The Portuguese verb granizar is a specialized meteorological term that translates specifically to 'to hail' in English. It describes the atmospheric phenomenon where precipitation falls in the form of small balls or irregular lumps of ice, known as granizo. In the linguistic landscape of Portuguese, granizar belongs to a specific category of verbs known as verbos impessoais (impersonal verbs). These verbs are unique because they do not have a logical human subject; you cannot say 'I hail' or 'we hail' in a literal sense. Instead, the verb is almost exclusively used in the third person singular, representing an action performed by nature itself.
- Meteorological Context
- Used to describe the specific moment ice pellets fall from cumulonimbus clouds during thunderstorms.
- Grammatical Nature
- An impersonal verb conjugated in the 3rd person singular (e.g., graniza, granizou, granizará).
Começou a granizar assim que saímos de casa, e tivemos de procurar abrigo imediatamente.
In Brazil, particularly in the southern states like Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, the act of granizar is a significant event often reported in the news due to the damage it causes to agriculture and urban infrastructure. In Portugal, while less frequent than rain, it occurs during cold fronts, especially in the mountainous regions of the north and center. Because hail is often sudden and violent, the word carries a connotation of unexpectedness and potential danger. When people hear that it is going to granizar, their first thought is usually to protect their vehicles and crops.
Se granizar amanhã, a colheita de uvas poderá ser totalmente perdida.
Beyond the literal weather meaning, granizar can occasionally appear in literary or figurative contexts to describe a heavy and rapid succession of objects falling. For instance, a writer might describe arrows or insults 'granizando' over a target. However, for a B1 learner, focusing on the weather-related usage is the priority. Understanding that this verb does not take a subject like 'eu' or 'você' is crucial for sounding natural. You would never say 'O céu granizou'; you simply say 'Granizou'.
Dizem que vai granizar na serra este fim de semana, por isso tenha cuidado na estrada.
- Regional Frequency
- More common in Southern Brazil and Northern Portugal due to climatic conditions.
- Alternative Phrasing
- 'Cair granizo' or 'chover pedra' are frequent colloquial substitutes.
Using granizar correctly requires an understanding of impersonal verb syntax. In English, we use the dummy subject 'it' (e.g., 'It is hailing'). In Portuguese, there is no equivalent 'it'. The verb stands alone in the third person singular. This can be tricky for English speakers who feel the need to place a noun before the verb. For example, instead of saying 'O tempo granizou', you simply say 'Granizou'. This section will break down the usage across different tenses and moods commonly encountered by B1 learners.
- Present Tense
- Used for general facts or current events: 'Sempre graniza nesta época do ano' (It always hails this time of year).
- Preterite (Past)
- Used for completed actions: 'Granizou ontem à tarde e quebrou o telhado' (It hailed yesterday afternoon and broke the roof).
Raramente costuma granizar nesta região litorânea, mas o clima está mudando.
When using the continuous form, there is a regional difference. In Brazil, you would say 'Está granizando', using the gerund. In Portugal, the preferred construction is 'Está a granizar', using the preposition 'a' followed by the infinitive. Both are perfectly correct in their respective regions. Another common construction is the auxiliary verb 'começar' (to start). 'Começou a granizar' is a very frequent phrase when a storm catches people by surprise.
O meteorologista avisou que pode granizar em pontos isolados da cidade.
For learners aiming for B1 and above, it is important to notice how granizar interacts with adverbs. Because hail is usually intense, it is often paired with 'muito' (a lot) or 'fortemente' (heavily). 'Granizou muito' is much more common than 'Granizou um pouco', as light hail is often referred to as 'pedriscar'. Furthermore, in reported speech, the verb follows standard sequence of tenses: 'Ele disse que tinha granizado' (He said it had hailed).
- Future Intent
- 'Vai granizar' is the most common way to express future probability in speech.
- Imperfect Tense
- 'Granizava enquanto eu dirigia' (It was hailing while I was driving) – used for background descriptions.
Embora estivesse sol, de repente começou a granizar pedras enormes.
The verb granizar is a staple of the weather forecast segments on television and radio. In Brazil, if you are watching 'Jornal Nacional' or 'Previsão do Tempo', you will frequently hear phrases like 'Há risco de granizar no interior de São Paulo'. Meteorologists use this verb because it is technically precise. Outside of the news, you will hear it in any context involving insurance, agriculture, or emergency management. For instance, an insurance agent might ask if your policy covers 'danos causados se granizar'.
- News & Media
- Used in alerts and weather summaries: 'Voltou a granizar em Curitiba após três anos'.
- Rural Communities
- Farmers often discuss the possibility of it granizando during the planting season.
O rádio avisou que pode granizar a qualquer momento, então é melhor não sair.
In casual social settings, the word often pops up when people are reminiscing about extreme weather events. 'Lembra de quando granizou tanto que as ruas ficaram brancas?' (Remember when it hailed so much the streets turned white?). In these cases, the verb is used to set the scene for a story. In Portugal, you might hear this word in the context of winter tourism in the Serra da Estrela, where tourists are warned about the changing weather conditions.
Ouvi no telejornal que granizou no sul e destruiu muitas estufas.
Another place you will encounter granizar is in literature, specifically in descriptions of nature or metaphors for destruction. While less common in everyday slang, its presence in formal writing ensures that any educated speaker will use it correctly in a professional or academic environment. In scientific papers regarding climate change in the Southern Hemisphere, the frequency of 'granizar' is a recurring topic of study.
- Insurance/Legal
- Policies often contain clauses about 'fenômenos da natureza' including the act of granizar.
- Literature
- Used to create dramatic atmosphere in descriptions of storms.
Se voltar a granizar com essa força, o telhado não vai aguentar.
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is the 'Subject Habit'. In English, you must say 'IT hails'. In Portuguese, adding a subject like 'Ele graniza' or 'Isso graniza' is a major mistake. The verb is impersonal. Another common error is trying to pluralize the verb when there are many hail stones. Even if millions of ice pellets fall, you say 'Granizou muito', never 'Granizaram muitos'. The verb describes the weather state, not the individual stones.
- The 'It' Mistake
- Adding 'ele' or 'o tempo' before the verb. Correct: 'Graniza'. Incorrect: 'Ele graniza'.
- Pluralization Error
- Using plural forms like 'granizaram' for weather. Correct: 'Granizou pedras grandes'.
Muitos alunos dizem 'as pedras granizaram', mas o correto é dizer 'granizou pedras'.
Confusing granizar with granitar is another pitfall. While 'granizar' is about ice falling from the sky, 'granitar' refers to the stone 'granite' (granito) or a specific texture. Furthermore, learners often confuse 'granizo' (the noun for hail) with 'granizado'. In Portugal, a 'granizado' is a slushie or a crushed ice drink (like a Slurpee). If you say 'Está granizando' in a café, people might think you are talking about the machine making the drinks rather than the weather!
Não confunda: 'granizo' é o gelo que cai do céu, 'granito' é a pedra da bancada da cozinha.
Finally, there is the confusion between granizar and nevar (to snow). While both involve frozen water, they are distinct phenomena. Hail can happen in the middle of a hot summer during a thunderstorm, whereas snow requires consistently low temperatures. Using 'nevar' when it is actually 'granizando' is a common vocabulary slip for beginners. To avoid this, remember that 'granizo' is hard and noisy, while 'neve' is soft and silent.
- Verb vs Noun
- Using 'granizo' when you need the verb action. Correct: 'Vai granizar'. Incorrect: 'Vai granizo'.
- Spelling
- Misspelling as 'granisar' with an 's'. It is always with 'z'.
Se você disser 'está neveando', os nativos vão te corrigir para 'está nevando' ou 'está granizando'.
While granizar is the most direct verb, Portuguese offers several alternatives and related terms depending on the intensity and the region. Understanding these synonyms helps you navigate different levels of formality and regional dialects. The most common informal alternative is the phrase 'chover pedra' (to rain stones). This is used by people of all ages to describe hail, especially when the ice pellets are large enough to be noticeable.
- Pedriscar
- A verb used specifically for light hail or small ice pellets. It is less common than 'granizar' but very precise.
- Cair granizo
- The most common phrasal alternative. 'Caiu granizo ontem' is synonymous with 'Granizou ontem'.
Em vez de dizer que vai granizar, muita gente diz 'vai cair pedra'.
When discussing other types of frozen precipitation, nevar (to snow) is the primary counterpart. However, there is also geada (frost), which is not a verb that acts like 'granizar'. You don't say 'geou' as often as you say 'caiu geada' or 'houve geada'. Another related verb is saraivar, which is used in some parts of Portugal and older literature to mean the same as 'granizar'. The noun 'saraiva' is a synonym for 'granizo'.
A diferença entre granizar e pedriscar é basicamente o tamanho do gelo e a intensidade.
In a broader weather context, you might also use trovejar (to thunder) and relampejar (to flash lightning), as these often happen simultaneously with hail. Comparing these verbs: 'granizar' is about the solid matter, 'chover' is about the liquid, and 'nevar' is about the crystalline solid. In the business world, specifically in insurance, they might use the term 'queda de granizo' instead of the verb form.
- Saraivar
- Regional/Literary synonym primarily used in Portugal. Example: 'Saraivou durante a noite'.
- Aguaneve
- Sleet (mixture of rain and snow), which is different from the hard ice of granizar.
O céu escureceu e sabíamos que ia granizar ou, no mínimo, trovejar forte.
Examples by Level
Hoje vai granizar.
Today it is going to hail.
Future with 'vai' + infinitive.
Graniza muito no inverno.
It hails a lot in the winter.
Present tense, 3rd person singular.
Não gosto quando graniza.
I don't like it when it hails.
Use of 'quando' with present tense.
Veja! Está a granizar.
Look! It is hailing (Portugal).
Present continuous (Portugal style).
Está granizando agora.
It is hailing now (Brazil).
Present continuous (Brazil style).
Onde graniza no Brasil?
Where does it hail in Brazil?
Question form.
Graniza pouco aqui.
It hails little here.
Adverb 'pouco' modifying the verb.
Pode granizar hoje?
Can it hail today?
Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.
Ontem granizou durante a tarde.
Yesterday it hailed during the afternoon.
Preterite (past) tense.
Nunca tinha visto granizar assim.
I had never seen it hail like that.
Past perfect with 'tinha' + participle/infinitive.
Se granizar, vamos entrar.
If it hails, we will go inside.
First conditional.
Parou de granizar há dez minutos.
It stopped hailing ten minutes ago.
Verb 'parar de' + infinitive.
O carro foi danificado porque granizou.
The car was damaged because it hailed.
Cause and effect with 'porque'.
Costuma granizar nesta cidade?
Does it usually hail in this city?
Verb 'costumar' + infinitive.
Eu ouvi que granizou na sua rua.
I heard that it hailed on your street.
Reported speech in the past.
Estava a granizar quando saí.
It was hailing when I left.
Imperfect continuous.
Espero que não comece a granizar agora.
I hope it doesn't start to hail now.
Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.
Disseram que ia granizar, mas só choveu.
They said it was going to hail, but it only rained.
Contrast using 'mas'.
Se granizasse, teríamos um problema.
If it hailed, we would have a problem.
Imperfect subjunctive in a hypothetical.
É raro granizar nesta época do ano.
It is rare to hail at this time of year.
Impersonal expression 'é raro'.
Mesmo que granize, eu vou trabalhar.
Even if it hails, I am going to work.
Concessive clause with 'mesmo que' + subjunctive.
O seguro não cobre se granizar.
The insurance doesn't cover if it hails.
Conditional 'se' with future subjunctive (implied).
Granizou tanto que as estradas fecharam.
It hailed so much that the roads closed.
Consecutive clause 'tanto que'.
Quando graniza, o barulho é muito forte.
When it hails, the noise is very loud.
Descriptive present tense.
Caso venha a granizar, proteja as plantas.
In case it happens to hail, protect the plants.
Subjunctive with 'caso'.
Embora tenha granizado, não houve estragos.
Although it hailed, there was no damage.
Concessive 'embora' with present perfect subjunctive.
A notícia de que ia granizar assustou a todos.
The news that it was going to hail scared everyone.
Noun clause explaining 'notícia'.
Granizava intensamente enquanto corríamos.
It was hailing intensely while we were running.
Parallel actions in the past.
Duvido que volte a granizar esta semana.
I doubt that it will hail again this week.
Subjunctive after 'duvido que'.
A possibilidade de granizar é de vinte por cento.
The possibility of hailing is twenty percent.
Noun + preposition + infinitive.
Sempre que graniza, meu cachorro se esconde.
Whenever it hails, my dog hides.
Temporal clause with 'sempre que'.
O telhado ruiu após ter granizado por horas.
The roof collapsed after it had hailed for hours.
Compound infinitive 'ter granizado'.
Se tivesse granizado, a safra estaria perdida.
If it had hailed, the harvest would be lost.
Conditional perfect (hypothetical past).
O fenômeno de granizar em pleno verão é curioso.
The phenomenon of hailing in the middle of summer is curious.
Infinitive as a noun/subject.
Por mais que granize, a estrutura resistirá.
No matter how much it hails, the structure will resist.
Concessive 'por mais que' + subjunctive.
Granizou de tal forma que a paisagem mudou.
It hailed in such a way that the landscape changed.
Adverbial phrase 'de tal forma que'.
Não convém viajar se estiver para granizar.
It is not advisable to travel if it is about to hail.
Expression 'estar para' (about to).
Teme-se que volte a granizar com violência.
It is feared that it will hail with violence again.
Passive 'se' with 'temer-se'.
O impacto de granizar nas vinhas é devastador.
The impact of hailing on the vineyards is devastating.
Nominalization of the action.
Ainda que granizasse, o evento não seria cancelado.
Even if it hailed, the event would not be canceled.
Subjunctive 'ainda que'.
Granizara brevemente antes do pôr do sol.
It had hailed briefly before sunset.
Pluperfect (literary) tense.
Oxalá não granize durante a cerimônia.
Hopefully it won't hail during the ceremony.
Archaic/Formal 'oxalá'.
O ato de granizar desafia certas previsões.
The act of hailing defies certain predictions.
Abstract noun usage of the infinitive.
Granizou uma saraiva de críticas sobre o autor.
A hail of criticism fell upon the author.
Figurative/Metaphorical usage.
Caso granizasse, o prejuízo seria incalculável.
Should it hail, the loss would be incalculable.
Hypothetical condition.
Mal começou a granizar, todos se recolheram.
As soon as it started to hail, everyone retreated.
Conjunction 'mal' (as soon as).
A despeito de granizar, a expedição prosseguiu.
Despite the hailing, the expedition continued.
Prepositional phrase 'a despeito de'.
Graniza, e o som no zinco é ensurdecedor.
It hails, and the sound on the zinc is deafening.
Poetic/Descriptive structure.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More nature words
à beira
B1On the edge or brink of.
à beira de
B1On the edge of; almost in a state of.
à distância
A2At a far point in space or time.
a favor de
B1In favor of; supporting.
à sombra
A2In an area of darkness or coolness caused by the blocking of direct sunlight.
à volta
A2Around; in the vicinity.
abanar
A2To wave or swing back and forth, like an animal's tail; to wag.
abater
B1To cut down (a tree); to kill (an animal).
Abelha
A2Bee; a stinging winged insect that produces honey.
abeto
A2An evergreen coniferous tree, typically with flat needles.
