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hospitalizar

A2 verb #7,500 most common 10 min read

hospitalizar

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips hospitalizar in 30 Seconds

Explanation hospitalizar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn about health and the city. You might know words like 'hospital' (hospital) and 'médico' (doctor). The verb 'hospitalizar' might be a bit advanced to use yourself, but you should recognize the 'hospital' part of the word. At this level, if you are sick, you would usually say 'Eu vou ao hospital' (I go to the hospital). 'Hospitalizar' is what the doctor does to you. Think of it as 'to put in the hospital'. You might see this word on signs or in very simple news headlines. It is important to remember that the 'h' is silent, so it sounds like 'os-pi-ta-li-zar'. You can practice by saying 'O hospital é grande' and then moving to 'O médico vai hospitalizar o paciente'. Even at A1, knowing that '-ar' verbs are usually regular helps you understand that 'hospitalizar' follows a predictable pattern. You won't use it often, but knowing it exists helps you understand the medical world in Portuguese-speaking countries.

At the A2 level, you are building your vocabulary for daily situations, including health. 'Hospitalizar' is a very useful word to know because it describes a specific action. You should be able to conjugate it in the present tense: 'Eu hospitalizo', 'Você hospitaliza', 'Nós hospitalizamos'. You should also know the past tense 'hospitalizou' (he/she hospitalized). At this level, you can start making simple sentences like 'O médico hospitalizou meu avô' (The doctor hospitalized my grandfather). It is also the time to learn the difference between 'hospitalizar' and 'hospedar'. Remember: 'hospitalizar' is for the hospital, and 'hospedar' is for a hotel or guests. You might also encounter the passive form 'foi hospitalizado' (was hospitalized). This is a great way to practice your 'ser' + past participle skills. If you are traveling in Brazil or Portugal and someone gets sick, hearing the word 'hospitalizar' will tell you that the situation is serious enough for a hospital stay, not just a quick clinic visit.

At the B1 level, you are becoming more independent in your Portuguese. You can now use 'hospitalizar' in more complex ways, such as with object pronouns. For example, 'O médico precisou hospitalizá-lo' (The doctor needed to hospitalize him). You should also be comfortable using it in the future tense and the imperfect. 'Eles iam hospitalizar a mulher, mas ela melhorou' (They were going to hospitalize the woman, but she got better). At this level, you should also learn the noun 'hospitalização' (hospitalization). You can discuss health insurance and what it covers: 'Meu plano de saúde cobre hospitalização?'. You will also notice that 'internar' is used as a synonym. A B1 learner should be able to explain why someone was hospitalized: 'Ele foi hospitalizado porque teve um problema no coração'. You are also starting to understand the cultural context—that in Lusophone countries, family presence during hospitalization is very important, and you might use the verb when discussing visiting hours or care routines.

At the B2 level, you can use 'hospitalizar' in professional and formal contexts. You understand the nuances of register—choosing 'hospitalizar' for a formal report and 'internar' for a conversation with a friend. You should be able to use the subjunctive mood correctly with this verb: 'O médico sugeriu que o hospitalizássemos' (The doctor suggested that we hospitalize him). You can also handle more abstract discussions about healthcare systems. For instance, you could talk about the 'taxa de hospitalização' (hospitalization rate) during a public health debate. You are familiar with the passive voice and how to use it to sound objective in writing. You can also understand medical news with ease, including technical details about why someone was hospitalized. Your vocabulary is now rich enough to use 'hospitalizar' alongside other medical verbs like 'diagnosticar', 'prescrever', and 'encaminhar'. You can also write a formal letter or email to a hospital or insurance company using this verb correctly to describe a situation.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of 'hospitalizar' and its place in the Portuguese language. You can use it fluently in complex grammatical structures, such as 'O fato de ele ter sido hospitalizado mudou os planos da família' (The fact that he was hospitalized changed the family's plans). You are aware of the legal and ethical implications of the word, such as 'hospitalização compulsória' (compulsory hospitalization), and can participate in high-level debates about patient rights and medical ethics. You can read medical journals or legal documents where 'hospitalizar' and 'hospitalização' are used with precise technical meanings. You also understand the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to other words in the 'hosp-' family. In your speech, you use the verb with perfect prosody and stress. You can also identify regional differences in how the word might be used or how the healthcare system operates in different Portuguese-speaking countries, such as the difference between the SUS in Brazil and the SNS in Portugal.

At the C2 level, you have mastered 'hospitalizar' to the point of near-native proficiency. You can use the word in any context, from a highly technical medical conference to a subtle literary description. You understand the stylistic weight of the word—how using 'hospitalizar' instead of 'internar' can change the tone of a narrative to be more detached or clinical. You can use it in complex hypothetical scenarios using the personal infinitive or the future subjunctive: 'Se vierem a hospitalizar o paciente, os custos serão elevados'. You are capable of writing professional medical reports or academic papers on public health that utilize 'hospitalizar' and its derivatives with absolute accuracy. You also have a cultural grasp of the word's impact, understanding how the concept of hospitalization has evolved in Lusophone literature and society. You can navigate the most complex bureaucratic health systems in Portuguese, using this verb to advocate for patients or manage institutional processes.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

hospitalizar in 30 Seconds

Hospitalizar means to admit someone to a hospital for medical care.
It is a formal, regular -ar verb in Portuguese, similar to 'internar'.
Commonly used in medical, news, and insurance contexts for serious health issues.
The 'h' is silent, and it must agree with gender in its past participle form.

The Portuguese verb hospitalizar is a formal and technical term used to describe the action of admitting someone into a hospital for medical treatment, observation, or surgery. While it is perfectly understood by all speakers, it often carries a more clinical or administrative weight compared to its most common synonym, internar. To hospitalize someone implies a level of severity that requires the infrastructure of a healthcare facility. You will encounter this word frequently in news reports, medical documents, insurance policies, and formal conversations between healthcare professionals and family members.

Clinical Context: In a medical setting, 'hospitalizar' refers to the official procedure of processing a patient's admission. It involves the transition from outpatient care or emergency triage to a dedicated bed within a specific ward.

Devido à gravidade da infecção, o médico decidiu hospitalizar o paciente imediatamente para monitoramento constante.

Understanding the nuance of this word requires looking at the healthcare systems in Portuguese-speaking countries. In Brazil, for instance, the public health system (SUS) and private hospitals use this term in official records. When a patient is 'hospitalizado', it triggers a series of legal and financial protocols. It is not just about 'being' in the hospital, but about the 'act' of being placed there by authority. The word is derived from 'hospital', which shares the same Latin root 'hospes' (guest/host) as 'hotel' and 'hospitality'. However, in a medical sense, the 'guest' is there for recovery.

Administrative Usage: Insurance companies use 'hospitalizar' to define the scope of coverage. If a policy covers 'hospitalização', it means they pay for the stay and the procedures performed during that specific period of admission.

Não foi necessário hospitalizar a criança; ela pôde continuar o tratamento em casa.

The verb follows the regular '-ar' conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy for learners to use once they master the basic verb endings. It is a transitive direct verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object (the person being hospitalized). You can also use it in the reflexive form 'hospitalizar-se' in very specific contexts, though it is rare, as usually, a doctor makes the decision. Culturally, the act of hospitalizing someone is a significant event in Lusophone families, often involving a large support network of relatives visiting and bringing food, depending on hospital regulations.

Social Implication: To hospitalize someone is often seen as a last resort, reflecting a transition from manageable illness to a critical state. It carries an emotional weight of concern and community mobilization.

Eles tiveram que hospitalizar o idoso após a queda para realizar exames de imagem.

O plano de saúde recusou-se a hospitalizar o paciente no hospital de luxo.

Using hospitalizar correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb. You are usually hospitalizing 'someone' (the direct object). Because it is a regular verb ending in -ar, its conjugation follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'estudar'. In the present tense, it is 'eu hospitalizo', 'você hospitaliza', etc. In the past (pretérito perfeito), it is 'eu hospitalizei', 'você hospitalizou'.

Direct Object Usage: When you use a pronoun, it attaches to the verb. For example: 'Precisamos hospitalizá-lo' (We need to hospitalize him). Note the accent change and the 'l' addition common in Portuguese verb-pronoun contractions.

O cirurgião vai hospitalizar a paciente amanhã cedo para a operação.

The passive voice is very common with this word. Since the patient is the receiver of the action, we often hear 'foi hospitalizado' or 'está hospitalizado'. In these cases, 'hospitalizado' acts as a past participle/adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject. 'Ela foi hospitalizada' (She was hospitalized) vs. 'Eles foram hospitalizados' (They were hospitalized).

Passive Construction: Subject + Verbo Ser/Estar + Hospitalizado(a/s). Example: 'O presidente foi hospitalizado com dores abdominais.'

Se a febre não baixar, teremos que hospitalizar você.

In more complex sentences, 'hospitalizar' can be part of a conditional or subjunctive clause. For example: 'Se eles hospitalizarem o meu avô, eu irei visitá-lo todos os dias' (If they hospitalize my grandfather, I will visit him every day). The subjunctive 'hospitalize' is used for doubt or desire: 'Espero que não precisem hospitalizar ninguém' (I hope they don't need to hospitalize anyone).

Subjunctive Mood: Used to express uncertainty or necessity. 'É necessário que o hospitalizemos agora.'

O protocolo exige hospitalizar qualquer pessoa com esses sintomas específicos.

Quem tem autoridade para hospitalizar um paciente compulsoriamente?

You will encounter hospitalizar in a variety of real-world scenarios across the Portuguese-speaking world. The most common place is in the media. News anchors on channels like Globo (Brazil) or RTP (Portugal) use it when reporting on public health crises, accidents involving many people, or the health of public figures. It sounds professional and objective, which is why it is preferred over the more emotional 'levar para o hospital'.

Journalism and News: News reports often use the passive: 'Várias pessoas foram hospitalizadas após o vazamento de gás'. This focuses on the outcome for the victims.

O telejornal informou que foi preciso hospitalizar dez feridos no acidente de ônibus.

In a medical facility, you will hear it during shift changes among nurses or when a doctor is explaining the next steps to a family. 'Vamos precisar hospitalizar seu pai para observação'. It sets a serious tone for the conversation. In legal or insurance contexts, the word is indispensable. If you are reading a health insurance contract (plano de saúde), you will see 'hospitalização' (the noun) and 'hospitalizar' (the verb) used to define what costs are covered.

Medical Consultations: Doctors use it to indicate a formal transition from a clinic setting to a hospital ward. It implies a higher level of care.

A triagem decidiu hospitalizar apenas os casos com baixa saturação de oxigênio.

Another interesting place you might hear this word is in 'telenovelas' (soap operas). Since medical drama is a staple of the genre, characters are frequently hospitalized. You might hear a dramatic line like: 'Você não pode hospitalizar minha filha sem o meu consentimento!' (You cannot hospitalize my daughter without my consent!). This highlights the legal and personal conflicts often associated with the term.

Soap Operas and Drama: Used to create tension and stakes in the plot, emphasizing the gravity of a character's condition.

O vilão tentou hospitalizar a herdeira para roubar sua fortuna.

O médico do trabalho recomendou hospitalizar o funcionário que passou mal na fábrica.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning hospitalizar is confusing it with the word hospedar. Because both words start with 'hosp-', learners often mix them up. However, 'hospedar' means to host someone or to stay at a hotel (hospedagem). If you say you want to 'hospitalizar' your friend at your house, you are accidentally saying you want to give them medical treatment and put them in a clinical bed, which sounds quite strange!

The Hotel vs. Hospital Trap: Never use 'hospitalizar' for hospitality. Use 'hospedar' for guests and 'hospitalizar' only for sick people.

Errado: Vou hospitalizar meus amigos no meu apartamento. (Correct: hospedar)

Another mistake involves the choice of preposition. In English, we 'hospitalize someone IN a hospital'. In Portuguese, we 'hospitalizar alguém EM um hospital' (or 'no hospital'). However, often the 'no hospital' part is omitted because the verb 'hospitalizar' already contains the destination 'hospital' within its root. Adding 'no hospital' is common but technically redundant. A more subtle error is using the wrong register. Using 'hospitalizar' in a very casual chat with a friend might sound a bit too formal or 'robotic'. In those cases, the verb internar is much more natural.

Register Errors: Using 'hospitalizar' in casual speech can make you sound like a news report. Use 'internar' for friends and family.

Cuidado: Não diga 'h-ospitalizar' com som de 'R'. O 'H' é mudo!

Grammatically, learners sometimes forget to change the ending of 'hospitalizado' when referring to a woman. Because it's a participle used as an adjective, it must agree with the gender. Saying 'Ela foi hospitalizado' is a common error; the correct form is 'Ela foi hospitalizada'. Lastly, avoid using 'hospitalizar' as an intransitive verb like 'I need to hospitalize'. You must always have a person being hospitalized or use the passive 'Eu preciso ser hospitalizado'.

Gender Agreement: Always check the gender of the person: hospitalizado (male), hospitalizada (female).

A vizinha foi hospitalizada por causa de uma alergia forte.

O médico não pôde hospitalizar o paciente sem o prontuário.

While hospitalizar is the direct translation of 'to hospitalize', Portuguese offers several other ways to express similar ideas depending on the context and the level of formality you want to achieve. The most important alternative is internar. In most everyday situations, people will use internar to describe someone being admitted to a hospital or a clinic.

Internar vs. Hospitalizar: 'Internar' is more versatile. It can be used for hospitals, but also for psychiatric clinics or even rehab centers. 'Hospitalizar' is strictly for hospitals.

Eles resolveram internar o paciente na ala psiquiátrica.

Another common phrase is dar entrada. This is a more bureaucratic or 'action-oriented' way of saying someone was admitted. It literally means 'to give entry'. You hear this a lot at the reception desk of a hospital. For example, 'Ele deu entrada no hospital às duas da manhã'. This focuses on the moment of arrival and registration. For very informal contexts, you might simply hear ficar no hospital (to stay in the hospital) or ir para o hospital (to go to the hospital).

Dar Entrada: Focuses on the administrative process of arriving and being admitted. Very common in emergency room contexts.

O idoso deu entrada com sintomas de desidratação.

If the hospitalization is for surgery, you might hear operar or fazer uma cirurgia, which implies the hospitalization. If it's for observation, you might hear ficar de observação. Here is a quick comparison table of these terms:

Comparisons: Hospitalizar: Formal, clinical.
Internar: Common, versatile.
Dar entrada: Administrative, ER focus.
Ficar de observação: Short-term, for monitoring.

O médico preferiu deixar o menino de observação por 24 horas.

A equipe médica avaliou que não era preciso hospitalizar a vítima.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'hospital' and 'hotel' share the same Latin root. In the Middle Ages, hospitals were places of hospitality for pilgrims and the poor, not just for the sick.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɔs.pi.ta.li.ˈzaɾ/

US /ɔs.pi.ta.li.ˈzaχ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'zar'.

Rhymes With

realizar finalizar organizar visualizar atualizar caracterizar utilizar humanizar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'h' (it must be silent).
Stressing the 'pi' or 'ta' instead of the final 'zar'.
Pronouncing 'z' as 's'.
Forgetting the 'i' after 'l'.
Using an English 'r' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because it looks like 'hospital' in English.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct conjugation and remembering the silent 'H'.

Speaking 4/5

The silent 'H' and the 'z' sound can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Very clear once you know the 'H' is silent.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

hospital médico doente ajuda ir

Learn Next

internar cirurgia prontuário exame alta

Advanced

morbidade iatrogenia ambulatorial nosocomial

Grammar to Know

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Eu hospitalizo, você hospitaliza, nós hospitalizamos.

Passive voice with 'ser'

O paciente foi hospitalizado pelo médico.

Object pronoun placement

O médico quer hospitalizá-lo (hospitalizar + o).

Gender agreement in participles

A menina foi hospitalizada (feminine).

Silent H

Hospitalizar starts with a silent H, like 'hora'.

Examples by Level

O hospital é aqui.

The hospital is here.

A1: Simple noun usage.

O médico está no hospital.

The doctor is in the hospital.

A1: Present tense of 'estar'.

Eu vou ao hospital hoje.

I am going to the hospital today.

A1: Verb 'ir' + 'ao' (to the).

Ele precisa de um hospital.

He needs a hospital.

A1: Verb 'precisar de'.

O hospital é muito grande.

The hospital is very big.

A1: Adjective agreement.

Onde é o hospital?

Where is the hospital?

A1: Question word 'onde'.

Eu vejo o hospital.

I see the hospital.

A1: Simple transitive verb 'ver'.

O hospital tem médicos.

The hospital has doctors.

A1: Verb 'ter' (to have).

O médico vai hospitalizar o paciente.

The doctor is going to hospitalize the patient.

A2: Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Eles hospitalizaram o meu avô ontem.

They hospitalized my grandfather yesterday.

A2: Pretérito Perfeito (Past Tense).

Você precisa hospitalizar essa criança?

Do you need to hospitalize this child?

A2: Question with 'precisar'.

O hospital decidiu hospitalizar a mulher.

The hospital decided to hospitalize the woman.

A2: Verb 'decidir' + infinitive.

Nós não vamos hospitalizar você agora.

We are not going to hospitalize you now.

A2: Negative future construction.

O doutor quer hospitalizar o ferido.

The doctor wants to hospitalize the injured man.

A2: Verb 'querer' + infinitive.

Por que eles vão hospitalizar o rapaz?

Why are they going to hospitalize the boy?

A2: Question word 'por que'.

A enfermeira ajuda a hospitalizar o idoso.

The nurse helps to hospitalize the elderly man.

A2: Verb 'ajudar a' + infinitive.

Se ele piorar, vamos hospitalizá-lo.

If he gets worse, we will hospitalize him.

B1: Conditional 'se' + object pronoun contraction.

A hospitalização foi necessária para o tratamento.

Hospitalization was necessary for the treatment.

B1: Use of the noun 'hospitalização'.

Eles estão hospitalizando muitas pessoas hoje.

They are hospitalizing many people today.

B1: Present continuous 'estar' + gerund.

Eu espero que não precisem hospitalizar ninguém.

I hope they don't need to hospitalize anyone.

B1: Present Subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

O plano de saúde autorizou hospitalizar o segurado.

The health plan authorized hospitalizing the insured person.

B1: Formal medical/insurance context.

Sempre que ele tem crise, precisam hospitalizá-lo.

Whenever he has a crisis, they need to hospitalize him.

B1: Habitual action with object pronoun.

Foi difícil hospitalizar a paciente sem documentos.

It was difficult to hospitalize the patient without documents.

B1: Impersonal 'foi difícil' + infinitive.

Eles já hospitalizaram todos os feridos do acidente.

They have already hospitalized all the injured from the accident.

B1: Pretérito Perfeito with adverb 'já'.

O governo decidiu hospitalizar os casos mais graves.

The government decided to hospitalize the most serious cases.

B2: Public policy context.

É fundamental hospitalizar o paciente antes da cirurgia.

It is fundamental to hospitalize the patient before surgery.

B2: Formal requirement expression.

A família recusou hospitalizar o idoso em casa.

The family refused to hospitalize the elderly man at home.

B2: Verb 'recusar' + infinitive.

Embora fosse necessário hospitalizar, não havia vagas.

Although it was necessary to hospitalize, there were no vacancies.

B2: Concessive clause 'embora' + imperfect subjunctive.

O protocolo manda hospitalizar imediatamente.

The protocol commands hospitalizing immediately.

B2: Imperative sense in a formal protocol.

Eles poderiam hospitalizar o homem se tivessem autorização.

They could hospitalize the man if they had authorization.

B2: Conditional 'poderiam' + 'se' + imperfect subjunctive.

A decisão de hospitalizar cabe ao médico plantonista.

The decision to hospitalize belongs to the on-call doctor.

B2: Formal expression 'cabe a'.

Acabaram por hospitalizar o motorista por precaução.

They ended up hospitalizing the driver as a precaution.

B2: Phrasal verb 'acabar por' + infinitive.

A obrigatoriedade de hospitalizar gerou polêmica.

The obligation to hospitalize caused controversy.

C1: Abstract noun 'obrigatoriedade' + infinitive.

Caso venham a hospitalizar o réu, o julgamento será adiado.

Should they come to hospitalize the defendant, the trial will be postponed.

C1: Future subjunctive 'venham a' + infinitive.

Não se deve hospitalizar sem um diagnóstico prévio.

One should not hospitalize without a prior diagnosis.

C1: Passive 'se' construction with 'dever'.

A clínica optou por não hospitalizar o paciente terminal.

The clinic opted not to hospitalize the terminal patient.

C1: Sophisticated verb 'optar por'.

O médico hesitou em hospitalizar a criança precocemente.

The doctor hesitated to hospitalize the child prematurely.

C1: Verb 'hesitar em' + infinitive.

Hospitalizar tornou-se a única alternativa viável.

Hospitalizing became the only viable alternative.

C1: Infinitive used as a subject.

A escassez de leitos impede hospitalizar todos os necessitados.

The shortage of beds prevents hospitalizing all those in need.

C1: High-level vocabulary 'escassez' and 'impede'.

Ao hospitalizar o paciente, o médico assumiu a responsabilidade.

Upon hospitalizing the patient, the doctor assumed responsibility.

C1: 'Ao' + infinitive to express time/condition.

A premência de hospitalizar o enfermo era inegável.

The urgency of hospitalizing the sick man was undeniable.

C2: Literary noun 'premência' and 'enfermo'.

Oxalá não tenhamos de hospitalizar mais ninguém nesta ala.

God grant we don't have to hospitalize anyone else in this ward.

C2: Archaic/Formal 'Oxalá' + subjunctive.

A decisão de hospitalizar reflete a precariedade do sistema.

The decision to hospitalize reflects the precariousness of the system.

C2: Sociological analysis context.

Ponderou-se a necessidade de hospitalizar o diplomata.

The need to hospitalize the diplomat was considered.

C2: Passive voice 'Ponderou-se'.

Hospitalizar-se voluntariamente é um direito do cidadão.

Hospitalizing oneself voluntarily is a citizen's right.

C2: Reflexive usage 'hospitalizar-se'.

A diretriz veda hospitalizar pacientes sem risco iminente.

The guideline forbids hospitalizing patients without imminent risk.

C2: Formal verb 'vedar'.

Não obstante a melhora, convém hospitalizar o paciente.

Notwithstanding the improvement, it is advisable to hospitalize the patient.

C2: Formal conjunction 'Não obstante'.

A sutil diferença entre tratar e hospitalizar é crucial aqui.

The subtle difference between treating and hospitalizing is crucial here.

C2: Nuanced philosophical/medical distinction.

Common Collocations

hospitalizar imediatamente

hospitalizar para observação

hospitalizar para cirurgia

decidir hospitalizar

precisar hospitalizar

recusar hospitalizar

autorizar hospitalizar

hospitalizar compulsoriamente

hospitalizar preventivamente

tentar hospitalizar

Common Phrases

Vai ser preciso hospitalizar?

— A common question asked to doctors when someone is very sick.

Doutor, vai ser preciso hospitalizar meu marido?

Tivemos que hospitalizar.

— A common way to inform family members about a recent admission.

Tivemos que hospitalizar a vovó esta noite.

Não é caso de hospitalizar.

— Used by doctors to say a condition isn't serious enough for admission.

Fique calmo, não é caso de hospitalizar.

Hospitalizar por precaução.

— Admitting someone just to be safe, even if not critical.

O atleta foi hospitalizado por precaução.

Aguardando vaga para hospitalizar.

— A common and sad reality in many public health systems.

Ele está na UPA aguardando vaga para hospitalizar.

Hospitalizar na rede privada.

— Specifying that the admission is in a private hospital.

Eles preferiram hospitalizar na rede privada.

Hospitalizar via emergência.

— Admitting someone through the ER.

Foi preciso hospitalizar via emergência.

Hospitalizar para exames.

— Admitting someone specifically to run tests.

Vão hospitalizar o paciente para exames complementares.

Hospitalizar com urgência.

— An emergency admission.

Temos que hospitalizar com urgência!

Hospitalizar por conta própria.

— When someone checks themselves in (rarely used).

Ele decidiu se hospitalizar por conta própria.

Often Confused With

hospitalizar vs hospedar

Means to stay in a hotel or host a guest. This is the most common confusion for English speakers.

hospitalizar vs hospitalidade

Means hospitality (being kind to guests), not the act of hospitalizing.

hospitalizar vs hospício

Means a psychiatric hospital (often with a negative/old-fashioned connotation), not a general hospital.

Idioms & Expressions

"dar entrada no hospital"

— To be admitted to the hospital.

Ele deu entrada no hospital logo cedo.

Neutral

"ficar de molho no hospital"

— To stay in the hospital for a long time (informal).

Vou ter que ficar de molho no hospital por uma semana.

Informal

"ir para a faca"

— To go for surgery (implies hospitalization).

Ele vai hospitalizar hoje e amanhã vai para a faca.

Slang

"bater as botas no hospital"

— To die in the hospital (insensitive slang).

Infelizmente, ele bateu as botas no hospital.

Slang

"estar nas últimas"

— To be in a very critical condition in the hospital.

Tivemos que hospitalizar porque ele estava nas últimas.

Informal

"sair do hospital pelo pé"

— To leave the hospital healthy and walking.

Espero hospitalizar e sair de lá pelo pé.

Informal

"vaga zero"

— A legal/medical term for immediate forced hospitalization when no beds are available.

O médico conseguiu hospitalizar por vaga zero.

Technical

"estar sob cuidados médicos"

— To be hospitalized and receiving care.

Ele está hospitalizado e sob cuidados médicos.

Formal

"fazer check-in no hospital"

— Modern slang for being admitted.

Acabei de fazer check-in no hospital, vou hospitalizar agora.

Informal

"estar na UTI"

— To be in the ICU (implies serious hospitalization).

Tiveram que hospitalizar e ele já está na UTI.

Neutral

Easily Confused

hospitalizar vs hospedar

Similar root 'hosp-'.

Hospedar is for hotels/guests; Hospitalizar is for medical care.

Vou me hospedar no hotel, não me hospitalizar!

hospitalizar vs internar

It is a synonym.

Internar is more common in speech; Hospitalizar is more formal/technical.

O médico vai internar ele, ou melhor, hospitalizá-lo.

hospitalizar vs alojar

Means to house or lodge.

Alojar is general lodging; Hospitalizar is strictly medical.

Eles alojaram os refugiados, mas hospitalizaram os feridos.

hospitalizar vs acolher

Means to welcome or receive.

Acolher is emotional/social; Hospitalizar is medical.

A igreja acolheu os pobres, mas o hospital teve que hospitalizar os doentes.

hospitalizar vs receber

General word for receiving.

Receber is broad; Hospitalizar is specific to hospital admission.

O hospital recebeu o paciente e decidiu hospitalizá-lo.

Sentence Patterns

O médico vai [hospitalizar] o [paciente].

O médico vai hospitalizar o paciente.

Eu fui [hospitalizado/a] ontem.

Eu fui hospitalizada ontem.

Se você não melhorar, teremos que [hospitalizar] você.

Se você não melhorar, teremos que hospitalizar você.

Eles decidiram [hospitalizá-lo] por segurança.

Eles decidiram hospitalizá-lo por segurança.

É necessário [hospitalizar] para realizar os exames.

É necessário hospitalizar para realizar os exames.

O hospital se recusou a [hospitalizar] o homem.

O hospital se recusou a hospitalizar o homem.

A medida visa [hospitalizar] precocemente os infectados.

A medida visa hospitalizar precocemente os infectados.

Não obstante a gravidade, optou-se por não [hospitalizar].

Não obstante a gravidade, optou-se por não hospitalizar.

Word Family

Nouns

hospital

hospitalização

hospitalidade

hospitalar

Verbs

hospitalizar

deshospitalizar

Adjectives

hospitalizado

hospitalar

hospitaleiro

médico

enfermeira

leito

clínica

internação

How to Use It

frequency

Common in medical and news contexts; medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

Eu quero hospitalizar no hotel. → Eu quero me hospedar no hotel.
Confusing medical admission with hotel staying.
Ela foi hospitalizado. → Ela foi hospitalizada.
Failing to agree the past participle with the feminine subject.
O médico h-ospitalizou (with H sound). → O médico hospitalizou (silent H).
Pronouncing the silent H.
Eu hospitalizei ele. → Eu o hospitalizei (or hospitalizei-o).
Using colloquial pronoun placement in a formal context where 'hospitalizar' is preferred.
Hospitalzar. → Hospitalizar.
Forgetting the 'i' in the suffix -izar.

Tips

Regular Endings

Since it ends in -ar, you already know how to conjugate it if you know 'falar'. Just swap the 'fal-' for 'hospitaliz-'.

Formal vs. Informal

Use 'internar' with your friends. Use 'hospitalizar' in your Portuguese exam or at work.

Silent H

Pretend the 'H' doesn't exist. Start with the 'O' sound immediately.

The 'Z' Sound

The 'z' in hospitalizar is always voiced. Make sure it sounds like a bee buzzing.

Insurance

If you see 'hospitalização' in a contract, it means you are covered for hospital stays.

Passive Voice

Use 'foi hospitalizado' to report news about someone without focusing on the doctor.

Association

Associate 'hospitalizar' with a white hospital bed to keep the medical context clear.

Family

Remember that hospitalizing someone in Brazil often involves the whole family visiting.

No Hotel

Never use this word for traveling! 'Hospedar' is for vacation, 'Hospitalizar' is for illness.

Emergency

In an emergency, just saying 'hospital' is enough, but 'hospitalizar' helps explain the need to stay.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Hospital' and add 'izar' (to make/do). So, 'hospital-izar' is 'to do the hospital thing' to someone.

Visual Association

Imagine a patient being wheeled through large hospital doors; the doors have the word 'HOSPITALIZAR' written on them.

Word Web

hospital médico doente cama remédio cirurgia saúde exame

Challenge

Try to use 'hospitalizar' in three different tenses today: present, past, and future.

Word Origin

Derived from the Portuguese noun 'hospital', which comes from the Latin 'hospitalis' (pertaining to a guest or host). The suffix '-izar' is used to form verbs meaning 'to make' or 'to put into'.

Original meaning: To provide shelter or care for a guest; later specialized into medical care.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word with families; it indicates a serious situation. Always use a compassionate tone.

In the US/UK, hospitalization is often seen as a private medical event. In Lusophone countries, it is a social and family event.

The TV show 'Sob Pressão' (Brazil) frequently uses this term in a gritty medical context. Many Fado songs in Portugal mention 'o hospital' and the act of being 'internado' or 'hospitalizado'. News reports about Pelé's health often used the verb 'hospitalizar'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Emergency Room

Ele precisa hospitalizar?
Onde hospitalizo ele?
Vão hospitalizar agora?
É urgente hospitalizar.

Insurance Call

O plano cobre hospitalizar?
Preciso de autorização para hospitalizar.
Quanto custa hospitalizar?
Onde posso hospitalizar?

News Report

Foram hospitalizados dez feridos.
O presidente foi hospitalizado.
A taxa de hospitalizar subiu.
Não há vagas para hospitalizar.

Family Talk

Tivemos que hospitalizar o pai.
Quem vai ficar com ele ao hospitalizar?
Não queriam hospitalizar ela.
O médico sugeriu hospitalizar.

Workplace

Fui hospitalizado e não vou trabalhar.
Ele está hospitalizado desde ontem.
Preciso de um atestado de hospitalizar.
O seguro vai hospitalizar ele.

Conversation Starters

"Você já precisou hospitalizar alguém da sua família?"

"O que você acha do sistema de hospitalizar pacientes no seu país?"

"Você conhece alguém que foi hospitalizado recentemente?"

"Qual é a diferença entre internar e hospitalizar para você?"

"Você tem medo de ser hospitalizado?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva uma vez que você ou alguém que você conhece precisou hospitalizar.

Escreva sobre a importância de ter bons hospitais para hospitalizar as pessoas.

Como você se sente quando entra em um hospital?

Imagine que você é um médico e precisa decidir se vai hospitalizar um paciente.

Discuta os desafios de hospitalizar pessoas em áreas rurais.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, they are synonyms. 'Internar' is much more common in everyday conversation, while 'hospitalizar' is more formal and clinical.

It is a regular verb: eu hospitalizei, você hospitalizou, nós hospitalizamos, eles hospitalizaram.

No! For a hotel, use the verb 'hospedar'.

No, in Portuguese, the 'H' at the beginning of words is always silent. It sounds like 'os-pi-ta-li-zar'.

The noun is 'hospitalização' (hospitalization).

You say 'ser hospitalizado' (for a male) or 'ser hospitalizada' (for a female).

Use it in formal writing, when reading news, or when speaking with medical professionals to sound more precise.

Usually, it is a direct transitive verb (hospitalizar alguém). If you mention the place, use 'em': hospitalizar no hospital.

Yes, it is used in all Portuguese-speaking countries, although 'internar' remains the most popular choice in both.

It is grammatically possible (to hospitalize oneself), but in practice, a doctor usually does the action.