguém.

We don't like to displease anyone.

Negative infinitive.

O preço alto desagradou aos clientes.

The high price displeased the customers.

Plural indirect object.

O presente pareceu desagradar a ela.

The gift seemed to displease her.

Preposition 'a' before 'ela'.

Espero não desagradar com meu atraso.

I hope not to displease with my lateness.

Desagradar used with a reason.

A música alta desagradou aos vizinhos.

The loud music displeased the neighbors.

Standard A2 sentence structure.

O resultado do jogo desagradou à torcida.

The game result displeased the fans.

Crase used correctly.

A nova lei desagradou a grande parte da população.

The new law displeased a large part of the population.

Desagradar used in a political context.

O tom da conversa desagradou-lhe bastante.

The tone of the conversation displeased him/her a lot.

Enclitic pronoun used formally.

Sempre tentei não desagradar aos meus sogros.

I always tried not to displease my parents-in-law.

Compound verb phrase.

A proposta de trabalho desagradou aos sindicatos.

The job proposal displeased the unions.

Professional context.

Será que a minha opinião vai desagradar?

Will my opinion be displeasing?

Future tense with 'ir'.

O comportamento dele desagradou a todos na festa.

His behavior displeased everyone at the party.

General social context.

A mudança de planos desagradou aos viajantes.

The change of plans displeased the travelers.

Noun phrase as subject.

Nada me desagrada mais do que a mentira.

Nothing displeases me more than a lie.

Comparative structure.

É provável que a decisão desagrade aos investidores.

It is likely that the decision will displease the investors.

Present subjunctive.

O autor não queria desagradar à crítica literária.

The author did not want to displease the literary critics.

Imperfect tense for intention.

Desagradou-me o fato de não terem me avisado.

The fact that they didn't warn me displeased me.

Subject is a clause ('o fato de...').

A reforma do parque desagradou a alguns moradores locais.

The park renovation displeased some local residents.

Specific social context.

Se eu falasse a verdade, poderia desagradar a muita gente.

If I spoke the truth, I could displease many people.

Conditional mood.

A falta de higiene no restaurante desagradou aos clientes.

The lack of hygiene in the restaurant displeased the customers.

Abstract noun as subject.

O discurso do presidente desagradou aos aliados europeus.

The president's speech displeased the European allies.

International relations context.

Não me desagrada a ideia de passar as férias no campo.

The idea of spending the holidays in the countryside doesn't displease me.

Double negative for nuance.

A estética minimalista da obra desagradou aos olhos mais conservadores.

The minimalist aesthetics of the work displeased more conservative eyes.

Metaphorical use of 'eyes'.

Qualquer deslize poderia desagradar profundamente ao monarca.

Any slip-up could deeply displease the monarch.

Formal/Historical register.

Desagradar a gregos e troianos é o destino de muitos políticos.

To displease both Greeks and Trojans is the fate of many politicians.

Idiomatic expression.

A frieza com que foi recebido desagradou-lhe sobremaneira.

The coldness with which he was received displeased him exceedingly.

Advanced adverb 'sobremaneira'.

O veredito do juiz desagradou a ambas as partes envolvidas.

The judge's verdict displeased both parties involved.

Legal context.

Sua recusa em colaborar desagradou à comissão de inquérito.

His refusal to cooperate displeased the commission of inquiry.

Highly formal subject.

Raramente uma obra de arte consegue não desagradar a ninguém.

Rarely does a work of art manage not to displease anyone.

Complex negative structure.

A ironia fina de seu texto desagradou aos que não a entenderam.

The fine irony of his text displeased those who did not understand it.

Subtle literary nuance.

A vacuidade do discurso desagradou aos intelectuais presentes.

The emptiness of the speech displeased the intellectuals present.

Academic vocabulary ('vacuidade').

O fado, por vezes, desagrada aos que buscam apenas alegria efêmera.

Fate, at times, displeases those who seek only ephemeral joy.

Philosophical/Literary register.

Não obstante o esforço, a performance acabou por desagradar aos puristas.

Notwithstanding the effort, the performance ended up displeasing the purists.

Use of 'não obstante'.

A dissonância cognitiva causada pela notícia desagradou à opinião pública.

The cognitive dissonance caused by the news displeased public opinion.

Psychological terminology.

Pudesse ele prever que suas palavras desagradariam tanto, ter-se-ia calado.

Had he been able to foresee that his words would displease so much, he would have remained silent.

Advanced conditional/subjunctive structure.

A austeridade do regime desagradou até aos seus mais fervorosos adeptos.

The austerity of the regime displeased even its most fervent followers.

Political/Historical depth.

O descompasso entre a teoria e a prática desagradou aos acadêmicos.

The mismatch between theory and practice displeased the academics.

Abstract conceptual subject.

A mundanidade de tais preocupações desagrada ao espírito elevado.

The worldliness of such concerns displeases the elevated spirit.

Spiritual/Philosophical register.

Common Collocations

desagradar profundamente

desagradar a todos

tentar não desagradar

desagradar aos olhos

desagradar à crítica

desagradar ao paladar

acabar por desagradar

desagradar aos investidores

desagradar à plateia

desagradar ligeiramente

Common Phrases

Para não desagradar

— In order to avoid causing offense or displeasure.

Ele mentiu para não desagradar a namorada.

Sem querer desagradar

— A polite way to start a potentially offensive statement.

Sem querer desagradar, acho que o projeto está ruim.

O que mais me desagrada

— What displeases me the most or what I dislike most.

O que mais me desagrada é a falta de educação.

Risco de desagradar

— The possibility of causing displeasure.

Assumi o risco de desagradar ao meu chefe.

Medo de desagradar

— The fear of making someone unhappy with you.

Ela tem um medo constante de desagradar as pessoas.

Desagradar por completo

— To displease someone entirely.

O novo visual me desagradou por completo.

Pode desagradar

— Used to express that something might be unpleasant.

O cheiro de cigarro pode desagradar aos não fumantes.

Difícil não desagradar

— When it's hard to avoid making someone unhappy.

Nesta situação, é difícil não desagradar ninguém.

Desagradar à maioria

— To be disliked by most people.

A nova regra desagradou à maioria dos alunos.

Não me desagrada

— A way to say that something is acceptable or even okay.

A ideia de sair hoje não me desagrada.

Often Confused With

desagradar vs desgostar

Desgostar is 'to dislike' (subject is the person). Desagradar is 'to displease' (subject is the thing).

desagradar vs distratar

Distratar means to mistreat or insult directly, while desagradar is just being unpleasant.

desagradar vs desagregador

This is an adjective meaning something that breaks things apart, not related to pleasing.

Idioms & Expressions

"Desagradar a gregos e troianos"

— To fail to please everyone; to be in a position where no matter what you do, someone will be unhappy.

A nova lei desagradou a gregos e troianos.

Common

"Cair no desagrado"

— To lose someone's favor or to become disliked by someone, often in a position of power.

Após o erro, o funcionário caiu no desagrado do patrão.

Formal

"Pôr em desagrado"

— To cause someone to be in a state of displeasure.

A sua atitude pôs toda a família em desagrado.

Literary

"Comer o pão que o diabo amassou (contextual)"

— While not directly about desagradar, it implies a situation that is extremely displeasing/hard.

Ele comeu o pão que o diabo amassou para não desagradar ao pai.

Informal

"Não agradar nem a Deus nem ao diabo"

— Similar to gregos e troianos, meaning to please absolutely no one.

Esse projeto não agrada nem a Deus nem ao diabo.

Informal

"Fazer cara de desagrado"

— To make a face that shows you are displeased.

Ela fez cara de desagrado quando viu o prato.

Common

"Manifestar desagrado"

— To explicitly show or say that you are not happy with something.

O sindicato manifestou desagrado com a proposta.

Formal

"Em sinal de desagrado"

— As a sign of displeasure.

Ele retirou-se da sala em sinal de desagrado.

Formal

"Provocar o desagrado"

— To cause a feeling of displeasure in others.

A sua arrogância provoca o desagrado de todos.

Neutral

"Sentir profundo desagrado"

— To feel a strong sense of dissatisfaction or offense.

Sinto profundo desagrado com essa situação.

Neutral

Easily Confused

desagradar vs agradar

They are opposites but sound similar.

Agradar is positive (to please); Desagradar is negative (to displease).

Ele tenta agradar, mas acaba por desagradar.

desagradar vs incomodar

Both describe negative feelings.

Incomodar is more about physical or persistent bother; Desagradar is about taste or offense.

O som alto me incomoda; a letra da música me desagrada.

desagradar vs ofender

Both involve negative reactions.

Ofender is stronger and more personal than desagradar.

Sua piada me desagradou, mas não me ofendeu.

desagradar vs desgostar

Both mean not liking something.

Grammar: 'Eu desgosto de X' vs 'X me desagrada'.

Eu desgosto de mentiras; mentiras me desagradam.

desagradar vs chatear

Both mean to annoy.

Chatear is informal; Desagradar is more formal.

Pare de me chatear! O seu tom me desagrada.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] desagrada a [Person].

A chuva desagrada ao Pedro.

Não quero desagradar a [Person].

Não quero desagradar aos meus amigos.

Isso me desagrada.

O barulho me desagrada muito.

É possível que desagrade a [Person].

É possível que o plano desagrade aos vizinhos.

O que me desagrada é [Clause].

O que me desagrada é que ele nunca chega no horário.

Acabou por desagradar a [Group].

A palestra acabou por desagradar aos especialistas.

Desagradar a gregos e troianos.

Ele tentou ser neutro, mas desagradou a gregos e troianos.

Pudesse [Subject] não desagradar...

Pudesse eu não desagradar a ninguém, seria mais feliz.

Word Family

Nouns

desagrado (displeasure)

agrado (pleasure/treat)

Verbs

agradar (to please)

desagradar (to displease)

Adjectives

desagradável (unpleasant)

agradável (pleasant)

desagradado (displeased)

graça

grátis

gratidão

ingrato

gratificar

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media and formal speech; moderate in casual speech.

Common Mistakes

Isso desagradou o público. → Isso desagradou ao público.
The verb is indirect transitive and requires the preposition 'a'.
Eu desagrado de você. → Você me desagrada.
You are confusing 'desagradar' with 'desgostar'. 'Desagradar' doesn't take 'de'.
A notícia o desagradou. → A notícia lhe desagradou.
Since it's an indirect verb, 'lhe' is the correct formal pronoun, not 'o'.
Estou desagradando com o serviço. → O serviço está me desagradando.
The thing that is bad should be the subject of the verb.
Não quero desagradar à ninguém. → Não quero desagradar a ninguém.
You don't use 'crase' (à) before the word 'ninguém'.

Tips

Watch the Preposition

Always remember that 'desagradar' usually takes the preposition 'a'. If you are writing a formal email, 'desagradar ao cliente' is much better than 'desagradar o cliente'.

Use it for Variety

Instead of always saying 'não é bom', try using 'desagrada'. It makes your Portuguese sound more sophisticated and precise.

Polite Disagreement

Use 'Sem querer desagradar...' as a polite way to introduce a different opinion or a criticism.

The 'S' Sound

The 's' in 'desagradar' is between two vowels, so it sounds like a 'z'. Make sure you don't say it like a 'ss' sound.

Greek and Trojans

Memorize 'desagradar a gregos e troianos'. It's a very common phrase in news and social debates.

Adverb Pairing

Pair the verb with 'profundamente' (deeply) to show strong dissatisfaction. It's a very common collocation.

Context Clues

If you hear 'des-', expect something negative. Knowing 'agradar' helps you immediately understand its opposite.

Opposites

Learn 'agradar' and 'desagradar' together as a pair. This helps reinforce both words in your memory.

Aesthetic Judgment

Use 'desagradar' when talking about art, music, or fashion. It's the perfect verb for aesthetic criticism.

Corporate Use

In business, 'desagradar' is a professional way to report that a client or partner is unhappy without using emotional language.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'dis-agreeable'. If something is 'des-agradável', it's disagreeable. The verb 'desagradar' is the action of being disagreeable to someone.

Visual Association

Imagine a person being served a plate of food with a giant 'X' on it, looking very unhappy. The 'X' represents the 'des-' prefix.

Word Web

agradar gostar desagradar desgostar ofender incomodar chatear irritar

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about things that 'desagradam' you today using the preposition 'a'.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'dis-' (prefix indicating negation or reversal) and 'adgratare' (to please), which comes from 'gratus' (pleasing, thankful).

Original meaning: To undo the act of pleasing; to cause the opposite of pleasure.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using it directly to someone's face ('Você me desagrada'), as it is quite formal and can sound very cold or harsh.

English speakers often use 'I don't like' where a Portuguese speaker might use 'isso me desagrada' to sound more articulate.

Used in many Fado songs to describe the 'desagrado' of fate. Common in political headlines in 'Folha de S.Paulo' or 'Público'. Appears in the works of Machado de Assis to describe social tensions.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Politics

A medida desagradou.
Desagradar aos eleitores.
Expressar desagrado.
Veto que desagrada.

Food/Dining

Desagradar ao paladar.
Sabor que desagrada.
O prato me desagradou.
Desagradar aos clientes.

Social Gatherings

Não quero desagradar.
Desagradar aos anfitriões.
Atitude que desagrada.
Medo de desagradar.

Arts/Reviews

Desagradar à crítica.
O final desagradou.
Estética que desagrada.
Desagradar aos fãs.

Work/Business

Desagradar ao chefe.
A proposta desagradou.
Desagradar aos sócios.
Relatório que desagrada.

Conversation Starters

"O que mais te desagrada em uma viagem?"

"Você acha que é possível não desagradar a ninguém em uma decisão difícil?"

"Qual tipo de comportamento mais te desagrada em um colega de trabalho?"

"Alguma vez um filme muito famoso já te desagradou?"

"Como você reage quando percebe que sua opinião desagradou a alguém?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma situação em que você teve que desagradar alguém para ser fiel a si mesmo.

Descreva um lugar que te desagrada e explique os motivos (cheiro, som, luz).

Pense em uma decisão política recente que desagradou à população.

Como você lida com o medo de desagradar os outros no seu dia a dia?

Reflita sobre a expressão 'desagradar a gregos e troianos' na sua vida.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb. It follows the same conjugation pattern as 'falar' or 'cantar' in all tenses. For example, in the present: eu desagrado, você desagrada, nós desagradamos.

In formal Portuguese and European Portuguese, yes. It is an indirect transitive verb. In informal Brazilian Portuguese, people often use it as a direct transitive verb (without 'a'), but it is better to use 'a' to be safe.

'Não gostar' means 'to not like' and focuses on the person's feeling. 'Desagradar' means 'to displease' and focuses on the thing that causes the feeling. 'Desagradar' is also more formal.

Yes, a person can 'desagradar' another person. 'Ele me desagrada' means 'He displeases me' or 'I find him unpleasant'.

It is a famous idiom meaning 'to displease everyone' or 'to fail to please two opposing sides'. It's often used in politics.

Yes, the noun is 'desagrado', which means 'displeasure' or 'dissatisfaction'.

You can say 'Estou desagradado' (adjective) or 'Isso me desagrada' (verb).

Absolutely. It is very common to say 'O cheiro desagrada' or 'O sabor desagrada ao paladar'.

The correct formal way is 'desagradar ao' (preposition 'a' + article 'o').

Yes, 'desagradável' is the adjective form, meaning 'unpleasant'. It is very commonly used.