lesionar in 30 Seconds
- To injure or damage a body part.
- Used for physical harm to oneself or others.
- Common in sports, medical, and accident contexts.
- Requires reflexive pronoun 'se' when self-inflicted.
- Verb
- Lesionar
- Meaning
- To injure, to hurt, to damage a part of the body. It implies causing physical harm or damage.
- Context
- This verb is commonly used in medical contexts, sports, accident reports, and everyday conversations when someone sustains a physical injury. It can refer to minor or serious harm.
É comum um atleta se lesionar durante um treino intenso.
Ele teve a perna lesionada num acidente de carro.
Cuidado para não lesionar as costas ao levantar peso.
- Transitive Use (Someone/Something injures someone)
- In this case, 'lesionar' takes a direct object, which is the person or body part being injured. The subject is the cause of the injury.
O golpe do adversário conseguiu lesionar o ombro do jogador.
A queda forte lesionou gravemente a perna da criança.
O movimento inadequado pode lesionar os músculos das costas.
- Reflexive Use (Someone injures themselves)
- When the person is the one getting injured, we use the reflexive form 'se lesionar'. The subject is the person who gets injured.
Ele se lesionou jogando futebol e teve que parar por um tempo.
A corredora se lesionou durante a maratona e não pôde terminar a prova.
Tomara que você não se lesione tentando fazer aquela manobra arriscada.
- Passive Voice (Someone is injured)
- The passive voice emphasizes the injury itself, with the subject being the one who is injured. This often uses forms of 'ser' or 'estar' with the past participle 'lesionado' (injured).
O jogador foi lesionado no primeiro tempo da partida.
Ela está lesionada e não poderá competir no campeonato.
Muitos ciclistas acabam lesionados em acidentes de trânsito.
- Medical Professionals
- Doctors, physical therapists, and nurses frequently use 'lesionar' when diagnosing or describing injuries. For example, 'O paciente lesionou o ligamento do joelho' (The patient injured the knee ligament) or 'É importante não agravar a lesão' (It's important not to worsen the injury).
- Sports Commentators and Athletes
- In the world of sports, 'lesionar' is ubiquitous. Commentators will say things like 'O jogador se lesionou no aquecimento' (The player injured himself during warm-up) or 'Ele está fora do jogo por ter lesionado o tornozelo' (He's out of the game for having injured his ankle). Athletes themselves might say, 'Senti uma dor e acho que me lesionei' (I felt a pain and I think I injured myself).
- News and Accident Reports
- When reporting on accidents or incidents, 'lesionar' is often used. For instance, 'O incidente lesionou várias pessoas' (The incident injured several people) or 'A queda do andaime lesionou o trabalhador' (The scaffold fall injured the worker).
- Everyday Conversations about Health
- In casual conversations, people use 'lesionar' to talk about minor injuries. 'Esqueci de aquecer e acabei me lesionando' (I forgot to warm up and ended up injuring myself) or 'Tome cuidado para não lesionar a coluna ao levantar peso' (Be careful not to injure your spine when lifting weights).
O repórter anunciou que o atleta se lesionou durante a competição.
O médico explicou que a fratura pode lesionar nervos próximos.
- Confusing 'lesionar' with 'machucar' or 'ferir'
- While 'machucar' (to hurt/injure) and 'ferir' (to wound/injure, often with bleeding) can sometimes overlap with 'lesionar', 'lesionar' specifically refers to damage or injury to a body part, often in a more medical or structural sense. 'Machucar' is more general for any kind of hurt. 'Ferir' implies a break in the skin or a wound. For example, you might 'machucar' your knee in a fall, but if it's a ligament tear, it's a 'lesão'. You 'ferir' yourself with a sharp object, not typically 'lesionar'.
Incorrect: Ele se feriu jogando futebol.
Correct: Ele se lesionou jogando futebol (if it's a muscle or ligament injury, not a cut).
Correct: Ele se machucou jogando futebol (more general).
- Incorrect use of reflexive pronoun
- Remember that 'lesionar' often requires a reflexive pronoun ('se') when the subject is the one being injured. Forgetting this can lead to grammatically incorrect sentences.
Incorrect: Eu lesionei o braço.
Correct: Eu me lesionei o braço.
- Using it for non-physical damage
- 'Lesionar' is almost exclusively used for physical injuries to the body. Do not use it to describe damage to objects or abstract concepts. For those, you would use verbs like 'danificar', 'prejudicar', or 'estragar'.
Incorrect: O vírus lesionou o computador.
Correct: O vírus danificou o computador.
- Machucar
- Meaning: To hurt, to injure (general).
Usage: 'Machucar' is a broader term for causing pain or injury. It can be used for minor bumps, bruises, or more significant injuries. It's very common in everyday speech.
Example: 'Cuidado para não machucar o dedo.' (Be careful not to hurt your finger.) vs. 'Ele se machucou jogando futebol.' (He injured himself playing soccer.)
Difference: 'Lesionar' is more specific to structural damage or injury to a body part, often implying a more medical condition. 'Machucar' is more general for any kind of hurt.
- Ferir
- Meaning: To wound, to injure (often with bleeding or a break in the skin).
Usage: 'Ferir' is typically used when there is a cut, scrape, or a wound that breaks the skin. It can also be used figuratively for emotional pain.
Example: 'A faca feriu a mão dele.' (The knife wounded his hand.) vs. 'O atleta lesionou o joelho.' (The athlete injured his knee.)
Difference: 'Ferir' implies a wound, while 'lesionar' implies damage to internal structures or tissues without necessarily breaking the skin.
- Prejudicar
- Meaning: To harm, to damage, to prejudice, to hinder.
Usage: 'Prejudicar' is used for causing harm or disadvantage, but usually not in a direct physical injury sense. It's more for negative impact on health, reputation, or progress.
Example: 'Fumar prejudica a saúde.' (Smoking harms health.) vs. 'Ele se lesionou e isso vai prejudicar sua carreira.' (He got injured and that will harm his career.)
Difference: 'Prejudicar' is about negative consequences or harm, not the physical act of injuring a body part.
- Danificar
- Meaning: To damage, to impair.
Usage: 'Danificar' is used for causing damage to objects, property, or systems, not typically to living beings' bodies.
Example: 'A tempestade danificou o telhado da casa.' (The storm damaged the house roof.) vs. 'O acidente lesionou o motorista.' (The accident injured the driver.)
Difference: 'Danificar' is for inanimate objects; 'lesionar' is for physical injuries to the body.
O jogador se machucou, mas não foi uma lesão grave.
Ele se feriu ao cair, mas a ferida não foi profunda o suficiente para lesionar o osso.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The word 'lesion' in English shares the same Latin root as 'lesionar'. So, when you talk about a 'lesion' in English, you're referring to the same concept of damage or injury that 'lesionar' describes in Portuguese.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'e' at the beginning as a long 'ee' sound.
- Not stressing the correct syllable ('na').
- Mispronouncing the nasal diphthong 'ão'.
Difficulty Rating
At CEFR A2 level, learners will encounter 'lesionar' in simple sentences related to common injuries. Understanding the reflexive form 'se lesionar' is key. At higher levels (B1+), the verb appears in more complex medical and sports contexts, requiring a broader vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Use of Reflexive Pronouns (se)
When the subject performs an action on itself, a reflexive pronoun is used. For 'lesionar', when someone injures themselves, it becomes 'se lesionar'. Example: 'Eu me lesionei.' (I injured myself.)
Verb Conjugation (Present Indicative)
Eu lesiono, tu lesionas, ele/ela/você lesiona, nós lesionamos, vós lesionais, eles/elas/vocês lesionam.
Verb Conjugation (Preterite Perfect Indicative)
Eu lesionei, tu lesionaste, ele/ela/você lesionou, nós lesionamos, vós lesionastes, eles/elas/vocês lesionaram.
Use of Past Participle (lesionado/a)
The past participle 'lesionado' (injured) can be used as an adjective. Example: 'O jogador lesionado não pode jogar.' (The injured player cannot play.)
Passive Voice Construction
Subject (person injured) + ser/estar + lesionado/a. Example: 'Ele foi lesionado no jogo.' (He was injured in the game.)
Examples by Level
Eu me machuquei.
I hurt myself.
Simple past tense of 'machucar' (to hurt) with reflexive pronoun 'me'.
O cachorro mordeu meu pé.
The dog bit my foot.
Simple past tense of 'morder' (to bite).
Cuidado!
Careful!
An interjection used to warn someone.
Eu caí.
I fell.
Simple past tense of 'cair' (to fall).
Meu braço dói.
My arm hurts.
Possessive pronoun 'meu' (my) + noun 'braço' (arm) + verb 'dói' (hurts).
Eu não posso correr.
I cannot run.
Negation 'não' + modal verb 'posso' (can) + infinitive verb 'correr' (to run).
Preciso de um médico.
I need a doctor.
Verb 'precisar' (to need) + preposition 'de' (of) + noun 'médico' (doctor).
A bola bateu na minha cabeça.
The ball hit my head.
Verb 'bater' (to hit) + possessive pronoun 'minha' (my) + noun 'cabeça' (head).
Ele se lesionou jogando futebol.
He injured himself playing soccer.
Reflexive verb 'lesionar' in the simple past tense, indicating self-injury.
Tome cuidado para não lesionar as costas.
Be careful not to injure your back.
Imperative form of 'tomar cuidado' (to be careful) + infinitive 'lesionar' + body part 'costas' (back).
A queda lesionou o tornozelo dela.
The fall injured her ankle.
Subject 'queda' (fall) + verb 'lesionar' + possessive pronoun 'dela' (her) + body part 'tornozelo' (ankle).
Ela se lesionou no treino de dança.
She injured herself during dance practice.
Reflexive verb 'lesionar' in the simple past tense.
O esporte pode lesionar se não for praticado corretamente.
Sports can injure if not practiced correctly.
General statement about potential injury with correct practice.
Eu me lesionei levantando peso.
I injured myself lifting weights.
Reflexive verb 'lesionar' in the simple past tense.
O impacto lesionou o joelho do atleta.
The impact injured the athlete's knee.
Subject 'impacto' (impact) + verb 'lesionar' + possessive pronoun 'do' (of the) + body part 'joelho' (knee).
Espero não me lesionar amanhã.
I hope not to injure myself tomorrow.
Verb 'esperar' (to hope) + infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar'.
O médico diagnosticou que ele lesionou o ligamento cruzado.
The doctor diagnosed that he injured the cruciate ligament.
Past participle 'lesionado' used in a diagnosis.
É fundamental aquecer antes de qualquer atividade física para evitar se lesionar.
It is fundamental to warm up before any physical activity to avoid injuring yourself.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'evitar' (to avoid).
Uma má postura pode lesionar a coluna vertebral a longo prazo.
Poor posture can injure the spine in the long term.
Subject 'postura' (posture) + verb 'lesionar' + body part 'coluna vertebral' (spine).
Ele se lesionou feio durante a partida e teve que ser substituído.
He injured himself badly during the match and had to be substituted.
'Feio' (badly) modifies the injury.
A falta de equipamento adequado pode levar a se lesionar.
Lack of adequate equipment can lead to injuring oneself.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'levar a' (to lead to).
O fisioterapeuta está tratando o atleta que se lesionou no ombro.
The physiotherapist is treating the athlete who injured his shoulder.
Past participle 'lesionado' used to describe the athlete.
É importante ouvir o corpo e parar se sentir dor para não se lesionar.
It is important to listen to your body and stop if you feel pain to avoid injuring yourself.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'para não' (in order not to).
A torção do pé pode lesionar os ligamentos.
Ankle sprains can injure the ligaments.
Subject 'torção' (sprain) + verb 'lesionar' + body part 'ligamentos' (ligaments).
O laudo médico indicou que o atleta lesionou o menisco, necessitando de cirurgia.
The medical report indicated that the athlete injured his meniscus, requiring surgery.
Specific medical terminology 'menisco' and 'cirurgia'.
A falta de descanso adequado após um treino intenso pode aumentar o risco de se lesionar.
Lack of adequate rest after intense training can increase the risk of injuring oneself.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'risco de' (risk of).
Ele se lesionou de forma inesperada durante uma atividade recreativa simples.
He injured himself unexpectedly during a simple recreational activity.
Adverb 'inesperadamente' (unexpectedly) modifies the injury.
A prática de esportes de contato aumenta a probabilidade de se lesionar gravemente.
Practicing contact sports increases the probability of injuring oneself severely.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'probabilidade de' (probability of).
O fisioterapeuta recomendou exercícios específicos para fortalecer os músculos e prevenir que ele se lesione novamente.
The physiotherapist recommended specific exercises to strengthen the muscles and prevent him from injuring himself again.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'prevenir que' (to prevent that).
A força da queda lesionou múltiplos ossos, resultando em um longo período de recuperação.
The force of the fall injured multiple bones, resulting in a long recovery period.
Plural 'ossos' (bones) and description of consequence 'longo período de recuperação'.
É crucial seguir as orientações médicas para garantir que a área lesionada se recupere completamente.
It is crucial to follow medical guidelines to ensure the injured area recovers completely.
Past participle 'lesionada' used as an adjective.
O abuso de substâncias pode lesionar permanentemente o fígado.
Substance abuse can permanently damage the liver.
Abstract subject 'abuso de substâncias' (substance abuse) + verb 'lesionar' + body part 'fígado' (liver).
O tratamento conservador visa evitar que o paciente se lesione ainda mais, priorizando a reabilitação gradual.
Conservative treatment aims to prevent the patient from further injuring themselves, prioritizing gradual rehabilitation.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'evitar que'.
A negligência na manutenção dos equipamentos esportivos pode ter consequências deletérias, levando os usuários a se lesionarem.
Negligence in maintaining sports equipment can have detrimental consequences, leading users to injure themselves.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'levando...a'.
Ele se lesionou durante a escalada, sofrendo uma fratura exposta que exigiu intervenção médica imediata.
He injured himself during the climb, suffering an open fracture that required immediate medical intervention.
Specific type of injury 'fratura exposta' (open fracture).
A análise biomecânica revelou que a técnica inadequada utilizada pelo atleta o predispunha a se lesionar repetidamente.
The biomechanical analysis revealed that the inadequate technique used by the athlete predisposed him to injure himself repeatedly.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'predispor a'.
O árbitro teve que interromper a partida, pois um dos jogadores se lesionou de forma grave e não conseguia se mover.
The referee had to stop the match, as one of the players injured himself severely and could not move.
Adverb 'gravemente' (severely) modifying the injury.
A osteoporose fragiliza os ossos, tornando-os mais suscetíveis a se lesionar com traumas mínimos.
Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more susceptible to injury from minimal trauma.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'suscetíveis a'.
O impacto repetitivo da corrida em superfícies duras pode lesionar as articulações do corredor.
The repetitive impact of running on hard surfaces can injure the runner's joints.
Subject 'impacto repetitivo' (repetitive impact) + verb 'lesionar' + body part 'articulações' (joints).
A falta de conhecimento sobre os limites do próprio corpo é um fator que contribui para que as pessoas se lesione.
Lack of knowledge about one's own body limits is a factor that contributes to people injuring themselves.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'contribui para que'.
A reabilitação pós-cirúrgica é crucial para minimizar o risco de o paciente se lesionar novamente e otimizar a recuperação funcional.
Post-surgical rehabilitation is crucial to minimize the risk of the patient injuring themselves again and optimize functional recovery.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'risco de'.
O estudo demonstrou que a exposição prolongada a vibrações pode lesionar os nervos periféricos, causando neuropatia.
The study showed that prolonged exposure to vibrations can injure the peripheral nerves, causing neuropathy.
Specific medical condition 'neuropatia'.
A falha sistêmica na segurança do local de trabalho levou a que múltiplos operários se lesione em acidentes graves.
Systemic failure in workplace safety led to multiple workers injuring themselves in serious accidents.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'levou a que'.
A busca incessante por performance máxima, sem a devida atenção à recuperação, pode inadvertidamente lesionar o atleta.
The incessant pursuit of maximum performance, without due attention to recovery, can inadvertently injure the athlete.
Adverb 'inadvertidamente' (inadvertently) modifies the injury.
O estresse crônico pode não apenas lesionar a saúde mental, mas também ter manifestações físicas, como dores musculares e problemas digestivos.
Chronic stress can not only injure mental health but also have physical manifestations, such as muscle pain and digestive problems.
Dual injury: mental and physical.
A degeneração articular progressiva, se não tratada, pode lesionar permanentemente a cartilagem, limitando severamente a mobilidade.
Progressive joint degeneration, if left untreated, can permanently damage the cartilage, severely limiting mobility.
Specific condition 'degeneração articular' (joint degeneration) and its consequence.
O uso de equipamentos de proteção individual inadequados ou em mau estado de conservação aumenta exponencialmente o risco de se lesionar.
The use of inadequate or poorly maintained personal protective equipment exponentially increases the risk of injuring oneself.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'risco de' and adverb 'exponencialmente'.
A complexidade da lesão exigiu uma abordagem multidisciplinar, envolvendo ortopedistas, fisioterapeutas e especialistas em medicina esportiva para garantir que o atleta não se lesione novamente.
The complexity of the injury required a multidisciplinary approach, involving orthopedists, physiotherapists, and sports medicine specialists to ensure the athlete does not injure himself again.
Infinitive reflexive verb 'lesionar' used with 'garantir que'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To injure oneself. This is the most common reflexive use.
Espero não me lesionar durante a caminhada.
— Injured. Used as an adjective to describe someone who has been hurt.
O atleta está lesionado e não poderá competir.
— A serious injury. Used to describe the severity of the harm.
Ele sofreu uma lesão grave e precisará de cirurgia.
— To prevent injuries. Focuses on proactive measures.
O aquecimento é essencial para prevenir lesões.
— To treat an injury. Refers to the medical or therapeutic process.
O fisioterapeuta está tratando a lesão dele.
— To recover from an injury. Describes the process of healing.
Ele levou meses para se recuperar completamente da lesão.
— To avoid injuring oneself. Similar to preventing injuries.
Tome cuidado para evitar se lesionar ao fazer exercícios.
— The risk of getting injured. Highlights the potential for harm.
Esportes radicais apresentam um alto risco de se lesionar.
— To injure a muscle. Specific body part injury.
Ele sentiu uma dor aguda e percebeu que lesionou um músculo da perna.
Often Confused With
'Machucar' is a more general term for hurting oneself, while 'lesionar' is more specific to damage to body parts, often implying a structural injury.
'Ferir' usually implies a wound that breaks the skin, whereas 'lesionar' refers to damage that may not break the skin, like a sprain or bruise.
'Prejudicar' means to harm or damage in a broader sense, affecting health or progress, not specifically a physical injury to a body part.
Idioms & Expressions
— This idiom is not commonly used and 'lesionar' is not typically used in this figurative sense. 'Lesionar' is almost exclusively for physical harm. 'Ferir o brio' or 'ofender o orgulho' would be more appropriate for hurting someone's pride.
It's more common to say 'Ele feriu o meu orgulho' (He hurt my pride) rather than trying to use 'lesionar' figuratively.
— Similar to the above, 'lesionar' is not used for damaging reputation. Verbs like 'prejudicar', 'manchar', or 'danificar' are used for reputation.
The scandal did not 'lesionar' his reputation; instead, it 'prejudicou' it significantly.
— Again, 'lesionar' is not the correct verb for affecting morale. 'Abaixar o moral', 'desanimar', or 'prejudicar o moral' are the correct expressions.
The team's defeat did not 'lesionar' their morale; it 'desanimou' them temporarily.
— While directly injuring a body part is a form of harming health, 'lesionar' is too specific for the general concept of harming health. 'Prejudicar a saúde' is the standard phrase.
Smoking does not 'lesionar' your health; it 'prejudica' it.
— This is a literal use, but often 'afetar os nervos' or 'danificar os nervos' is also used. 'Lesionar' implies a direct physical damage.
The surgery could potentially 'lesionar' the nerves, so extreme caution is needed.
— This is not a recognized idiom. 'Lesionar' is for body parts.
This phrase would not be used in Portuguese.
— Not an idiom. 'Lesionar' applies to biological structures.
This phrase would not be used in Portuguese.
— This is a literal and common phrase, meaning to injure the body.
Ele se esforçou tanto que acabou por 'lesionar o corpo'.
— This is a more formal way of saying to injure someone's physical integrity.
O ataque visava 'lesionar a integridade física' da vítima.
— To injure in a way that affects the ability to move.
A fratura no quadril pode 'lesionar a capacidade de movimento' por um longo período.
Easily Confused
Both verbs refer to causing harm or pain.
'Lesionar' is more precise for structural damage to body parts (e.g., ligament, muscle, bone). 'Machucar' is broader and can include general pain, bruises, or less specific injuries. For example, you might 'machucar' your toe from stubbing it, but if you tear a ligament, you 'lesionou' it.
Ele se <strong>machucou</strong> caindo, mas felizmente não <strong>lesionou</strong> nada sério.
Both can describe causing physical harm.
'Ferir' typically implies breaking the skin or causing a wound (e.g., a cut, scrape). 'Lesionar' refers to damage to tissues, muscles, bones, or ligaments, which may or may not involve breaking the skin. You 'ferir' yourself with a knife, but you 'lesionar' your knee playing sports.
A faca o <strong>feriu</strong> levemente, mas o tombo <strong>lesionou</strong> seu ombro.
Both can lead to negative consequences.
'Lesionar' is specifically about physical damage to a body part. 'Prejudicar' means to harm, damage, or hinder in a more general way, affecting health, reputation, progress, or plans. An injury ('lesão') can 'prejudicar' someone's career, but the injury itself is not 'prejudicar'.
A <strong>lesão</strong> no joelho vai <strong>prejudicar</strong> sua participação no campeonato.
Both involve causing damage.
'Danificar' is used for inanimate objects or systems (e.g., a car, a computer, a building). 'Lesionar' is exclusively for living beings' bodies. You 'danificar' a phone screen, but you 'lesionar' a finger.
O impacto <strong>danificou</strong> o carro, mas o motorista não se <strong>lesionou</strong>.
Both can refer to causing hurt.
'Magoar' primarily refers to emotional or psychological hurt. While it can sometimes be used for physical pain, 'machucar' and 'lesionar' are much more common and specific for physical injuries. You 'magoar' someone with words, but you 'lesionar' your muscles.
As críticas o <strong>magoaram</strong> profundamente, mas ele esperava não se <strong>lesionar</strong> fisicamente.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + se + lesionar (past tense)
Ela se lesionou.
Subject + lesionar + object (body part)
A queda lesionou a perna.
Imperative + evitar + se + lesionar
Tome cuidado para evitar se lesionar.
É importante + infinitive + para não + se + lesionar
É importante aquecer para não se lesionar.
Subject + aumentar o risco de + se + lesionar
Correr na chuva aumenta o risco de se lesionar.
Subject + predispor a + se + lesionar
A falta de técnica o predispõe a se lesionar.
Levar a + alguém + se + lesionar
A imprudência pode levar as pessoas a se lesionarem.
Subject + garantir que + o/a + Subject + não + se + lesione
O treinador quer garantir que o atleta não se lesione.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
High
-
Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se'.
→
Ele se lesionou.
When the subject is the one getting injured, the reflexive pronoun is mandatory. Saying 'Ele lesionou' implies someone else injured him.
-
Using 'lesionar' for non-physical damage.
→
O vírus danificou o computador.
'Lesionar' is specifically for physical injuries to the body. For damage to objects, use 'danificar' or 'estragar'.
-
Confusing 'lesionar' with 'ferir'.
→
Ele se feriu com a faca.
'Ferir' usually implies breaking the skin (a wound), while 'lesionar' refers to damage to tissues, muscles, or bones, which may not break the skin.
-
Using 'lesionar' instead of 'prejudicar' for general harm.
→
A lesão vai prejudicar sua carreira.
'Lesionar' is about the injury itself. 'Prejudicar' is about the negative consequence or harm caused by the injury.
-
Incorrect conjugation.
→
Eu me lesionei ontem.
Ensuring correct verb conjugation for different tenses and persons is crucial for clear communication.
Tips
Reflexive Pronouns
Remember to use the reflexive pronoun 'se' (or its variants like 'me', 'te') when the subject is the one getting injured. For example, 'Ele se lesionou' (He injured himself), not just 'Ele lesionou'.
Avoid Figurative Use
'Lesionar' is almost always used for physical injuries. Do not use it for damaging objects, reputations, or emotions. Use 'danificar' or 'prejudicar' instead.
Stress the Right Syllable
The stress in 'lesionar' falls on the last syllable, '-nar'. Practice saying it to emphasize the correct sound: le-si-o-NAR.
Connect to English
The English word 'lesion' shares the same Latin root. A lesion is a damaged or diseased area of tissue. This connection can help you remember that 'lesionar' means to cause such damage.
Sports and Health Focus
When learning, focus on contexts like sports, accidents, and health. This will expose you to the most common uses of 'lesionar'.
Past Participle as Adjective
The past participle 'lesionado/a' (injured) is frequently used as an adjective. For example, 'O atleta lesionado' (The injured athlete).
Synonym Nuances
While 'machucar' is a good general substitute, 'lesionar' implies a more specific type of harm, often requiring medical attention.
Common Body Parts
Be aware of common body parts associated with 'lesionar', such as 'joelho' (knee), 'tornozelo' (ankle), 'costas' (back), and 'músculo' (muscle).
Listen Actively
Pay attention to how native speakers use 'lesionar' in news reports, sports commentary, and medical discussions to grasp its natural usage.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'less-ion' or 'less injury' by being careful. If you 'lesionar' yourself, you have more injury, not less. So, to 'lesionar' means to cause injury.
Visual Association
Picture a person slipping on a banana peel and then holding their leg in pain, with the word 'LESION' flashing above their head.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'lesionar' in at least three sentences today, describing hypothetical injuries or warning someone about potential harm.
Word Origin
The word 'lesionar' comes from the Latin word 'laesiōnem', which means 'injury' or 'harm'. This Latin root is also the origin of the English word 'lesion'.
Original meaning: Injury, wound, damage.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > PortugueseCultural Context
When discussing injuries, especially serious ones, be mindful of the person's feelings and avoid making light of their situation. Use the term 'lesionado' respectfully.
In English, we use 'to injure,' 'to hurt,' 'to wound,' or 'to damage' depending on the context. 'Lesion' is a noun referring to the injury itself, often in a medical context.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Sports and Physical Activities
- Se lesionou jogando futebol.
- Ele se lesionou no treino.
- Evitar se lesionar é fundamental.
- O risco de se lesionar é alto.
Medical Situations
- O médico disse que ele se lesionou.
- Ela está lesionada e não pode competir.
- Tratar a lesão.
- Recuperar-se da lesão.
Accidents and Warnings
- Cuidado para não se lesionar.
- A queda o lesionou.
- Ele se lesionou em um acidente.
- Tome cuidado para não lesionar as costas.
Describing Physical Harm
- Lesionou o joelho.
- Lesionou o tornozelo.
- Lesionou o músculo.
- Lesionou o ligamento.
Prevention and Recovery
- Prevenir lesões.
- Se reabilitar da lesão.
- Fisioterapia para a área lesionada.
- Recuperação da lesão.
Conversation Starters
"Você já se lesionou praticando algum esporte?"
"O que você faz para evitar se lesionar durante os exercícios?"
"Você conhece alguém que se lesionou gravemente?"
"Qual foi a lesão mais comum que você já ouviu falar?"
"Como você acha que podemos prevenir lesões no dia a dia?"
Journal Prompts
Descreva uma vez em que você se lesionou e como foi a sua recuperação.
Pense em um esporte ou atividade que você gosta e escreva sobre as precauções que você toma para não se lesionar.
Imagine que você é um médico esportivo. Escreva um conselho para atletas sobre como evitar lesões.
Se você pudesse inventar uma nova forma de se exercitar que não lesiona o corpo, como seria?
Escreva sobre a importância de ouvir o corpo e parar quando sentir dor para não se lesionar.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions'Lesionar' is more specific and refers to structural damage or injury to a part of the body, often in a medical context (like tearing a ligament or straining a muscle). 'Machucar' is a more general term for hurting oneself or causing pain, and it can encompass minor injuries, bruises, or general discomfort. For example, you might 'machucar' your toe by stubbing it, but if you tear a ligament in your knee, you 'lesionou' it.
You use the reflexive form 'se lesionar' when the subject of the sentence is the one performing the action of injuring themselves. For instance, 'Eu me lesionei' means 'I injured myself.' The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, vos, se) agrees with the subject.
Yes, 'lesionar' can be used for animals as well, referring to physical injuries they might sustain. For example, 'O cachorro se lesionou correndo no parque' (The dog injured itself running in the park).
The noun form is 'lesão', which means 'injury' or 'lesion'. For example, 'Ele tem uma lesão no joelho' (He has a knee injury).
No, 'lesionar' is almost exclusively used for physical injuries to the body. For damage to objects, reputation, or abstract concepts, you would use verbs like 'danificar', 'prejudicar', or 'estragar'.
You would say 'Eu me lesionei o tornozelo' or 'Eu lesionei o meu tornozelo'. The reflexive form 'Eu me lesionei' is very common.
'Ferir' typically implies breaking the skin or causing a wound (like a cut or scrape). 'Lesionar' refers to damage to tissues, muscles, bones, or ligaments, which might not involve breaking the skin. You 'ferir' yourself with a sharp object, but you 'lesionar' your knee playing sports.
Yes, it can. For example, 'O jogador foi lesionado' means 'The player was injured'. The past participle 'lesionado' is used here.
Common body parts that are described as being 'lesionadas' include 'joelho' (knee), 'tornozelo' (ankle), 'costas' (back), 'ombro' (shoulder), 'perna' (leg), 'braço' (arm), 'coluna' (spine), and 'músculo' (muscle).
You can use phrases like 'evitar se lesionar' (to avoid injuring oneself) or 'prevenir lesões' (to prevent injuries). For example, 'Aqueça bem para evitar se lesionar' (Warm up well to avoid injuring yourself).
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Summary
The verb 'lesionar' specifically refers to causing physical damage or injury to a part of the body. Remember to use the reflexive pronoun 'se' when someone injures themselves, such as 'Eu me lesionei' (I injured myself).
- To injure or damage a body part.
- Used for physical harm to oneself or others.
- Common in sports, medical, and accident contexts.
- Requires reflexive pronoun 'se' when self-inflicted.
Reflexive Pronouns
Remember to use the reflexive pronoun 'se' (or its variants like 'me', 'te') when the subject is the one getting injured. For example, 'Ele se lesionou' (He injured himself), not just 'Ele lesionou'.
Context is Key
While 'machucar' is general, 'lesionar' is more specific to structural damage. Think of it like 'lesion' in English – it implies a distinct injury.
Avoid Figurative Use
'Lesionar' is almost always used for physical injuries. Do not use it for damaging objects, reputations, or emotions. Use 'danificar' or 'prejudicar' instead.
Stress the Right Syllable
The stress in 'lesionar' falls on the last syllable, '-nar'. Practice saying it to emphasize the correct sound: le-si-o-NAR.
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This Word in Other Languages
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