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A2 verb 11 min read

fatigar

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips fatigar in 30 Seconds

Explanation fatigar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to express basic needs and feelings. While 'fatigar' is a more advanced word than you usually need right now, it is helpful to recognize it as a relative of the word 'cansado' (tired). At this stage, you should focus on the idea that 'fatigar' means 'to make someone tired'. Imagine you are playing a game or running a lot; those activities 'fatigam' you. You won't often use this word yourself yet—you will mostly use 'cansar'—but knowing that 'fatigar' is related to 'fatigue' in English makes it easy to remember. Just think of it as a fancy way to say 'to tire out'. If you see it in a sentence, look for clues like sports or work to help you understand that someone is getting very, very tired. It is a regular verb in most forms, so it follows the same patterns as 'falar' or 'estudar'.

As an A2 learner, you are building your vocabulary to describe your daily life and past experiences in more detail. 'Fatigar' is a great word to add when you want to sound a bit more descriptive. Instead of always saying 'Trabalhei muito e estou cansado', you could say 'O trabalho me fatigou'. This shows you are moving beyond the most basic words. You should also learn the reflexive form, 'fatigar-se', which means 'to get tired'. For example, 'Eu me fatigo quando corro' (I get tired when I run). At this level, you should also be aware of the small spelling change in the past tense: 'eu fatiguei' (I tired/got tired). The 'u' is added so the 'g' still sounds like the 'g' in 'go'. This is a common pattern for verbs ending in -gar. Using 'fatigar' occasionally in your writing or speaking will help you sound more like an intermediate student and less like a total beginner.

At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex topics and use a wider range of vocabulary to express nuances. 'Fatigar' becomes very useful here because it allows you to distinguish between simple tiredness and a more significant state of exhaustion. You can use it to talk about mental effort, such as 'Estudar gramática por cinco horas fatiga a mente' (Studying grammar for five hours fatigues the mind). You should also start noticing how 'fatigar' is used with prepositions like 'com' or 'de'. For instance, 'fatigar-se de esperar' (to get tired of waiting). This level is about precision, and 'fatigar' provides a more formal tone that is appropriate for work environments or slightly more serious discussions. You'll also encounter the noun form 'fadiga' (fatigue) more often in news articles or health-related texts, and knowing the verb makes the noun much easier to understand.

For B2 learners, 'fatigar' is a word you should be able to use comfortably in both formal and semi-formal contexts. You should understand its transitive and reflexive applications perfectly. At this stage, you can use 'fatigar' to describe abstract concepts, such as 'fatigar a paciência de alguém' (to wear out someone's patience) or 'fatigar um tema' (to exhaust a topic by talking about it too much). You should also be aware of its technical uses, such as in engineering ('fadiga de materiais') or medicine. Your ability to choose 'fatigar' over 'cansar' in a written essay or a formal presentation will demonstrate your command of different linguistic registers. You should also be familiar with synonyms like 'exaurir' or 'estafar' and know when 'fatigar' is the more appropriate choice (usually when the focus is on the process of wearing down rather than the final state of total depletion).

At the C1 level, you are refining your command of the language to a near-native level of sophistication. 'Fatigar' is now a tool for stylistic variation and precise expression. You should be able to appreciate its use in classical and contemporary Portuguese literature, where it often carries a weight of existential or philosophical weariness. You should understand the subtle difference between 'fatigar' and its synonyms in various contexts—for example, why an author might choose 'fatigado' over 'exausto' to describe a character's state of mind to imply a long-term, slow-burning depletion. You should also be able to use the verb in complex grammatical structures, including the passive voice and various subjunctive moods, without hesitation. Your use of 'fatigar' should feel natural and well-placed, reflecting an intuitive understanding of Portuguese prosody and register.

As a C2 learner, you have mastered the intricacies of the Portuguese language. 'Fatigar' is a word you use with total precision, understanding all its historical, technical, and metaphorical connotations. You can use it to discuss complex subjects like the 'fadiga da democracia' or the mechanical limits of advanced alloys in aerospace engineering. You are aware of its Latin roots and how it relates to other Romance languages, which helps you navigate even the most archaic or specialized texts. At this level, you might use 'fatigar' to deliberately create a specific tone in your writing—perhaps one of clinical detachment or high-literary gravitas. You can effortlessly switch between 'fatigar', 'prostrar', 'alquebrar', and 'esgotar', choosing the exact word that fits the rhythmic and semantic needs of your discourse. Your mastery of this verb is a testament to your deep immersion in the Portuguese language and culture.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

fatigar in 30 Seconds

Fatigar is a formal Portuguese verb meaning to tire or exhaust, often used in serious or technical contexts.
It works as a transitive verb (to tire someone) or a reflexive verb (fatigar-se, to get tired).
Commonly found in medical, engineering, and literary texts, it implies a deeper depletion than the everyday 'cansar'.
Requires a spelling change to 'fatiguei' in the first-person past tense to maintain the correct pronunciation.

The Portuguese verb fatigar is a sophisticated and precise term used to describe the act of causing weariness, exhaustion, or a state of being tired. While the word 'cansar' is the most common way to say 'to tire' in everyday Portuguese, fatigar carries a more formal, clinical, or intense connotation. It is derived from the Latin fatigare, and it suggests a deeper level of depletion than a simple lack of sleep. When you use fatigar, you are often referring to a process where energy is systematically drained through repetitive action, heavy labor, or intense mental strain. It is a transitive verb, meaning someone or something does the tiring, but it is very frequently used in its pronominal form, fatigar-se, to indicate that the subject itself is becoming tired.

Physical Context: In physical contexts, fatigar is used to describe the physiological process of muscle exhaustion. For example, an athlete might fatigar their muscles during a marathon. It implies a state where the body can no longer perform at its peak efficiency due to the accumulation of effort.

O excesso de peso na mochila começou a fatigar os ombros do caminhante durante a trilha íngreme.

Mental and Emotional Context: Beyond the physical, this verb is excellent for describing mental burnout or emotional weariness. Constant worry, complex problem-solving, or even repetitive social interactions can fatigar the spirit. It suggests a weariness that requires more than just a quick nap to resolve; it implies a need for deep recovery.

As constantes discussões políticas acabaram por fatigar a paciência de todos os presentes na reunião.

Formal Usage: You will encounter this word in medical reports, academic papers discussing ergonomics, or formal literature. It is less likely to be heard at a casual barbecue among friends, where 'cansar' would be the natural choice. Using fatigar in casual speech might make you sound overly formal or slightly dramatic, which can be useful for emphasis.

O relator não quis fatigar a audiência com detalhes técnicos desnecessários durante a apresentação.

Eu me fatiguei rapidamente ao tentar subir a montanha sem o equipamento adequado.

A leitura prolongada em ambientes com pouca luz pode fatigar a visão consideravelmente.

In summary, fatigar is your go-to verb when you want to express a sense of being 'worn down' or 'exhausted' in a more serious or technical manner. It covers the spectrum from the physical failure of a machine part (metal fatigue) to the emotional exhaustion of a long-term struggle. Understanding its nuances allows you to transition from basic Portuguese to a more advanced, nuanced level of expression.

Using fatigar correctly involves understanding its role as both a transitive verb (to tire someone else) and a pronominal verb (to tire oneself). In the transitive sense, the subject is the cause of the fatigue, and the object is the person or thing being tired. When used pronominally as fatigar-se, the subject is the one experiencing the exhaustion. This flexibility makes it a powerful tool for describing various dynamics of effort and exhaustion. Because it is a regular -ar verb, its conjugation is generally predictable, with the exception of the orthographic adjustment in the first-person singular of the past tense.

Transitive Usage (To Tire Something/Someone): When you use fatigar to describe an external force causing tiredness, the structure is: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object]. This is common in professional or descriptive contexts where the focus is on the source of the strain.

A rotina exaustiva de trabalho começou a fatigar os funcionários da fábrica.

Pronominal Usage (To Get Tired): In everyday situations where you want to say 'I am getting tired' or 'he got tired', you use the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos). This emphasizes the internal state of the subject.

Ele fatiga-se facilmente quando precisa caminhar longas distâncias sob o sol forte.

Usage with Prepositions: Often, fatigar is followed by the preposition 'com' (with) or 'de' (of/from) to specify the cause of the fatigue. 'Fatigar-se com' is common for activities, while 'fatigar-se de' often implies a loss of patience or interest.

Ela se fatigou de ouvir as mesmas desculpas todos os dias sem ver nenhuma mudança real.

Não devemos fatigar o motor do carro subindo a serra em uma marcha muito alta.

Os olhos costumam se fatigar após horas de exposição contínua à luz azul das telas.

To master fatigar, practice switching between its transitive and reflexive forms. Notice how the meaning shifts from 'causing exhaustion' to 'becoming exhausted'. Pay attention to the context: if the situation is serious, medical, or formal, fatigar is usually more appropriate than 'cansar'. By integrating this verb into your vocabulary, you demonstrate a higher level of linguistic precision and a better grasp of Portuguese registers.

While you might not hear fatigar at a noisy nightclub or during a casual chat over coffee, it is a staple in many other environments. Understanding where this word naturally lives will help you recognize it and use it appropriately. It is a word of 'weight'—it carries a sense of gravity that simpler verbs lack. From the doctor's office to the pages of a classic novel, fatigar is the preferred term for describing the depletion of resources, whether those resources are biological, mechanical, or emotional.

Medical and Health Contexts: In a clinical setting, doctors use fatigar to describe symptoms or physiological states. You might hear a physician ask if a certain activity fatiga the patient's breathing or if they feel their heart fatigando-se during exercise. It sounds more professional and precise than 'cansar'.

O médico explicou que a asma pode fatigar os pulmões se não for tratada corretamente com a medicação.

Literature and Fine Writing: Portuguese literature, known for its rich and emotive vocabulary, frequently employs fatigar. It is used to describe the weariness of a long journey, the exhaustion of a character's will, or the metaphorical 'tiring' of the soul. Authors like Machado de Assis or José Saramago might use it to add a layer of sophistication to their prose.

Naquele romance clássico, o protagonista parecia se fatigar com o peso dos seus próprios pensamentos melancólicos.

Engineering and Mechanics: One of the most specific uses of fatigar is in engineering. 'Fadiga de materiais' (material fatigue) refers to the weakening of a material caused by repeatedly applied loads. Engineers will talk about how vibrations fatigam a bridge's structure or how a metal component was fatigado until it snapped.

Os engenheiros alertaram que a vibração constante do solo poderia fatigar a estrutura do prédio antigo.

O palestrante tentou não fatigar o público com uma apresentação que já durava mais de três horas.

A maratona de exames finais costuma fatigar os estudantes tanto física quanto mentalmente no fim do semestre.

In essence, you hear fatigar when the stakes are higher, the language is more formal, or the exhaustion being described is deep and consequential. It is a word that signals seriousness and detail. By paying attention to these specific contexts, you can begin to discern when 'cansar' is enough and when fatigar is the necessary choice to express the true depth of the situation.

Even for intermediate learners, fatigar can present a few hurdles. Because it is a more formal synonym of 'cansar', learners often struggle with its register, conjugation, and the nuances of its reflexive use. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Portuguese sound more natural and precise. The most frequent errors involve treating it exactly like its English cognate 'fatigue' without considering Portuguese grammar rules, or misapplying it in very casual settings where it feels out of place.

Register Mismatch: The biggest 'mistake' is using fatigar when you're just a little bit tired from a long day. If you tell a friend 'Estou fatigado' after a 10-minute walk, it sounds overly dramatic. Stick to 'Estou cansado' for everyday tiredness and save fatigar for serious exhaustion or formal writing.

Dizer 'Eu me fatiguei lavando a louça' soa estranho; prefira 'Eu me cansei lavando a louça'.

Conjugation Errors: The 'G' to 'GU' Shift: Portuguese verbs ending in -gar require a spelling change before 'e' to keep the 'g' sound hard (like 'game'). In the Pretérito Perfeito (Past Tense), the 'eu' form is 'fatiguei', not 'fatigei'. Forgetting that 'u' is a common spelling mistake.

É importante que você não se fatigue demais antes da competição de amanhã.

Confusing Transitive and Reflexive Forms: Learners sometimes forget the reflexive pronoun 'se' when they mean 'to get tired'. Saying 'Eu fatiguei' without 'me' sounds like you tired something else out but didn't finish the sentence. If you are the one who is tired, you must use 'Eu me fatiguei'.

O atleta se fatigou (correct) vs. O atleta fatigou (incorrect, unless he tired someone else).

Não confunda: 'A aula me fatigou' (exhausted me) com 'A aula me enfadou' (bored me).

Muitos alunos escrevem 'fatigando' quando querem dizer 'chateando'; a diferença é o nível de energia.

By keeping an eye on these details—the formality of the situation, the necessary spelling changes in specific conjugations, and the vital role of reflexive pronouns—you will use fatigar like a native speaker. Precision in vocabulary is what separates a basic learner from a fluent speaker, and mastering these nuances is a significant step in that journey.

Portuguese is incredibly rich in synonyms for being tired, each offering a slightly different flavor or intensity. While fatigar is formal and intense, knowing its alternatives allows you to match your language perfectly to the situation. Whether you are slightly sleepy, physically broken, or mentally finished, there is a specific word for that. Exploring these synonyms helps build a more vibrant and accurate vocabulary for expressing human (and mechanical) limits.

Cansar vs. Fatigar: 'Cansar' is the universal, everyday word. It covers everything from 'I need a nap' to 'This job is tiring'. Fatigar is the 'heavy' version of 'cansar'. Use 'cansar' with family; use fatigar in a report or a novel.

Enquanto 'cansar' é comum, fatigar sugere um esgotamento mais profundo e técnico.

Esgotar and Exaurir: These two verbs are even stronger than fatigar. They mean 'to exhaust' or 'to drain completely'. If fatigar is the process of getting very tired, 'esgotar' is the point where there is absolutely nothing left in the tank.

O trabalho pode nos fatigar, mas uma crise prolongada pode nos esgotar completamente.

Estafar: This verb is specifically used for overworking. It's related to the noun 'estafa' (burnout/overwork). It's more common in Brazil to describe the result of working too many hours without rest. It carries a sense of being 'stressed out' along with the fatigue.

O excesso de horas extras acabou por estafar a equipe, que já estava muito fatigada.

Depois do treino de pernas, eu estava fatigado, mas meu amigo disse que estava 'moído'.

A monotonia da viagem começou a fatigar os passageiros do ônibus intermunicipal.

Choosing between fatigar, 'cansar', 'esgotar', or 'estafar' depends on the 'volume' of the tiredness and the 'setting' of the conversation. By understanding these subtle differences, you can navigate Portuguese social and professional situations with much greater confidence and nuance.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word 'fatigar' is a direct cognate with the English 'fatigue' and French 'fatiguer', making it one of the easier 'formal' words for English speakers to recognize.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɐ.ti.ˈɡaɾ/

US /fa.tʃi.ˈɡaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: fa-ti-GAR.

Rhymes With

chegar lugar olhar pensar falar andar amar jogar

Common Errors

Stressing the second syllable (fa-TI-gar) like in English 'fatigue'.
Pronouncing the 'g' as a 'j' sound before 'e' in 'fatiguei'.
Making the 'a' in 'gar' too short.
Forgetting the 'u' in the written form of 'fatiguei'.
Pronouncing the final 'r' like an English 'r' (it should be tapped or guttural).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the English cognate 'fatigue'.

Writing 4/5

Requires remembering the 'g' to 'gu' spelling change in past tense.

Speaking 3/5

Requires correct placement of stress on the final syllable.

Listening 3/5

May be confused with 'cansar' or other synonyms if spoken quickly.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

cansar corpo mente trabalho muito

Learn Next

esgotar exaurir estafar fadiga repousar

Advanced

prostrar alquebrar debilitar enervar estenuar

Grammar to Know

Spelling change in -gar verbs

Eu fatiguei (not fatigei) to keep the 'g' hard.

Reflexive pronoun placement

Eu me fatigo (Brazil) vs Fatigo-me (Portugal).

Subjunctive mood for 'que' clauses

Espero que você não se fatigue.

Prepositional objects with 'de'

Fatigar-se de algo.

Passive voice with past participle

O metal foi fatigado pela pressão.

Examples by Level

Correr muito pode fatigar o corpo.

Running a lot can fatigue the body.

Simple infinitive use after 'pode'.

Eu não quero fatigar você com meus problemas.

I don't want to tire you with my problems.

Transitive use: fatigar + person.

O sol forte fatiga os animais no campo.

The strong sun fatigues the animals in the field.

Third person singular present tense.

Trabalhar o dia todo fatiga o meu pai.

Working all day fatigues my father.

Subject is the activity (Trabalhar).

Você se fatiga rápido quando nada?

Do you get tired fast when you swim?

Reflexive use: se fatiga.

Ler no escuro fatiga os olhos.

Reading in the dark fatigues the eyes.

Transitive use with a body part.

As crianças se fatigam depois de brincar.

The children get tired after playing.

Plural reflexive form.

Este exercício não vai fatigar você.

This exercise is not going to fatigue you.

Future construction with 'ir'.

Eu me fatiguei muito durante a longa caminhada de ontem.

I got very tired during yesterday's long walk.

Pretérito Perfeito with the 'gu' spelling change.

Ela se fatiga facilmente por causa do calor intenso.

She gets tired easily because of the intense heat.

Adverb 'facilmente' modifying the verb.

O excesso de ruído na rua fatiga a nossa mente.

The excess noise on the street fatigues our mind.

Possessive 'nossa' with 'mente'.

Nós nos fatigamos após subir tantos lances de escada.

We got tired after climbing so many flights of stairs.

First person plural reflexive.

O professor não queria fatigar os alunos com muitos deveres.

The teacher didn't want to tire the students with too much homework.

Negative construction with 'querer'.

Você já se fatigou de morar nesta cidade barulhenta?

Have you already gotten tired of living in this noisy city?

Fatigar-se + de + infinitive.

O cavalo se fatigou depois de correr por toda a fazenda.

The horse got tired after running all over the farm.

Animal as the subject of a reflexive verb.

Não se fatigue tanto, você precisa descansar um pouco.

Don't tire yourself out so much, you need to rest a bit.

Imperative negative reflexive.

A rotina burocrática costuma fatigar até os funcionários mais pacientes.

The bureaucratic routine usually fatigues even the most patient employees.

Use of 'costuma' to indicate habit.

É provável que a longa viagem fatigue o motorista.

It is likely that the long trip will fatigue the driver.

Present Subjunctive after 'É provável que'.

Se você se fatigar durante o treino, pare imediatamente.

If you get tired during the training, stop immediately.

Future Subjunctive in a condition.

Eles se fatigaram de discutir sobre política sem chegar a um acordo.

They got tired of arguing about politics without reaching an agreement.

Pretérito Perfeito plural reflexive.

A falta de sono pode fatigar seriamente o sistema imunológico.

Lack of sleep can seriously fatigue the immune system.

Adverb 'seriamente' used for emphasis.

O relator tentou não fatigar a assembleia com detalhes técnicos.

The rapporteur tried not to weary the assembly with technical details.

Formal context usage.

A visão se fatiga quando passamos muitas horas em frente ao computador.

Vision gets fatigued when we spend many hours in front of the computer.

Reflexive use with a body part as the subject.

Embora estivesse fatigado, ele continuou a escrever o relatório.

Although he was fatigued, he continued to write the report.

Participle used as an adjective (fatigado).

A vibração constante da máquina pode fatigar as peças metálicas ao longo do tempo.

The constant vibration of the machine can fatigue the metal parts over time.

Technical/Mechanical context.

O excesso de informações nas redes sociais acaba por fatigar o discernimento dos usuários.

The excess of information on social media ends up fatiguing the users' discernment.

Abstract transitive use.

Duvido que ele se fatigue tão cedo, ele tem muita resistência física.

I doubt he will get tired so soon; he has a lot of physical endurance.

Present Subjunctive after 'Duvido que'.

A carga excessiva de responsabilidades fatigou-o emocionalmente.

The excessive burden of responsibilities fatigued him emotionally.

Object pronoun 'o' attached to the verb (European style).

Não convém fatigar a paciência do público com discursos prolixos.

It is not advisable to weary the public's patience with wordy speeches.

Impersonal construction 'Não convém'.

O músculo cardíaco pode se fatigar se for submetido a um esforço extremo sem preparo.

The cardiac muscle can fatigue if subjected to extreme effort without preparation.

Medical/Biological context.

Muitas vezes, a monotonia de um trabalho repetitivo fatiga mais do que o esforço físico.

Often, the monotony of repetitive work fatigues more than physical effort.

Comparison between different types of fatigue.

Ao se fatigar, o atleta perde a precisão nos movimentos técnicos.

Upon getting tired, the athlete loses precision in technical movements.

Gerund-like construction 'Ao se fatigar'.

A prosa densa do autor pode fatigar o leitor menos atento.

The author's dense prose may weary the less attentive reader.

Literary/Academic context.

O sistema democrático parece se fatigar diante de crises institucionais recorrentes.

The democratic system seems to fatigue in the face of recurrent institutional crises.

Metaphorical use in political science.

Fatigaram-se de buscar soluções em um ambiente tão hostil e pouco colaborativo.

They grew weary of searching for solutions in such a hostile and uncollaborative environment.

Reflexive verb with 'de' + infinitive.

A exposição prolongada a toxinas ambientais pode fatigar os mecanismos de desintoxicação do fígado.

Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins can fatigue the liver's detoxification mechanisms.

Advanced physiological description.

É imperativo que não se fatigue a estrutura social com exigências fiscais insustentáveis.

It is imperative that the social structure is not fatigued with unsustainable fiscal demands.

Passive-like reflexive 'não se fatigue' in the subjunctive.

Sua voz, embora cansada, não parecia se fatigar de clamar por justiça.

His voice, though tired, did not seem to weary of crying out for justice.

Contrast between 'cansada' and 'fatigar'.

O uso recorrente de clichês acaba por fatigar a originalidade de qualquer texto literário.

The recurrent use of clichés ends up fatiguing the originality of any literary text.

Abstract transitive use in literary criticism.

Ainda que se fatiguem, os voluntários continuam os trabalhos de resgate.

Even if they get tired, the volunteers continue the rescue work.

Concessive clause with 'Ainda que' + subjunctive.

A entropia, em última análise, tende a fatigar a própria ordem do universo.

Entropy, ultimately, tends to fatigue the very order of the universe.

Philosophical/Scientific abstraction.

O autor utiliza o verbo fatigar para evocar uma exaustão existencial que transcende o físico.

The author uses the verb fatigar to evoke an existential exhaustion that transcends the physical.

Meta-linguistic analysis.

As contínuas mutações do vírus podem, teoricamente, fatigar a resposta imunológica da população.

The continuous mutations of the virus could, theoretically, fatigue the population's immune response.

High-level medical hypothesis.

Não se deve fatigar a hermenêutica de um texto com interpretações excessivamente idiossincráticas.

One should not fatigue the hermeneutics of a text with excessively idiosyncratic interpretations.

Academic/Philosophical register.

A persistência em métodos obsoletos apenas serve para fatigar os recursos já escassos da instituição.

Persistence in obsolete methods only serves to fatigue the already scarce resources of the institution.

Transitive use with abstract resources.

O declínio das civilizações costuma ser precedido por um período em que os seus valores se fatigam.

The decline of civilizations is usually preceded by a period in which their values fatigue.

Historical/Sociological abstraction.

Ao fatigar-se o metal da lâmina, a espada perdeu a sua capacidade de corte e a sua honra mística.

As the metal of the blade fatigued, the sword lost its cutting ability and its mystical honor.

Literary personification of a mechanical process.

A dialética constante entre o eu e o outro pode fatigar a própria noção de identidade.

The constant dialectic between the self and the other can fatigue the very notion of identity.

Advanced philosophical discourse.

Common Collocations

fatigar a vista

fatigar a paciência

fatigar os músculos

fatigar a mente

fatigar o motor

fatigar-se de esperar

fatigar o metal

fatigar a voz

fatigar o coração

fatigar o tema

Common Phrases

não se fatigue

— Don't overwork yourself or don't get too tired. Often used as a polite suggestion.

Por favor, não se fatigue tanto com esse projeto.

fatigar-se à toa

— To get tired for no reason or for something not worth the effort.

Você está se fatigando à toa com essa discussão boba.

fácil de fatigar

— Something or someone that tires easily.

Este material é muito fácil de fatigar se for dobrado.

sem se fatigar

— Without getting tired; effortlessly.

Ele correu dez quilômetros sem se fatigar.

fatigar os ouvidos

— To listen to something annoying or repetitive for too long.

Aquele barulho constante fatiga os ouvidos de qualquer um.

fatigar a atenção

— To lose focus because of a long or boring task.

Textos muito longos costumam fatigar a atenção do leitor.

fatigar a memória

— To try too hard to remember something or to overload the mind.

Não adianta fatigar a memória tentando decorar tudo agora.

fatigar o espírito

— To become emotionally or spiritually weary.

A vida na cidade grande às vezes fatiga o espírito.

fatigar as pernas

— To walk or stand for a long time until legs feel heavy.

A subida da montanha fatigou as minhas pernas.

deixar-se fatigar

— To allow oneself to become exhausted.

Ele não se deixou fatigar pelas dificuldades do caminho.

Often Confused With

fatigar vs enfadar

Enfadar is specifically about boredom or annoyance, while fatigar is about energy depletion.

fatigar vs chatear

Chatear means to annoy or upset, which is different from being physically or mentally tired.

fatigar vs fustigar

Fustigar means to whip or harass repeatedly, which is much more aggressive than fatigar.

Idioms & Expressions

"fatigar a beleza"

— An ironic or humorous way to say someone is getting tired or working too hard, implying it might affect their looks.

Cuidado para não fatigar a beleza trabalhando até tarde!

informal/humorous

"fatigar o juízo"

— To drive someone crazy with talk or problems; to wear out someone's sanity.

Essas crianças estão fatigando o meu juízo hoje.

colloquial

"fatigar a sela"

— Literally 'to fatigue the saddle', used to mean someone who spends a lot of time traveling or riding.

O velho caubói fatigou muita sela naquelas terras.

regional/literary

"fatigar a paciência de um santo"

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

A demora no atendimento fatiga a paciência de um santo.

colloquial

"estar com a alma fatigada"

— To be deeply tired of life or a situation, beyond just physical tiredness.

Depois de tantos anos de luta, ele estava com a alma fatigada.

literary/poetic

"fatigar o ferro"

— Used in blacksmithing or engineering to mean working the metal until it becomes brittle.

É preciso cuidado para não fatigar o ferro durante a forja.

technical/craft

"fatigar a sorte"

— To push one's luck too far until it runs out.

Ele continuou apostando e acabou fatigando a sua sorte.

figurative

"fatigar as vistas"

— To look at something for too long, especially in detail.

Fatiguei as vistas tentando encontrar o erro no mapa.

neutral

"fatigar o caminho"

— To travel a path many times; to be a frequent traveler.

Os pés do peregrino fatigaram o caminho até o santuário.

poetic

"fatigar a língua"

— To talk too much or to explain something repeatedly.

Não vou fatigar a língua explicando o que você já sabe.

informal

Easily Confused

fatigar vs cansar

Both mean 'to tire'.

Cansar is common and everyday; fatigar is formal, technical, or implies deeper exhaustion.

Eu me cansei na academia. vs. O esforço fatigou o meu coração.

fatigar vs esgotar

Both relate to being tired.

Esgotar means the resources are 100% gone; fatigar is the process of wearing them down.

O dinheiro se esgotou. vs. O trabalho me fatigou.

fatigar vs estafar

Both mean exhaustion from work.

Estafar is more common in Brazil and implies burnout or extreme stress from labor.

Ele está estafado de tanto plantão.

fatigar vs enfadar

Both can mean 'to grow weary'.

Enfadar is weary from lack of interest (boredom); fatigar is weary from effort.

O filme me enfadou. vs. A subida me fatigou.

fatigar vs prostrar

Both mean being very tired.

Prostrar means to be so tired you are lying down or defeated; fatigar is the act of getting there.

A gripe o prostrou na cama.

Sentence Patterns

[Activity] fatiga [Person].

Correr fatiga o João.

Eu me fatiguei com [Noun].

Eu me fatiguei com o sol.

É possível que [Subject] fatigue [Object].

É possível que a aula fatigue os alunos.

[Subject] se fatigou de [Infinitive].

Ele se fatigou de tentar.

Ao se fatigar, [Result].

Ao se fatigar, a peça quebrou.

A despeito de se fatigar, [Clause].

A despeito de se fatigar, ele venceu.

Não convém fatigar [Noun].

Não convém fatigar a plateia.

Não se fatigue!

Não se fatigue no trabalho!

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Medium. High in specific domains like medicine, sports science, and formal literature.

Common Mistakes

Eu fatigei ontem. → Eu fatiguei ontem.
You must add the 'u' to keep the hard 'g' sound in the past tense.
Eu fatiguei. → Eu me fatiguei.
If you are the one who is tired, you must use the reflexive pronoun 'me'.
Estou fatigado de sono. → Estou com sono.
'Fatigado' is for exhaustion, not for the simple desire to sleep (which is 'sono').
Pronouncing it FA-ti-gar. → Pronouncing it fa-ti-GAR.
The stress in Portuguese verbs ending in -ar is almost always on the last syllable.
O livro me fatiguei. → O livro me fatigou.
The book is the subject (it tired me), so the verb must be in the third person singular.

Tips

Use for Emphasis

If you want to emphasize how truly exhausted you are in a slightly dramatic or formal way, choose 'fatigado' over 'cansado'.

Watch the 'GU'

Always remember the spelling change: eu fatiguei, que eu fatigue, que nós fatiguemos. The 'u' is your friend!

Medical Situations

If you are at a doctor's office in a Portuguese-speaking country, use 'fatigar' or 'fadiga' to describe your symptoms for a more professional interaction.

Business Writing

In professional emails or reports, 'fatigar' sounds much better than 'cansar' when discussing workloads or system limits.

Literary Flair

When writing creatively in Portuguese, use 'fatigar' to describe the weight of time or emotional burdens.

Final Stress

Don't say FA-ti-gar. Always say fa-ti-GAR. The stress on the end is vital for being understood.

Don't Forget 'SE'

If you are the one getting tired, you MUST use the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos).

Technical Use

If you are an engineer, learn 'fadiga de material' as it is a standard term in the industry.

Switch it Up

To avoid repetition in a long text, alternate between 'fatigar', 'cansar', and 'esgotar'.

English Cognate

Just remember 'Fatigue'. It's almost the same word, just a slightly different ending!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'FAT' in 'FATigar'. If you carry too much FAT, you will FATigar (fatigue) your muscles quickly. It's the 'GAR' (gear) that gets stuck when you're tired.

Visual Association

Imagine a car's engine smoking and slowing down on a steep hill. The engine is being 'fatigado' by the heavy load.

Word Web

fadiga cansar músculos mente trabalho esforço descanso exaustão

Challenge

Try to use 'fatigar' in a sentence about a long day at the office, then rewrite it using the reflexive form 'fatigar-se'.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'fatigare', which means 'to tire, weary, or vex'. It is also related to the Latin 'fatis' (sufficiently) and 'agere' (to do/drive), suggesting doing something until it is enough or too much.

Original meaning: To harass, to weary, or to cause to fail through overexertion.

Romance (Latin root)

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities, but be aware that 'estar fatigado' can sometimes imply a serious medical condition rather than just being sleepy.

English speakers often find 'fatigar' easy because of the cognate 'fatigue', but they must be careful not to use it for 'sleepy' (sono).

Material Fatigue (Fadiga de Materiais) - a key concept in engineering globally. The 'Fadiga' of characters in Portuguese Neo-realist literature. Medical terms like 'Síndrome de Fadiga Crônica'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Gym

Vou fatigar o músculo.
Sinto-me fatigado.
Não fatigue demais.
Treino para fatigar.

At the Office

Isso fatiga a mente.
Estou fatigado de reuniões.
Não vamos fatigar o tema.
A rotina me fatiga.

Doctor's Office

Sente fadiga constante?
O esforço o fatiga?
Coração fatigado.
Visão fatigada.

Engineering Workshop

Fadiga de material.
A peça fatigou.
Risco de fatiga.
Teste de fatiga.

At Home

Não se fatigue tanto.
A faxina me fatigou.
Fatiguei-me de esperar.
Estou fatigado hoje.

Conversation Starters

"Você se fatiga com facilidade quando faz exercícios aeróbicos?"

"Acha que o excesso de telas pode fatigar a visão das crianças?"

"O que você faz quando sente que o trabalho começou a fatigar sua mente?"

"Você já se fatigou de algum hobby que antes amava muito?"

"Quais são os sinais de que um relacionamento está começando a fatigar as partes?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva um dia em que você se sentiu extremamente fatigado e o que causou isso.

Reflita sobre como a tecnologia pode fatigar a nossa atenção no dia a dia.

Escreva sobre uma atividade que nunca parece fatigar você, não importa quanto tempo passe.

Como você diferencia a sensação de estar apenas 'cansado' de estar realmente 'fatigado'?

Pense em um projeto longo; como você evitou fatigar sua motivação ao longo do tempo?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Essentially, yes, they both mean to tire. However, 'cansar' is the everyday word used by everyone, while 'fatigar' is more formal, technical, or used to describe a more intense state of weariness. You would use 'cansar' with your family and 'fatigar' in a medical report or a novel.

You would use the reflexive form: 'Eu me fatiguei' (I got tired) or use it as an adjective: 'Eu estou fatigado' (I am fatigued). Remember that using 'fatigado' sounds much more serious than 'cansado'.

In Portuguese, verbs ending in -gar need a 'u' after the 'g' when followed by an 'e' (like in the 'eu' form of the past tense). This is to keep the 'g' sound hard, like in 'game'. Without the 'u', it would sound like a 'j'.

Yes! In engineering, you can say 'fatigar o metal' (to fatigue the metal). It's also used for engines or any mechanical system that can wear out from use.

It is less common than 'cansar' in daily speech, but very common in written texts, news, and professional environments. Brazilians might use 'estafar' for work-related exhaustion more often than 'fatigar'.

The noun is 'fadiga'. For example, 'fadiga muscular' (muscle fatigue) or 'fadiga crônica' (chronic fatigue).

Sometimes. In a formal context, you can say a speech 'fatiga' the audience, meaning it makes them weary because it's too long or boring. But 'enfadar' or 'chatear' are more specific for boredom.

Yes, it is common in technical writing. 'A estrutura foi fatigada pelo vento' (The structure was fatigued by the wind).

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb, except for the spelling change (g -> gu) in certain forms to preserve pronunciation.

'Fatigar' is the process of getting very tired, while 'esgotar' means you have absolutely no energy left—you are completely empty.