emocionar in 30 Seconds
- Emocionar means to move someone emotionally, to stir deep feelings.
- It's used when something has a significant emotional impact.
- Commonly used for movies, music, stories, and personal events.
- The reflexive form 'emocionar-se' means to become emotional oneself.
The Portuguese verb emocionar is used to describe the act of causing strong feelings or emotions in someone. It signifies stirring the emotions, making someone feel deeply moved, touched, or affected. This can be a positive or negative emotional response, depending on the context. For instance, a beautiful piece of music can emocionar someone, bringing tears to their eyes with its beauty. Similarly, a sad story can emocionar a listener, evoking feelings of sympathy and sorrow. It's a versatile verb that captures the essence of being emotionally impacted by something external.
- Core Meaning
- To evoke strong feelings; to move emotionally.
- Usage Contexts
- Used when something has a significant emotional impact, whether it's joy, sadness, nostalgia, or inspiration.
A história da sua avó conseguiu emocionar a todos na sala.
People use emocionar in various situations. It's common to hear it when discussing films, books, music, personal experiences, or even witnessing acts of kindness or bravery. For example, someone might say, 'O filme me emocionou muito' (The movie moved me a lot). Or, 'A notícia da sua promoção me emocionou' (The news of your promotion moved me). It's a word that signifies a genuine and often profound emotional connection or reaction. It's not just about feeling something; it's about being actively touched or stirred by it. The intensity of the emotion can vary, but the core idea is that the subject has succeeded in making someone feel something significant. This can range from a gentle stirring of the heart to a powerful surge of feeling that brings tears or laughter. When something has the power to make you feel deeply, it has managed to emocionar you.
Essa música tem o poder de emocionar gerações.
- Nuance
- Can imply a strong, often positive, emotional impact, but can also be used for profound sadness or other deep feelings.
Consider the verb emocionar when something triggers a strong emotional response. It's more than just liking or disliking something; it's about being deeply affected. A poignant photograph can emocionar an observer, not just because it's visually appealing, but because it conveys a powerful story or sentiment. Similarly, a heartfelt speech can emocionar an audience, making them feel connected to the speaker's message and passion. It's a word that acknowledges the power of external stimuli to create internal emotional experiences. The feeling can be one of profound joy, overwhelming sadness, deep empathy, or even a sense of awe. The key is that the emotion is significant and directly linked to the source. When you feel your heart swell with pride, or a lump form in your throat due to sadness, you are being emocionado by something.
Using emocionar correctly involves understanding its transitive and reflexive forms. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object, meaning something or someone is doing the emoting to someone else. The most common structure is 'Subject + emocionar + Object'. For example, 'A música emocionou as pessoas' (The music moved the people). The subject (música) is the cause of the emotion, and the object (as pessoas) are the ones feeling it.
O discurso do atleta conseguiu emocionar toda a plateia.
- Transitive Use
- Subject (cause) + emocionar + Object (receiver of emotion). 'O filme emocionou-me.' (The movie moved me.)
A very frequent usage is the reflexive form, emocionar-se, which means to become emotional or to be moved oneself. The structure is 'Subject + emocionar-se'. For instance, 'Eu me emocionei com a notícia' (I became emotional with the news). The subject is the one experiencing the emotion. This reflexive form is extremely common and captures the personal impact of an event or stimulus.
Ela se emocionou ao ver a reação da família.
- Reflexive Use
- Subject (experiencer) + emocionar-se. 'Nós nos emocionamos com a apresentação.' (We were moved by the presentation.)
When constructing sentences, pay attention to verb conjugation. The verb emocionar conjugates like other regular -ar verbs. For example, in the present tense, 'eu emociono', 'tu emocionas', 'ele/ela/você emociona', 'nós emocionamos', 'vós emocionais', 'eles/elas/vocês emocionam'. In the past tense (preterite), it would be 'eu emocionei', 'tu emocionaste', 'ele/ela/você emocionou', etc. For the reflexive form emocionar-se, the reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject: 'Eu me emociono', 'Ela se emocionou', 'Nós nos emocionamos'.
Consider the context to decide between the transitive and reflexive uses. If you are describing something that *causes* an emotion in someone else, use the transitive form. If you are describing someone *experiencing* an emotion, use the reflexive form. For instance, 'A história do cão abandonado emocionou muitas pessoas' (The story of the abandoned dog moved many people) is transitive. However, 'Eu me emocionei muito ao ler a história' (I got very emotional reading the story) is reflexive. The key is to identify the subject and object of the emotional impact.
A performance do ballet clássico emocionou o público.
You can also use emocionar with indirect objects or prepositions, though this is less common than the direct transitive or reflexive forms. For example, one might say 'A música emocionou a todos pela sua melodia' (The music moved everyone by its melody), where 'pela sua melodia' explains *how* it moved them. However, for basic usage, sticking to the direct object or reflexive pronoun is generally sufficient and clearest.
You will hear the verb emocionar frequently in everyday Portuguese conversations, especially when people are sharing their feelings or reactions to something. It's particularly common in contexts related to entertainment, personal stories, and significant life events. For instance, after watching a touching movie or a powerful play, friends might discuss how the performance managed to emocionar them. 'Nossa, aquele final me emocionou demais!' (Wow, that ending really moved me!).
O reencontro dos amigos emocionou a todos na festa.
- Media and Arts
- Common in reviews of films, music, theater, and literature to describe the emotional impact on the audience or reader.
In family gatherings or among friends, people often share personal anecdotes that have moved them. A parent might say, 'Quando meu filho disse que me amava, eu me emocionei muito' (When my son said he loved me, I got very emotional). Or, someone might recount a touching act of kindness they witnessed: 'A solidariedade das pessoas naquele momento foi algo que realmente emocionou' (The solidarity of people at that moment was something that truly moved). The reflexive form, emocionar-se, is very prevalent in these personal accounts.
A história de superação da atleta emocionou o país.
- Personal Narratives
- Used when recounting personal experiences, heartwarming events, or moments of strong emotional connection.
You'll also encounter emocionar in news reports, especially when covering human interest stories, acts of heroism, or significant social events. A reporter might describe the reaction of a community to a disaster relief effort: 'A ajuda recebida emocionou profundamente os desabrigados' (The aid received deeply moved the displaced). Similarly, during award ceremonies, winners often express how the recognition has moved them, saying something like, 'Este prêmio me emociona de uma forma indescritível' (This award moves me in an indescribable way).
In educational settings, teachers might use emocionar to describe how a particular lesson or historical event impacted students. For example, 'A história da Segunda Guerra Mundial pode emocionar os alunos e fazê-los refletir sobre a paz' (The history of World War II can move students and make them reflect on peace). The use of the word highlights the goal of making learning an emotionally resonant experience. It's a testament to the word's power in conveying deep human feeling and connection.
One common mistake for learners is confusing the transitive and reflexive forms of emocionar. Learners might incorrectly use the transitive form when they intend to say they themselves are feeling emotional. For example, saying 'Eu emociono com o filme' instead of the correct 'Eu me emociono com o filme' (I get emotional with the movie). Remember, when *you* are the one feeling the emotion, the reflexive pronoun ('me', 'te', 'se', 'nos', 'vos', 'se') is necessary.
Incorrect: O livro emocionou eu. Correct: O livro emocionou-me.
- Transitive vs. Reflexive
- Forgetting the reflexive pronoun when the subject is experiencing the emotion. 'Eu emociono' instead of 'Eu me emociono'.
Another potential pitfall is overusing emocionar or using it in contexts where a less intense verb would be more appropriate. While emocionar implies a significant emotional stirring, sometimes a simpler verb like 'gostar' (to like) or 'sentir' (to feel) might suffice if the emotion isn't particularly deep. For instance, saying 'A paisagem me emocionou' (The landscape moved me) might be an exaggeration if you simply found it pretty. It's better reserved for when the landscape truly evokes a strong feeling, like awe or nostalgia.
Incorrect: A comida emocionou-me. Correct: A comida agradou-me/saborosa. (Unless the food evoked a very specific, strong memory or feeling).
- Intensity Mismatch
- Using emocionar for mild feelings when a less intense verb is more suitable.
A third common mistake is incorrect pronoun placement, especially with the reflexive form. While 'Eu me emociono' is standard, in some contexts or regional variations, you might hear 'Eu emociono-me' (more common in European Portuguese) or even 'Me emociono eu' (less formal). For learners, sticking to the standard 'Subject + reflexive pronoun + verb' (e.g., 'Eu me emociono') is the safest bet for Brazilian Portuguese, or 'Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun' (e.g., 'Eu emociono-me') for European Portuguese.
Finally, learners might forget to conjugate the verb correctly according to the tense and subject. Forgetting the '-se' in the reflexive form when the subject is third person (ele/ela/você/eles/elas/vocês) is another error. For example, saying 'Ele emocionou' instead of 'Ele se emocionou' (He got emotional). Always ensure the reflexive pronoun matches the subject.
While emocionar is a strong verb for evoking deep feelings, several other words can convey similar or related meanings, often with subtle differences in intensity or nuance. Comover is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably. Both mean to move emotionally. However, comover sometimes carries a slightly stronger sense of profound sadness or pity, though it can also be used for joy. For example, 'A história comoveu-me profundamente' (The story deeply moved me) is very similar to 'A história emocionou-me profundamente'.
- Comover
- Very similar to emocionar, often interchangeable. Can imply a deeper, sometimes sorrowful, emotional impact. 'O ato de bondade comoveu a todos.' (The act of kindness moved everyone.)
Another related verb is tocar, which literally means 'to touch'. In an emotional sense, it means to touch someone's heart or feelings. It's often used for things that are subtly or gently moving. 'Essa música me toca de um jeito especial' (This music touches me in a special way) suggests a more personal and perhaps less overwhelming emotional resonance than emocionar might imply. It signifies a gentle stirring of emotions.
- Tocar
- To touch (emotionally). Suggests a gentler or more personal emotional impact. 'Suas palavras tocaram meu coração.' (Your words touched my heart.)
For a more general sense of causing a reaction or affecting someone, you might use afetar. While afetar can mean to affect emotionally, it's broader and can also refer to affecting something physically or mentally. 'A notícia o afetou bastante' (The news affected him greatly) could mean emotionally, but also in terms of his well-being. Emocionar is more specific to emotional impact.
- Afetar
- To affect. Broader than emocionar, can be emotional, mental, or physical. 'O clima afetou o humor dele.' (The weather affected his mood.)
When something makes you feel happy or pleased, you might use alegrar or contente. 'O presente me alegrou' (The gift made me happy) is less about deep emotional stirring and more about simple joy. Similarly, 'Fiquei contente com a notícia' (I was happy with the news) expresses satisfaction. These are less intense than the deep stirring that emocionar implies.
- Alegrar / Ficar Contente
- To make happy / To be happy. Expresses joy or satisfaction, less about deep emotional stirring. 'A surpresa alegrou o dia dela.' (The surprise brightened her day.)
In summary, while comover is the closest synonym, tocar offers a gentler alternative, and afetar is broader. For expressing simple happiness, alegrar or ficar contente are more suitable. The choice depends on the specific nuance and intensity of the emotional reaction you wish to convey.
How Formal Is It?
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Fun Fact
The English word 'emotion' shares the same Latin root 'emovere'. Both 'emocionar' and 'emotion' are descendants of this ancient word, highlighting the universal concept of being moved by feelings.
Pronunciation Guide
- Mispronouncing the 'ci' sound, often as a simple 's' sound.
- Incorrect stress placement, such as stressing the first or third syllable.
- Not fully articulating the final 'ar' sound.
Difficulty Rating
The verb 'emocionar' is relatively straightforward in its core meaning. However, understanding the nuances between its transitive and reflexive forms, as well as its use with different prepositions and tenses, requires careful attention. The CEFR A2 level is appropriate for grasping the basic usage.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Reflexive Verbs
The verb 'emocionar' often appears in its reflexive form 'emocionar-se' (to become emotional). This requires using reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) that agree with the subject. Example: 'Eu me emociono.' (I get emotional.)
Transitive vs. Intransitive Use
'Emocionar' can be transitive (causing emotion in someone else) or used intransitively with a reflexive pronoun (experiencing emotion oneself). Example: 'O filme emocionou a todos.' (transitive) vs. 'Nós nos emocionamos com o filme.' (intransitive/reflexive).
Verb Conjugation (-ar verbs)
'Emocionar' follows the regular conjugation pattern for '-ar' verbs. Example: Present tense: eu emociono, tu emocionas, ele/ela/você emociona, nós emocionamos, vós emocionais, eles/elas/vocês emocionam.
Using 'Ficar' + Adjective
Instead of just 'emocionar-se', one can use 'ficar' followed by the adjective 'emocionado(a)'. Example: 'Ele ficou emocionado com a notícia.' (He became emotional with the news.)
Gerunds with Reflexive Verbs
When using the gerund with reflexive verbs, the pronoun can be attached to the gerund or placed before the auxiliary verb. Example: 'Ele estava se emocionando' or 'Ele estava emocionando-se'.
Examples by Level
O filme me emocionou.
The movie moved me.
Simple present tense, reflexive pronoun 'me'.
A música é muito emocionante.
The music is very moving.
Adjective form 'emocionante'.
Ela se emocionou com a notícia.
She got emotional with the news.
Past tense, reflexive verb 'emocionou-se'.
A história emocionou as crianças.
The story moved the children.
Past tense, transitive verb 'emocionou'.
Não se emocione muito.
Don't get too emotional.
Imperative negative, reflexive verb.
Ele ficou emocionado com o presente.
He was moved by the gift.
Using 'ficar' + adjective 'emocionado'.
Que momento emocionante!
What a moving moment!
Exclamatory phrase with adjective 'emocionante'.
O espetáculo emocionou a todos.
The show moved everyone.
Past tense, transitive verb 'emocionou'.
A apresentação teatral conseguiu emocionar a plateia.
The theatrical performance managed to move the audience.
Past tense of 'conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
Eu me emociono facilmente com filmes românticos.
I get emotional easily with romantic movies.
Present tense, reflexive 'emociono-me'.
A história de superação da atleta emocionou muitas pessoas.
The athlete's story of overcoming adversity moved many people.
Past tense, transitive verb 'emocionou'.
Ver meus filhos crescerem me emociona profundamente.
Seeing my children grow up moves me deeply.
Gerund 'vendo' + infinitive 'crescerem' + reflexive pronoun 'me'.
Ele se emocionou ao receber a medalha.
He became emotional upon receiving the medal.
Past tense, reflexive 'emocionou-se'.
A beleza da paisagem natural é de emocionar.
The beauty of the natural landscape is moving.
Using 'é de emocionar' to express strong impact.
O discurso do líder comunitário emocionou os presentes.
The community leader's speech moved those present.
Past tense, transitive verb 'emocionou'.
Não se emocione, ainda temos muito a fazer.
Don't get emotional, we still have a lot to do.
Imperative negative, reflexive verb.
A generosidade demonstrada pelos voluntários foi capaz de emocionar até os mais céticos.
The generosity shown by the volunteers was capable of moving even the most skeptical.
'Ser capaz de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
O reencontro após tantos anos conseguiu emocionar a todos na família.
The reunion after so many years managed to move everyone in the family.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
Ela se emocionou ao relembrar os tempos de infância.
She became emotional remembering her childhood days.
Past tense, reflexive 'emocionou-se' + gerund 'relembrando'.
A forma como ele lidou com a adversidade foi emocionante.
The way he dealt with adversity was moving.
Using 'foi' + adjective 'emocionante'.
O silêncio após a tempestade parecia emocionar a natureza ao redor.
The silence after the storm seemed to move the surrounding nature.
Imperfect tense 'parecia' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A história contada pelo avô emocionou os netos com suas lições de vida.
The story told by the grandfather moved the grandchildren with its life lessons.
Past tense, transitive verb 'emocionou'.
É difícil não se emocionar com a dedicação dos médicos em tempos de crise.
It's hard not to get emotional with the dedication of doctors in times of crisis.
'É difícil não' + reflexive infinitive 'se emocionar'.
O final inesperado do livro conseguiu emocionar leitores de todas as idades.
The unexpected ending of the book managed to move readers of all ages.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A performance solo do pianista foi de tal magnitude que conseguiu emocionar o público presente.
The pianist's solo performance was of such magnitude that it managed to move the audience present.
'Ser de tal magnitude que' + 'conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
É natural que nos emocionemos ao contemplar a vastidão do universo.
It is natural for us to become emotional when contemplating the vastness of the universe.
'É natural que' + subjunctive + reflexive 'nos emocionemos'.
A obra de arte, com sua crueza e realismo, tinha o poder de emocionar e provocar reflexão.
The artwork, with its rawness and realism, had the power to move and provoke reflection.
'Ter o poder de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
Ele se emocionou ao perceber o quanto sua família o apoiou ao longo da jornada.
He became emotional realizing how much his family supported him throughout the journey.
Past tense, reflexive 'emocionou-se' + gerund 'perceber'.
A forma como os animais selvagens interagem em seu habitat natural pode ser profundamente emocionante.
The way wild animals interact in their natural habitat can be deeply moving.
'Pode ser' + adverb 'profundamente' + adjective 'emocionante'.
O discurso do ativista, carregado de paixão e urgência, conseguiu emocionar e inspirar a multidão.
The activist's speech, charged with passion and urgency, managed to move and inspire the crowd.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar' + infinitive 'inspirar'.
As memórias de infância compartilhadas naquela noite conseguiram emocionar até mesmo os mais reservados.
The childhood memories shared that night managed to move even the most reserved.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
É impossível não se emocionar com a resiliência humana diante de tantas dificuldades.
It is impossible not to get emotional with human resilience in the face of so many difficulties.
'É impossível não' + reflexive infinitive 'se emocionar'.
A sutileza com que o diretor retratou a melancolia dos personagens foi capaz de emocionar o espectador mais perspicaz.
The subtlety with which the director portrayed the characters' melancholy was capable of moving the most perceptive viewer.
'Ser capaz de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
O impacto das suas palavras, carregadas de empatia genuína, conseguiu emocionar a todos que as ouviram.
The impact of his words, laden with genuine empathy, managed to move everyone who heard them.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
Diante da magnitude do desastre natural, era inevitável que muitos se emocionassem ao testemunhar a solidariedade humana.
Faced with the magnitude of the natural disaster, it was inevitable that many would become emotional upon witnessing human solidarity.
'Era inevitável que' + subjunctive + reflexive 'se emocionassem'.
A habilidade da compositora em traduzir sentimentos complexos em melodia é verdadeiramente emocionante.
The composer's ability to translate complex feelings into melody is truly moving.
'Ser' + adverb 'verdadeiramente' + adjective 'emocionante'.
Ele se emocionou ao revisitar os locais de sua juventude, cada um evocando uma miríade de memórias.
He became emotional revisiting the places of his youth, each evoking a myriad of memories.
Past tense, reflexive 'emocionou-se' + gerund 'revisitar'.
A narrativa histórica, ao expor as entranhas da condição humana, tinha o potencial de emocionar e redefinir perspectivas.
The historical narrative, by exposing the depths of the human condition, had the potential to move and redefine perspectives.
'Ter o potencial de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
É um testemunho da força da arte quando uma peça consegue emocionar gerações distintas.
It is a testament to the power of art when a piece can move distinct generations.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A serenidade da paisagem ao amanhecer era de tal beleza que parecia emocionar a própria alma.
The serenity of the landscape at dawn was of such beauty that it seemed to move the very soul.
'Ser de tal beleza que' + imperfect tense 'parecia' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A eloquência com que o orador descreveu a tragédia humana foi capaz de emocionar até os mais estoicos entre a audiência.
The eloquence with which the orator described the human tragedy was capable of moving even the most stoic among the audience.
'Ser capaz de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A obra literária, ao desvelar as complexidades da psique humana com tamanha maestria, conseguiu emocionar e perturbar o leitor em igual medida.
The literary work, by unveiling the complexities of the human psyche with such mastery, managed to move and disturb the reader in equal measure.
'Conseguir' + infinitive 'emocionar' + infinitive 'perturbar'.
Diante da imensidão do cosmos e da efemeridade da existência, era quase imperativo que o indivíduo se emocionasse ao confrontar sua própria insignificância.
Faced with the immensity of the cosmos and the ephemerality of existence, it was almost imperative for the individual to become emotional when confronting their own insignificance.
'Era imperativo que' + subjunctive + reflexive 'se emocionasse'.
A capacidade do artista de infundir em suas criações uma crueza emocional palpável é o que as torna universalmente emocionantes.
The artist's ability to imbue their creations with a palpable emotional rawness is what makes them universally moving.
'Tornar' + adjective 'emocionantes'.
Ele se emocionou ao revisitar os vestígios de uma civilização perdida, cada ruína evocando um eco de glórias passadas.
He became emotional revisiting the remnants of a lost civilization, each ruin evoking an echo of past glories.
Past tense, reflexive 'emocionou-se' + gerund 'revisitar'.
A sinfonia, com suas harmonias dissonantes e resoluções triunfantes, tinha a capacidade intrínseca de emocionar a alma humana em seus mais profundos recônditos.
The symphony, with its dissonant harmonies and triumphant resolutions, had the intrinsic capacity to move the human soul in its deepest recesses.
'Ter a capacidade intrínseca de' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
É um paradoxo fascinante como a representação da dor em uma obra de arte pode, paradoxalmente, emocionar pela sua beleza estética.
It is a fascinating paradox how the representation of pain in a work of art can, paradoxically, be moving for its aesthetic beauty.
'Poder' + infinitive 'emocionar'.
A retrospectiva histórica, ao confrontar o espectador com as atrocidades passadas, visava não apenas informar, mas sobretudo emocionar e incitar à reflexão ética.
The historical retrospective, by confronting the viewer with past atrocities, aimed not only to inform but above all to move and incite ethical reflection.
'Visar' + infinitive 'informar' + infinitive 'emocionar' + infinitive 'incitar'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Too moving / Overwhelmingly emotional.
O final do filme foi emocionante demais.
— What moves me / What makes me emotional.
O que me emociona são os atos de bondade.
Often Confused With
Very similar, often interchangeable. 'Comover' can sometimes imply a deeper, more sorrowful emotional impact than 'emocionar'.
Means 'to touch emotionally', usually implying a gentler or more personal emotional response than 'emocionar'.
'Afetar' means 'to affect' and is broader; it can be emotional, but also mental or physical. 'Emocionar' is specifically about emotional stirring.
Idioms & Expressions
— To have a heart that is deeply moved or touched by something.
Após ouvir a história, ele sentiu o coração emocionado.
Neutral— To move someone to tears, to be incredibly touching or sad.
A música era tão triste que emocionava até as pedras.
Informal— To make someone cry from being deeply moved.
A performance foi tão linda que fez todos chorarem de emoção.
Neutral— To be so moving or touching that it causes strong emotions.
A forma como eles se ajudaram foi de emocionar.
Neutral— A lump in the throat caused by strong emotion.
Ao receber a notícia, sentiu um nó na garganta de emoção.
Neutral— Eyes watering with emotion.
Seus olhos ficaram marejados de emoção ao ver o filho.
Neutral— A shiver caused by strong emotion.
Sentiu um arrepio de emoção ao ouvir a canção.
Neutral— A soul deeply touched or moved.
Após a experiência, sentiu a alma emocionada.
Poetic/Formal— To stir the spirit deeply.
A grandiosidade da natureza consegue emocionar o espírito.
Poetic/Formal— To leave one's heart deeply moved.
Aquele gesto de gentileza deixou meu coração emocionado.
NeutralEasily Confused
Both verbs describe the act of stirring emotions and are often used interchangeably.
'Emocionar' is a general term for moving someone emotionally. 'Comover' is very similar but can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of sadness, pity, or profound impact, especially when referring to suffering or touching stories.
O filme me emocionou. (General moving experience) / A história da tragédia comoveu a todos. (More specific to sadness/sorrow).
Both verbs describe eliciting an emotional response.
'Tocar' (to touch) implies a more gentle, personal, or subtle emotional impact. It's like something touching your heart. 'Emocionar' suggests a stronger, more overt stirring of emotions, often leading to tears or visible reactions.
Sua gentileza me tocou. (Your kindness touched me - subtle appreciation) / A apresentação emocionante me fez chorar. (The moving performance made me cry - strong reaction).
'Afetar' can mean to affect emotionally, making it seem similar to 'emocionar'.
'Afetar' is a much broader verb. It can mean to affect physically (e.g., 'O clima afetou minha saúde' - The weather affected my health), mentally, or emotionally. 'Emocionar' is specific to evoking strong feelings and emotional stirring.
A notícia o afetou muito. (The news affected him greatly - could be emotionally or otherwise) / A notícia o emocionou profundamente. (The news deeply moved him - specifically emotional impact).
Both verbs describe making a strong impact.
'Impressionar' means to impress, to make a strong impact on someone's mind or feelings, often through skill, grandeur, or novelty. 'Emocionar' specifically refers to stirring deep emotions, often evoking joy, sadness, or empathy. You can be impressed without being deeply moved, and vice-versa.
A tecnologia impressionou os engenheiros. (The technology impressed the engineers - intellectual/technical impact) / A história de superação emocionou os engenheiros. (The story of overcoming adversity moved the engineers - emotional impact).
Both relate to experiencing something internal.
'Sentir' is a very general verb meaning 'to feel'. You can 'sentir' hunger, 'sentir' cold, 'sentir' joy, 'sentir' sadness. 'Emocionar' is a specific type of feeling – it's about being deeply stirred or moved emotionally by something external. You don't 'emocionar' hunger; you 'sente' hunger. You might 'emocionar-se' with joy.
Sinto fome. (I feel hungry - general sensation) / Sinto muita alegria. (I feel a lot of joy - general emotion) / O filme me emocionou. (The movie moved me - specific emotional stir).
Sentence Patterns
Subject + emocionar + Object.
O filme emocionou-me.
Subject + emocionar-se.
Eu me emociono com música.
Subject + ser + emocionante.
Foi um momento emocionante.
Subject + emocionar-se + com + Noun.
Ela se emocionou com a notícia.
Subject + conseguir + emocionar + Object.
A peça conseguiu emocionar o público.
É + difícil/possível + não + emocionar-se.
É difícil não se emocionar com essa história.
Subject + ter + o poder de + emocionar.
A arte tem o poder de emocionar.
Subject + ser + capaz de + emocionar.
Sua dedicação é capaz de emocionar a todos.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
High
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Forgetting the reflexive pronoun in 'emocionar-se'.
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Ele se emocionou com a notícia.
When the subject is experiencing the emotion, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) must be used. Incorrect: 'Ele emocionou com a notícia.' Correct: 'Ele se emocionou com a notícia.'
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Using 'emocionar' for mild feelings.
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A comida estava gostosa.
'Emocionar' implies a strong emotional stirring. For simple positive feelings like liking food, use 'gostar' or 'estar gostoso'. Incorrect: 'A comida me emocionou.' Correct: 'A comida estava deliciosa.' (unless the food evoked a very specific, profound memory).
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Confusing transitive and reflexive use.
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O livro emocionou-me. / Eu me emocionei com o livro.
If the book is causing the emotion, use the transitive form ('O livro emocionou-me'). If you are feeling the emotion, use the reflexive form ('Eu me emocionei'). Incorrect: 'O livro emocionou eu.' or 'Eu emocionei com o livro.'
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Incorrect pronoun placement with reflexive verbs.
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Eu me emociono facilmente.
In standard Brazilian Portuguese, the reflexive pronoun usually precedes the verb. Incorrect: 'Eu emociono-me facilmente.' (more common in European Portuguese) or 'Me emociono eu facilmente.'
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Using 'emocionar' when 'impressionar' is more appropriate.
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A velocidade do carro impressionou os espectadores.
'Impressionar' is for making a strong impact, often related to skill, power, or novelty. 'Emocionar' is for stirring deep emotions. While something can be both, choose the most precise verb. Incorrect: 'A velocidade do carro emocionou os espectadores.' (unless the speed evoked a strong emotional reaction like fear or awe).
Tips
Distinguish Transitive and Reflexive
Remember that 'emocionar' can be transitive (causing emotion in others) or reflexive ('emocionar-se', to become emotional). Pay attention to the subject and object to choose the correct form. 'O filme emocionou-me' (The movie moved me) vs. 'Eu me emocionei com o filme' (I got emotional with the movie).
Focus on Stress and 'ci'
The stress in 'emocionar' is on the 'O' (e-mo-ci-O-nar). The 'ci' sound is like 'see-o'. Practice saying it clearly: /ɛmoˈsjɔnɑr/.
Synonym Nuances
While 'comover' is a close synonym, 'tocar' suggests a gentler impact, and 'afetar' is broader. Choose the verb that best reflects the intensity and type of emotional response you want to convey.
Connect to 'Emotion'
Link 'emocionar' to the English word 'emotion'. Visualize an 'E' making a 'motion' to stir your feelings. This connection can help recall the meaning.
Reflexive Pronouns
When using 'emocionar-se', ensure the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) correctly matches the subject. For example, 'Ela se emocionou', not 'Ela emocionou'.
Cultural Appreciation
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, expressing emotions is often valued. Using 'emocionar' appropriately shows an understanding of this cultural nuance in communication.
Sentence Building
Create sentences using both the transitive and reflexive forms of 'emocionar'. Try describing something that moved you and something that moved someone else. This active practice solidifies understanding.
Adjective Form
Don't forget the adjective 'emocionante' (moving, exciting). Use it to describe things that have the power to evoke strong feelings, like 'um filme emocionante' (a moving film).
Intensity Level
Avoid using 'emocionar' for very mild feelings. It implies a significant emotional impact. For simple liking or happiness, use other verbs like 'gostar' or 'alegrar'.
Art and Expression
The verb 'emocionar' is frequently used in discussions about art, music, and literature, highlighting the importance of emotional resonance in these domains across Portuguese-speaking cultures.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine an 'E' motioning with its hand, like it's trying to 'move' your feelings. 'E-motion-ar' - the 'E' is making a motion to stir your emotions.
Visual Association
Picture a heart with waves flowing out of it, representing emotions being stirred and moved. Or, see a film reel that makes people cry or laugh.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'emocionar' or 'emocionar-se' in three sentences describing things that have moved you recently, focusing on whether you were the one feeling the emotion (reflexive) or if something caused the emotion in someone else (transitive).
Word Origin
The Portuguese verb 'emocionar' originates from the Latin word 'emovere', which means 'to move out' or 'to move away'. Over time, its meaning evolved to signify moving something internally, specifically emotions.
Original meaning: To move out, to agitate, to stir.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > PortugueseCultural Context
When using 'emocionar', be mindful of the context. While it can describe positive emotions like joy or inspiration, it can also refer to deep sadness or distress. Ensure your usage aligns with the intended emotional tone.
In English-speaking cultures, while emotions are felt, there can sometimes be a tendency towards stoicism or understatement in public expression, depending on the specific culture. 'Emocionar' captures a more overt and often profound stirring of feelings that might be described in English as 'deeply moving', 'heartwarming', or 'heartbreaking'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Discussing movies or TV shows
- O filme me emocionou.
- Foi um final emocionante.
- Essa série é muito emocionante.
Talking about music
- Essa música me emociona.
- A letra é emocionante.
- Ele se emocionou ouvindo a canção.
Sharing personal experiences
- Me emocionei com a surpresa.
- Foi um momento emocionante.
- Ela se emocionou ao ver o filho.
Reacting to news or events
- A notícia me emocionou.
- Fiquei emocionado com a solidariedade.
- O evento foi emocionante.
Describing art or performances
- A peça emocionou o público.
- Uma performance emocionante.
- A arte dele é emocionante.
Conversation Starters
"What was the last movie that really moved you?"
"Is there a song that always makes you emotional?"
"Tell me about a time you were deeply touched by someone's kindness."
"What kind of stories do you find most moving?"
"How do you react when something makes you feel very emotional?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a moment when you felt deeply moved by something you saw, heard, or read. Use the verb 'emocionar' or 'emocionar-se'.
Write about a piece of art (a painting, a song, a book) that has had a significant emotional impact on you. Explain why it managed to 'emocionar' you.
Reflect on a time when you witnessed an act of great kindness or bravery. How did it make you feel? Did it 'emocionar' you?
Think about a memory from your childhood that still brings a strong emotional response. Describe that memory and how it continues to 'emocionar' you.
Imagine you are writing a review for a film or book. Use the word 'emocionante' to describe its emotional quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions'Emocionar' is the transitive verb, meaning to cause emotion in someone else. For example, 'O filme emocionou o público' (The movie moved the audience). 'Emocionar-se' is the reflexive form, meaning to become emotional oneself. For example, 'Eu me emocionei com o filme' (I got emotional with the movie). The reflexive form is very common when talking about personal feelings.
No, 'emocionar' can be used for any strong emotion, including joy, pride, inspiration, nostalgia, as well as sadness or sympathy. For example, seeing a child succeed can 'emocionar' someone with pride, just as a sad story can 'emocionar' someone with sorrow.
Generally, 'emocionar' implies a significant emotional stirring. For milder feelings like simple happiness or liking something, verbs like 'alegrar' (to make happy) or 'gostar' (to like) are more appropriate. 'Emocionar' is reserved for when something truly moves you deeply.
The most common way to say 'I was moved' is using the reflexive form: 'Eu me emocionei.' You can also say 'Fiquei emocionado(a)' (if you are male/female), which means 'I became emotional' or 'I was moved'.
The adjective form is 'emocionante', which means 'moving', 'touching', or 'exciting'. For example, 'Foi uma experiência emocionante' (It was a moving experience).
'Emocionar' can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's a versatile verb. In formal writing or speeches, you might hear phrases like 'capaz de emocionar profundamente'. In casual conversation, you might hear 'Essa música me emociona demais!'.
'Comover' is a very close synonym and often interchangeable with 'emocionar'. However, 'comover' can sometimes suggest a deeper, more profound, or even sorrowful emotional impact, especially when dealing with themes of suffering or loss. 'Emocionar' is a more general term for stirring emotions.
The stress is on the second-to-last syllable: e-mo-ci-O-nar. The 'ci' sounds like 'see-o' in 'emotion'. The pronunciation is roughly /ɛmoˈsjɔnɑr/.
Yes, the adjective 'emocionante' can mean exciting as well as moving. For example, 'uma aventura emocionante' means 'an exciting adventure'. The verb 'emocionar' itself is less commonly used for pure excitement and more for deep emotional stirring.
There isn't a single direct antonym verb. However, concepts like 'insensibilizar' (to make insensitive), 'desinteressar' (to make disinterested), or simply expressing 'indiferença' (indifference) are conceptually opposite to being emotionally moved.
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Summary
Emocionar signifies a profound emotional impact, making someone feel deeply moved. Use it when something has the power to stir your heart, whether with joy, sadness, or empathy.
- Emocionar means to move someone emotionally, to stir deep feelings.
- It's used when something has a significant emotional impact.
- Commonly used for movies, music, stories, and personal events.
- The reflexive form 'emocionar-se' means to become emotional oneself.
Distinguish Transitive and Reflexive
Remember that 'emocionar' can be transitive (causing emotion in others) or reflexive ('emocionar-se', to become emotional). Pay attention to the subject and object to choose the correct form. 'O filme emocionou-me' (The movie moved me) vs. 'Eu me emocionei com o filme' (I got emotional with the movie).
Focus on Stress and 'ci'
The stress in 'emocionar' is on the 'O' (e-mo-ci-O-nar). The 'ci' sound is like 'see-o'. Practice saying it clearly: /ɛmoˈsjɔnɑr/.
Synonym Nuances
While 'comover' is a close synonym, 'tocar' suggests a gentler impact, and 'afetar' is broader. Choose the verb that best reflects the intensity and type of emotional response you want to convey.
Connect to 'Emotion'
Link 'emocionar' to the English word 'emotion'. Visualize an 'E' making a 'motion' to stir your feelings. This connection can help recall the meaning.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More emotions words
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2Emotionally disturbed or upset; shaken.
abalar
A2To shake or disturb (emotionally); to affect deeply.
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1In a dejected or disheartened manner; dejectedly.
abatido
A2Dejected; sad and depressed; dispirited.
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2openly, frankly; without concealment; publicly.
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.
