Reestruturar
Reestruturar in 30 Seconds
- Reestruturar means to organize something in a new, fundamental way.
- It is a formal verb often used in business, finance, and planning.
- The noun form is 'reestruturação', which is very common in news.
- It differs from 'reorganizar' by implying a deeper, structural change.
The Portuguese verb reestruturar is a sophisticated yet essential term that translates directly to 'to restructure' in English. At its core, it signifies the act of taking an existing system, organization, or physical entity and changing its fundamental components or the way they are arranged to improve efficiency, adapt to new circumstances, or resolve underlying issues. While it sounds highly technical or corporate, its application spans from personal habits to global economics. In a business context, reestruturar uma empresa (restructuring a company) often involves changing management hierarchies, cutting costs, or shifting the business model. In a more literal sense, you might reestruturar um prédio if you are reinforcing its physical foundation or changing its internal layout. The word carries a connotation of intentionality and depth; it is not just a surface-level change like 'changing' (mudar) or 'arranging' (arrumar), but a deep 're-building' of the structure itself.
- Corporate Context
- Used when a business undergoes significant change to remain competitive or avoid bankruptcy. Example: 'O conselho decidiu reestruturar o departamento de vendas.'
- Financial Context
- Specifically related to debt (reestruturar a dívida), meaning to renegotiate terms to make payments more manageable.
- Personal/Abstract Context
- Used when someone decides to overhaul their life, schedule, or way of thinking. Example: 'Preciso reestruturar minha rotina matinal.'
Para salvar o negócio, foi necessário reestruturar todo o organograma da firma.
Culturally, in Portugal and Brazil, this word often appears in news headlines regarding the public sector or large national industries. It is a word that suggests a serious, often difficult, process of transformation. For instance, 'reestruturar o sistema de saúde' implies a massive undertaking to fix systemic problems. It is rarely used for trivial things; you wouldn't 'reestruturar' your sock drawer unless you were designing a revolutionary new way to categorize hosiery. It implies a plan (um plano de reestruturação). In academic writing, it is used to describe the reorganization of arguments or the framework of a thesis. In psychology, 'reestruturação cognitiva' refers to the process of identifying and challenging irrational or maladaptive thoughts.
A prefeitura vai reestruturar o trânsito no centro da cidade para reduzir os congestionamentos.
- Linguistic Nuance
- It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object. You reestruturar *something*.
Using reestruturar correctly requires understanding its conjugation as a regular -ar verb and its placement within various sentence structures. Because it is a formal word, it is often paired with auxiliary verbs like 'precisar' (to need), 'querer' (to want), or 'ir' (to go/future marker). For example, 'Nós vamos reestruturar...' (We are going to restructure...).
- Present Tense
- Eu reestruturo, Tu reestruturas, Ele/Ela reestrutura, Nós reestruturamos, Eles/Elas reestruturam. Use this for ongoing or habitual actions.
- Past Tense (Pretérito Perfeito)
- Eu reestruturei, Você reestruturou. Use this for completed actions. 'Eles reestruturaram a dívida no ano passado.'
Se nós reestruturarmos o projeto agora, teremos melhores resultados em dezembro.
The word is frequently used in the passive voice in formal reports: 'O plano foi reestruturado' (The plan was restructured). This shifts the focus from who did the action to the entity being changed. In European Portuguese, you might notice a slight difference in rhythm compared to Brazilian Portuguese, but the usage remains identical. Note that 'reestruturar' can also be used reflexively—'reestruturar-se'—when an organization or person changes themselves. 'A empresa precisa reestruturar-se para sobreviver à crise.'
Depois de muitas críticas, o autor decidiu reestruturar os capítulos finais do livro.
You will encounter reestruturar in specific environments that demand formal or precise language. It is a staple of the 'Linguagem Corporativa' (Corporate Speak) and 'Linguagem Jornalística' (Journalistic Language). If you watch the 'Jornal Nacional' in Brazil or 'Telejornal' in Portugal, you will hear it during segments on the economy, government reforms, or major corporate mergers.
- News & Media
- 'O governo federal pretende reestruturar as carreiras dos servidores públicos.' This implies a change in salary scales and hierarchies.
- University & Academia
- Professors might talk about 'reestruturar o currículo' (restructuring the curriculum) to include more modern subjects.
O CEO anunciou que vai reestruturar a diretoria para aumentar a transparência.
In daily conversation, it's used by professionals talking about their work. An architect might say they need to 'reestruturar a planta' of a house. A software developer might talk about 'reestruturar o código' (refactoring/restructuring code) to make it more readable. It’s a word that signals competence and a high-level view of a situation. It’s less common in casual street slang, where people might prefer 'mudar tudo' (change everything) or 'dar um jeito' (fix/find a way), but even in casual settings, using 'reestruturar' can add a layer of seriousness to your intent.
One of the most common pitfalls for English speakers learning Portuguese is overusing reestruturar in situations that are too informal. While 'restructure' is common in English, in Portuguese, using it for small tasks can sound overly dramatic or pompous. Don't say you are going to 'reestruturar' your lunch plans; use 'mudar' or 'reorganizar'.
- Mistake: Confusing with 'Reformar'
- 'Reformar' is usually for physical renovations (like a kitchen) or retirement. 'Reestruturar' is for the system or the organization of things.
- Mistake: Spelling Errors
- Watch out for the double 'e'. It is 're-estruturar'. Many learners forget the second 'e' or try to combine them into one sound prematurely.
Errado: Vou reestruturar meu café da manhã. (Too formal)
Correto: Vou mudar minha rotina de café da manhã.
Another error is failing to use the correct preposition when necessary. While it's a direct transitive verb, when you talk about restructuring *into* something, you might need 'em' or 'para'. However, the most common error is simply a lack of vocabulary variety—using 'reestruturar' when 'reorganizar' (to reorganize), 'remodelar' (to remodel), or 'ajustar' (to adjust) would be more natural for the scale of the task.
To truly master Portuguese, you need to know when to use reestruturar versus its cousins. Each has a specific nuance that changes the tone of your sentence.
- Reorganizar
- To put things back in order. Less drastic than restructuring. You reorganize a shelf; you restructure a company.
- Reformular
- Specifically used for ideas, plans, or questions. 'Preciso reformular minha pergunta' (I need to rephrase/reformulate my question).
- Remodelar
- Focuses on the shape or model. Often used in fashion or physical design. 'Vamos remodelar a fachada da loja.'
Enquanto reestruturar foca na base, reorganizar foca na ordem.
There is also 'reorientar' (to reorient), which is used when the direction or goal changes. If a project is going the wrong way, you 'reorienta' it. If the way the project is built is broken, you 'reestrutura' it. Understanding these subtle differences will make you sound much more like a native speaker and help you navigate professional environments in Lusophone countries.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The word 'structure' comes from the same root as 'destroy' (de-struere), meaning the opposite of building.
Pronunciation Guide
- Merging the two 'e' sounds into one.
- Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r'.
- Missing the 's' sound after the first 'e'.
- Stress on the 'tru' syllable.
- Failing to tap the 'r' in 'tru'.
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize if you know 'structure'.
The double 'e' and 'r's can be tricky to spell correctly.
The rhythm and the 'tr' sound require practice.
Clear pronunciation in formal contexts makes it easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Prefix 're-' indicates repetition or reversal.
Refazer, Reestruturar, Reorganizar.
Regular -ar verb conjugation in the past perfect.
Eu reestruturei, ele reestruturou.
Direct object pronouns with infinitives.
Vou reestruturá-lo (o projeto).
Future Subjunctive for hypothetical situations.
Se eu reestruturar...
Gerund formation for ongoing actions.
Estão reestruturando.
Examples by Level
Eu vou reestruturar meu quarto.
I will restructure my room.
Future tense using 'vou' + infinitive.
Eles reestruturam o jogo.
They restructure the game.
Present tense, 3rd person plural.
Nós precisamos reestruturar a mesa.
We need to restructure the table.
Verb 'precisar' + infinitive.
Você quer reestruturar o plano?
Do you want to restructure the plan?
Question form in present tense.
Ela reestrutura a agenda dela.
She restructures her agenda.
Present tense, 3rd person singular.
Vamos reestruturar a casa.
Let's restructure the house.
Imperative/Suggestion form 'Vamos' + infinitive.
O menino reestrutura os brinquedos.
The boy restructures the toys.
Simple subject-verb-object.
Reestruturar é bom.
Restructuring is good.
Infinitive used as a noun.
A empresa vai reestruturar o escritório.
The company is going to restructure the office.
Future 'ir' + infinitive.
O professor reestruturou a aula.
The teacher restructured the class.
Pretérito Perfeito (Past).
Precisamos reestruturar nosso tempo de estudo.
We need to restructure our study time.
Possessive 'nosso' + noun phrase.
Eles estão reestruturando o site.
They are restructuring the website.
Present continuous (Gerund).
O treinador reestruturou o time.
The coach restructured the team.
Past tense completion.
Você pode reestruturar esse parágrafo?
Can you restructure this paragraph?
Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.
A prefeitura quer reestruturar a praça.
The city hall wants to restructure the square.
Verb 'querer' + infinitive.
Nós reestruturamos o orçamento familiar.
We restructured the family budget.
Past tense, 1st person plural.
O governo decidiu reestruturar a malha ferroviária.
The government decided to restructure the railway network.
Formal verb 'decidir'.
Se reestruturarmos o projeto, ganharemos tempo.
If we restructure the project, we will save time.
Future Subjunctive.
O autor reestruturou o livro após o feedback.
The author restructured the book after the feedback.
Preposition 'após'.
É necessário reestruturar a logística da empresa.
It is necessary to restructure the company's logistics.
Impersonal expression 'É necessário'.
Eles reestruturaram a dívida para evitar a falência.
They restructured the debt to avoid bankruptcy.
Purpose clause with 'para'.
A universidade está a reestruturar os cursos.
The university is restructuring the courses.
European Portuguese continuous form 'estar a' + infinitive.
Espero que eles reestruturem o departamento.
I hope they restructure the department.
Present Subjunctive after 'espero que'.
O plano de reestruturar a carreira foi aceito.
The plan to restructure the career was accepted.
Passive voice 'foi aceito'.
A empresa passou por um processo para reestruturar suas operações.
The company went through a process to restructure its operations.
Complex noun phrase 'processo para'.
O economista sugeriu reestruturar os impostos.
The economist suggested restructuring the taxes.
Verb of suggestion.
Caso você reestruture o código, ele ficará mais rápido.
In case you restructure the code, it will become faster.
Conjunction 'Caso' + Subjunctive.
A reestruturação permitiu que a firma crescesse.
The restructuring allowed the firm to grow.
Noun form 'reestruturação'.
Estamos a reestruturar o modo como interagimos com os clientes.
We are restructuring the way we interact with customers.
Abstract direct object.
Foi difícil reestruturar o pensamento após o trauma.
It was difficult to restructure the thought after the trauma.
Psychological context.
O banco vai reestruturar os empréstimos dos clientes.
The bank will restructure the customers' loans.
Financial terminology.
O arquiteto propôs reestruturar a base do edifício.
The architect proposed restructuring the base of the building.
Physical structural context.
A reestruturação produtiva alterou a dinâmica do trabalho.
The productive restructuring altered the work dynamics.
Sociological terminology.
É imperativo reestruturar as instituições democráticas.
It is imperative to restructure democratic institutions.
Formal adjective 'imperativo'.
O ensaio foca na necessidade de reestruturar o discurso político.
The essay focuses on the need to restructure political discourse.
Academic context.
Ao reestruturar a narrativa, o diretor criou um suspense maior.
By restructuring the narrative, the director created greater suspense.
Prepositional infinitive 'Ao reestruturar'.
A empresa logrou reestruturar-se em tempo recorde.
The company managed to restructure itself in record time.
Reflexive verb 'reestruturar-se'.
Não basta reformar; é preciso reestruturar o sistema.
It is not enough to reform; it is necessary to restructure the system.
Contrast between 'reformar' and 'reestruturar'.
A reestruturação cognitiva é fundamental na terapia.
Cognitive restructuring is fundamental in therapy.
Medical/Psychological term.
O passivo foi reestruturado mediante acordo judicial.
The liabilities were restructured through a judicial agreement.
Legal/Financial passive voice.
A obsolescência do modelo exigiu reestruturar o paradigma vigente.
The obsolescence of the model demanded restructuring the prevailing paradigm.
High-level vocabulary (obsolescência, paradigma).
Urge reestruturar a arquitetura financeira internacional.
It is urgent to restructure the international financial architecture.
Literary verb 'Urge'.
A reestruturação do tecido social é um desafio hercúleo.
The restructuring of the social fabric is a Herculean challenge.
Metaphorical use (tecido social).
O autor reestruturou a ontologia da sua obra magna.
The author restructured the ontology of his magnum opus.
Philosophical context.
A despeito das críticas, decidiu-se reestruturar o órgão.
Despite the criticism, it was decided to restructure the agency.
Concession 'A despeito de' + impersonal 'decidiu-se'.
Reestruturar a semântica do texto foi um trabalho minucioso.
Restructuring the semantics of the text was a meticulous job.
Linguistic context.
A empresa conseguiu reestruturar seu portfólio de ativos.
The company managed to restructure its asset portfolio.
Investment terminology.
A reestruturação urbana deve prever a sustentabilidade.
Urban restructuring must foresee sustainability.
Urban planning context.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— A formal document outlining how changes will be made.
O plano de reestruturação foi aprovado.
— To restructure something completely from the beginning.
Vamos reestruturar o projeto do zero.
— To reorganize one's money or a company's budget.
É hora de reestruturar as finanças da família.
— To change the members or roles within a team.
O técnico reestruturou a equipe para a final.
— A broad term for changing a whole operational framework.
Precisamos reestruturar o sistema de saúde.
— To change the order or logic of a piece of writing.
O editor pediu para reestruturar o texto.
— To change your daily habits and schedule.
Vou reestruturar minha rotina para dormir mais.
— To change how things are done step-by-step.
A consultoria vai reestruturar nossos processos internos.
— Technical term for debt restructuring.
A empresa busca reestruturar seus passivos.
— To change the levels of authority in an organization.
Eles querem reestruturar a hierarquia da igreja.
Often Confused With
Reformar is for physical renovations or retirement; reestruturar is for systems.
Restaurar is to bring back to original condition; reestruturar is to change the condition.
Reorganizar is less fundamental; reestruturar is a deep change.
Idioms & Expressions
— To give a new look (often used as a casual way to say restructure).
Vamos dar uma nova cara ao projeto.
Informal— To turn inside out (to restructure very drastically).
Ele virou a empresa do avesso.
Informal— To put the house in order (to reorganize/restructure everything).
Precisamos colocar a casa em ordem antes de crescer.
Colloquial— To change completely (the result of restructuring).
O serviço mudou da água para o vinho.
Informal— To clean up/restructure a draft or situation.
Vamos passar a limpo a nossa estratégia.
Neutral— To make painful cuts (often part of corporate restructuring).
Para reestruturar, teremos que cortar na carne.
Journalistic— To restructure while things are still operating.
Estamos reestruturando o site com ele no ar; é trocar os pneus com o carro andando.
Business Slang— To lay the foundations (part of restructuring).
Lançamos as bases para a reestruturação.
Formal— To shake off the dust (to start restructuring after a failure).
Vamos sacudir a poeira e reestruturar o plano.
Informal— To clear the way (to allow for restructuring).
A nova lei abriu caminho para reestruturar o setor.
NeutralEasily Confused
Both involve building again.
Reconstruir usually implies the original was destroyed; reestruturar implies the original exists but needs a new system.
Vamos reconstruir a ponte. / Vamos reestruturar o trânsito.
Both involve changing the shape.
Remodelar is often aesthetic or physical; reestruturar is logical or organizational.
Vou remodelar meu rosto. / Vou reestruturar minha empresa.
Both involve fixing something.
Retificar means to correct an error; reestruturar means to change the organization.
Retificar o erro. / Reestruturar a equipe.
Sounds similar.
Reiterar means to repeat a statement; reestruturar is to organize.
Reitero o que disse. / Reestruturo o plano.
Starts with 're-'.
Reaver means to get something back; reestruturar is to change structure.
Reaver o dinheiro. / Reestruturar o caixa.
Sentence Patterns
Eu vou [reestruturar] [noun].
Eu vou reestruturar meu quarto.
Nós precisamos [reestruturar] [noun].
Nós precisamos reestruturar o escritório.
O [noun] foi [reestruturado].
O plano foi reestruturado.
Se você [reestruturasse]..., seria melhor.
Se você reestruturasse a equipe, seria melhor.
A despeito de [noun], vamos [reestruturar].
A despeito da crise, vamos reestruturar.
Urge que se [reestructure] o [noun].
Urge que se reestructure o sistema.
Estamos a [reestruturar]...
Estamos a reestruturar a loja.
Eles estão [reestruturando]...
Eles estão reestruturando o site.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Common in professional and media contexts; rare in casual street slang.
-
Eu restruturei
→
Eu reestruturei
Missing the second 'e'. The prefix is 're-' and the verb is 'estruturar'.
-
Reestruturar a mesa
→
Arrumar a mesa
Using a heavy word for a simple task like setting the table.
-
Vou reestruturar meu carro
→
Vou reformar meu carro
For physical fixing of an object, 'reformar' or 'consertar' is better.
-
Reestruturar um erro
→
Corrigir um erro
You correct errors, you don't restructure them.
-
O prédio foi reestruturado (meaning painted)
→
O prédio foi pintado
Reestruturado means the structure was changed, not just the appearance.
Tips
Use Noun Form
The noun 'reestruturação' is used more often than the verb in newspaper headlines.
Subjunctive
Use 'reestructure' when expressing a wish: 'Espero que ele reestructure a firma.'
The 'R' sound
The first 'r' is strong, the 'tr' is a single tap, and the final 'r' depends on the dialect.
Business
Always use 'reestruturar' in business reports to sound professional.
Spelling
Don't forget the second 'e' after the 're-' prefix.
Variety
Switch between 'reestruturar' and 'reorganizar' to avoid repetition.
Life
Use 'reestruturar a rotina' to sound more committed than 'mudar a rotina'.
Contracts
Look for this word in debt or employment contracts.
Essays
Use it when describing how you organized your research framework.
Planning
A 'plano de reestruturação' is a common and useful term.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'RE-doing' the 'STRUCTURE'. RE-ESTRUTURAR.
Visual Association
Imagine a skyscraper being taken apart and rebuilt into a dome using the same steel beams.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three things in your life you would like to 'reestruturar' this year.
Word Origin
From the Latin 're-' (again) + 'structura' (a fitting together, building).
Original meaning: To build something again or to provide a new building framework.
Romance (Latin root).Cultural Context
Be careful using this word with employees, as it often implies layoffs (demissões).
English speakers might use 'reorganize' more casually, whereas 'reestruturar' sounds quite formal in Portuguese.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Business Meeting
- Precisamos reestruturar a equipe.
- Qual é o plano?
- Quem vai liderar?
- Quando começamos?
Academic Writing
- O autor reestrutura o argumento.
- A tese foi reestruturada.
- Reestruturar a metodologia.
- Nova estrutura teórica.
Personal Planning
- Vou reestruturar meu dia.
- Preciso de mais ordem.
- Vou mudar meus hábitos.
- Reestruturar as finanças.
Government/News
- Reestruturar o ministério.
- Mudanças na lei.
- Reestruturação da dívida.
- Novas regras.
Technology
- Reestruturar o banco de dados.
- Refatorar o código.
- Novo design do site.
- Melhorar a performance.
Conversation Starters
"Você acha que a nossa empresa precisa reestruturar algum departamento?"
"Como você reestruturaria o sistema de transporte da sua cidade?"
"Você já teve que reestruturar sua vida completamente?"
"Se você pudesse reestruturar o sistema de ensino, o que mudaria?"
"Qual é a melhor forma de reestruturar uma dívida pessoal?"
Journal Prompts
Descreva um momento em que você teve que reestruturar seus planos de última hora.
Como a reestruturação da sua rotina diária poderia melhorar sua produtividade?
Reflita sobre a necessidade de reestruturar as prioridades da sociedade moderna.
Escreva sobre um livro ou filme onde o protagonista precisa reestruturar sua vida.
Se você fosse um CEO, como você iria reestruturar uma empresa em crise?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but it sounds like you are changing the actual walls or the foundation, not just painting. If you are just moving furniture, use 'reorganizar'.
The official spelling is 'reestruturar' (without the hyphen), following the latest orthographic agreement.
Yes, very common in business and news contexts.
It is 'reestruturação de dívida'.
Only metaphorically, like 'reestruturar a vida' or in psychology 'reestruturação cognitiva'.
The most direct opposite is 'desestruturar'.
Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern.
Yes, 'reestruturar o código' is a common phrase for refactoring.
In a corporate context, it often does, so use it carefully.
Pronounce them as two distinct sounds, though they may blend slightly in fast speech: re-eh-stru-tu-rar.
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Summary
The verb 'reestruturar' is your go-to word for describing significant, systematic changes. Use it when you are not just tidying up, but completely rethinking the framework of a project or business. Example: 'Vamos reestruturar a empresa.'
- Reestruturar means to organize something in a new, fundamental way.
- It is a formal verb often used in business, finance, and planning.
- The noun form is 'reestruturação', which is very common in news.
- It differs from 'reorganizar' by implying a deeper, structural change.
Use Noun Form
The noun 'reestruturação' is used more often than the verb in newspaper headlines.
Subjunctive
Use 'reestructure' when expressing a wish: 'Espero que ele reestructure a firma.'
The 'R' sound
The first 'r' is strong, the 'tr' is a single tap, and the final 'r' depends on the dialect.
Business
Always use 'reestruturar' in business reports to sound professional.
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