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A2 verb 11 min read

enfadar

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips enfadar in 30 Seconds

Explanation enfadar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'enfadar' actively, but you might see it. It is simpler to use words like 'chato' (boring/annoying) or 'cansado' (tired). However, understanding 'enfadar' as 'to bore' helps you recognize it in stories. Think of it as the action that makes you say 'Que chato!' (How boring!). At this stage, just remember that if something 'enfada' you, it means you want it to stop because it is not fun anymore. You might see it in basic sentences like 'O livro enfada o menino' (The book bores the boy). It is a regular verb, so it conjugates just like 'falar' or 'estudar'.

At the A2 level, you should begin to use 'enfadar' to describe feelings of boredom and weariness in more varied contexts. You can use it to talk about school, work, or hobbies. This is the stage where you learn the reflexive form: 'Eu me enfado' (I get bored). You should be able to form simple sentences in the present and past tenses. For example, 'Eu me enfadei na aula ontem' (I got bored in class yesterday). It's also a good time to notice the difference between 'enfadar' and 'entediar'. Use 'enfadar' when you feel that the boredom is actually making you feel a little bit tired or 'done' with the situation.

At the B1 level, you should use 'enfadar' to express more complex emotions. You can start using it with prepositions like 'de' and 'com'. For instance, 'Estou me enfadando de sempre comer a mesma coisa' (I'm getting bored of always eating the same thing). You should also understand the noun form 'enfado' and use it to describe a state of mind. At this level, you can use the verb in the subjunctive to express desires or possibilities: 'Espero que este filme não nos enfade' (I hope this movie doesn't bore us). You are now moving beyond simple boredom into the realm of describing a lack of motivation or a sense of being overwhelmed by monotony.

At the B2 level, you should be aware of the regional differences between Brazil and Portugal. You should know that in Portugal, 'enfadar-se' often means to get angry or annoyed, whereas in Brazil it is almost exclusively about boredom and weariness. You can use 'enfadar' in more formal writing, such as essays or professional emails, to sound more precise. You should also be comfortable using the past participle 'enfadado' as an adjective in complex sentences: 'Enfadado com a vida urbana, ele decidiu se mudar para o campo' (Weary of urban life, he decided to move to the countryside). Your vocabulary should now include synonyms like 'aborrecer' and 'fatigar', and you should know when 'enfadar' is the better choice.

At the C1 level, you can appreciate the literary and historical weight of 'enfadar'. You should be able to identify it in classical Portuguese literature and understand the existential 'enfado' that authors like Fernando Pessoa or Machado de Assis often write about. You can use the word to describe subtle psychological states, such as the weariness that comes from social obligations or the repetition of history. Your usage should be fluid, incorporating the verb into sophisticated grammatical structures, such as 'Se não fosse pela sua companhia, a viagem teria me enfadado profundamente' (If it weren't for your company, the trip would have bored me deeply). You should also understand idiomatic expressions involving the word.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'enfadar' in all its nuances. You can use it to discuss philosophical concepts like 'ennui' or 'taedium vitae'. You understand the etymological connection to 'fado' and can use this knowledge to add depth to your analysis of Portuguese culture and language. You can switch between the Brazilian and European meanings effortlessly depending on your context. In your own writing, 'enfadar' is a tool for precision, used to distinguish between simple boredom, physical fatigue, and the spiritual weariness of a character or narrator. You can also use the word in wordplay or high-level rhetoric to evoke specific emotional responses in your audience.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

enfadar in 30 Seconds

Enfadar means to bore or weary someone.
In Portugal, it often means to get annoyed or angry.
It is a regular -ar verb, easy to conjugate.
It is more formal and intense than 'entediar' or 'chatear'.

The Portuguese verb enfadar is a multifaceted term that primarily describes the act of causing boredom, weariness, or a sense of mental fatigue in someone else, or experiencing it oneself when used reflexively as enfadar-se. While it is categorized at the A2 level for learners, its usage spans from everyday conversations to high-level literature. At its core, it suggests a depletion of interest or patience. In Brazil, it is frequently used to describe something that has become tedious or repetitive. However, a crucial linguistic nuance exists: in European Portuguese (Portugal), enfadar-se often carries the additional weight of becoming annoyed or slightly angry, closely mirroring its Spanish cognate. This dual nature makes it a fascinating study for English speakers who might otherwise rely solely on 'entediar' or 'chatear'.

Semantic Range: The word covers the spectrum from mild disinterest to profound existential weariness. It describes the effect of a long lecture, a repetitive task, or a person who talks too much.
Register and Context: While 'chatear' is the king of informal Brazilian Portuguese, 'enfadar' provides a more descriptive, slightly more formal alternative that emphasizes the fatigue resulting from the boredom.

A longa espera no aeroporto começou a enfadar os passageiros, que já não tinham mais o que fazer.

Understanding when to use 'enfadar' versus 'entediar' is key for a learner. 'Entediar' is the direct equivalent of 'to bore' in a situational sense (e.g., a boring movie). 'Enfadar' implies a more active process of wearing down one's spirit or energy. It is the feeling of being 'fed up' but expressed through the lens of tiredness. In classical literature, you will find it used to describe the soul's weariness with the world, a concept known as enfado. This noun form is frequently used to describe a general state of dissatisfaction.

Não quero te enfadar com minhas histórias tristes, mas preciso desabafar.

Furthermore, the verb is often found in pedagogical and psychological contexts. Teachers might discuss how certain teaching methods enfadam students, leading to a lack of engagement. It is a word that demands an object—you bore *someone*—or a reflexive pronoun—you bore *yourself*. This transitive nature is vital for correct sentence structure. When you use it, you are highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship between a stimulus and the resulting psychological fatigue.

Reflexive Usage: 'Eu me enfado com a rotina' (I get bored/weary with the routine). Here, the focus is on the subject's internal state.

Ele se enfada rapidamente quando o assunto é política.

Using enfadar correctly requires an understanding of Portuguese verb conjugation and the use of clitic pronouns. As a regular '-ar' verb, it follows standard patterns, making it accessible for A2 learners. However, its application varies depending on whether you are describing an external cause or an internal feeling. When acting as a transitive verb, it takes a direct object: 'A música enfada os vizinhos' (The music bores/annoys the neighbors). In this structure, the music is the agent of the boredom.

Transitive Construction: Subject + enfadar + Direct Object. Example: 'Este trabalho me enfada' (This work bores/wearies me).
Reflexive Construction: Subject + reflexive pronoun + enfadar + preposition (usually 'de' or 'com'). Example: 'Ela se enfada de esperar' (She gets tired/bored of waiting).

O professor tenta não enfadar os alunos com muitos detalhes técnicos no primeiro dia.

In the past tense, enfadar is often used to describe a completed state of boredom. 'Ele se enfadou durante a cerimônia' (He got bored during the ceremony). Note that in Brazilian Portuguese, the placement of the pronoun 'se' usually comes before the verb ('Ele se enfadou'), whereas in formal European Portuguese, it follows the verb ('Enfadou-se'). For learners, sticking to the Brazilian placement is often easier and perfectly acceptable in most contexts. When using the verb to describe a continuous state, the gerund 'enfadando' is used: 'As constantes reclamações estão me enfadando' (The constant complaints are wearing me out).

Se você continuar a falar assim, vai acabar por se enfadar com todos ao seu redor.

Another important aspect is the prepositional requirement when the verb is reflexive. If you are bored *with* something, you use 'com'. If you are bored *of* something, you use 'de'. This distinction is subtle but adds a layer of precision to your Portuguese. 'Eu me enfado com o trânsito' implies the traffic is an annoying stimulus you are currently facing. 'Eu me enfado de ler sempre o mesmo livro' implies a weariness born from repetition over time.

Para não enfadar o leitor, o autor decidiu encurtar o capítulo final.

Common Tenses: Present: Eu enfado, Tu enfadas, Ele enfada...
Preterite: Eu enfadei, Tu enfadaste, Ele enfadou...

Nós nos enfadamos rapidamente com filmes que não têm ação.

While enfadar might not be the first word a teenager in Rio de Janeiro uses to say they are bored—they would likely say 'tô no tédio' or 'que saco'—it holds a firm place in many other domains. You will frequently encounter it in Brazilian literature, from Machado de Assis to modern novelists, where it is used to describe the psychological state of characters. In these contexts, it conveys a deeper, more existential weariness than simple boredom. It is the 'ennui' of the soul. In formal speeches, academic writing, and journalism, enfadar is chosen for its precision and slightly elevated tone.

Literature and Arts: Used to describe the 'mal do século' (the sickness of the century) or the fatigue of the urban lifestyle.
Formal Settings: In a business meeting, a speaker might say, 'Não quero enfadá-los com estatísticas', as a polite way to introduce data.

O tom monótono do discurso começou a enfadar até os ouvintes mais atentos.

Geographically, the word's usage shifts significantly. In Portugal, as mentioned, it is very common in daily speech but often means 'to get annoyed' or 'to get angry'. If a Portuguese mother says 'Não me enfades!', she isn't saying 'Don't bore me!', she is saying 'Don't get on my nerves!' or 'Don't make me angry!'. This is a critical distinction for anyone traveling within the Lusophone world. In Brazil, it remains more strictly associated with boredom and weariness, though it is considered more 'correct' or 'refined' than the slang 'encher o saco'.

Durante o inverno longo, é comum as pessoas se enfadarem com a falta de sol.

You will also hear the word in religious or moralistic contexts. Sermons or ethical treatises might discuss the 'enfado da carne' (the weariness of the flesh) or how worldly pleasures eventually enfadam the spirit. This usage highlights the word's ability to describe a state of saturation, where one has had too much of something, even if that something was initially pleasant. It is the linguistic equivalent of a heavy sigh after a long day of repetitive work.

Older Generations: Grandparents are more likely to use 'enfadar' or 'enfadado' to describe their fatigue with modern technology or noisy environments.

A velhice trouxe um certo enfado em relação às festas barulhentas.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with enfadar is treating it as a perfect synonym for 'to bore' in every single situation. While it does mean 'to bore', it carries a connotation of 'wearying' or 'tiring out' that 'entediar' does not always have. Using 'enfadar' for a 5-minute wait at a bus stop might sound overly dramatic; 'entediar' is better there. 'Enfadar' is for the 5th hour of the same task. Another common error is failing to use the reflexive pronoun when the subject is the one feeling the emotion. You cannot say 'Eu enfado com o livro'; you must say 'Eu me enfado com o livro'.

The 'False Friend' Trap: For those who know Spanish, 'enfadar' means 'to make angry'. In Brazilian Portuguese, it is 'to bore'. If you use it in Brazil thinking it means 'anger', you will be misunderstood.
Preposition Confusion: Learners often forget whether to use 'de' or 'com'. Rule of thumb: use 'de' for activities (enfadar-se de estudar) and 'com' for things or people (enfadar-se com o barulho).

Errado: Eu enfado muito fácil.
Correto: Eu me enfado muito facilmente.

Misconjugation in the 'tu' or 'vós' forms is another pitfall, though less relevant for those focusing on Brazilian Portuguese. However, even in the 'você' form, learners sometimes confuse the past tense 'enfadou' with 'enfadado' (the participle/adjective). Remember: 'Ele enfadou os amigos' (He bored the friends - verb) vs 'Ele está enfadado' (He is bored - adjective). Mixing these up can lead to confusing sentences like 'Ele está enfadou', which is grammatically nonsensical.

Errado: O filme me enfadado.
Correto: O filme me enfadou.

Lastly, be careful with the intensity. 'Enfadar' is a relatively strong word. If you just want to say a movie wasn't very interesting, 'não foi legal' or 'foi meio chato' is more natural. Using 'enfadar' suggests the movie was so boring it actually made you feel tired or exhausted. It is a word that carries weight, so use it when the level of boredom justifies a more serious term. Overusing it can make your speech sound unnecessarily formal or dramatic.

Cuidado: Não confunda enfadar (to bore) com enfatizar (to emphasize).

Reflexive Pronoun Placement: In Brazil: 'Me enfado'. In Portugal: 'Enfado-me'. Both are correct in their respective regions.

To truly master Portuguese, you need to know the alternatives to enfadar and how they differ in flavor and intensity. The most common synonym is entediar. While 'enfadar' leans toward weariness, 'entediar' is the pure state of having nothing interesting to do. If you are sitting in a room with no internet, you are 'entediado'. If you are listening to a lecture that is sucking the life out of you, you are 'enfadado'.

Entediar: Focuses on the lack of entertainment. Direct equivalent to 'to bore'.
Chatear: Very common in Brazil. It means 'to annoy' or 'to upset', but is often used for 'to bore' in informal settings.
Aborrecer: A middle ground. It can mean to bore or to annoy. In many contexts, it is interchangeable with 'enfadar'.

Ao invés de enfadar, você pode usar 'cansar' se o foco for a exaustão física ou mental.

Another set of alternatives involves colloquialisms. In Brazil, 'encher o saco' is a very common (though slightly vulgar) way to say someone is boring or annoying you. 'Moer a paciência' is another regional expression that captures the 'wearing down' aspect of 'enfadar'. If you want to sound more formal, you might use 'fatigar', which strictly means 'to fatigue'. This is often used in medical or technical contexts but can be used metaphorically: 'A rotina fatiga o espírito'.

O excesso de burocracia aborrece os cidadãos tanto quanto os enfada.

Finally, consider the word fastiar. This is a rarer, more literary synonym that specifically refers to a loss of appetite or a 'disgust' born from over-saturation. It is the cousin of 'enfadar' used when you have had so much of something that you can't stand it anymore. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the exact 'flavor' of boredom or annoyance you wish to express, moving your Portuguese from basic to sophisticated.

Colloquial Alternatives (Brazil): 'Dar sono' (to give sleep/be boring), 'Ser um pé no saco' (to be a pain in the neck/very boring).

Essa conversa já está me cansando; vamos mudar de assunto?

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"A prolixidade do relatório pode enfadar os diretores."

Neutral

"Este tipo de música me enfada depois de um tempo."

Informal

"Não me enfade com esses papos furados."

Child friendly

"Esperar na fila enfada muito, não é?"

Slang

"Isso aí já tá me enfadando, na moral."

Fun Fact

It shares the same root as the Portuguese music genre 'Fado'. While Fado is about destiny and longing (saudade), 'enfado' is the weariness that comes from that destiny.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ẽ.fa.ˈdaɾ/

US /ẽ.fa.ˈdaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: en-fa-DAR.

Rhymes With

andar falar amar cantar lugar olhar pensar chegar

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'en' like the English 'in'. It must be nasalized.
Stressing the second syllable (en-FA-dar) instead of the last.
Making the 'd' sound too hard; in Portuguese, it's softer before 'a'.
Failing to nasalize the first syllable, making it sound like 'eh-fa-dar'.
In BP, pronouncing the final 'r' as a hard English 'r'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to its regular conjugation and similarity to 'fad'.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of reflexive pronouns and prepositional usage (de/com).

Speaking 4/5

Nasal 'en' and regional differences in meaning can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'enfatizar' or 'enfrentar' if not careful.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

chato cansado aula trabalho esperar

Learn Next

entediar aborrecer enfadonho monotonia saturar

Advanced

fastio tedium vitae prolixidade melancolia

Grammar to Know

Reflexive Pronoun Placement

No Brasil: 'Eu me enfado'. Em Portugal: 'Enfado-me'.

Preposition 'de' with Verbs

Eu me enfado de ler (I get bored of reading).

Preposition 'com' with Nouns

Eu me enfado com o barulho (I get bored/annoyed with the noise).

Regular -ar Verb Conjugation

Eu enfado, tu enfadas, ele enfada, nós enfadamos, eles enfadam.

Adjective Agreement

Ela está enfadada. Eles estão enfadados.

Examples by Level

O jogo de futebol enfada o gato.

The soccer game bores the cat.

Simple present tense, transitive use.

A aula de matemática me enfada.

The math class bores me.

Direct object pronoun 'me' before the verb.

Eu não quero enfadar você.

I don't want to bore you.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

O livro é longo e enfada.

The book is long and bores (one).

Intransitive usage implying a general effect.

Eles se enfadam no domingo.

They get bored on Sunday.

Reflexive 'se' used for a state.

Você se enfada com facilidade?

Do you get bored easily?

Reflexive question in the present tense.

A chuva enfada as crianças.

The rain bores the children.

Subject 'A chuva' (singular) + verb 'enfada'.

Não me enfade com isso.

Don't bore me with that.

Imperative negative with 'me'.

Nós nos enfadamos durante a palestra longa.

We got bored during the long lecture.

Reflexive past tense (Pretérito Perfeito).

Ela se enfada de limpar a casa todos os dias.

She gets tired of cleaning the house every day.

Reflexive + preposition 'de' + infinitive.

O trabalho repetitivo pode enfadar qualquer um.

Repetitive work can bore anyone.

Modal 'pode' + infinitive.

Espero que este filme não te enfade.

I hope this movie doesn't bore you.

Subjunctive 'enfade' after 'espero que'.

Ele se enfadou com as mentiras do amigo.

He got annoyed/weary with his friend's lies.

Past tense with preposition 'com'.

Para não enfadar o público, a apresentação foi curta.

To not bore the audience, the presentation was short.

Negative infinitive 'não enfadar'.

Muitas pessoas se enfadam da rotina do escritório.

Many people get weary of the office routine.

Third person plural reflexive.

Você já se enfadou deste jogo?

Have you already gotten bored of this game?

Present perfect context (using Pretérito Perfeito).

Se você continuar reclamando, vai me enfadar.

If you keep complaining, you're going to bore/weary me.

Future structure 'vai + infinitive'.

O constante barulho da rua começou a enfadá-la.

The constant noise from the street began to weary her.

Infinitive + clitic pronoun '-la'.

Não quero que você se enfade com a minha companhia.

I don't want you to get bored with my company.

Present subjunctive 'se enfade'.

Ele sempre se enfada quando tem que esperar em filas.

He always gets annoyed/weary when he has to wait in lines.

Reflexive present with a temporal clause.

A monotonia da paisagem acabou por nos enfadar.

The monotony of the landscape ended up boring us.

Compound verb 'acabou por enfadar'.

É fácil se enfadar de uma vida sem desafios.

It's easy to get weary of a life without challenges.

Impersonal 'É fácil' + reflexive infinitive.

O excesso de informação pode enfadar o cérebro.

Excess information can weary the brain.

Metaphorical use of the verb.

Ela se enfadou tanto que decidiu ir embora mais cedo.

She got so bored that she decided to leave early.

Consecutive clause with 'tanto que'.

A retórica vazia dos políticos costuma enfadar o eleitorado.

The empty rhetoric of politicians usually bores the electorate.

Verb 'costumar' + infinitive.

Enfadado de tantas promessas, ele parou de acreditar.

Weary of so many promises, he stopped believing.

Past participle used as an adjective/adverbial.

O autor buscou um estilo dinâmico para não enfadar o leitor.

The author sought a dynamic style so as not to bore the reader.

Finality clause 'para não'.

Se nos enfadarmos da nossa própria rotina, precisamos mudar.

If we get weary of our own routine, we need to change.

Future subjunctive 'enfadarmos'.

A repetição exaustiva dos mesmos temas enfada a crítica.

The exhaustive repetition of the same themes bores the critics.

Abstract subject + transitive verb.

Ele se enfadou profundamente com a falta de ética na empresa.

He became deeply weary/annoyed with the lack of ethics in the company.

Adverb 'profundamente' modifying the verb.

Muitas vezes, a abundância de bens materiais acaba por nos enfadar.

Often, the abundance of material goods ends up wearying us.

Philosophical context with 'acaba por'.

Não me enfades com as tuas desculpas de sempre.

Don't annoy/bore me with your usual excuses.

Imperative negative (European Portuguese style nuance).

O enfado existencial é um tema recorrente na obra de Pessoa.

Existential weariness is a recurring theme in Pessoa's work.

Noun form 'enfado'.

A vida palaciana, com seus protocolos, logo começou a enfadá-la.

Palace life, with its protocols, soon began to weary her.

Literary syntax with clitic placement.

Nada o enfadava mais do que a mediocridade intelectual.

Nothing bored/wearied him more than intellectual mediocrity.

Imperfect tense for a habitual state.

O orador, percebendo que enfadava a plateia, abreviou o discurso.

The speaker, realizing he was boring the audience, shortened the speech.

Gerund 'enfadava' in a participial clause.

Raramente se enfada quem possui um mundo interior rico.

Rarely does one get bored who possesses a rich inner world.

Impersonal 'se' with a relative clause.

O tédio pode ser passageiro, mas o enfado é uma ferida na alma.

Boredom can be fleeting, but weariness is a wound in the soul.

Comparison between 'tédio' and 'enfado'.

Enfadamo-nos de tudo o que se torna previsível demais.

We get weary of everything that becomes too predictable.

First person plural reflexive (EP style).

A beleza, quando excessiva e estática, pode chegar a enfadar.

Beauty, when excessive and static, can even come to bore.

Complex sentence structure with concessive nuance.

A alma, saturada de sensações, mergulhou num enfado profundo.

The soul, saturated with sensations, plunged into a deep weariness.

High literary register.

O perigo de uma paz perpétua é que ela possa vir a enfadar o espírito humano.

The danger of a perpetual peace is that it might come to weary the human spirit.

Future subjunctive 'possa' + complex infinitive.

O historiador não deve enfadar o leitor com minúcias irrelevantes.

The historian must not weary the reader with irrelevant minutiae.

Moral/Professional imperative.

Havia no seu olhar um enfado secular, como se tivesse vivido mil vidas.

There was in his gaze a secular weariness, as if he had lived a thousand lives.

Adjective 'secular' modifying 'enfado'.

A civilização, em seu ápice, corre o risco de se enfadar de si mesma.

Civilization, at its peak, runs the risk of getting bored with itself.

Reflexive 'se' referring back to 'civilização'.

Não há nada que mais enfade do que a repetição do óbvio.

There is nothing that bores more than the repetition of the obvious.

Negative relative clause with subjunctive force.

Enfadar-se da virtude é o primeiro passo para o vício.

To get weary of virtue is the first step toward vice.

Infinitive as a subject.

O poema destila um enfado que transcende a mera tristeza.

The poem exudes a weariness that transcends mere sadness.

Verb 'destilar' used metaphorically.

Common Collocations

enfadar profundamente

enfadar o público

enfadar-se de esperar

enfadar os vizinhos

enfadar-se com a rotina

enfadar a vista

enfadar o leitor

enfadar a paciência

enfadar rapidamente

enfadar o espírito

Common Phrases

Não me enfade!

— Don't bore me or don't annoy me. Often used when someone is being repetitive.

Não me enfade com essas histórias velhas.

Estar enfadado de...

— To be tired or bored of something. Expresses a state of saturation.

Estou enfadado de tanta chuva.

Isso enfada qualquer um.

— That bores/wearies anyone. Used for universally tedious tasks.

Preencher formulários o dia todo enfada qualquer um.

Para não te enfadar...

— So as not to bore you... A polite way to introduce a summary.

Para não te enfadar, vou contar apenas o final.

Enfadar-se por nada.

— To get bored or annoyed for no reason. Describes a moody person.

Ele é difícil, se enfada por nada.

Um enfado mortal.

— A deadly boredom. A common exaggeration for extreme tedium.

A reunião foi de um enfado mortal.

Que enfado!

— How boring! / What a drag! An exclamation of dissatisfaction.

Ter que voltar lá de novo? Que enfado!

Sem enfadar.

— Without boring (the listener). Used to keep a conversation light.

Vou explicar tudo rapidamente, sem enfadar.

Enfadado com a vida.

— Weary of life. Describes a state of deep melancholy or depression.

O velho parecia enfadado com a vida.

Enfadar os ouvidos.

— To bore the ears. Used for unpleasant or repetitive sounds/speech.

Aquela música alta enfada os ouvidos de qualquer um.

Often Confused With

enfadar vs Enfatizar

Means 'to emphasize'. Sounds similar but completely different meaning.

enfadar vs Enfrentar

Means 'to face' or 'to confront'. Starts with the same prefix.

enfadar vs Enfadado (Spanish)

In Spanish, it means 'angry'. In Portuguese, it usually means 'bored/weary'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Enfadar a paciência de um santo"

— To be so boring or annoying that even a saint would lose patience.

Aquele garoto enfada a paciência de um santo com tantas perguntas.

informal

"Estar com o enfado"

— To be in a bad mood or feeling very listless.

Hoje não vou à festa, estou com o enfado.

colloquial

"Mudar de enfado"

— To change from one boring thing to another (ironic).

Ele parou de ver TV e foi ler o jornal, apenas mudou de enfado.

literary/ironic

"Dar enfado"

— To cause boredom or annoyance.

Essa chuva sem fim dá um enfado danado.

informal

"Cair no enfado"

— To fall into a state of boredom or routine.

O casamento deles caiu no enfado após dez anos.

neutral

"Matar o enfado"

— To kill the boredom (to find something to do).

Fomos ao cinema para matar o enfado da tarde de domingo.

neutral

"Enfado de morte"

— Extreme boredom, as if it could kill.

A palestra foi um enfado de morte, ninguém aguentava mais.

informal

"Não ter enfado"

— To be tireless or never get bored of something.

Ela não tem enfado de brincar com os netos.

neutral

"Vencer o enfado"

— To overcome boredom through willpower.

É preciso vencer o enfado para terminar a tese.

academic

"Enfadado de guerra"

— Battle-weary; used metaphorically for someone tired of conflict.

O político, enfadado de guerra, decidiu se aposentar.

literary

Easily Confused

enfadar vs Entediar

Both mean 'to bore'.

Entediar is situational (no fun); Enfadar is psychological (weariness/fatigue).

O jogo me entediou (no fun). O trabalho me enfadou (tired of it).

enfadar vs Aborrecer

Both can mean 'to bore' or 'to annoy'.

Aborrecer is more common and less intense than enfadar.

Ele me aborrece com suas piadas.

enfadar vs Cansar

Both imply fatigue.

Cansar is physical or general; Enfadar is specifically boredom-induced fatigue.

Correr me cansa. Ouvir mentiras me enfada.

enfadar vs Zangar

Related to the European Portuguese meaning of 'enfadar'.

Zangar is purely to get angry; Enfadar is to get annoyed/weary.

Ele se zangou com o atraso.

enfadar vs Chatear

Both used for boredom in Brazil.

Chatear is informal and can mean 'to upset'; Enfadar is formal.

Não me chateia!

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] enfada [Object].

O filme enfada o menino.

[Subject] se enfada com [Noun].

Eu me enfado com o trânsito.

[Subject] se enfada de [Verb].

Ela se enfada de estudar.

Para não enfadar [Object], [Action].

Para não enfadar o chefe, eu fui rápido.

[Subject] está enfadado(a) de [Noun/Verb].

Estou enfadada de tanta burocracia.

[Subject] acabou por se enfadar.

Ele acabou por se enfadar da viagem.

O enfado de [Noun] é [Adjective].

O enfado de viver é terrível.

Nada mais [Adjective] que o enfado de [Noun].

Nada mais corrosivo que o enfado da alma.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Medium. More common in writing than in casual Brazilian speech.

Common Mistakes

Eu enfado com a aula. → Eu me enfado com a aula.
You must use the reflexive pronoun when you are the one experiencing the emotion.
O filme é enfadado. → O filme é enfadonho.
Enfadado describes a person's feeling; enfadonho describes a thing's quality.
Using 'enfadar' for 'angry' in Brazil. → Using 'enfadar' for 'bored' in Brazil.
In Brazil, it means 'to bore'. In Portugal, it can mean 'to annoy'. Know your audience.
Ele está enfadou. → Ele se enfadou.
Don't confuse the auxiliary 'estar' with the reflexive 'se' in the past tense.
Pronouncing 'en' like 'in'. → Pronouncing 'en' as a nasal vowel.
The nasalization is essential for correct Portuguese phonology.

Tips

Reflexive Pronouns

Always use 'me', 'te', 'se', 'nos' when you are the one feeling the boredom. 'Eu me enfado' is correct.

The Adjective Form

Use 'enfadonho' to describe a boring task. It sounds more professional than just saying 'chato'.

Portugal vs Brazil

Remember the 'anger' nuance in Portugal. If a Portuguese person says they are 'enfadados', they might be mad!

Polite Summaries

Start a long explanation with 'Para não te enfadar...' to show you respect the listener's time.

Fade Away

Think of your interest 'fading' away when you are 'enfadado'.

Classic Reading

Look for this word in 19th-century novels; it's everywhere and helps set the mood.

Nasal Sounds

Don't skip the nasal 'en'. It's the difference between sounding like a native and a beginner.

Mix it up

Use 'enfadar', 'entediar', and 'aborrecer' in the same paragraph to avoid repetition.

Office Talk

In meetings, 'enfadar' is a great word to describe a process that is too long or repetitive.

Character Building

In creative writing, use 'enfado' to show a character is sophisticated and world-weary.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'EN-FAD-AR'. When you are 'EN' (in) a 'FAD' (fashion) that lasts too long, you get 'AR' (annoyed/bored). Or think: 'The Fado music made me feel EN-FAD-O (weary).'

Visual Association

Imagine a person sitting in a giant pile of gray dust, slowly being covered by it as a clock ticks slowly. This represents the 'wearing down' of enfadar.

Word Web

tédio cansar repetição monotonia enfadonho paciência irritar weary

Challenge

Try to use 'enfadar' in a sentence about your least favorite chore, then use 'enfadado' to describe how you feel after doing it for an hour.

Word Origin

From the Vulgar Latin *infatare, which comes from 'fatum' (fate).

Original meaning: Originally, it meant to be 'fated' or to have a heavy destiny, which evolved into feeling weary or burdened.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

In Portugal, be careful: saying someone 'enfada' you is a direct insult to their personality, implying they are irritating.

English speakers often use 'bore' for everything. 'Enfadar' helps you distinguish between 'this is not fun' and 'this is wearing me out'.

Machado de Assis often uses 'enfado' to describe his characters' disillusionment. Fernando Pessoa's 'Livro do Desassossego' is a masterpiece of exploring 'enfado'. The song 'Fado do Enfado' explores the link between the music and the feeling.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Education

aula que enfada
enfadar-se de estudar
estilo enfadonho
não enfade os alunos

Work

rotina que enfada
reunião enfadonha
enfadar-se do emprego
tarefas que enfadam

Socializing

enfadar a conversa
não quero te enfadar
enfadar-se da festa
pessoa que enfada

Travel

viagem que enfada
enfadar-se da espera
paisagem que enfada
vôo enfadonho

Emotions

enfado profundo
estar enfadado com tudo
vencer o enfado
enfado existencial

Conversation Starters

"O que mais te enfada no seu trabalho atual?"

"Você se enfada facilmente quando está sozinho?"

"Qual é o livro mais enfadonho que você já leu?"

"Como você faz para não se enfadar durante uma longa viagem?"

"Você acha que a tecnologia nos ajuda a não enfadar ou nos enfada mais?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva um momento em que você se sentiu profundamente enfadado com a sua rotina.

Escreva sobre uma pessoa que nunca te enfada e explique o porquê.

Como você lida com o enfado em dias de chuva?

Pense em um hobby que começou a te enfadar e por que você parou de praticá-lo.

Reflita sobre a diferença entre estar entediado e estar enfadado.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

In European Portuguese, 'enfadar-se' can mean to get annoyed or slightly angry. In Brazilian Portuguese, it almost always means to get bored or weary. Examples: (PT) 'Ele se enfadou com o barulho' (He got annoyed). (BR) 'Ele se enfadou da aula' (He got bored).

It is less common than 'chatear' or 'entediar' in daily slang, but it is very common in books, newspapers, and formal speech. You will definitely hear it in professional environments or among older people.

It is a regular verb: eu enfadei, você enfadou, nós enfadamos, eles enfadaram. Example: 'A palestra nos enfadou muito ontem' (The lecture bored us a lot yesterday).

'Enfadado' is how a person feels (bored/weary). 'Enfadonho' is a quality of a thing (boring/tedious). Example: 'O livro enfadonho deixou o aluno enfadado'.

Not usually. For physical tiredness from exercise, use 'cansar' or 'fatigar'. Use 'enfadar' when the tiredness comes from boredom or repetition.

Use 'de' for actions (enfadar-se de esperar) and 'com' for objects or people (enfadar-se com o filme). Both are common.

Yes, it is a polite and sophisticated way to express boredom. Using 'Não quero te enfadar' sounds much more elegant than 'Não quero te chatear'.

Yes, the noun is 'enfado'. It means 'boredom', 'weariness', or 'annoyance'. Example: 'Senti um grande enfado ao ver aquela cena'.

While its primary meaning is 'to bore', it can imply a sense of being 'fed up', which overlaps with annoyance. However, 'chatear' or 'irritar' are clearer for 'annoy' in Brazil.

It is a nasal vowel. Close your mouth slightly and let the sound come through your nose. It sounds like the 'an' in 'pancake' but more closed.