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A2 noun 8 min read

experimento

Examples Notes & Tips experimento in 30 Seconds
Explanation experimento in your Level:
At the A1 level, you might not use the word 'experimento' often, as it is a bit technical. However, you might hear it in very simple contexts, like a teacher talking about a basic science project. At this stage, you should recognize that 'experimento' looks like the English word 'experiment'. You might use it to talk about very simple things you 'try' to do, though you will more likely use the verb 'experimentar' (to try/to taste). For an A1 learner, the key is knowing that this word refers to 'testing something'. You can think of it as a 'test' in a school setting. You might see it in a picture book or a basic news headline. Even if you don't use it in your daily 'olá' and 'obrigado', knowing it helps you understand that Portuguese and English share many scientific roots. Focus on the fact that it is 'o experimento' (masculine) and that the 'x' sounds like 's'.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to talk about your education and interests. You might say, 'Na escola, eu fiz um experimento de química' (In school, I did a chemistry experiment). You should be able to distinguish between 'experimento' and 'experiência' at a basic level. Use 'experimento' when you are talking about a specific task in a lab or a classroom where you follow steps to see a result. You will start to see this word in simple reading passages about science or nature. You should also be able to use basic adjectives with it, like 'um experimento fácil' (an easy experiment) or 'um experimento interessante'. You are beginning to understand that Portuguese uses specific words for specific contexts, and 'experimento' is your first step into the world of technical Portuguese vocabulary. It is a useful word for describing hobbies like gardening or simple DIY projects where you are testing how things work.
At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex topics, including basic discussions about technology, science, and society. You should use 'experimento' correctly in sentences like 'Os cientistas estão realizando um experimento para testar a nova vacina'. You understand that 'experimento' implies a formal process. You can now use more advanced verbs like 'realizar', 'conduzir', and 'concluir' alongside it. You also start to recognize the word in the context of social media or marketing (e.g., 'um experimento social'). Your grammar should be more precise, using the plural 'experimentos' and matching it with adjectives like 'controlados' or 'científicos'. You are now aware of the 'x' pronunciation and do not say 'eks-perimento'. You can explain, in simple Portuguese, what an experiment is: 'É quando testamos uma ideia para ver se ela é verdade'.
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At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'experimento' in professional or academic settings. You understand the nuance between 'experimento', 'ensaio', and 'pesquisa'. You can discuss the methodology of an experiment, using terms like 'variáveis', 'grupo de controle', and 'resultados'. You might say, 'O experimento foi desenhado para minimizar o erro humano'. You are also able to identify anglicisms, knowing that 'rodar um experimento' is common in business but 'realizar' is better for formal writing. You can read scientific articles in magazines like 'Superinteressante' and understand the details of the experiments described. Your use of prepositions (do experimento, no experimento) is consistent and correct. You can also use the word metaphorically in discussions about politics or social changes, such as 'O país está passando por um experimento democrático'.
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At the C1 level, your use of 'experimento' is sophisticated and precise. You understand the historical and etymological weight of the word. You can use it in academic writing with perfect syntax, employing complex structures like the passive voice or the personal infinitive. You might critique an experiment's validity: 'A falha na amostragem comprometeu a integridade de todo o experimento'. You are aware of regional differences between Brazil and Portugal regarding the frequency of 'experimento' versus 'experiência'. You can participate in high-level debates about ethics in human experiments (experimentos em seres humanos). Your vocabulary includes related terms like 'experimentalismo' or 'experimental'. You can distinguish between 'experimento' as a noun and 'experimento' as the first-person singular present indicative of the verb 'experimentar' without hesitation, even in dense texts.
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At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'experimento'. You can use it in any register, from a highly technical laboratory report to a poetic or philosophical treatise. You understand the philosophical implications of 'the experiment' as a concept in the history of science (e.g., the transition from scholasticism to the experimental method). You can use the word in wordplay or complex metaphors. You are sensitive to the rhythmic properties of the word in a sentence. You can discuss the nuances of translation, explaining why 'experimento' might be chosen over 'experiência' in a specific literary translation to maintain a scientific tone. You are a master of the word's collocations and can use it to speak authoritatively on a wide range of subjects, from quantum mechanics to social engineering, with perfect phonetic accuracy and cultural awareness.
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Examples Notes & Tips

experimento in 30 Seconds

  • A formal scientific test or trial.
  • Specifically used for lab or research settings.
  • Distinguished from 'experiência' (life experience).
  • Essential for academic and technical Portuguese.

The Portuguese word experimento refers specifically to a scientific or controlled procedure designed to test a hypothesis, discover new information, or demonstrate a known fact. While in English we often use 'experiment' for both a lab test and a general life trial, Portuguese makes a subtle but important distinction between experimento (the method) and experiência (the lived event or the broader concept of testing). When you are in a laboratory, a classroom, or a data-driven environment, experimento is your primary term. It carries the weight of methodology, variables, and observation.

Scientific Context
Used when discussing chemistry, physics, biology, or social science research where parameters are set.
Methodological Rigor
Implies a structured approach rather than a random attempt at something new.

You will encounter this word most frequently in academic papers, news reports about medical breakthroughs, and educational settings. For instance, a teacher might say, "Vamos realizar um experimento para ver como as plantas crescem na sombra." This implies a specific setup with a control group and a variable group. It is less common in casual conversation about trying a new restaurant, where experiência or the verb experimentar would be preferred.

O resultado do experimento confirmou a teoria do professor.

In the digital age, experimento has also found a home in technology and marketing, specifically regarding A/B testing or user interface trials. If a company is testing two different layouts for a website, they are conducting an experimento de interface. This usage highlights the word's connection to data and empirical evidence.

Eles iniciaram um experimento controlado para analisar o comportamento social.

Academic Register
Essential for university-level Portuguese and professional research environments.

Understanding the nuance of experimento allows a learner to sound more precise. Using experiência when you mean a lab test isn't technically wrong, but using experimento shows a higher level of vocabulary mastery, specifically at the B1 and B2 levels where academic vocabulary begins to diverge from everyday speech. In Brazilian Portuguese, the distinction is often sharper than in European Portuguese, where experiência is more frequently used for both meanings, though experimento remains the technical standard.

Nenhum experimento humano deve ser realizado sem consentimento ético.

Using experimento correctly requires understanding its grammatical environment. As a masculine noun, it is preceded by 'o', 'um', 'este', or 'aquele'. It often pairs with verbs like realizar (to perform), conduzir (to conduct), fazer (to do), or planejar (to plan). In a sentence, it usually functions as the direct object of the action.

Verb Pairings
Realizar um experimento, conduzir um experimento, falhar no experimento.

Nós vamos realizar o experimento amanhã de manhã no laboratório de química.

When describing the nature of the test, you can add adjectives directly after the noun. Common descriptors include científico (scientific), social (social), controlado (controlled), or aleatório (random). For example, "Um experimento aleatório produz resultados imparciais." This follows the standard Portuguese rule of noun-adjective order.

In more complex sentences, experimento can be part of a prepositional phrase, such as "os dados do experimento" (the data from the experiment). Here, the contraction do (de + o) is essential. If you are talking about being involved in the process, you might say "estou envolvido no experimento" (I am involved in the experiment).

A precisão do experimento é fundamental para a validade da pesquisa.

Common Prepositions
De (do/da), em (no/na), para, com.

Finally, consider the passive voice, which is common in scientific writing. "O experimento foi concluído com sucesso" (The experiment was concluded successfully). This structure emphasizes the event rather than the person performing it, which is a hallmark of formal Portuguese reporting.

Muitos experimentos foram necessários para chegar a esta conclusão.

The word experimento echoes through the halls of Portuguese-speaking universities from Coimbra to São Paulo. If you are watching a documentary on Globo Ciência or reading an article in Público about climate change, you will see this word repeatedly. It is the bread and butter of the scientific community. You will also hear it in high school science labs when a teacher is setting up a demonstration of Newton's laws or chemical reactions.

News & Media
Headlines like 'Novo experimento em Oxford promete cura' are common.

O documentário explicou o famoso experimento de Pavlov com cães.

Beyond science, you'll hear it in the 'Startup' culture of Brazil and Portugal. Founders often talk about 'rodar um experimento' (running an experiment) to test a new business model or feature. This is a direct loan from English 'growth hacking' terminology but translated into Portuguese. It implies a fast-paced, data-driven trial rather than a long-term commitment.

In social media, specifically on YouTube channels like 'Manual do Mundo' (a popular Brazilian science channel), the word is used constantly. They show 'experimentos caseiros' (home experiments) that viewers can try. Here, the word bridges the gap between formal science and everyday curiosity, making it accessible to children and hobbyists alike.

Este canal de YouTube faz experimentos incríveis com nitrogênio líquido.

Professional Settings
Pharmaceutical companies discussing clinical trials (experimentos clínicos).

Lastly, in the legal and ethical sphere, you will hear experimento when discussing the rights of subjects. In Brazil, the 'Comissão Nacional de Ética em Pesquisa' (CONEP) frequently uses the word to regulate what can and cannot be done in human research. Thus, the word carries a significant ethical and legal weight in administrative Portuguese.

O governo proibiu o experimento devido a riscos ambientais.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make is using experimento when they actually mean experiência. In English, 'experience' and 'experiment' are distinct, but learners often get confused because Portuguese uses experiência for both 'life experience' and 'scientific experiment' in many contexts, while experimento is restricted only to the scientific sense.

The 'Life' Mistake
Saying 'Eu tive um experimento incrível no Brasil' is wrong. You should say 'Eu tive uma experiência incrível'.

Errado: Viajar é um ótimo experimento. Correto: Viajar é uma ótima experiência.

Another common error is related to gender. Since it ends in '-o', many learners correctly identify it as masculine, but they sometimes forget to change the ending of the accompanying adjective. It is 'um experimento novo', not 'um experimento nova'. Because 'experiência' is feminine, learners often mix up the genders of these two related concepts.

The third mistake is using the wrong verb. In English, we 'do' or 'run' an experiment. In Portuguese, while 'fazer' (to do) is acceptable, 'realizar' or 'conduzir' is much more natural and professional. Using 'correr um experimento' (a literal translation of 'run an experiment') sounds like an anglicism and should be avoided in formal writing.

Evite: Vou correr um experimento. Use: Vou realizar um experimento.

Spelling Slip-ups
Confusion with the Spanish 'experimento' (which is identical) or French 'expérience' (which differs).

Finally, be careful with the pronunciation of the 'x'. In Portuguese, the 'x' in experimento sounds like an 's' (es-pe-ri-men-to), not like the 'ks' sound in the English 'experiment'. Pronouncing it as 'eks-perimento' is a clear sign of a foreign accent.

While experimento is the most precise term for a scientific trial, several other words occupy the same semantic space. Understanding the differences between them will help you choose the right word for the right situation.

Experimento vs. Experiência
Experimento: Always a controlled test. Experiência: Can be a controlled test OR a life event (e.g., 'experiência de trabalho').
Experimento vs. Ensaio
Ensaio: Often refers to a 'trial' in medicine (ensaio clínico) or a 'rehearsal' in the arts. It can also mean an 'essay'.

O experimento de laboratório foi mais preciso que o ensaio de campo.

Another alternative is teste. This is a very broad term used for everything from a school exam to a software check. While an experimento is a type of teste, it implies a more rigorous, scientific framework. If you are just checking if a lightbulb works, you are doing a teste. If you are checking how voltage affects the lifespan of different filaments, you are conducting an experimento.

In some contexts, prova might be used, especially in older texts or specific technical fields (like 'prova de carga' for a load test). However, prova usually means 'proof' or 'evidence' in modern Portuguese. Finally, verificação is used when the goal is simply to confirm that something is functioning as expected, without the exploratory nature of an experiment.

A verificação dos dados é o passo final após o experimento.

Context Comparison
Use Experimento for Science, Experiência for Life, Ensaio for Medicine/Art, and Teste for General checking.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word share the same root as 'peril' (perigo), because in ancient times, 'trying' something often involved danger or risk.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /eʃ.pɛ.ɾi.ˈmẽ.tu/
US /es.pe.ɾi.ˈmẽ.tu/
The stress is on the penultimate syllable: ex-pe-ri-MEN-to.
Rhymes With
momento sentimento pensamento alimento movimento instrumento documento atendimento
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'x' as 'ks' (like English 'exit').
  • Stressing the first syllable.
  • Making the final 'o' too strong like 'oh'.
  • Ignoring the nasal 'en' sound.
  • Confusing the 'r' with the English 'r' instead of a light tap.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to the English word.

Writing 3/5

Requires distinguishing between 'experimento' and 'experiência'.

Speaking 3/5

The 'x' pronunciation can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fazer escola novo ciência água

Learn Next

laboratório hipótese resultado pesquisa provar

Advanced

empirismo metodologia variável amostragem conclusivo
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Examples by Level

1

Eu faço um experimento na escola.

I do an experiment at school.

Simple present tense using 'fazer'.

2

O experimento é divertido.

The experiment is fun.

Use of the linking verb 'ser'.

3

Este é o meu experimento.

This is my experiment.

Demonstrative pronoun 'este'.

4

O experimento usa água.

The experiment uses water.

Basic subject-verb-object structure.

5

Um experimento simples.

A simple experiment.

Noun-adjective agreement.

6

Onde está o experimento?

Where is the experiment?

Interrogative sentence.

7

Eu vejo o experimento.

I see the experiment.

Direct object 'o experimento'.

8

Gosto do experimento.

I like the experiment.

Contraction 'do' (de + o).

1

Nós realizamos um experimento de biologia.

We performed a biology experiment.

Preterite tense of 'realizar'.

2

O experimento não funcionou.

The experiment didn't work.

Negative sentence in the past.

3

Você pode ajudar no experimento?

Can you help with the experiment?

Preposition 'no' (em + o).

4

O experimento é sobre o sol.

The experiment is about the sun.

Preposition 'sobre' (about).

5

Eles estão fazendo um experimento novo.

They are doing a new experiment.

Present continuous tense.

6

O resultado do experimento foi bom.

The result of the experiment was good.

Compound noun phrase.

7

Eu li sobre o experimento no livro.

I read about the experiment in the book.

Past tense 'li' (ler).

8

Quantos experimentos você fez?

How many experiments did you do?

Plural 'experimentos'.

1

O cientista explicou o experimento passo a passo.

The scientist explained the experiment step by step.

Adverbial phrase 'passo a passo'.

2

Precisamos de mais dados para o experimento.

We need more data for the experiment.

Use of 'precisar de'.

3

O experimento social revelou comportamentos estranhos.

The social experiment revealed strange behaviors.

Adjective 'social' modifying the noun.

4

Se o experimento falhar, tentaremos novamente.

If the experiment fails, we will try again.

Conditional 'if' clause.

5

Este experimento é mais complexo que o anterior.

This experiment is more complex than the previous one.

Comparative structure 'mais... que'.

6

Eles publicaram os resultados do experimento.

They published the results of the experiment.

Plural direct object 'os resultados'.

7

O experimento requer muita paciência.

The experiment requires a lot of patience.

Verb 'requerer' (to require).

8

Ninguém sabia o objetivo do experimento.

Nobody knew the goal of the experiment.

Indefinite pronoun 'ninguém'.

1

O experimento foi conduzido sob condições rigorosas.

The experiment was conducted under rigorous conditions.

Passive voice 'foi conduzido'.

2

As variáveis do experimento foram cuidadosamente controladas.

The experiment's variables were carefully controlled.

Feminine plural agreement 'foram controladas'.

3

Houve uma falha técnica durante o experimento.

There was a technical failure during the experiment.

Use of 'haver' (there to be) in the past.

4

O experimento visa comprovar a eficácia do fármaco.

The experiment aims to prove the drug's efficacy.

Verb 'visar' meaning 'to aim at'.

5

Apesar do custo, o experimento foi aprovado.

Despite the cost, the experiment was approved.

Concession 'apesar de'.

6

O experimento baseia-se em teorias quânticas.

The experiment is based on quantum theories.

Pronominal verb 'basear-se em'.

7

Os participantes do experimento assinaram um termo.

The experiment participants signed a form.

Subject-verb agreement.

8

O experimento durou mais de seis meses.

The experiment lasted more than six months.

Duration with 'mais de'.

1

A replicabilidade do experimento é questionável.

The replicability of the experiment is questionable.

Advanced noun 'replicabilidade'.

2

O experimento refuta a hipótese anteriormente proposta.

The experiment refutes the previously proposed hypothesis.

Precise verb 'refutar'.

3

Os dados brutos do experimento estão disponíveis online.

The raw data from the experiment are available online.

Adjective 'brutos' (raw).

4

O experimento suscitou um debate ético profundo.

The experiment sparked a deep ethical debate.

Verb 'suscitar' (to spark/arouse).

5

A metodologia do experimento foi amplamente criticada.

The experiment's methodology was widely criticized.

Adverb 'amplamente'.

6

O experimento carece de fundamentação teórica sólida.

The experiment lacks a solid theoretical foundation.

Verb 'carecer de' (to lack).

7

Tais experimentos são fundamentais para o progresso.

Such experiments are fundamental to progress.

Demonstrative 'tais' (such).

8

O experimento revelou uma correlação inesperada.

The experiment revealed an unexpected correlation.

Scientific term 'correlação'.

1

O experimento transcende os limites da física clássica.

The experiment transcends the limits of classical physics.

Elevated verb 'transcender'.

2

A elegância do experimento reside na sua simplicidade.

The elegance of the experiment lies in its simplicity.

Verb 'residir em'.

3

O experimento foi o estopim para a revolução industrial.

The experiment was the fuse for the industrial revolution.

Metaphorical use of 'estopim'.

4

Submeter o experimento a revisão por pares é vital.

Submitting the experiment to peer review is vital.

Infinitive as subject.

5

O experimento desmascarou a fraude pseudocientífica.

The experiment unmasked the pseudoscientific fraud.

Strong verb 'desmascarar'.

6

A natureza intrínseca do experimento é exploratória.

The intrinsic nature of the experiment is exploratory.

Adjective 'intrínseca'.

7

O experimento corroborou os achados da década passada.

The experiment corroborated the findings of the past decade.

Formal verb 'corroborar'.

8

A execução do experimento foi impecável.

The execution of the experiment was flawless.

Adjective 'impecável'.

Common Collocations

realizar um experimento
experimento controlado
resultados do experimento
conduzir um experimento
experimento científico
falha no experimento
experimento social
dados do experimento
experimento de laboratório
planejar um experimento

Common Phrases

Em experimento

— Currently being tested.

A nova lei está em experimento.

Experimento mental

— A thought experiment.

Schrödinger propôs um experimento mental.

Baseado em experimentos

— Empirically proven.

O livro é baseado em experimentos reais.

Fase de experimento

— Testing phase.

O produto ainda está na fase de experimento.

Experimento de campo

— A test done in a real-world environment.

O experimento de campo foi difícil.

Sujeito de experimento

— Test subject.

Ele foi o primeiro sujeito de experimento.

Experimento cego

— Blind experiment (to avoid bias).

Usamos um experimento cego.

Repetir o experimento

— To replicate the test.

Devemos repetir o experimento.

Experimento falho

— A flawed experiment.

O experimento falho foi descartado.

Experimento pioneiro

— A groundbreaking experiment.

Foi um experimento pioneiro na área.

Idioms & Expressions

"servir de cobaia"

— To be a guinea pig; to be the subject of an experiment.

Não quero servir de cobaia para esse remédio.

informal
"fazer das tripas coração"

— To try very hard despite difficulties (can apply to saving a failing experiment).

Fiz das tripas coração para terminar o experimento.

idiomatic
"dar pano para manga"

— To provide a lot of material for discussion (often said of controversial experiments).

Aquele experimento deu pano para manga.

informal
"ir por água abaixo"

— To go down the drain (when an experiment fails completely).

Todo o experimento foi por água abaixo.

informal
"meter a mão na massa"

— To get one's hands dirty/start working on the experiment.

É hora de meter a mão na massa e começar o experimento.

informal
"pôr à prova"

— To put to the test.

Vamos pôr à prova o seu experimento.

neutral
"tirar a limpo"

— To clear up/verify (the results of an experiment).

Precisamos tirar a limpo os dados do experimento.

neutral
"chover no molhado"

— To do something redundant (like repeating a well-known experiment).

Fazer esse experimento de novo é chover no molhado.

informal
"pisar em ovos"

— To walk on eggshells (to be very careful during a delicate experiment).

Estávamos pisando em ovos durante o experimento.

informal
"ver para crer"

— Seeing is believing (the essence of experimentation).

Neste experimento, é ver para crer.

neutral

Word Family

Nouns

experimentação
experimentalismo
experimentador

Verbs

experimentar

Adjectives

experimental
experimentado

Related

experiência
perito
perícia
experiente
empírico
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Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'EX-PE-RI-MENTO'. 'EX' is your EX-planation, 'PE' is your PE-ncil for notes, 'RI' is for RI-gorous, and 'MENTO' is for your MENT-al effort.

Visual Association

Imagine a scientist in a white coat pouring a glowing liquid from one tube to another; that specific action is the 'experimento'.

Word Web

Ciência Laboratório Hipótese Dados Teste Variável Química Pesquisa

Challenge

Write three sentences about a 'fake' experiment you would like to do, using 'realizar', 'conduzir', and 'concluir'.

Word Origin

From Latin 'experimentum', which means 'a trial, test, or proof'. It is derived from the verb 'experiri', meaning 'to try or attempt'.

Original meaning: A trial or testing of something to find its quality.

Romance (Italic branch of Indo-European).

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'experimentos em humanos' (human experiments) as it is a sensitive historical and ethical topic.

English speakers tend to use 'experiment' more loosely; Portuguese is more strict about using 'experimento' vs 'experiência'.

O Experimento de Milgram (Milgram Experiment) Experimento de Stanford (Stanford Prison Experiment) Manual do Mundo (YouTube channel famous for experiments)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Science Class

  • Abrir o livro
  • Seguir os passos
  • Anotar os resultados
  • Limpar o laboratório

Medical Research

  • Testar a vacina
  • Efeitos colaterais
  • Pacientes voluntários
  • Aprovação ética

Software Development

  • Teste A/B
  • Rodar o código
  • Analisar métricas
  • Feedback do usuário
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Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

experimento Spanish
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