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A2 interjection 10 min read

que aborrecimento!

Examples que aborrecimento! in 30 Seconds
Explanation que aborrecimento! in your Level:
At the A1 level, learners are introduced to basic exclamations as a way to react to the world. 'Que aborrecimento!' is a useful 'chunk' of language. At this stage, you don't need to understand the complex grammar of the word 'aborrecimento'; you just need to know that 'Que + [Word]' is how Portuguese speakers say 'How [Word]!' or 'What a [Word]!'. Think of it as a tool in your survival kit for when things go slightly wrong. You can use it when you drop your ice cream or when the rain starts unexpectedly. It helps you communicate a feeling without needing to construct a full sentence with verbs and subjects. Focus on the sound and the emotion behind it. You are expressing a mild 'oh no' or 'how annoying'. It is one of the first ways you can show personality in Portuguese, moving beyond simple 'yes' and 'no' answers to actually reacting to what people tell you. If a teacher says 'There is no class today,' and you were looking forward to it, saying 'Que aborrecimento!' shows you understand and have a reaction. It is a building block for emotional literacy in the language.
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As an A2 learner, you are beginning to expand your social interactions. 'Que aborrecimento!' becomes more than just a reaction; it becomes a way to engage with others. You can use it to sympathize with a friend's minor problems. At this level, you should start noticing the difference between using it for 'annoyance' (like a broken computer) and 'boredom' (like a long wait). You will also start to see how it fits into small dialogues. For example, when someone describes a long queue at the supermarket, you can respond with this phrase to show you are listening and empathetic. You should also be able to distinguish it from 'Que chato!', which you might hear more in Brazilian contexts. This level is about context—learning that this phrase is polite enough for a doctor's office but casual enough for a lunch with friends. You are also learning to pair it with simple explanations, such as 'Que aborrecimento! O meu telemóvel não funciona.' (What an annoyance! My phone isn't working.) This combines the exclamation with a basic A2-level justification.
At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex social situations and express your opinions and feelings in more detail. You will start to use 'aborrecimento' as a noun within sentences, not just as an exclamation. You might say 'Lidar com a burocracia é um grande aborrecimento' (Dealing with bureaucracy is a big annoyance). You are also learning the related adjective 'aborrecido/a'. At this stage, you must be careful with the verb 'estar' vs 'ser'. 'Estou aborrecido' means you are currently feeling bored or annoyed, whereas 'Eu sou aborrecido' would mean you are a boring person—a very important distinction! You will also encounter the verb 'aborrecer-se'. For example, 'Eu aborreço-me quando não tenho nada para fazer' (I get bored when I have nothing to do). B1 learners should also start to recognize the subtle difference between 'aborrecimento' and 'maçada' or 'tédio' in European Portuguese. This level is about nuance and the ability to describe the *source* of the annoyance using more complex sentence structures.
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By B2, you should be comfortable using 'que aborrecimento!' in a variety of registers. You understand that while it is a common phrase, it can be elevated or made more colloquial through tone and additional modifiers. You can use it to discuss more abstract concepts, such as the 'aborrecimento' of modern life or the political 'aborrecimento' felt by the public. You are also aware of regional variations; you know that a Brazilian might find the phrase a bit formal and prefer 'que saco!', while a Portuguese person might find it perfectly standard. You can use the word in the context of professional feedback—for instance, describing a process that is an 'aborrecimento desnecessário' (unnecessary annoyance). Your vocabulary is now broad enough to choose 'aborrecimento' specifically because it carries a sense of both tedium and irritation, whereas 'tédio' would be too narrow. You are also capable of using the reflexive verb 'aborrecer-se com alguém' to describe a falling out or a minor conflict, understanding that it implies a level of being 'fed up' rather than just 'angry'.
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At the C1 level, you are exploring the literary and stylistic uses of the word. You might encounter 'aborrecimento' in the works of great Portuguese authors like Fernando Pessoa or Eça de Queirós, where it often takes on a more existential, 'ennui'-like quality. You understand the historical development of the word from its Latin roots and how it relates to the concept of 'horror' (abhorrence). You can use the word to write sophisticated critiques, perhaps describing a film as having an 'aborrecimento inerente à sua estrutura lenta' (an annoyance/boredom inherent to its slow structure). You are also sensitive to the prosody of the phrase—how the rhythm of the exclamation can convey sarcasm, deep despair, or lighthearted mockery. You can engage in debates about the 'sociedade do aborrecimento' (the society of boredom) and use the term to describe complex psychological states. Your use of the word is no longer just about reacting to a missed bus; it is about using a precise term to describe a specific facet of the human experience that blends irritation with a lack of meaning.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'que aborrecimento!' and its root 'aborrecer' is near-native. You can use it with perfect idiomatic accuracy, including in rare or archaic constructions. You understand the full spectrum of its meanings across the entire Lusophone world, from the streets of Luanda to the offices of Porto. You can use it in high-level diplomacy or academic writing to describe a 'ponto de aborrecimento' (a point of friction or annoyance) in a negotiation. You are also aware of how the word has been used in Portuguese music (Fado) to express a world-weariness that is central to the 'saudade' culture. You can play with the word, creating puns or using it in ironic ways that require a deep cultural understanding. For a C2 speaker, 'que aborrecimento!' is just one tool in a massive emotional repertoire, used with precise intentionality to achieve a specific social or rhetorical effect. You can analyze the word's role in the linguistic identity of Portuguese speakers, noting how the preference for this word over more aggressive terms reflects a particular cultural approach to conflict and dissatisfaction.
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Examples

que aborrecimento! in 30 Seconds

  • Expresses irritation or boredom in daily life.
  • Commonly used when things go wrong or are tedious.
  • Grammatically structured as 'Que' plus the noun 'aborrecimento'.
  • Suitable for neutral and informal social contexts.

The Portuguese expression que aborrecimento! is a versatile interjection used to express a range of negative emotions, primarily centered around irritation, annoyance, or profound boredom. In the Lusophone world, this phrase acts as an emotional safety valve, allowing speakers to vent about situations that are inconvenient, tedious, or frustrating without necessarily being catastrophic. The word aborrecimento itself derives from the verb aborrecer, which has its roots in the Latin abhorrere, meaning to shrink back from or to shudder at. However, in modern Portuguese, the intensity has softened into a general sense of being 'fed up' or 'bothered'.

Primary Usage: Irritation
When something goes wrong in a minor but nagging way—like losing your keys for the third time in a week or finding out your favorite cafe is closed—you might exclaim this to show your pique. It is the equivalent of 'How annoying!'
Secondary Usage: Boredom
Particularly in European Portuguese, aborrecimento is synonymous with tédio (tedium). If you are stuck in a three-hour meeting where nothing is being decided, this phrase perfectly captures the soul-crushing lack of interest you feel.

Perdi o autocarro por um minuto. Que aborrecimento!

Translation: I missed the bus by one minute. What an annoyance!

Understanding the cultural weight of this phrase requires recognizing that Portuguese speakers often value social harmony but also appreciate a good, shared complaint. Saying 'que aborrecimento!' to a friend or colleague often invites them to empathize with you, creating a small moment of social bonding over a shared inconvenience. It is less aggressive than a swear word but more emotive than a simple 'oh well'. It signals that the speaker is genuinely bothered but still maintains a level of social decorum.

Esta chuva não para, não podemos ir à praia. Que aborrecimento!

The structure of the phrase is a classic Portuguese exclamation pattern: Que + [Noun]!. This is a productive pattern in the language. Just as you say 'Que calor!' (How hot!) or 'Que sorte!' (What luck!), 'Que aborrecimento!' follows the same grammatical logic. It turns the abstract noun aborrecimento into a vivid reaction to the immediate environment. It is important to note that the tone of voice matters immensely here. A short, sharp delivery suggests irritation, while a long, drawn-out sigh accompanying the phrase suggests deep boredom or exhaustion.

Register
Neutral to Informal. It is safe to use with friends, family, and colleagues. It is not vulgar, making it a safe choice for learners who want to express frustration without sounding rude.

O meu computador bloqueou outra vez. Que aborrecimento!

Using que aborrecimento! correctly involves placing it as a reaction to a specific event or a general state of affairs. Because it is an interjection, it often stands alone as a complete sentence, or it follows a statement of fact that provides the context for the annoyance. To master its usage, one must understand that it doesn't just describe the situation; it describes your internal emotional response to it.

As a standalone reaction
If someone tells you bad news that affects you both, like a flight delay, you can simply reply: 'Que aborrecimento!' to show shared frustration.

— A impressora está sem tinta. — Que aborrecimento!

You can also expand the phrase to specify exactly what is causing the annoyance. This is done using the preposition de (of) or by adding a clause. For example: 'Que aborrecimento ter de esperar tanto tempo!' (What a bore having to wait so long!). This structure is very common when the speaker wants to be specific about the source of their irritation.

Grammatical Variations
While 'Que aborrecimento!' is the standard exclamative, you can also use it in a descriptive sentence: 'Isto é um aborrecimento' (This is an annoyance). Note that 'aborrecimento' is a masculine noun, so it takes the article 'um'.

É um aborrecimento constante lidar com esta burocracia.

In more formal or literary contexts, the word can be used to describe a state of mind rather than just a reaction. For instance, in a diary entry, one might write: 'Sinto um profundo aborrecimento com a vida urbana' (I feel a deep boredom/dissatisfaction with urban life). This highlights the word's ability to transition from a lighthearted exclamation to a more serious expression of existential ennui.

Que aborrecimento! Esqueci-me da minha carteira em casa.

To add emphasis, Portuguese speakers sometimes add adjectives. 'Que grande aborrecimento!' (What a big/great annoyance!) is a common way to amplify the feeling. Conversely, to downplay it, one might say 'É apenas um pequeno aborrecimento' (It's just a small annoyance). This flexibility makes it a cornerstone of daily emotional expression in Portuguese-speaking cultures.

You will encounter que aborrecimento! in almost every corner of Lusophone life. It is the soundtrack to minor daily failures. At the post office in Lisbon, when the queue doesn't move for twenty minutes, you will hear a sigh and a whispered 'que aborrecimento' from the person behind you. In a modern office in São Paulo, when the internet goes down during a crucial video call, a colleague might exclaim it while throwing their hands up in the air.

Cena: Sala de espera. — O médico vai atrasar uma hora. — Que aborrecimento!

In Portuguese soap operas (telenovelas), this phrase is a staple. It is often used by characters who are slightly dramatic or those who find themselves in social situations they find beneath them. It conveys a sense of impatient elegance. When a wealthy character is forced to wait for a taxi, 'que aborrecimento!' is their go-to expression of class-based irritation. This gives the phrase a slightly 'proper' feel compared to more vulgar alternatives.

In Schools and Universities
Students use it to describe a particularly dull lecture or a long reading assignment. 'Aquela aula foi um aborrecimento total' (That class was a total bore).

You will also hear it in the context of sports. If a football match ends in a 0-0 draw with very little action, commentators and fans alike might describe the game as an 'aborrecimento'. Here, the meaning leans heavily toward 'boring' rather than 'annoying'. The lack of excitement is seen as an affront to the spectator's time, hence the aborrecimento.

O jogo foi um aborrecimento; ninguém marcou um golo.

Social media and digital communication are also full of this expression. It is often used as a comment on a post about a frustrating news story or a relatable 'fail' video. In text messages (WhatsApp is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking countries), it is often shortened or accompanied by emojis like 🙄 or 😩 to emphasize the speaker's state of mind. It serves as a quick way to validate someone else's frustration: 'Que aborrecimento, sinto muito!' (How annoying, I'm sorry!).

For English speakers, the most common mistake is confusing aborrecimento with 'anger' or 'hate'. While 'aborrecimento' involves negative feelings, it is much lower on the intensity scale than 'raiva' (anger) or 'ódio' (hate). If you say 'que aborrecimento!' when you are actually furious, you might sound like you are understating your emotions or being sarcastic. It is a word for the 'pests' of life, not the 'tragedies'.

False Cognate Confusion
Some learners confuse 'aborrecer' with 'to abort' or other unrelated Latin-based words. Always remember it relates to 'boredom' and 'annoyance'.
Gender Agreement
Because the phrase starts with 'Que', there is no gender to worry about in the exclamation itself. However, if you use the adjective 'aborrecido', it must agree with the subject. 'Eu estou aborrecido' (I am bored/annoyed - male) vs 'Eu estou aborrecida' (female).

Errado: Eu estou aborrecimento. (I am annoyance.)
Correto: Eu estou aborrecido. (I am bored/annoyed.)

Another mistake is using the wrong preposition. When you are annoyed *with* someone, you use com. 'Estou aborrecido com o João'. Using de here would change the meaning or sound unnatural. Additionally, learners often forget that in Brazil, 'aborrecido' can sometimes imply being 'upset' or 'hurt' by someone's actions, whereas in Portugal, it almost always means 'bored'.

Estou aborrecido com o meu chefe porque ele me deu mais trabalho.

Finally, avoid overusing the phrase in very high-stakes situations. If someone's house burns down, saying 'Que aborrecimento!' would be incredibly insensitive and socially inappropriate. Reserve it for the 'daily grind'—traffic, weather, minor tech issues, and dull conversations. It is a word for the friction of life, not the fractures.

Portuguese is rich in synonyms for frustration and boredom. Depending on where you are and who you are talking to, you might want to swap que aborrecimento! for something more specific or more colloquial. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to fine-tune your emotional expression.

Que chato!
Very common in Brazil. It can mean 'How annoying!' or 'How boring!'. It is slightly more informal than 'que aborrecimento'.
Que maçada!
Common in Portugal. It specifically refers to something that is a 'hassle' or a 'drag'. It implies that the situation requires unwanted effort.
Que tédio!
Focuses purely on the 'boredom' aspect. Use this when there is absolutely nothing to do and you are languishing.

— Temos de preencher estes formulários todos. — Que maçada!

For a stronger reaction, people use slang. In Brazil, 'Que saco!' is the go-to informal expression for being fed up. It is slightly more 'edgy' but still very common in casual conversation. In Portugal, 'Que seca!' is the equivalent for something that is incredibly boring or a 'drag'. If a party is bad, a Portuguese teenager will definitely say 'Que seca!'.

Comparison Table
  • Que aborrecimento: Neutral, polite, means annoyance or boredom.
  • Que chato: Informal, very common in Brazil, versatile.
  • Que seca: Informal, Portugal, specifically for boredom.
  • Que maçada: Portugal, specifically for a hassle or nuisance.

If you want to sound more formal or intellectual, you might use the word enfado. 'Sinto um certo enfado' (I feel a certain weariness/boredom). This is rarely heard in the street but is common in literature or high-level academic discussions. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are truly angry, you would move away from 'aborrecimento' and use words like 'irritação' or 'indignação'.

Que tédio! Não há nada para fazer nesta cidade no domingo.

Ultimately, que aborrecimento! remains the 'Goldilocks' of Portuguese complaints: not too soft, not too hard, and just right for most of life's little frustrations. By learning when to use it versus its alternatives, you gain a deeper foothold in the emotional landscape of the Portuguese language.

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Examples by Level

1

O comboio está atrasado. Que aborrecimento!

The train is late. What an annoyance!

Simple exclamative structure: Que + Noun.

2

Não tenho café. Que aborrecimento!

I have no coffee. What a bore!

Used here to express a minor daily frustration.

3

Amanhã é segunda-feira. Que aborrecimento!

Tomorrow is Monday. What an annoyance!

Expressing the typical dread of the work week.

4

Está a chover. Que aborrecimento!

It is raining. What an annoyance!

A very common use for weather-related complaints.

5

A loja está fechada. Que aborrecimento!

The shop is closed. What an annoyance!

Reacting to an inconvenient situation.

6

Perdi a minha caneta. Que aborrecimento!

I lost my pen. What an annoyance!

Used for losing small, everyday items.

7

O filme é muito longo. Que aborrecimento!

The movie is very long. What a bore!

Here the meaning shifts toward boredom.

8

Não há internet. Que aborrecimento!

There is no internet. What an annoyance!

A modern, high-frequency context for this phrase.

1

Esqueci-me das chaves em casa. Que aborrecimento!

I forgot my keys at home. What an annoyance!

Reflexive verb 'esquecer-se' followed by the exclamation.

2

A fila no banco está enorme. Que aborrecimento!

The queue at the bank is huge. What an annoyance!

Noun 'fila' (queue) provides the context.

3

O meu computador bloqueou outra vez. Que aborrecimento!

My computer froze again. What an annoyance!

The adverb 'outra vez' emphasizes the repetitive nature.

4

Tenho de trabalhar no sábado. Que aborrecimento!

I have to work on Saturday. What a bore!

'Tenho de' expresses obligation, leading to the annoyance.

5

O jantar está frio. Que aborrecimento!

The dinner is cold. What an annoyance!

A common domestic complaint.

6

A televisão não liga. Que aborrecimento!

The TV won't turn on. What an annoyance!

Reacting to a technical failure.

7

Não há mais bilhetes para o concerto. Que aborrecimento!

There are no more tickets for the concert. What an annoyance!

Expressing disappointment.

8

O meu carro não arranca. Que aborrecimento!

My car won't start. What an annoyance!

A classic mechanical 'aborrecimento'.

1

É um grande aborrecimento ter de preencher todos estes papéis.

It is a great annoyance having to fill out all these papers.

Using 'aborrecimento' as a noun with the adjective 'grande'.

2

Sinto um certo aborrecimento quando as reuniões demoram muito.

I feel a certain boredom when meetings take a long time.

Using the verb 'sentir' to describe the emotion.

3

Estou aborrecido com o meu irmão porque ele não me ligou.

I am annoyed with my brother because he didn't call me.

Adjective 'aborrecido' with the preposition 'com'.

4

Que aborrecimento! A encomenda ainda não chegou.

What an annoyance! The package hasn't arrived yet.

Expressing frustration with a service delay.

5

Ela aborrece-se facilmente quando está sozinha.

She gets bored easily when she is alone.

Reflexive verb 'aborrecer-se' meaning 'to get bored'.

6

O barulho da rua é um aborrecimento constante.

The noise from the street is a constant annoyance.

Using 'aborrecimento' to describe a persistent nuisance.

7

Que aborrecimento ter de cancelar a viagem à última hora!

What an annoyance having to cancel the trip at the last minute!

Exclamation followed by an infinitive phrase.

8

Não quero ser um aborrecimento, mas podes ajudar-me?

I don't want to be a nuisance, but can you help me?

Using 'aborrecimento' to mean a 'nuisance' or 'bother'.

1

A falta de organização na empresa é um aborrecimento para todos os funcionários.

The lack of organization in the company is an annoyance for all employees.

Using the noun in a more formal, descriptive context.

2

Que aborrecimento que o projeto tenha sido adiado novamente.

How annoying that the project has been postponed again.

Using 'que' as a conjunction followed by the subjunctive 'tenha sido'.

3

Ele estava visivelmente aborrecido com as críticas que recebeu.

He was visibly annoyed with the criticism he received.

Adverb 'visivelmente' modifying the adjective 'aborrecido'.

4

Para evitar aborrecimentos futuros, vamos assinar o contrato agora.

To avoid future annoyances, let's sign the contract now.

Plural use 'aborrecimentos' meaning 'troubles' or 'hassles'.

5

O aborrecimento que sinto é fruto da monotonia do meu trabalho.

The boredom I feel is the result of the monotony of my work.

Noun as the subject of a sentence about existential states.

6

Que aborrecimento! Não consigo encontrar o ficheiro original.

What an annoyance! I can't find the original file.

Reacting to a professional setback.

7

A discussão causou um aborrecimento desnecessário entre os amigos.

The argument caused unnecessary annoyance among the friends.

Noun used to describe the result of a social conflict.

8

Aborrece-me imenso que as pessoas não sejam pontuais.

It annoys me immensely that people are not punctual.

Verb 'aborrecer' used transitively with an indirect object.

1

O autor descreve o aborrecimento existencial como uma marca da modernidade.

The author describes existential boredom as a hallmark of modernity.

Academic/Literary use of the noun.

2

Que aborrecimento atroz ter de lidar com tamanha incompetência!

What an atrocious annoyance to have to deal with such incompetence!

Use of the strong adjective 'atroz' for emphasis.

3

A vida na província era um aborrecimento sem fim para a jovem protagonista.

Life in the province was an endless boredom for the young protagonist.

Literary description of a setting.

4

Não se trata de raiva, mas sim de um aborrecimento profundo com o sistema.

It is not about anger, but rather a deep annoyance/dissatisfaction with the system.

Distinguishing 'aborrecimento' from other emotions.

5

Aborreceu-me que ele não tenha tido a hombridade de admitir o erro.

It annoyed me that he didn't have the decency to admit the mistake.

Transitive verb usage with a complex subordinate clause.

6

O texto transborda aborrecimento perante as convenções sociais da época.

The text overflows with annoyance/disgust regarding the social conventions of the time.

Describing the tone of a piece of writing.

7

Que aborrecimento soberano! Nada parece despertar o seu interesse.

What a supreme boredom! Nothing seems to pique his interest.

Ironic/Elevated use of the adjective 'soberano'.

8

Aborrecer-se é, muitas vezes, o primeiro passo para a criatividade.

Getting bored is often the first step toward creativity.

Philosophical use of the reflexive verb.

1

A fenomenologia do aborrecimento revela nuances da perceção temporal humana.

The phenomenology of boredom reveals nuances of human temporal perception.

Highly academic/philosophical context.

2

Que aborrecimento lancinante é este que nos consome na era digital?

What a piercing boredom is this that consumes us in the digital age?

Rhetorical question with poetic adjectives.

3

A obra capta o aborrecimento burguês com uma precisão quase cirúrgica.

The work captures bourgeois boredom with almost surgical precision.

Critical analysis of art/literature.

4

Aborrecer o público com tecnicismos é o erro crasso de muitos oradores.

Boring the audience with technicalities is the gross error of many speakers.

Transitive verb meaning 'to bore' someone.

5

Sob a máscara da cortesia, escondia-se um aborrecimento visceral.

Under the mask of courtesy, a visceral annoyance was hidden.

Describing hidden emotional states.

6

Aborrecimento, tédio e fastio: a tríade que define o descontentamento moderno.

Annoyance, boredom, and weariness: the triad that defines modern discontent.

Syntactic list for rhetorical effect.

7

Que aborrecimento! A vacuidade do discurso político é desoladora.

What an annoyance! The emptiness of political discourse is heartbreaking.

Using the exclamation to react to high-level societal issues.

8

Aborreceu-se de tal modo com a vida citadina que se mudou para o Alentejo.

He became so fed up with city life that he moved to Alentejo.

Reflexive verb indicating a life-changing level of being 'fed up'.

Common Collocations

Um grande aborrecimento
Causar aborrecimento
Aborrecimento constante
Evitar aborrecimentos
Sinto aborrecimento
Aborrecimento profundo
Pequeno aborrecimento
Aborrecimento mortal
Cheio de aborrecimento
Aborrecimento passageiro

Common Phrases

Que aborrecimento, pá!

— A very common informal way in Portugal to add emphasis using the filler word 'pá'.

Perdi o comboio, que aborrecimento, pá!

Sem aborrecimentos

— Used to describe a process that goes smoothly without issues.

A viagem correu bem, sem aborrecimentos.

Para seu aborrecimento

— Used to say that something happened which annoyed someone specifically.

Para seu aborrecimento, o plano falhou.

Lamento o aborrecimento

— A polite way to apologize for causing a nuisance or trouble.

Lamento o aborrecimento que lhe causei.

Aborrecimento total

— Emphasizes that a situatio

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