This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 verb #8,000 most common 11 min read

impacientar

Top 8,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips impacientar in 30 Seconds

Explanation impacientar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to express feelings. While 'impacientar' might seem complex, you can understand it as a way to say you are losing your patience. Think of it as the 'action' version of the word 'impaciente' (impatient), which you likely already know. At this stage, focus on the reflexive form 'me impaciento' (I get impatient). It is useful for basic situations like waiting for a friend or a bus. You don't need to worry about complex tenses yet; just focus on the present tense and how it relates to your daily life. It is a regular verb, so it follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'estudar'. If you can say 'Eu falo', you can say 'Eu me impaciento'. This will help you express basic frustrations in a more natural way than just using adjectives.

At the A2 level, you should begin to distinguish between doing something to someone and something happening to you. This is where 'impacientar' (to make someone impatient) and 'impacientar-se' (to become impatient) come into play. You will use this verb to describe common social situations, such as being in a long line or dealing with slow service. You should also start using it in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to tell stories about things that happened. For example, 'Eu me impacientei ontem' (I got impatient yesterday). Understanding the use of the preposition 'com' after the verb is a key goal for A2 learners. It allows you to connect your feeling to a cause, making your sentences more complete and informative.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'impacientar' in more varied grammatical structures, such as the Imperfect tense for descriptions and the Subjunctive for expressing desires or doubts. You might say, 'Espero que você não se impaciente' (I hope you don't get impatient). You will also start to use the verb to describe more abstract situations, like being impatient with your own progress in learning Portuguese. At this stage, you should be comfortable with the transitive use as well, describing how external factors 'impacientam' people. This level involves moving beyond your own feelings to describing the dynamics between people and their environment. You should also be aware of common synonyms like 'irritar' or 'perder a paciência' and know when to use each.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'impacientar' and its register. You can use it in professional environments or more formal writing to describe organizational friction or social trends. You should be able to use it in complex sentence structures, including conditional phrases like 'Se ele se impacientasse, a situação seria pior' (If he were to get impatient, the situation would be worse). You will also notice its use in media and literature to set a mood or describe a character's internal conflict. Your vocabulary should now include related nouns like 'impaciência' and 'impaciente', and you should be able to use them interchangeably to vary your speech and avoid repetition.

At the C1 level, you should be able to use 'impacientar' with stylistic precision. You understand its subtle differences from verbs like 'exasperar', 'inquietar', or 'desassossegar'. You can use the verb in figurative ways or within sophisticated idioms. In a C1 context, you might use 'impacientar' to discuss philosophical concepts of time or the psychological impact of the digital age on human patience. You should be fluent in all tenses and moods, including the more obscure ones like the Pluperfect or the Future Subjunctive. Your use of the verb will be seamless, appearing naturally in high-level debates, academic writing, or complex narrative storytelling. You are also sensitive to regional variations in pronoun placement and usage.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'impacientar' is complete and matches that of a highly educated native speaker. You can appreciate and use the verb in its most literary and archaic forms if necessary. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its place within the broader Romance language family. In your speech and writing, 'impacientar' is just one of many tools you use to paint a detailed picture of human emotion and reaction. You can use it to create irony, humor, or deep pathos. There are no grammatical hurdles left; the verb is part of your intuitive linguistic repertoire, used with perfect accuracy in any context, from the most casual slang to the most formal diplomatic correspondence.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

impacientar in 30 Seconds

A verb meaning to lose patience or make someone else lose theirs.
Commonly used reflexively (impacientar-se) with the preposition 'com'.
Essential for describing feelings during delays, traffic, or slow service.
Follows regular '-ar' verb conjugation patterns in Portuguese.

The Portuguese verb impacientar is a multifaceted term that primarily describes the process of losing one's patience or causing someone else to lose theirs. At its core, it is derived from the adjective 'paciente' (patient) with the negative prefix 'im-' and the verbalizing suffix '-ar'. In everyday Brazilian and European Portuguese, you will encounter this verb in two main forms: as a transitive verb (to make someone else impatient) and, more frequently, as a reflexive verb, impacientar-se (to become impatient themselves). Understanding this distinction is crucial for reaching an intermediate level of fluency. When you use it transitively, you are the cause of the agitation. For example, a slow internet connection might impacientar a student working on a deadline. When used reflexively, it describes an internal state of growing restlessness. It is not just about being angry; it is about that specific itch of wanting something to happen faster than it is currently occurring.

Transitive Usage: This occurs when an external factor or person acts upon a subject to strip away their calm. 'A demora do ônibus começou a impacientar os passageiros' (The bus's delay began to make the passengers impatient).

Não deixe que esses pequenos problemas o consigam impacientar durante a viagem.

The psychological weight of impacientar is significant in Lusophone cultures. While Portuguese speakers are often known for a more relaxed pace of life in certain regions, the verb appears frequently in professional settings where efficiency is valued. In a business meeting, if a presentation is dragging on, you might notice someone se impacientando. It is a verb of movement—moving from a state of rest to a state of tension. It is often paired with the preposition 'com' (with) when used reflexively: 'Eu me impacientei com a falta de organização' (I became impatient with the lack of organization). This grammatical structure is a hallmark of the A2 to B1 transition, where learners move from simple adjectives like 'estou impaciente' to dynamic verbs that describe the change in emotion.

Reflexive Usage: Describes the internal process of losing patience. 'Ela se impacienta facilmente com barulho' (She gets impatient easily with noise).

O mestre nunca se deixava impacientar pelos erros dos seus alunos iniciantes.

Furthermore, the verb carries a connotation of 'agitation'. It is not a quiet frustration; it usually implies a visible or felt restlessness. You might tap your foot, look at your watch, or sigh. To impacientar someone is to push them toward that edge. In literature, it is used to build tension in a scene. If a character is waiting for a secret letter, the author will describe how the silence of the room impacienta the protagonist. It is a powerful tool for describing the human condition and our struggle with time and expectation.

Using impacientar correctly requires an understanding of Portuguese verb conjugation and the proper placement of clitic pronouns. Since it is a regular '-ar' verb, its conjugation follows the standard pattern, making it relatively easy for A2 learners to master once they understand the concept. However, the nuance lies in the context of the sentence. Are you the 'actor' making someone else wait, or are you the 'receiver' of the frustration? Let's look at the direct transitive use first. In the sentence 'O trânsito impacienta os motoristas', the traffic (subject) is actively causing the drivers (object) to lose patience. Here, the verb acts directly on the object without a reflexive pronoun.

Direct Object Construction: Subject + Verb + Object. Example: 'Sua atitude impacienta o chefe' (Your attitude makes the boss impatient).

As perguntas constantes da criança começaram a impacientar o pai cansado.

Now, let's pivot to the reflexive form, which is arguably more common in conversational Portuguese. When you say 'Eu me impacientei', you are focusing on your own emotional shift. The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, se) must match the subject. In the present tense: 'Eu me impaciento', 'Você se impacienta', 'Nós nos impacientamos'. This form is almost always followed by the preposition 'com' to indicate the source of the impatience. For example, 'Nós nos impacientamos com a burocracia' (We lost patience with the bureaucracy). Notice how the verb captures the moment the patience runs out, rather than just the state of being impatient.

Advanced learners should also note the use of impacientar in the infinitive after auxiliary verbs. 'Você não deve se impacientar' (You shouldn't get impatient). In this structure, the reflexive pronoun can often be placed before the auxiliary or attached to the infinitive: 'Você não se deve impacientar' or 'Você não deve impacientar-se'. The choice often depends on regional preference, with Brazilians favoring the former and Portuguese people the latter. Regardless of the placement, the verb remains a powerful way to describe the friction between human desire and reality.

Prepositional Usage: Verb + 'com' + Noun. Example: 'Eles se impacientam com o barulho' (They get impatient with the noise).

Por que você se deixou impacientar por algo tão insignificante?

You will hear impacientar in various social contexts, ranging from the domestic sphere to the high-pressure environments of airports and hospitals. In a Brazilian household, a mother might say to her child, 'Não me impaciente, menino!' (Don't make me lose my patience, boy!). This usage is direct and carries a clear warning. It is slightly more formal than saying 'não me deixe bravo', but it is very common because it specifically targets the 'patience' aspect of the interaction. It is also frequently heard in news broadcasts or documentaries when describing social unrest. A reporter might say, 'A população começou a se impacientar com a falta de energia' (The population began to grow impatient with the power outage).

Social Context: Service & Waiting: Common in restaurants or banks where queues are long. 'Os clientes estão se impacientando na fila' (The customers are getting impatient in the line).

O atraso do voo serviu apenas para impacientar ainda mais os passageiros exaustos.

In Portuguese literature and soap operas (telenovelas), the verb is a staple for describing romantic tension or suspense. A character might be 'impacientando-se' while waiting for a lover to arrive or for a secret to be revealed. It provides a more sophisticated way to describe emotion than the simple adjective 'impaciente'. By using the verb, the writer emphasizes the evolution of the feeling. You aren't just impatient; you are in the act of becoming impatient. This makes the narrative feel more dynamic and immediate.

Furthermore, you will find this word in psychological or self-help contexts. Experts might talk about how to 'não se impacientar' during stressful life transitions. Here, it is used as a verb of self-regulation. It is not just about others; it is about how we manage our own internal clock. In the digital age, with instant notifications and fast-paced media, the word has seen a resurgence in discussions about 'ansiedade' (anxiety) and the modern inability to wait. Listening for this word in podcasts about mindfulness or productivity in Portuguese will provide a rich context for its modern application.

Professional Context: Used when projects are delayed. 'A diretoria se impacientou com a falta de resultados' (The board got impatient with the lack of results).

Tente não se impacientar com os novos estagiários; eles ainda estão aprendendo.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using impacientar is forgetting the reflexive pronoun when they mean 'to get impatient'. In English, 'impatient' is usually an adjective ('I am getting impatient'). In Portuguese, you can say 'Estou ficando impaciente', but using the verb impacientar-se is often more natural for describing the process. However, saying 'Eu impacientei' without the 'me' is grammatically incorrect if you are the one feeling the emotion. Without the reflexive pronoun, the verb requires an object—you must be making someone else impatient.

The Missing Pronoun: Incorrect: 'Ele impacientou com o atraso.' Correct: 'Ele se impacientou com o atraso.'

Muitos alunos esquecem de usar o pronome reflexivo ao conjugar impacientar.

Another common pitfall is the confusion between the verb and the adjective. Learners often try to force the verb into structures where the adjective 'impaciente' is more appropriate. For example, 'Eu sou impacientar' is a nonsensical mix. You are either 'impaciente' (adjective describing a trait) or you 'se impacienta' (verb describing an action/process). Remember: use the adjective for a state of being and the verb for a change in state or an action causing that state. Additionally, watch the preposition. While in English we might be 'impatient for' something, in Portuguese we often 'se impacienta com' (with) a situation or 'por' (for) a reason.

Lastly, pronunciation can be a hurdle. The 'ti' in impacientar is pronounced like 'chi' in most Brazilian dialects (im-pa-si-en-CHAR), but like a hard 'ti' in Portugal and some parts of Brazil. English speakers often over-emphasize the 'im-' prefix or fail to nasalize the 'en' in the middle. The word flows as im-pa-cien-tar. Practice the transition between the 'cien' and the 'tar' to ensure you don't sound like you are saying two separate words. Mastery of these small details will prevent you from sounding like a beginner and help you integrate the word seamlessly into your vocabulary.

Verb vs Adjective: Adjective: 'Sou uma pessoa impaciente.' Verb: 'Eu me impacientei com a espera.'

Cuidado para não confundir o ato de se impacientar com o simples fato de estar com pressa.

While impacientar is a precise and useful verb, Portuguese offers a rich palette of synonyms and related expressions that can help you sound more like a native speaker depending on the level of formality. The most direct synonym is irritar (to irritate). While impacientar specifically refers to the loss of patience, irritar is broader and can refer to general annoyance. If you want to convey a sense of being 'fed up', you might use the idiomatic expression perder a paciência (to lose patience). This is extremely common in daily life and is often used interchangeably with the reflexive impacientar-se.

Impacientar vs Irritar: 'Impacientar' focuses on time and waiting; 'Irritar' focuses on the feeling of anger or annoyance.

Em vez de se impacientar, ele decidiu ler um livro para passar o tempo.

For a more informal or slang-heavy context, especially in Brazil, you might hear ficar pilhado or ficar de saco cheio. The latter is quite informal (bordering on vulgar in some contexts) and means being completely out of patience. On the more formal side, verbs like exasperar (to exasperate) or inquietar (to make restless) can be used. Inquietar is particularly close to impacientar but focuses more on the physical restlessness and worry rather than just the frustration of waiting. Understanding these synonyms allows you to adjust your 'emotional volume'—from the mild restlessness of inquietar to the intense frustration of exasperar.

Another interesting alternative is the verb desassossegar, which means to deprive of peace or to make uneasy. It is a beautiful, more literary word that captures the lack of 'sossego' (calm). While impacientar is about the clock, desassossegar is about the soul. By comparing these words, you can see that impacientar sits right in the middle—useful for everyday gripes, professional delays, and personal frustrations. Mastering it, along with its alternatives, gives you the linguistic tools to navigate the often-frustrating complexities of human interaction in the Portuguese-speaking world.

Impacientar vs Inquietar: 'Impacientar' is about the desire for speed; 'Inquietar' is about a lack of tranquility or presence of worry.

Podemos usar 'exasperar' quando o ato de se impacientar atinge um nível extremo.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"A gerência impacientou-se com a procrastinação dos funcionários."

Neutral

"Ele se impacientou com a demora do trem."

Informal

"Não me impaciente, cara!"

Child friendly

"O coelhinho se impacientou esperando a cenoura."

Slang

"Isso tá me impacientando real."

Fun Fact

The root 'pati' in Latin means 'to suffer'. So, to be patient literally means to be good at suffering through a wait!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ĩ.pɐ.sjẽ.ˈtaɾ/

US /ĩ.pa.sjẽ.ˈtaɹ/

The primary stress is on the last syllable: 'tar'.

Rhymes With

cantar falar andar olhar estar chegar pensar esperar

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'im' as a clear English 'im' without nasalization.
Making the 'ti' sound like a hard 't' in Brazilian Portuguese where it should be 'ch'.
Stress on the wrong syllable (e.g., im-pa-CIEN-tar).
Forgetting to nasalize the 'en' in the third syllable.
Pronouncing the final 'r' as a silent letter like in some French verbs.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to 'impatient'.

Writing 3/5

Requires knowledge of reflexive pronoun placement.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of nasal sounds and 'ti/chi' can be tricky.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, usually easy to distinguish in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

paciência paciente esperar ficar com

Learn Next

exasperar irritar inquietar ansiedade demora

Advanced

desassossegar apoquentar enfadar estribilho

Grammar to Know

Reflexive Verbs

Eu me impaciento (I get impatient).

Transitive Verbs

Isso impacienta o povo (This makes the people impatient).

Pronoun Placement (Negative)

Não se impaciente (Don't get impatient).

Preposition 'com'

Impacientar-se com o atraso.

Infinitive with Prepositions

Ao se impacientar, ele gritou.

Examples by Level

Eu me impaciento na fila.

I get impatient in the line.

Reflexive 'me' is used with 'eu'.

Você se impacienta muito?

Do you get impatient a lot?

Question form using the reflexive 'se' for 'você'.

O ônibus demora e eu me impaciento.

The bus takes long and I get impatient.

Present tense showing a cause and effect.

Não se impaciente, por favor.

Don't get impatient, please.

Negative imperative with the pronoun before the verb.

Ela se impacienta com o computador lento.

She gets impatient with the slow computer.

Use of 'com' to indicate the source of impatience.

Nós nos impacientamos no trânsito.

We get impatient in traffic.

Reflexive 'nos' matches the subject 'nós'.

Eles se impacientam com a chuva.

They get impatient with the rain.

Third person plural reflexive form.

Eu não gosto de me impacientar.

I don't like to get impatient.

Infinitive reflexive form after another verb.

Ontem, eu me impacientei no banco.

Yesterday, I got impatient at the bank.

Pretérito Perfeito (past tense) of the reflexive verb.

O barulho da obra impacienta os vizinhos.

The construction noise makes the neighbors impatient.

Transitive use without the reflexive pronoun.

Você se impacientou com a notícia?

Did you get impatient with the news?

Past tense question with 'com'.

Nós não nos impacientamos com o atraso.

We didn't get impatient with the delay.

Negative past tense reflexive.

A criança começou a se impacientar no carro.

The child began to get impatient in the car.

Infinitive 'impacientar' after the auxiliary 'começou a'.

Sua voz alta me impacienta.

Your loud voice makes me impatient.

Transitive use with 'me' as a direct object.

Eles se impacientaram durante a reunião.

They got impatient during the meeting.

Past tense plural form.

Não quero te impacientar, mas temos que ir.

I don't want to make you impatient, but we have to go.

Transitive use with 'te' as the object.

Se o trem atrasar, eu vou me impacientar.

If the train is late, I'm going to get impatient.

Future structure with 'vou' + reflexive infinitive.

Duvido que ele se impaciente com isso.

I doubt that he gets impatient with that.

Present Subjunctive after 'Duvido que'.

Ela se impacientava sempre que ele chegava tarde.

She used to get impatient whenever he arrived late.

Imperfect tense showing a habitual action in the past.

É normal se impacientar em situações de estresse.

It is normal to get impatient in stressful situations.

Impersonal use of the reflexive infinitive.

O professor se impacientou com a falta de atenção.

The teacher got impatient with the lack of attention.

Past tense showing a specific reaction.

Espero que as crianças não se impacientem na viagem.

I hope the children don't get impatient on the trip.

Negative Present Subjunctive.

A lentidão do processo impacienta a todos.

The slowness of the process makes everyone impatient.

Transitive use with a collective object.

Eu tentei não me impacientar, mas foi difícil.

I tried not to get impatient, but it was hard.

Reflexive infinitive with a negative particle.

Caso ele se impaciente, tente acalmá-lo.

In case he gets impatient, try to calm him down.

Present Subjunctive after 'Caso'.

A burocracia excessiva acaba por impacientar o investidor.

Excessive bureaucracy ends up making the investor impatient.

Transitive use in a professional context.

Embora se impacientasse, ela manteve a educação.

Although she was getting impatient, she remained polite.

Imperfect Subjunctive after 'Embora'.

O constante mudar de planos impacienta a equipe.

The constant changing of plans makes the team impatient.

Gerund-like subject causing the action.

Ele se impacientaria se soubesse da verdade.

He would get impatient if he knew the truth.

Conditional tense used with 'se' + Imperfect Subjunctive.

Não convém impacientar o cliente durante a negociação.

It is not advisable to make the client impatient during the negotiation.

Infinitive as a subject of the verb 'convém'.

Muitos cidadãos se impacientam com a falta de segurança.

Many citizens get impatient with the lack of security.

Reflexive use in a socio-political context.

Ao se impacientar, ele costuma perder a razão.

Upon getting impatient, he usually loses his reason.

Preposition 'Ao' + reflexive infinitive.

A demora na resposta governamental impacienta os setores produtivos.

The delay in the government response makes the productive sectors impatient.

Formal transitive use in an economic context.

Raramente o diplomata se deixava impacientar pelas provocações.

Rarely did the diplomat allow himself to be made impatient by provocations.

Passive-like reflexive structure with 'deixar-se'.

É imperativo que não nos impacientemos diante dos obstáculos.

It is imperative that we do not get impatient in the face of obstacles.

Formal Present Subjunctive with 'nós'.

A volatilidade do mercado impacienta até os investidores mais experientes.

Market volatility makes even the most experienced investors impatient.

Transitive use emphasizing degree ('até os mais...').

Sempre que se impacientava, buscava refúgio na meditação.

Whenever he got impatient, he sought refuge in meditation.

Imperfect tense showing a recurring psychological pattern.

A natureza da sua profissão o obriga a nunca se impacientar.

The nature of his profession forces him never to get impatient.

Reflexive infinitive governed by the verb 'obrigar'.

O autor descreve como a espera impacienta a alma humana.

The author describes how waiting makes the human soul impatient.

Literary transitive use.

Tais comentários só servem para impacientar os ânimos já exaltados.

Such comments only serve to make already heated tempers impatient.

Metaphorical use with 'ânimos'.

A inércia institucional impacienta aqueles que clamam por reformas urgentes.

Institutional inertia makes those who cry out for urgent reforms impatient.

High-level vocabulary like 'inércia' and 'clamar'.

Não obstante a sua calma habitual, impacientou-se com a desídia alheia.

Notwithstanding his usual calm, he grew impatient with others' negligence.

Use of 'Não obstante' and 'desídia' (negligence).

O filósofo argumenta que a modernidade nos impacienta cronicamente.

The philosopher argues that modernity chronically makes us impatient.

Adverbial modification 'cronicamente'.

Oxalá não te impacientes com as vicissitudes da vida.

May you not get impatient with the vicissitudes of life.

Use of the archaic/poetic 'Oxalá' with the Subjunctive.

A obra prima requer um tempo que a pressa contemporânea teima em impacientar.

The masterpiece requires a time that contemporary haste insists on making impatient.

Complex literary structure.

Se porventura te impacientares, recorda-te do propósito maior.

If by chance you should get impatient, remember the greater purpose.

Future Subjunctive with 'porventura'.

A sua prosa tem o condão de impacientar o leitor ávido por resoluções.

His prose has the power to make the reader eager for resolutions impatient.

Idiomatic expression 'ter o condão de'.

Impacientar-se-ia o mestre se visse tamanha negligência?

Would the master get impatient if he saw such negligence?

Mesoclisis (impacientar-se-ia), very formal/literary.

Common Collocations

impacientar-se com

começar a se impacientar

não se impaciente

fácil de impacientar

impacientar o espírito

deixar-se impacientar

impacientar a multidão

sentir-se impacientar

impacientar profundamente

tentar não impacientar

Common Phrases

Não me impaciente!

— A warning telling someone to stop testing your patience.

Estou ocupado, não me impaciente!

Ela se impacienta por nada.

— Used to describe someone who loses patience very easily.

Tenha cuidado, ela se impacienta por nada.

O tempo me impacienta.

— Expressing that waiting or the passage of time is frustrating.

Essa espera todo dia pelo ônibus me impacienta.

Impacientar-se à toa.

— To get impatient for no good reason.

Você está se impacientando à toa, o médico já vem.

Não vale a pena se impacientar.

— Advice suggesting that getting impatient won't help the situation.

Relaxe, não vale a pena se impacientar com o trânsito.

A fila me impacienta.

— A simple way to say a line is making you lose patience.

Vou embora, essa fila me impacienta.

Impacientar o chefe.

— To do something that makes the boss lose patience.

Chegar atrasado vai impacientar o chefe.

Evite se impacientar.

— A polite suggestion to keep one's cool.

Durante a prova, evite se impacientar.

Ele vive se impacientando.

— He is constantly getting impatient.

Ele vive se impacientando com a tecnologia.

Por que se impacientar?

— A rhetorical question asking why someone is losing their cool.

Temos o dia todo, por que se impacientar?

Often Confused With

impacientar vs esperar

Esperar means to wait; impacientar-se is what happens when you don't want to wait anymore.

impacientar vs irritar

Irritar is more general; impacientar is specifically about loss of patience/time.

impacientar vs apressar

Apressar is to make someone go faster; impacientar is the feeling/action of losing patience while they aren't going fast enough.

Idioms & Expressions

"Perder as estribeiras"

— To completely lose one's cool or patience, often resulting in anger.

Ele se impacientou tanto que perdeu as estribeiras.

Informal

"Estar com os nervos à flor da pele"

— To be very edgy or easily made impatient/angry.

Hoje não me impaciente, estou com os nervos à flor da pele.

Neutral

"Sair do sério"

— To lose one's patience or composure.

Essa situação me faz sair do sério e me impacientar.

Informal

"Paciência de Jó"

— To have extreme patience (the opposite of what happens when you impacientar).

É preciso ter paciência de Jó para não se impacientar aqui.

Neutral

"Encher o saco"

— To annoy someone to the point of losing patience.

Você está enchendo o meu saco e me impacientando.

Slang (Brazil)

"Estar por um fio"

— To be on the verge of losing patience or control.

Minha calma está por um fio, não me impaciente.

Informal

"Perder a estribeira"

— Similar to 'perder as estribeiras', to lose control.

Ele se impacientou e perdeu a estribeira.

Informal

"Ficar de bico"

— To pout (often after getting impatient or annoyed).

Ela se impacientou com a brincadeira e ficou de bico.

Informal

"Dar um gelo"

— To give the cold shoulder (often after being made impatient).

Depois de se impacientar com ele, ela lhe deu um gelo.

Informal

"Subir pelas paredes"

— To be extremely restless or impatient.

A espera pelo resultado o fazia subir pelas paredes de tanto se impacientar.

Informal

Easily Confused

impacientar vs paciente

It is the root word.

Paciente is the adjective (patient) or noun (patient); impacientar is the verb (to make impatient).

O médico é paciente, mas a espera o impacienta.

impacientar vs impaciência

Both relate to the same concept.

Impaciência is the noun (impatience); impacientar is the verb.

Sua impaciência começou a me impacientar.

impacientar vs importunar

Both involve annoying someone.

Importunar is to bother or pester; impacientar is specifically about patience.

Ele me importuna com perguntas que me impacientam.

impacientar vs implicar

Can result in impatience.

Implicar is to pick on someone or to imply; not directly about patience.

Ele implica com ela até ela se impacientar.

impacientar vs imprevisto

Often causes impatience.

Imprevisto is an unforeseen event (noun/adj).

O imprevisto acabou por impacientar a todos.

Sentence Patterns

Eu me impaciento + com + [noun]

Eu me impaciento com a fila.

[Subject] + impacienta + [Object]

O trânsito impacienta o motorista.

Não + [pronoun] + impaciente

Não se impaciente agora.

Começar a + se impacientar

Ele começou a se impacientar.

Deixar-se + impacientar

Não se deixe impacientar por isso.

Impacientar + os ânimos

Isso vai impacientar os ânimos.

Impacientar-se-ia + se + [subjunctive]

Impacientar-se-ia se soubesse.

Ter o condão de + impacientar

Isso tem o condão de impacientar.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in both spoken and written Portuguese, especially in news and daily social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Eu impacientei com o trânsito. → Eu me impacientei com o trânsito.
You must use the reflexive pronoun 'me' because you are the one feeling impatient.
Ele é muito impacientar. → Ele é muito impaciente.
You cannot use the infinitive verb as an adjective. Use 'impaciente' to describe a person.
Não impaciente-se. → Não se impaciente.
In negative sentences, the reflexive pronoun must come before the verb.
Estou impacientando de você. → Estou me impacientando com você.
The correct preposition is 'com', and the reflexive pronoun 'me' is missing.
A espera me impacientei. → A espera me impacientou.
The verb must agree with the subject 'A espera' (third person singular), not with the object 'me'.

Tips

Reflexive Pronouns

Always match the reflexive pronoun to the subject: Eu me, Tu te, Ele se, Nós nos, Eles se. This is the most common way to use the verb.

Verb vs Adjective

Use 'impaciente' for a personality trait and 'impacientar-se' for a temporary reaction to a situation.

Nasal Sounds

Don't forget the nasal sounds! The 'im' and 'en' should be pronounced through the nose to sound authentic.

Social Cues

Showing that you are 'se impacientando' can be seen as a sign of stress or rudeness, so use the verb carefully in social situations.

Writing Narratives

Use 'impacientar' to build tension in your stories. It's a great way to show a character's internal state without just saying they are angry.

Daily Alternative

If you forget the verb, you can always say 'perder a paciência' (to lose patience), which is equally common.

Preposition 'Com'

Memorize the pair 'impacientar-se com'. It will make your sentences flow much more naturally.

Avoid 'Impacientar de'

English speakers often want to say 'impatient of', but in Portuguese, we use 'com'. Avoid 'impacientar-se de'.

Listen for 'Se'

When listening to native speakers, listen for the little 'se' before or after the verb to catch the reflexive meaning.

Daily Life

Next time you are in traffic, say to yourself: 'Eu estou me impacientando'. It's a great way to practice real-life application.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'IM-patient' person 'TAR-dying' (delaying) you. IM-pa-cien-TAR.

Visual Association

Imagine a person tapping their foot (TAR) on a giant clock because they are IMpatient.

Word Web

Paciência Tempo Atraso Fila Trânsito Irritação Espera Relógio

Challenge

Try to use 'impacientar-se' three times today when you are waiting for something, even if just in your head.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'impatientia' (impatience), which is 'im-' (not) + 'patientia' (patience/suffering).

Original meaning: The state of not being able to endure or suffer through something.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful using this verb with elders or superiors, as it can sound demanding or disrespectful.

English speakers often use 'getting impatient', whereas Portuguese speakers have a dedicated verb 'impacientar-se'.

Used in various Fado songs to describe the longing and impatience of waiting for a loved one. Commonly found in the works of Machado de Assis to describe social frictions. Frequent in Brazilian 'crônicas' (short social essays).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

In Traffic

O trânsito me impacienta.
Não se impaciente no volante.
Motoristas se impacientando.
O engarrafamento impacienta.

At Work

O chefe está se impacientando.
Prazos curtos me impacientam.
Não impaciente os colegas.
A reunião me impacientou.

Customer Service

A fila está me impacientando.
O cliente se impacientou.
Desculpe impacientar você.
A espera impacienta.

Parenting

Não me impaciente, filho.
As crianças se impacientam.
Tente não se impacientar com eles.
O choro me impacienta.

Technology

A internet lenta me impacienta.
O site não carrega e eu me impaciento.
Atualizações me impacientam.
Não se impaciente com o PC.

Conversation Starters

"O que mais te faz se impacientar no dia a dia?"

"Você costuma se impacientar quando está em uma fila muito longa?"

"Como você faz para não se impacientar com pessoas lentas?"

"Você já impacientou alguém sem querer hoje?"

"No seu trabalho, o que costuma impacientar a equipe?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva uma situação em que você se impacientei recentemente. Por que isso aconteceu?

Escreva sobre como a tecnologia pode nos impacientar mais do que antigamente.

Como você lida com pessoas que tentam te impacientar de propósito?

Reflita sobre a última vez que você viu alguém se impacientar no trânsito.

Quais são as três coisas que mais impacientam você em uma viagem?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'impacientar' is a regular verb ending in '-ar'. This means it follows the same conjugation rules as verbs like 'falar' or 'amar' in all tenses. This makes it easier for learners to use once they know the stem 'impacient-'.

'Impacientar' is transitive, meaning you make someone else impatient (e.g., 'Eu impacientei o meu amigo'). 'Impacientar-se' is reflexive, meaning you yourself become impatient (e.g., 'Eu me impacientei'). The reflexive form is much more common in daily speech.

Not exactly. To say 'I am impatient', use the adjective: 'Eu sou impaciente'. Use the verb 'impacientar-se' to describe the *process* of becoming impatient or the moment it happens: 'Eu me impacientei com a demora'.

The most common preposition is 'com' (with). For example: 'Ela se impacienta com o barulho'. Occasionally, 'por' can be used if you are impatient *for* a specific reason or cause, but 'com' is the safest and most common choice.

Yes, it is very common in Brazil. However, Brazilians often prefer the reflexive form 'se impacientar' and might use idioms like 'perder a paciência' or 'ficar sem paciência' in very casual settings. Still, 'impacientar' is perfectly understood and used.

In most of Brazil, the 'ti' is pronounced like 'chi' in 'chicken'. So it sounds like 'im-pa-si-en-CHAR'. The 'im' at the beginning and the 'en' in the middle are nasal sounds, which are crucial for a native-like accent.

Usually, it refers to people's emotions. However, you can use it metaphorically in literature, such as 'o mar se impacientava' (the sea was getting restless/rough). In standard usage, it's almost always about human (or animal) patience.

The most direct opposite verbs are 'acalmar' (to calm), 'tranquilizar' (to reassure), or 'sossegar' (to settle). There is a rare verb 'pacientar', but it is not commonly used in modern Portuguese.

Both are correct. In Brazil, 'me impaciento' is the standard in almost all contexts. In Portugal, 'impaciento-me' is the standard in formal writing and speech, while 'me impaciento' might be heard in very casual conversation or due to Brazilian influence.

Use 'exasperar' when the level of impatience is very high, almost reaching a point of anger or despair. 'Impacientar' is more neutral and can be used for minor daily frustrations, whereas 'exasperar' is much stronger.