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A1 adjective 10 min read

importante

Examples importante in 30 Seconds
Explanation importante in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'importante' is introduced as a high-frequency adjective that allows students to express basic priorities and values. Learners are taught that 'importante' translates to 'important' and is used to describe nouns. The focus is on the fact that this adjective is invariable in gender—meaning it doesn't change whether you're talking about a man, a woman, a masculine object, or a feminine object. Students learn to use it in simple 'Subject + Ser + Adjective' sentences, such as 'O café é importante' (Coffee is important). They also learn to place it after the noun in phrases like 'um livro importante'. At this stage, the emphasis is on recognition and simple declarative use. The plural form 'importantes' is also introduced so students can say 'as aulas são importantes'. This word is essential for A1 learners to navigate daily life, allowing them to identify key information or express what matters to them in a basic way.
At the A2 level, learners begin to use 'importante' in more complex sentence structures and a wider variety of contexts. They move beyond simple identification to using 'importante' to give advice or express necessity using the impersonal 'É importante...' structure followed by an infinitive. For example, 'É importante estudar todos os dias' (It is important to study every day). Learners also start to use intensifiers like 'muito' (very) or 'tão' (so) to modify the adjective: 'Esta reunião é muito importante'. At this stage, students should be comfortable with the pluralization rules and the standard word order (noun + adjective). They also begin to encounter the word in more specific contexts, such as describing people ('uma pessoa importante') or events ('uma data importante'). The A2 learner uses 'importante' to prioritize tasks and describe their daily routine and responsibilities more effectively.
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At the B1 level, students start to master the 'É importante que...' structure, which requires the use of the subjunctive mood. This is a significant grammatical leap. Instead of just saying 'It is important to study', they can now say 'It is important that you study' (É importante que você estude). This allows for more nuanced communication where the speaker addresses specific people. B1 learners also begin to use 'importante' in comparative and superlative forms: 'A saúde é mais importante que o trabalho' or 'O mais importante é ser feliz'. They are expected to understand the word in abstract contexts, such as discussing social issues or personal values. The range of synonyms like 'relevante' or 'essencial' might be introduced at this level to avoid repetition. The student can now participate in discussions where they must justify why something is 'importante' using supporting arguments.
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At the B2 level, 'importante' is used in professional and academic settings with higher precision. The learner understands the subtle difference between 'importante' and more specific synonyms like 'crucial', 'fundamental', or 'significativo'. They can use the word in formal writing, such as essays or reports, to highlight key findings or arguments. B2 learners are also familiar with idiomatic expressions and common collocations like 'de suma importância' (of utmost importance). They can handle complex sentence structures where 'importante' might be part of a relative clause: 'As medidas que são importantes para o projeto foram discutidas'. At this stage, the learner also recognizes the use of 'importante' to denote social status or influence and can navigate the social nuances of describing someone as 'uma figura importante'. Their pronunciation should be natural, and their use of the subjunctive with this adjective should be consistent and accurate.
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At the C1 level, the learner uses 'importante' and its derivatives (like 'importância') with the fluency of a native speaker. They can detect subtle shifts in meaning when the adjective is placed before the noun for rhetorical effect: 'Foi uma importante vitória' (emphasizing the quality of the victory) vs. 'Foi uma vitória importante' (stating a fact). C1 learners can use 'importante' in high-level debates, legal contexts, and literary analysis. They understand the etymological roots and how they relate to other words in the word family, like 'importar' (to matter/to import). They can use the word to construct sophisticated arguments, often pairing it with advanced adverbs like 'primordialmente', 'intrinsecamente', or 'indiscutivelmente'. The learner is also aware of regional variations in how 'importante' might be used in different Lusophone cultures, such as the specific weight given to certain social hierarchies.
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At the C2 level, the mastery of 'importante' is complete and effortless. The speaker can use the word in any context, including highly specialized technical fields, classical literature, or complex philosophical discourse. They can play with the word's connotations and use it ironically or with deep metaphorical meaning. A C2 learner can distinguish between the 'importance' of a statistical variable and the 'importance' of an existential choice with absolute clarity. They can write long-form content where 'importante' is used as a structural anchor for complex ideas without ever sounding repetitive, thanks to an extensive command of synonyms and related concepts. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a tool for precise conceptual mapping. The speaker can also discuss the history of the word and its evolution within the Portuguese language over centuries.
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Examples

importante in 30 Seconds

  • The word 'importante' means 'important' and is used to describe high-value or significant things, people, and situations in Portuguese.
  • It is a gender-neutral adjective, meaning it has the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns, making it easy to use.
  • You will mostly place it after the noun (e.g., 'uma reunião importante') and add an 's' for the plural form ('importantes').
  • It is frequently used in impersonal expressions like 'É importante que...' which often requires the subjunctive mood in the following verb.

The word importante is one of the most foundational and versatile adjectives in the Portuguese language. At its core, it translates directly to the English word 'important.' It is used to describe anything that possesses great significance, value, weight, or influence. Whether you are discussing a business meeting, a family member, a historical event, or a simple task that needs to be done, importante is your primary tool for indicating priority and relevance.

Universal Application
In Portuguese, this word is considered 'neutral' in terms of gender. Unlike many adjectives that change their ending from -o to -a (like 'bonito' and 'bonita'), importante remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. For example, 'um livro importante' (a masculine noun) and 'uma decisão importante' (a feminine noun) both use the exact same form of the adjective.

People use this word across all social strata and professional contexts. In a professional setting, it highlights deadlines and key stakeholders. In a personal setting, it emphasizes the emotional value of relationships or health. It is a word that carries weight but is simple enough for a beginner to use correctly from day one. Its frequency in daily conversation is incredibly high, appearing in news broadcasts, academic lectures, and casual chats over coffee.

Esta é a parte mais importante do projeto.

Translation: This is the most important part of the project.
Emotional Significance
Beyond mere utility, the word is often used to express deep personal connection. When someone says 'Você é muito importante para mim' (You are very important to me), they are using the word to convey affection and necessity in their life.

In terms of register, importante is perfectly acceptable in formal writing, legal documents, and casual slang-filled conversations. It is a 'high-yield' vocabulary word because its meaning is stable and its usage is predictable. You will find it in newspapers describing 'eventos importantes' and in household chores lists as 'tarefas importantes'.

É importante beber água todos os dias.

Common Collocations
The word frequently pairs with 'muito' (very), 'extremamente' (extremely), and 'pouco' (little). 'Nada importante' means 'not at all important'. It also commonly follows the verb 'ser' (to be) in the structure 'É importante que...' (It is important that...).

Finally, the word can also refer to people of high status. Someone described as 'uma pessoa importante' might be a VIP, a government official, or a community leader. In this context, it implies influence and power rather than just being 'valued' in a general sense.

Using importante correctly involves understanding its placement and how it interacts with verbs and nouns. In Portuguese, the general rule is that adjectives follow the noun they modify. This is the most natural way to use the word in 90% of situations.

Eu tenho uma reunião importante hoje.

Translation: I have an important meeting today.

However, sometimes you might see the adjective placed *before* the noun, especially in literature or very formal speeches. When this happens, it often adds a layer of subjective emphasis or poetic flair, but for general learners, sticking to the post-noun placement is the safest and most common route.

The 'É Importante' Structure
One of the most common ways to use this word is in impersonal expressions. When you say 'É importante...' (It is important...), you are usually followed by an infinitive verb or a clause starting with 'que'. If you use 'que', the following verb must be in the subjunctive mood. For example: 'É importante que você estude' (It is important that you study).

The plural form of the word is importantes. This is used whenever the noun it describes is plural, regardless of the noun's gender. 'Os documentos importantes' (The important documents) and 'As notícias importantes' (The important news) both utilize this plural ending.

Estes são detalhes importantes.

Translation: These are important details.
Comparatives and Superlatives
To compare things, use 'mais importante que' (more important than) or 'menos importante que' (less important than). For the superlative, use 'o mais importante' (the most important). Example: 'A saúde é mais importante que o dinheiro' (Health is more important than money).

You will also encounter importante used as a predicate adjective after the verb 'ser'. 'Isso é importante' (That is important). It is never used with the verb 'estar' because importance is generally viewed as a permanent or inherent quality of an object or situation, rather than a temporary state.

Nada é mais importante do que a família.

Negative Usage
To say something is not important, you can say 'não é importante' or 'é pouco importante'. If you want to be more emphatic, you can say 'não tem importância nenhuma' (it has no importance at all).

In summary, focus on the noun-adjective order and the pluralization. Once you master the 'É importante que + subjunctive' pattern, you will be able to express opinions and give advice with a high degree of sophistication in Portuguese.

The word importante is omnipresent. You will hear it the moment you step into a Portuguese-speaking country, from the airport announcements to the casual conversations in a 'padaria' (bakery). It is a pillar of communication because humans constantly need to categorize information by its level of priority.

In the News and Media
News anchors frequently use phrases like 'uma notícia importante' (an important news item) or 'um anúncio importante do governo' (an important government announcement). In headlines, you will see 'As 5 coisas mais importantes que você precisa saber hoje' (The 5 most important things you need to know today).

In the workplace, importante is used to manage expectations and workflow. Managers will tell their teams 'Temos um prazo importante' (We have an important deadline) or 'Este cliente é muito importante para a empresa' (This client is very important for the company). It is the language of business strategy and daily operations.

Atenção, por favor. Um aviso importante.

Commonly heard in public transport or airports.
Education and Learning
Teachers and professors use the word to signal what will be on an exam. 'Anotem isso, é importante!' (Take note of this, it is important!). In academic texts, researchers discuss 'descobertas importantes' (important discoveries) and 'fatores importantes' (important factors) that influence their results.

In family life, parents use it to instill values in children. 'É importante dizer obrigado' (It is important to say thank you) or 'Estudar é importante para o seu futuro' (Studying is important for your future). It is a word of guidance and socialization.

Você é a pessoa mais importante da minha vida.

A common romantic or familial expression.
In Literature and Song
Many Portuguese and Brazilian songs use 'importante' to discuss the weight of love or the significance of a moment. In literature, it helps define the stakes of a plot or the character of a protagonist.

Even in tech and social media, you see 'importante'. Notifications might be flagged as 'importante' to bypass 'Do Not Disturb' modes. Influencers might start a video with 'Gente, um recado muito importante' (Guys, a very important message) to grab their followers' attention immediately.

While importante is a 'true friend' (it looks and means the same as in English), there are several grammatical and usage pitfalls that English speakers often fall into when learning Portuguese.

Mistake 1: Gender Agreement
New learners often try to make it feminine by saying 'importanta' when referring to feminine nouns. This is incorrect. The word is 'importante' for both 'o homem' and 'a mulher'. There is no 'importanta'.

Another common error is related to the plural form. In English, adjectives do not have plural forms (we say 'important things,' not 'importants things'). In Portuguese, you must pluralize the adjective. Saying 'as coisas importante' is a common beginner mistake; it must be 'as coisas importantes'.

❌ As coisas importante...

✅ As coisas importantes...

Mistake 2: Word Order
English speakers naturally want to put the adjective before the noun: 'an important person' -> 'uma importante pessoa'. While this isn't strictly 'wrong' in a poetic sense, it sounds very unnatural in daily speech. The standard is 'uma pessoa importante'.

There is also the confusion between the adjective importante and the verb importar. In English, 'it matters' is a verb. In Portuguese, people often say 'isso não importa' (that doesn't matter). Beginners sometimes try to use the adjective where the verb should be, or vice versa. 'Isso não é importante' and 'Isso não importa' are both correct and mean roughly the same thing, but they are different grammatical structures.

Não se preocupe, isso não importa.

Here, 'importa' is the verb (to matter).
Mistake 3: The Subjunctive Mood
When using the phrase 'É importante que...', learners often use the indicative mood. 'É importante que você estuda' (incorrect). It must be 'É importante que você estude' (subjunctive). This is a higher-level mistake but one to watch out for as you progress.

Finally, be careful with the pronunciation of the 'r' in the middle. English speakers often pronounce it as a soft 'r' (like in 'water'), but in Portuguese, it should be a single tap of the tongue (like the 'tt' in 'better' in some American accents) or a stronger sound depending on the regional accent. Don't let it sound like 'im-por-tante' with an English 'r'!

To truly master Portuguese, you need to expand your vocabulary beyond the most basic terms. While importante is great, using synonyms will make your speech more precise and varied. Depending on the context, other words might be more appropriate.

Relevante
This is very similar to 'relevant' in English. It is often used in academic or professional contexts. 'Esta informação é relevante' (This information is relevant/significant). It implies that the thing in question has a direct bearing on the matter at hand.

If something is so important that it is absolutely necessary, you should use essencial or fundamental. These words carry more weight than just importante. 'A água é essencial para a vida' (Water is essential for life). 'Esta é uma regra fundamental' (This is a fundamental rule).

Sua ajuda foi fundamental para o sucesso.

Translation: Your help was fundamental to the success.
Crucial vs. Crítico
'Crucial' is used for decisive moments. 'Um momento crucial' (A crucial moment). 'Crítico' is used when something is at a turning point or is extremely urgent. 'A situação é crítica' (The situation is critical).

For things that are important because of their size or impact, you might use significativo (significant). 'Houve uma mudança significativa' (There was a significant change). This is very common in business reporting and statistics.

É uma questão de suma importância.

'Suma importância' is a fixed formal expression meaning 'utmost importance'.
Antonyms
The direct opposite is 'irrelevante' (irrelevant) or 'insignificante' (insignificant). 'Secundário' (secondary) is used for things that have importance but are not the main priority.

Understanding these nuances allows you to tailor your message. Using importante is always correct, but using imprescindível (indispensable) shows that you have a deeper command of the language and a more nuanced perspective on the subject matter.

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Examples by Level

1

O café é importante.

The coffee is important.

Simple Subject + Ser + Adjective structure.

2

Eu tenho uma pergunta importante.

I have an important question.

Adjective follows the feminine noun 'pergunta'.

3

A água é importante para nós.

Water is important for us.

General statement of fact.

4

Hoje é um dia importante.

Today is an important day.

Adjective follows the masculine noun 'dia'.

5

Você é importante.

You are important.

Personal address using 'você'.

6

Estes livros são importantes.

These books are important.

Plural agreement: 'livros' and 'importantes'.

7

Onde está o documento importante?

Where is the important document?

Using the adjective in a question.

8

Não é importante agora.

It is not important now.

Negative construction with 'não'.

1

É importante beber muita água.

It is important to drink a lot of water.

Impersonal 'É importante' + infinitive.

2

Tenho uma reunião muito importante às nove.

I have a very important meeting at nine.

Use of 'muito' as an intensifier.

3

Eles são pessoas muito importantes.

They are very important people.

Plural adjective matching 'pessoas'.

4

O mais importante é a saúde.

The most important [thing] is health.

Superlative 'o mais importante'.

5

É importante chegar na hora certa.

It is important to arrive on time.

Impersonal expression for rules.

6

Este detalhe não é muito importante.

This detail is not very important.

Negation of an intensified adjective.

7

Você tem um papel importante no grupo.

You have an important role in the group.

Abstract use of 'papel' (role).

8

Quais são as notícias mais importantes?

What are the most important news?

Plural superlative in a question.

1

É importante que você saiba a verdade.

It is important that you know the truth.

Subjunctive 'saiba' after 'É importante que'.

2

A família é mais importante que o dinheiro.

Family is more important than money.

Comparative 'mais... que'.

3

Este evento é menos importante do que o outro.

This event is less important than the other.

Comparative 'menos... do que'.

4

É importante que nós cheguemos cedo amanhã.

It is important that we arrive early tomorrow.

Subjunctive 'cheguemos' (1st person plural).

5

A educação é um fator importante para o sucesso.

Education is an important factor for success.

Noun 'fator' modified by 'importante'.

6

Não acho que isso seja importante agora.

I don't think that is important now.

Subjunctive 'seja' after 'Não acho que'.

7

O que você considera importante em um amigo?

What do you consider important in a friend?

Verb 'considerar' + adjective.

8

Ela tomou uma decisão importante para a carreira.

She made an important decision for her career.

Feminine noun 'decisão' with 'importante'.

1

É de suma importância que todos assinem o contrato.

It is of utmost importance that everyone signs the contract.

Formal phrase 'de suma importância'.

2

O governo anunciou medidas importantes para a economia.

The government announced important measures for the economy.

Plural agreement in a formal context.

3

Consideramos importante ressaltar os riscos envolvidos.

We consider it important to highlight the risks involved.

Formal structure 'Consideramos importante' + infinitive.

4

Esta descoberta é considerada a mais importante do século.

This discovery is considered the most important of the century.

Passive voice + superlative.

5

É importante que o projeto seja concluído no prazo.

It is important that the project is completed on time.

Passive subjunctive 'seja concluído'.

6

Houve uma mudança importante na política da empresa.

There was an important change in the company's policy.

Noun 'mudança' modified by 'importante'.

7

Quais são os pontos mais importantes do seu discurso?

What are the most important points of your speech?

Plural superlative in professional context.

8

É importante destacar que os resultados são preliminares.

It is important to point out that the results are preliminary.

Academic phrasing 'É importante destacar'.

1

A obra de Camões desempenha um papel importante na literatura.

Camões' work plays an important role in literature.

Collocation 'desempenhar um papel importante'.

2

É de vital importância que a biodiversidade seja preservada.

It is of vital importance that biodiversity is preserved.

Advanced synonym 'vital' used with 'importância'.

3

As reformas, embora importantes, enfrentaram resistência.

The reforms, although important, faced resistance.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

4

O autor discute a importante questão da desigualdade.

The author discusses the important issue of inequality.

Pre-posed adjective for stylistic emphasis.

5

Tais fatores são importantes para a compreensão do fenômeno.

Such factors are important for understanding the phenomenon.

Formal demonstrative 'Tais' with plural 'importantes'.

6

É importante que não subestimemos o impacto das novas tecnologias.

It is important that we do not underestimate the impact of new technologies.

Negative subjunctive 'não subestimemos'.

7

A reunião foi marcada por decisões de suma importância.

The meeting was marked by decisions of utmost importance.

Passive voice with formal prepositional phrase.

8

O contexto histórico é importante para interpretar o texto.

The historical context is important for interpreting the text.

Academic use for literary analysis.

1

A dimensão ética é importante na formulação de políticas públicas.

The ethical dimension is important in the formulation of public policies.

Philosophical and political context.

2

É importante ressalvar que a teoria possui suas limitações.

It is important to point out that the theory has its limitations.

Formal verb 'ressalvar' (to point out/caveat).

3

A personagem torna-se importante à medida que a trama se adensa.

The character becomes important as the plot thickens.

Conjunction 'à medida que' with adjective development.

4

Não obstante as críticas, o projeto revelou-se importante.

Notwithstanding the criticisms, the project proved to be important.

Formal connector 'Não obstante'.

5

É importante que se faça uma distinção clara entre os dois conceitos.

It is important that a clear distinction be made between the two concepts.

Impersonal passive subjunctive 'que se faça'.

6

O papel importante que a arte desempenha na sociedade é inegável.

The important role that art plays in society is undeniable.

Relative clause 'que a arte desempenha'.

7

Seria importante que houvesse mais transparência no processo.

It would be important that there were more transparency in the process.

Conditional 'Seria' with imperfect subjunctive 'houvesse'.

8

A importante contribuição do cientista foi finalmente reconhecida.

The scientist's important contribution was finally recognized.

Stylistic adjective placement before the noun.

Common Collocations

muito importante
extremamente importante
papel importante
decisão importante
reunião importante
fator importante
pessoa importante
detalhe importante
nada importante
mais importante

Common Phrases

É importante que...

— It is important that... (followed by subjunctive).

É importante que você venha.

O mais importante é...

— The most important thing is...

O mais importante é a sua saúde.

Não é nada importante.

— It's nothing important / It doesn't matter.

Pode descartar isso, não é nada importante.

Uma figura importante.

— An important figure or personality.

Ele é uma figura importante na nossa comunidade.

De suma importância.

— Of utmost importance (very formal).

Sua presença é de suma importância.

Assunto importante.

— Important matter or topic.

Temos um assunto importante para tratar.

Data importante.

— Important date or anniversary.

Hoje é uma data importante para nós.

Aviso importante.

— Important notice or warning.

Leia o aviso importante na porta.

Passo importante.

— An important step or milestone.

Este é um passo importante para a paz.

Parte importante.

— An important part or component.

Você é uma parte importante da nossa equipe.

Idioms & Expressions

"Dar-se ares de importante"

— To act like someone is more important than they actually are; to be pretentious.

Ele vive se dando ares de importante, mas ninguém o conhece.

informal
"Achar-se importante"

— To have a high opinion of oneself; to think one is very important.

Ela se acha muito importante desde que foi promovida.

informal
"Importante é o que importa"

— A tautological humorous phrase meaning 'What matters is what matters' (often used to end a pointless debate).

Bom, no final, o importante é o que importa.

slang/humorous
"Bancar o importante"

— To play the part of an important person, often used mockingly.

Pare de bancar o importante e venha nos ajudar.

informal
"Ter importância capital"

— To be of vital or absolute importance.

Este projeto tem importância capital para o futuro da cidade.

formal
"Não dar importância"

— To ignore or not care about something.

Eu não dou importância ao que os outros dizem.

neutral
"Pôr-se em bicos de pés para parecer importante"

— Literal: To stand on tiptoe to look important. Fig: To try too hard to impress.

Não precisa se pôr em bicos de pés, nós já sabemos do seu valor.

idiomatic
"Importante pra caramba"

— Extremely important (using a mild swear word for emphasis).

Essa prova é importante pra caramba!

slang
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Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

Importante Spanish importante Italian
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