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A2 adverb 9 min read

laboralmente

Examples laboralmente in 30 Seconds
Explanation laboralmente in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'laboralmente' is a very advanced word. Most learners at this stage focus on basic nouns like 'trabalho' (work) and verbs like 'trabalhar' (to work). However, you might see it in simple forms on official documents or job applications. Think of it simply as a fancy way to say 'at work'. If you see it, just remember it relates to jobs. You don't need to use it yet in your own speaking, but recognizing the 'labor' part will help you understand that the sentence is about a professional situation. It's like the English word 'labor' with an '-ly' at the end. At this stage, just focus on the fact that it ends in '-mente', which usually means it is an adverb describing how or where something happens.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to talk more about your life and routines. 'Laboralmente' is a useful word to distinguish your work life from your personal life. You might use it in simple sentences like 'Laboralmente, estou feliz' (Work-wise, I am happy). It helps you sound more organized in your speech. You should start to recognize that '-mente' is the Portuguese version of '-ly' in English. When you talk about your daily schedule or your job in a basic interview, using this word once or twice shows that you have a growing vocabulary. It's a 'bridge' word that takes you from basic Portuguese to a more professional-sounding level.
By B1, you should be able to use 'laboralmente' to describe more complex situations. You are now expected to talk about your professional goals and the labor market. You can use it to modify adjectives, such as 'laboralmente ativo' (professionally active) or 'laboralmente satisfeito' (professionally satisfied). At this level, you should also be aware of the word's formal tone. You would use it in an email to a boss or a colleague, but perhaps not with a close friend unless you are discussing a serious topic. You can also start using it to contrast ideas: 'Eu mudei de cidade, mas laboralmente continuo na mesma empresa' (I moved cities, but work-wise I continue in the same company).
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At the B2 level, 'laboralmente' should be a regular part of your professional vocabulary. You should understand its nuances compared to 'profissionalmente'. At this stage, you can use it in debates about social issues, such as the 'vida laboral' (working life) or 'direitos laborais' (labor rights). You are expected to use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as with the conditional or subjunctive: 'Seria bom se estivéssemos melhor posicionados laboralmente' (It would be good if we were better positioned professionally). You should also be comfortable hearing it in fast-paced news reports or business presentations and understanding the specific context it provides.
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At C1, you use 'laboralmente' with precision and stylistic flair. You understand that it can imply legal or structural aspects of work. You might use it in academic essays or high-level business reports to discuss 'integração laboral' (work integration) or 'precariedade laboral' (job precariousness). You are aware of the rhythmic qualities of the word and use it to balance your sentences. You can use it to express subtle differences: for instance, distinguishing between someone's personal ethics and their 'comportamento laboral' (work behavior). Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker who works in a professional or intellectual field.
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At the C2 level, 'laboralmente' is just one tool in a vast arsenal of professional terms. You use it effortlessly in any context, from legal arguments to philosophical discussions about the nature of work in society. You might even use it ironically or in complex metaphors. You have a deep understanding of its etymological roots and its relationship to other words in the 'labor' family. You can navigate the most formal environments, such as a courtroom or a high-level government meeting, using this term to define the parameters of a labor dispute or a macro-economic policy with absolute clarity and authority.
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Examples

laboralmente in 30 Seconds

  • An adverb meaning 'work-wise' or 'professionally'.
  • Used in formal and professional Portuguese contexts.
  • Contrasts professional life with personal or social life.
  • Essential for business, HR, and legal discussions.

The Portuguese adverb laboralmente is a sophisticated term primarily used to describe actions, states, or conditions that pertain specifically to the world of work, employment, and labor relations. Derived from the Latin root 'labor', which signifies toil or exertion, and the Portuguese adjective 'laboral', this adverb serves as a formal bridge between simple daily activity and the structured environment of a profession. While a beginner might simply say 'no trabalho' (at work), an intermediate or advanced speaker uses laboralmente to frame a discussion within the context of professional development, legal labor standards, or workplace dynamics. It is most frequently encountered in corporate environments, legal documents, human resources discussions, and sociological analyses of the workforce.

Professional Context
It refers to the execution of tasks within a job description or the legal status of an employee. For example, if someone is 'laboralmente ativo', they are currently part of the workforce.
Legal and Formal Use
In contracts or court cases, it specifies that an issue is related to labor law rather than personal or civil law.

Ele sentia-se realizado laboralmente após a promoção para diretor regional.

Translation: He felt professionally fulfilled after the promotion to regional director.

The word carries a weight of formality. In casual conversation among friends at a bar, using laboralmente might sound slightly pretentious or overly clinical, unless the speaker is intentionally being precise. However, in an interview or a performance review, it is the perfect choice to demonstrate a high command of the Portuguese language. It allows the speaker to separate their personal life from their professional life clearly. For instance, one might say, 'Pessoalmente estou bem, mas laboralmente as coisas estão difíceis' (Personally I am fine, but work-wise things are difficult). This distinction is crucial in Portuguese culture, where the boundaries between social and professional spheres are often clearly defined in formal communication.

A empresa precisa de se adaptar laboralmente às novas leis de trabalho remoto.

Furthermore, the term is highly versatile in academic writing. When discussing economic trends, researchers use laboralmente to pinpoint effects on the labor market. It is not just about the act of working, but about the whole ecosystem of employment. This includes safety standards, psychological health at work, and the hierarchy of a company. By using this adverb, you are signaling that you are looking at the situation through the lens of a worker or an employer within a regulated system. It is a word that builds authority and precision in your speech.

Using laboralmente correctly involves understanding its placement as an adverb of manner or context. Adverbs ending in '-mente' in Portuguese are generally flexible in their positioning, but laboralmente often appears at the beginning of a sentence to establish the topic or at the end to modify a specific state of being. Because it is a long, multi-syllabic word (la-bo-ral-men-te), it carries significant rhythmic weight, often requiring a slight pause before or after it in spoken language to ensure clarity.

Sentence Initial Placement
Used to set the 'frame' of the sentence. 'Laboralmente, o ano foi um sucesso.' (Work-wise, the year was a success.)
Post-Verbal Placement
Used to modify how someone is feeling or acting. 'Ela sente-se esgotada laboralmente.' (She feels professionally burnt out.)

O funcionário foi laboralmente prejudicado por decisões arbitrárias da gerência.

In complex sentences, laboralmente can be used to contrast different aspects of a person's life. This is common in biographies or news reports. For example: 'Apesar de estar estável financeiramente, ele não estava satisfeito laboralmente.' This sentence structure highlights that while money was not an issue, the nature of the work or the professional environment was problematic. Note that when using multiple '-mente' adverbs in a row, Portuguese speakers often drop the suffix of the first one (e.g., 'pessoal e laboralmente'), but when laboralmente stands alone, it must retain its full form.

Muitos jovens hoje procuram ser laboralmente independentes através do empreendedorismo digital.

When using this word in the negative, the 'não' typically precedes the verb, and the adverb follows the verb or the entire predicate. 'Ele não se desenvolveu laboralmente como esperava.' This emphasizes that the lack of development was specific to his career. In questions, it can be used to narrow the focus of the query: 'Como você está, laboralmente falando?' (How are you, work-wise speaking?). This is a very common idiomatic way to ask about someone's career without being too intrusive about their personal life.

In the real world, you are most likely to encounter laboralmente in settings where work is the primary topic of conversation or documentation. If you are watching a Portuguese news channel like SIC Notícias or RTP, or a Brazilian one like GloboNews, you will hear journalists use it when reporting on unemployment rates, strikes, or new labor legislation. They might say, 'A população está laboralmente desprotegida' (The population is professionally unprotected), referring to a lack of job security or benefits.

In the Office
You will hear it during annual performance reviews (avaliações de desempenho). A manager might say, 'Você cresceu muito laboralmente este ano'.
In Legal Documents
Contracts often use the adjective 'laboral', but the adverb appears in legal arguments: 'O réu agiu laboralmente de forma negligente'.

Durante a pandemia, muitas pessoas tiveram que se reinventar laboralmente.

Another common place is in the 'Recursos Humanos' (Human Resources) department. HR professionals use this term to discuss 'clima laboral' (work environment) or 'capacitação laboral' (work training). When they speak about an employee's trajectory, they use laboralmente to describe their path through various roles and responsibilities. It is a standard part of the 'business Portuguese' lexicon that every professional working in a Lusophone country should master.

É essencial manter-se laboralmente atualizado com as novas tecnologias.

You might also hear it in podcasts or read it in LinkedIn articles written in Portuguese. Influencers who focus on career coaching often use the term to give their advice a more 'expert' tone. Instead of saying 'how to do better at your job', they might title an article 'Como se destacar laboralmente num mercado competitivo' (How to stand out professionally in a competitive market). This usage highlights the word's role in branding and professional positioning.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with laboralmente is confusing it with other words that sound similar but have vastly different meanings. For example, the word 'labialmente' refers to the lips (from 'lábio'). Saying 'Eu estou bem labialmente' instead of 'laboralmente' would result in a very confusing and potentially humorous situation where you are claiming your lips are doing well rather than your career.

Over-formality
Using it in a very casual setting. If your mom asks how your day was, saying 'Laboralmente, foi produtivo' sounds like you are reading from a corporate memo.
Misuse as a Noun
Learners sometimes try to use it as a noun. Remember, it is an adverb. You cannot have 'um laboralmente'. You have 'um trabalho' or 'uma carreira'.

Errado: Eu tenho um laboralmente muito difícil. (Incorrect: I have a work-wise very difficult.)

Another mistake is the redundant use of 'profissionalmente' and 'laboralmente' in the same sentence. While they are close synonyms, using both together (e.g., 'Ele é muito bom profissionalmente e laboralmente') is often unnecessary and considered 'pleonasmo' (redundancy) unless you are making a very specific technical distinction between his professional skills and his adherence to labor laws. Generally, choose the one that fits the register better; 'profissionalmente' is slightly more common and 'laboralmente' is slightly more technical.

Correto: Eu sinto-me desafiado laboralmente neste novo projeto.

Finally, watch out for the pronunciation of the '-mente' suffix. In European Portuguese, the 'e' at the end is almost silent (pronounced like a very short /ɨ/), while in many Brazilian dialects, the 'te' becomes a 'chiado' sound (like /tʃi/). If you don't get the ending right, the word might become unrecognizable, especially since the first part of the word is so heavy. Practice saying it slowly: la-bo-ral-MEN-te, emphasizing the penult syllable 'men'.

To truly master laboralmente, it is helpful to understand its 'neighbors' in the Portuguese vocabulary. The most direct synonym is profissionalmente. While they are often interchangeable, profissionalmente focuses more on the person's career path, ethics, and expertise, whereas laboralmente focuses on the context of the job, the labor market, and the legal/technical aspects of employment.

Profissionalmente
More common in general conversation. 'Ele é muito competente profissionalmente.' (He is very competent professionally.)
No que diz respeito ao trabalho
A phrasal alternative. 'No que diz respeito ao trabalho, tudo vai bem.' (Regarding work, everything is going well.)
Operacionalmente
Used when talking about the actual 'doing' of tasks. 'O plano funciona bem operacionalmente.'

Embora laboralmente estável, a empresa enfrenta crises financeiras.

Another alternative is the expression 'em termos laborais' (in labor terms). This is very common in formal reports. Instead of saying 'Laboralmente, o país melhorou', a report might say 'Em termos laborais, o país registou melhorias'. This variation is useful to avoid repeating the '-mente' suffix too often in a single paragraph, which can make writing feel clunky. There is also 'ocupacionalmente', which is more specific to health and safety (e.g., 'doença ocupacionalmente adquirida').

Precisamos de analisar a situação laboralmente antes de tomar uma decisão.

In Brazil, you might also hear 'no trabalho' or 'na carreira' used more frequently than 'laboralmente' in spoken language, but the adverb remains strong in corporate and legal Portuguese across all Lusophone countries. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right word for the right audience, ensuring your Portuguese sounds natural and sophisticated. If you are talking about the legal rights of a worker, 'laboralmente' is your best bet. If you are talking about someone's talent, 'profissionalmente' is usually better.

Fun Fact

The root 'labor' also gives us 'laboratory' (a place of work) and 'laborious'. In Portuguese, 'labor' is a more poetic or formal synonym for 'trabalho', which itself comes from a Latin instrument of torture called 'tripalium'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /lɐ.bu.ɾal.ˈmẽ.tɨ/
US /la.bo.ɾaw.ˈmẽ.tʃi/
The primary stress is on the penultimate syllable 'men'.
Rhymes With
infelizmente claramente rapidamente fortemente totalmente geralmente atualmente finalmente
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing it 'labralmente' (missing the 'o').
  • Stress on 'ral' instead of 'men'.
  • Confusing with 'labialmente' (lips).
  • Missing the nasal sound on the 'en' of 'mente'.
  • Pronouncing the final 'e' too strongly in European Portuguese.
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Examples by Level

1

Eu estou bem laboralmente.

I am well work-wise.

Simple adverbial phrase following the verb 'estar'.

2

Laboralmente, ele trabalha muito.

Work-wise, he works a lot.

Adverb at the beginning of the sentence to set context.

3

O meu dia foi bom laboralmente.

My day was good work-wise.

Adverb modifying the adjective 'bom'.

4

Ela é ativa laboralmente.

She is active work-wise.

Adverb modifying the adjective 'ativa'.

5

Tudo está ok laboralmente.

Everything is okay work-wise.

Informal 'ok' used with the formal adverb.

6

Laboralmente, não tenho problemas.

Work-wise, I have no problems.

Negative sentence with initial adverb.

7

Você está bem laboralmente?

Are you well work-wise?

Interrogative sentence using the adverb.

8

Ele quer crescer laboralmente.

He wants to grow work-wise.

Infinitive verb followed by an adverb.

1

Laboralmente, este ano é difícil.

Work-wise, this year is difficult.

Adverbial phrase setting the time and context.

2

Eu preciso de melhorar laboralmente.

I need to improve work-wise.

Verb 'precisar' + 'de' + infinitive + adverb.

3

Ela sente-se cansada laboralmente.

She feels tired work-wise.

Reflexive verb 'sentir-se' + adjective + adverb.

4

O projeto corre bem laboralmente.

The project is going well work-wise.

Verb 'correr' meaning 'to go/progress'.

5

Laboralmente, prefiro trabalhar em casa.

Work-wise, I prefer to work at home.

Preference expressed with a contextual adverb.

6

Ele está muito ocupado laboralmente.

He is very busy work-wise.

Intensifier 'muito' + adjective + adverb.

7

Nós estamos estáveis laboralmente.

We are stable work-wise.

Plural subject with the invariant adverb.

8

Laboralmente, ela é muito organizada.

Work-wise, she is very organized.

Adverb modifying the entire state of being.

1

A empresa está a crescer laboralmente.

The company is growing work-wise.

Present continuous 'estar a' + infinitive.

2

Laboralmente, sinto-me mais confiante agora.

Work-wise, I feel more confident now.

Comparative 'mais' + adjective.

3

É importante estar realizado laboralmente.

It is important to be fulfilled work-wise.

Impersonal expression 'É importante'.

4

Laboralmente, tive muitas oportunidades este mês.

Work-wise, I had many opportunities this month.

Past tense 'ter' + 'muitas' + noun.

5

Ela mudou-se para Lisboa laboralmente.

She moved to Lisbon for work-related reasons.

Adverb indicating the reason for an action.

6

Laboralmente falando, o mercado está saturado.

Work-wise speaking, the market is saturated.

Idiomatic 'falando' added for emphasis.

7

Ninguém gosta de ser explorado laboralmente.

Nobody likes to be exploited work-wise.

Passive voice 'ser' + past participle.

8

Laboralmente, as regras mudaram muito.

Work-wise, the rules have changed a lot.

Subject 'as regras' with the adverb.

1

O país está a recuperar laboralmente da crise.

The country is recovering work-wise from the crisis.

Verbal phrase 'recuperar de'.

2

Laboralmente, as mulheres ainda enfrentam desafios.

Work-wise, women still face challenges.

Adverb used to highlight a social issue.

3

Ele foi laboralmente recompensado pelo seu esforço.

He was professionally rewarded for his effort.

Passive construction with 'por' agent.

4

Laboralmente, a flexibilidade é essencial hoje.

Work-wise, flexibility is essential today.

Abstract noun 'flexibilidade' as subject.

5

A formação permitiu-lhe evoluir laboralmente.

The training allowed him to evolve work-wise.

Indirect object pronoun '-lhe'.

6

Laboralmente, existe uma grande competitividade.

Work-wise, there is a great competitiveness.

Existential 'existe' + noun phrase.

7

Eles estão laboralmente ligados à mesma área.

They are professionally linked to the same area.

Past participle 'ligados' as an adjective.

8

Laboralmente, o teletrabalho trouxe vantagens.

Work-wise, teleworking brought advantages.

Compound noun 'teletrabalho'.

1

A precariedade laboralmente instalada preocupa o governo.

The professionally installed precariousness worries the government.

Adverb modifying a past participle used as an adjective.

2

Laboralmente, a empresa pauta-se pela ética.

Work-wise, the company is guided by ethics.

Pronominal verb 'pautar-se por'.

3

O impacto foi sentido laboralmente em todo o setor.

The impact was felt work-wise across the sector.

Passive voice with 'em todo o' generalization.

4

Laboralmente, há que distinguir entre dever e direito.

Work-wise, one must distinguish between duty and right.

Impersonal 'há que' meaning 'it is necessary'.

5

Ele nunca se sentiu tão subvalorizado laboralmente.

He never felt so undervalued work-wise.

Negative 'nunca' + reflexive + 'tão' intensifier.

6

Laboralmente, o contrato estipula condições rígidas.

Work-wise, the contract stipulates rigid conditions.

Formal verb 'estipular'.

7

A integração laboralmente bem-sucedida é o objetivo.

The work-wise successful integration is the goal.

Compound adjective 'bem-sucedida'.

8

Laboralmente, a automação mudará o paradigma.

Work-wise, automation will change the paradigm.

Future tense 'mudará' with abstract 'paradigma'.

1

A alienação laboralmente induzida é um tema central.

Work-induced alienation is a central theme.

Complex philosophical subject matter.

2

Laboralmente, a simbiose entre homem e máquina cresce.

Work-wise, the symbiosis between man and machine grows.

Scientific/technical terminology.

3

O sujeito encontra-se laboralmente desamparado.

The subject finds himself work-wise helpless.

Formal use of 'o sujeito' and 'encontra-se'.

4

Laboralmente, urge reformular as políticas de inclusão.

Work-wise, it is urgent to reformulate inclusion policies.

Formal verb 'urgir'.

5

A estrutura laboralmente hierarquizada está obsoleta.

The work-wise hierarchized structure is obsolete.

Highly technical adjective 'hierarquizada'.

6

Laboralmente, o capital humano é o maior ativo.

Work-wise, human capital is the greatest asset.

Economic metaphor 'capital humano'.

7

A fluidez laboralmente exigida gera ansiedade.

The work-wise required fluidity generates anxiety.

Abstract concept 'fluidez' as a requirement.

8

Laboralmente, a meritocracia é muitas vezes um mito.

Work-wise, meritocracy is often a myth.

Sociological critique using the adverb.

Common Collocations

realizado laboralmente
ativo laboralmente
estável laboralmente
desafiado laboralmente
prejudicado laboralmente
integrado laboralmente
limitado laboralmente
atualizado laboralmente
reconhecido laboralmente
vulnerável laboralmente

Common Phrases

Laboralmente falando

— Used to introduce a topic related to one's job.

Laboralmente falando, as coisas podiam ser melhores.

Crescer laboralmente

— To advance in one's career or professional skills.

Eu quero crescer laboralmente nesta empresa.

Bem-estar laboralmente

— The state of being happy and healthy at work.

O bem-estar laboralmente é uma prioridade aqui.

Sucesso laboralmente

— Achieving professional goals.

Ele atingiu o sucesso laboralmente muito cedo.

Insegurança laboralmente

— Lack of job security or stability.

A insegurança laboralmente afeta a saúde mental.

Independência laboralmente

— Being one's own boss or having professional freedom.

Ela procura a independência laboralmente.

Ética laboralmente

— Professional ethics and conduct.

Ele sempre agiu com ética laboralmente.

Produtividade laboralmente

— One's output or efficiency at work.

A produtividade laboralmente aumentou com o novo software.

Satisfação laboralmente

— How happy someone is with their job.

A satisfação laboralmente é baixa nesta fábrica.

Trajetória laboralmente

— Someone's career path or history.

A sua trajetória laboralmente é impressionante.

Idioms & Expressions

"Vestir a camisola laboralmente"

— To be deeply committed and loyal to one's workplace.

Ele veste a camisola laboralmente todos os dias.

Informal/Professional
"Dar o litro laboralmente"

— To work extremely hard or give one's maximum effort.

Ela deu o litro laboralmente para terminar o projeto.

Informal
"Estar no topo laboralmente"

— To be at the peak of one's career.

Ele está no topo laboralmente agora.

Neutral
"Remar contra a maré laboralmente"

— To struggle against the current trends or difficulties in work.

Sinto que estou a remar contra a maré laboralmente.

Neutral
"Pôr as mãos na massa laboralmente"

— To get involved in the practical, hard work.

O diretor gosta de pôr as mãos na massa laboralmente.

Neutral
"Queimar as pestanas laboralmente"

— To study or work late into the night.

Ele queimou as pestanas laboralmente para o exame de promoção.

Informal
"Ter mão de ferro laboralmente"

— To manage with strict authority.

A chefe tem mão de ferro laboralmente.

Neutral
"Andar na corda bamba laboralmente"

— To be in a precarious or risky professional situation.

Com os cortes, muitos andam na corda bamba laboralmente.

Neutral
"Fazer das tripas coração laboralmente"

— To make a huge effort despite great difficulties at work.

Fiz das tripas coração laboralmente para manter a loja aberta.

Informal
"Bater o ponto laboralmente"

— Literally to punch the clock, but used to mean doing the bare minimum.

Ele apenas bate o ponto laboralmente, sem paixão.

Informal

Word Family

Nouns

labor
laboratório
labuta
trabalho
elaboração

Verbs

laborar
trabalhar
elaborar
colaborar

Adjectives

laboral
laborioso
trabalhador
elaborado

Related

profissão
carreira
emprego
ofício
ocupação
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Word Origin

From the Latin 'laboralis' (related to work), which comes from 'labor' (toil, exertion, hardship). The suffix '-mente' is derived from the Latin 'mente', the ablative singular of 'mens' (mind).

Original meaning: Doing something with a 'work-oriented mind'.

Romance (Indo-European).
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This Word in Other Languages

laboralmente Spanish
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