júri in 30 Seconds
- Júri is a masculine noun meaning 'jury' or 'panel of judges'.
- It is used in legal contexts (court) and cultural contexts (competitions).
- The individual members are called 'jurados', while the group is the 'júri'.
- The accent on the 'ú' is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The Portuguese word júri is a masculine noun that primarily refers to a body of people convened to render a verdict in a legal trial or to judge a competition. While it shares a common ancestor with the English word 'jury', its application in the Lusophone legal world is more specific than in common law systems like those of the United States or the United Kingdom. In Portugal and Brazil, the Tribunal do Júri is typically reserved for intentional crimes against life, such as murder or attempted murder. Beyond the courtroom, the term is omnipresent in cultural contexts, referring to the panel of judges in reality shows, literary contests, or carnival parades.
- Legal Context
- In a legal setting, the júri consists of citizens (jurados) who decide on the facts of a case. In Brazil, for instance, the jury consists of seven members chosen from the community. They do not need to be lawyers; their role is to represent the conscience of society regarding the guilt or innocence of the accused.
- Competition Context
- In televised talent shows like 'The Voice Portugal' or the Brazilian 'Dança dos Famosos', the júri is the group of experts who evaluate performances. Here, the word is synonymous with 'banca examinadora' or 'painel de juízes'.
- Academic Context
- When a student defends a master's thesis or a doctoral dissertation, the group of professors evaluating the work is often referred to as the júri or banca. This panel decides if the candidate has met the requirements for the degree.
O júri considerou o réu culpado após dez horas de deliberação intensa na sala secreta.
A decisão do júri do festival de cinema foi unânime ao escolher o melhor filme do ano.
Os membros do júri foram selecionados por sorteio entre os cidadãos locais para garantir a imparcialidade.
Ela foi convidada para compor o júri do concurso nacional de poesia, dada a sua vasta experiência literária.
O júri popular é uma das instituições mais democráticas do sistema judiciário brasileiro.
Socially, being part of a júri carries a sense of civic duty and authority. Whether deciding the fate of a person or the winner of a carnival parade, the 'júri' represents the collective judgment of a community or a specialized group. It is a word that bridges the gap between the rigid structures of the law and the subjective world of arts and entertainment. Understanding 'júri' involves recognizing this duality: the solemnity of the court and the excitement of a competition.
Using júri correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as a collective noun. It is a masculine noun, so it always takes masculine articles and adjectives: o júri, um júri, o júri imparcial. Even though a jury consists of many people, the word itself is singular and usually takes a singular verb unless you are specifically referring to the members in the plural (os membros do júri).
- As a Subject
- When the jury is the one performing the action. Example: 'O júri deliberou por horas.' (The jury deliberated for hours.)
- As an Object
- When something is done to the jury. Example: 'O advogado tentou convencer o júri.' (The lawyer tried to convince the jury.)
- With Prepositions
- Commonly used with 'de' or 'do' to specify the type. Example: 'Ele foi o presidente do júri.' (He was the president of the jury.)
A defesa apresentou novas provas para influenciar o júri a favor do acusado.
O júri de especialistas avaliou os projetos com base na inovação e sustentabilidade.
Houve uma grande polêmica quando o júri anunciou o vencedor do prêmio literário.
É dever de todo cidadão comparecer quando convocado para o júri popular.
O juiz presidente dissolveu o júri devido a irregularidades no processo de seleção.
When writing or speaking, remember that 'júri' is highly formal in legal contexts but can be quite casual in entertainment contexts. If you are describing a competition, you might hear 'o júri técnico' (technical jury) versus 'o júri popular' (the audience voting). In Portuguese, the plural is júris, used when referring to multiple panels or across different trials. Mastery of this word involves knowing which verbs pair well with it, such as 'compor' (to compose), 'presidir' (to preside over), and 'convocar' (to summon).
You will encounter the word júri in several distinct spheres of Lusophone life. From the high-stakes environment of the judiciary to the glitz of Sunday night television, 'júri' is a word that signifies judgment and collective decision-making. Unlike some technical terms, it is widely understood by the general population due to its frequent appearance in media.
- In the News
- News reports on crime often follow the progress of a 'júri popular'. You will hear phrases like 'O júri foi adiado' (The jury was postponed) or 'A decisão do júri repercutiu em todo o país' (The jury's decision resonated throughout the country).
- In Entertainment
- Reality TV shows are a prime source. The judges sitting behind the desk are collectively called the 'júri'. You'll hear the host say, 'Vamos ver o que o júri tem a dizer' (Let's see what the jury has to say).
- In Academic Life
- University students frequently mention the 'júri' or 'banca' when preparing for their final defenses. It represents the group of experts who will probe their research and determine their grade.
As câmeras de TV não são permitidas durante a votação do júri no tribunal.
O júri do Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro avalia quesitos como harmonia e evolução.
Muitos cidadãos tentam ser dispensados do júri alegando motivos profissionais ou de saúde.
O júri internacional do festival de cinema era composto por diretores de cinco países diferentes.
Durante o julgamento, o júri permaneceu incomunicável em um hotel da cidade.
If you live in a Lusophone country, you might receive a letter in the mail summoning you for 'serviço de júri'. This is a serious legal obligation. In conversation, people might discuss the 'júri' of a famous case with the same intensity they discuss a football match. The concept is deeply ingrained in the public's understanding of justice and meritocracy, making 'júri' a essential word for anyone navigating Portuguese-speaking society.
Learning to use júri correctly involves avoiding several common pitfalls, ranging from spelling and pronunciation to conceptual confusion with English. Because the word looks so similar to 'jury', English speakers often assume they can use it exactly the same way, but there are nuances that can lead to errors.
- The Accent Mark
- A very common mistake is omitting the acute accent on the 'u'. In Portuguese, 'juri' (without the accent) would be pronounced /ʒu.ˈɾi/, which is incorrect. The accent ensures the stress is on the first syllable: jú-ri.
- Jurado vs. Júri
- Learners often say 'Eu sou um júri' (I am a jury). This is incorrect. A person is a jurado (juror). The júri is the entire group. You should say 'Eu sou um jurado' or 'Eu faço parte do júri'.
- Gender Confusion
- Even though a jury might consist entirely of women, the word júri remains masculine. You must say 'o júri', never 'a júri'.
Errado: O juri (sem acento) decidiu o caso.
Certo: O júri (com acento) decidiu o caso.
Errado: Ela é uma júri excelente.
Certo: Ela é uma jurada excelente.
Certo: Os júris de diferentes estados têm critérios distintos.
Another mistake is using 'júri' for a small, informal decision-making group, like friends deciding where to eat. In Portuguese, 'júri' implies a level of formality or official status. For casual situations, words like 'grupo' or 'pessoal' are better. Finally, remember that the plural of 'júri' is 'júris'. While you might not use the plural often, it follows the standard rule for words ending in 'i' by simply adding an 's'. Paying attention to these details will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.
While júri is the most common term for a legal or competition panel, several other words share its semantic space. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific context (academic, legal, or artistic).
- Banca
- Commonly used in academic and professional exam contexts. You have a 'banca examinadora' for a thesis defense or a public service exam (concurso público). While 'júri' can be used, 'banca' is often more specific to exams.
- Comitê
- Refers to a committee. While a jury makes a judgment, a committee often has broader administrative or organizational duties. A 'comitê de seleção' might function like a jury but often involves more planning.
- Painel
- Often used for a 'panel' of experts in a discussion or a specialized evaluation. It feels slightly more modern and less formal than 'júri'.
- Tribunal
- The court itself. Sometimes people use 'o tribunal' to refer to the whole legal entity, including the judge and the jury. 'Tribunal do Júri' is the full name of the institution.
A banca de professores aprovou a tese com louvor.
O comitê olímpico decidiu as novas regras para a competição.
Um painel de especialistas discutiu o impacto da inteligência artificial.
O corpo de jurados é outra forma de se referir ao coletivo de pessoas no júri.
A comissão julgadora avaliou as obras de arte da exposição.
Understanding these alternatives helps you fine-tune your vocabulary. If you are talking about a court case, stick with 'júri'. If you are talking about a university exam, 'banca' is your best bet. For a professional selection process, 'comitê' or 'comissão' works well. Each word carries a slightly different 'flavor' of authority and collective action, and using them correctly will significantly enhance your fluency in Portuguese.
Examples by Level
O júri é pequeno.
The jury is small.
Simple subject-verb-adjective structure.
Eu vejo o júri na TV.
I see the jury on TV.
Direct object 'o júri'.
O júri vota hoje.
The jury votes today.
Present tense verb 'vota'.
Quem é o júri?
Who is the jury?
Interrogative sentence.
O júri gosta da música.
The jury likes the music.
Verb 'gostar' with 'da' (de + a).
O júri tem cinco pessoas.
The jury has five people.
Using 'ter' to indicate composition.
O júri escolhe o vencedor.
The jury chooses the winner.
Present tense 'escolhe'.
O júri é justo.
The jury is fair.
Adjective agreement (masculine).
O júri decidiu o caso ontem.
The jury decided the case yesterday.
Past tense (pretérito perfeito) 'decidiu'.
Eles fazem parte do júri.
They are part of the jury.
Phrase 'fazer parte de'.
O júri ouviu a testemunha.
The jury heard the witness.
Verb 'ouvir' in the past.
O júri do programa é rigoroso.
The show's jury is rigorous.
Adjective 'rigoroso' modifying 'júri'.
O advogado fala para o júri.
The lawyer speaks to the jury.
Preposition 'para'.
O júri anunciou o veredito.
The jury announced the verdict.
Direct object 'o veredito'.
Ela quer entrar para o júri.
She wants to join the jury.
Verb 'querer' + 'entrar'.
O júri popular é importante.
The popular jury is important.
Compound term 'júri popular'.
O júri demorou horas para chegar a um consenso.
The jury took hours to reach a consensus.
Verb 'demorar' + time + 'para'.
Fui convocado para ser jurado no júri popular.
I was summoned to be a juror in the popular jury.
Passive voice 'fui convocado'.
O júri técnico discordou do voto do público.
The technical jury disagreed with the public's vote.
Verb 'discordar' + 'de'.
A imparcialidade do júri foi questionada pela imprensa.
The jury's impartiality was questioned by the press.
Noun 'imparcialidade'.
Os membros do júri devem permanecer em silêncio.
The members of the jury must remain in silence.
Modal verb 'devem' + infinitive.
O júri avaliou o desempenho dos candidatos.
The jury evaluated the candidates' performance.
Noun 'desempenho'.
O presidente do júri leu a sentença final.
The jury president read the final sentence.
Compound subject 'O presidente do júri'.
O júri não foi convencido pelos argumentos da defesa.
The jury was not convinced by the defense's arguments.
Negative passive structure.
A composição do júri deve refletir a diversidade da sociedade.
The jury's composition must reflect society's diversity.
Subjunctive-like 'deve refletir' (necessity).
O juiz dissolveu o júri após detectar uma irregularidade.
The judge dissolved the jury after detecting an irregularity.
Verb 'dissolver' (to dissolve).
O júri deliberou em sala secreta por dois dias inteiros.
The jury deliberated in a secret room for two full days.
Technical term 'sala secreta'.
É um desafio manter o júri isolado de influências externas.
It is a challenge to keep the jury isolated from external influences.
Impersonal 'É um desafio'.
O júri de premiação literária é composto por escritores renomados.
The literary award jury is composed of renowned writers.
Adjective 'renomados'.
A decisão soberana do júri não pode ser alterada pelo juiz.
The jury's sovereign decision cannot be changed by the judge.
Legal term 'decisão soberana'.
O promotor tentou apelar para as emoções do júri.
The prosecutor tried to appeal to the jury's emotions.
Verb 'apelar para'.
A escolha dos jurados que comporão o júri é feita por sorteio.
The choice of jurors who will compose the jury is made by lot.
Future tense 'comporão'.
A legitimidade do júri popular é frequentemente debatida na doutrina jurídica.
The legitimacy of the popular jury is often debated in legal doctrine.
Abstract noun 'legitimidade'.
O júri proferiu um veredito que surpreendeu todos os analistas jurídicos.
The jury delivered a verdict that surprised all legal analysts.
Verb 'proferir' (to deliver/utter).
A recusa de um jurado pode comprometer a formação do júri.
A juror's refusal can compromise the formation of the jury.
Noun 'recusa'.
O júri agiu com imparcialidade, apesar da pressão mediática avassaladora.
The jury acted with impartiality, despite the overwhelming media pressure.
Adjective 'avassaladora' (overwhelming).
A instituição do júri é um pilar fundamental da participação cidadã na justiça.
The institution of the jury is a fundamental pillar of citizen participation in justice.
Metaphorical 'pilar fundamental'.
O júri foi instruído a ignorar quaisquer provas obtidas ilicitamente.
The jury was instructed to ignore any evidence obtained illegally.
Adverb 'ilicitamente'.
Houve clamor público para que o júri condenasse o réu com pena máxima.
There was public outcry for the jury to convict the defendant with the maximum penalty.
Subjunctive 'condenasse' after 'para que'.
A soberania dos vereditos do júri é cláusula pétrea na Constituição.
The sovereignty of jury verdicts is an unalterable clause in the Constitution.
Technical legal term 'cláusula pétrea'.
A hermenêutica jurídica questiona se o júri é capaz de discernir provas técnicas complexas.
Legal hermeneutics questions whether the jury is capable of discerning complex technical evidence.
Academic term 'hermenêutica'.
O júri, em sua essência, representa a mitigação do rigor da lei pela equidade social.
The jury, in its essence, represents the mitigation of the law's rigor by social equity.
Noun 'mitigação'.
A incomunicabilidade do júri visa preservar a pureza da convicção íntima dos jurados.
The jury's non-communication aims to preserve the purity of the jurors' inner conviction.
Complex term 'convicção íntima'.
Críticos argumentam que o júri pode ser suscetível a vieses cognitivos e preconceitos enraizados.
Critics argue that the jury can be susceptible to cognitive biases and deep-seated prejudices.
Adjective 'enraizados'.
O rito do tribunal do júri é marcado por uma solenidade que remonta a tradições seculares.
The jury court rite is marked by a solemnity that dates back to centuries-old traditions.
Verb 'remonta a'.
A absolvição pelo júri, mesmo contra a prova dos autos, é um tema de acesa controvérsia doutrinária.
Absolution by the jury, even against the evidence in the records, is a subject of heated doctrinal controversy.
Phrase 'contra a prova dos autos'.
O júri funciona como um anteparo contra o arbítrio estatal no exercício do 'jus puniendi'.
The jury functions as a shield against state arbitrariness in the exercise of 'jus puniendi'.
Latin legal term 'jus puniendi'.
A dialética entre a acusação e a defesa perante o júri exige uma retórica refinada e persuasiva.
The dialectic between prosecution and defense before the jury requires a refined and persuasive rhetoric.
Noun 'dialética'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Summary
The word 'júri' is a versatile collective noun in Portuguese. Remember that 'o júri' is the group, 'o jurado' is the person, and in legal terms, it's mostly used for serious crimes like murder in Lusophone countries. Example: 'O júri decidiu o veredito final.'
- Júri is a masculine noun meaning 'jury' or 'panel of judges'.
- It is used in legal contexts (court) and cultural contexts (competitions).
- The individual members are called 'jurados', while the group is the 'júri'.
- The accent on the 'ú' is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
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a curto prazo
A2Over a short period of time; short-term.
à exceção de
B1With the exception of; apart from.
a longo prazo
A2Over a long period of time; long-term.
a não ser que
A2Unless; except if; only if not.
a partir de
A2Starting from; from a certain point in time or place.
a prazo
A2For a period of time; on credit or payment terms.
a tempo inteiro
B1Full-time; working the full number of hours considered normal for a job.
a tempo parcial
B1Part-time; working less than full-time hours.
abdicar
A2To give up, to abdicate; to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, or claim.
acessível
B1Available, accessible; easy to approach or use.
