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A2 adjective #9,000 most common 8 min read

rouco

Top 9,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips rouco in 30 Seconds

Explanation rouco in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'rouco' as a basic health-related adjective. It is useful for explaining why you might not be speaking much or why your voice sounds different. At this stage, focus on the simplest form: 'Eu estou rouco' (I am hoarse). You should understand that it is used with the verb 'estar' because it is usually a temporary state. You might hear a teacher or a friend say it if they have a cold. Learn it alongside words like 'doente' (sick) and 'garganta' (throat). You don't need to worry about complex grammar, just remember that if you are a woman, you say 'rouca.' It is a practical word for basic survival communication in a Portuguese-speaking environment.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'rouco' in more complete sentences to explain causes and effects. You can now say things like 'Estou rouco porque gritei muito ontem' (I am hoarse because I shouted a lot yesterday). You should be comfortable with gender agreement (rouco/rouca) and plural forms (roucos/roucas). You will start to encounter this word in short stories or simple news reports about the weather and health. You should also recognize the related noun 'rouquidão' (hoarseness), though you might not use it as often as the adjective. This level is about expanding the context of use beyond just yourself to other people and situations, like describing a singer or a friend.

At the B1 level, you can use 'rouco' in more nuanced ways, including figurative speech and more complex grammatical structures. You might use the conditional tense: 'Se eu cantar muito, vou ficar rouco' (If I sing a lot, I will get hoarse). You can also use it to describe non-human sounds, like a 'motor rouco' (a hoarse/raspy engine). Your understanding of synonyms like 'afônico' should be clear, allowing you to choose the most precise word for the situation. You should be able to participate in a conversation about health or music where 'rouco' is used to describe a vocal quality. You understand the difference between 'ser rouco' (permanent) and 'estar rouco' (temporary) in depth.

At the B2 level, you use 'rouco' with the fluency of a native speaker in varied registers. You might use it in a professional context to explain why you cannot give a presentation or in a literary context to describe the atmosphere of a scene. You are familiar with common idioms and expressions that might involve vocal qualities. You can discuss the nuances of different types of hoarseness, perhaps using adverbs like 'ligeiramente' (slightly) or 'profundamente' (deeply). You understand the cultural significance of a 'voz rouca' in certain musical genres like Fado or Bossa Nova and can express opinions on how it affects the emotional delivery of a song.

At the C1 level, 'rouco' is a tool for precise description in complex narratives or technical discussions. You might use it to describe the 'som rouco das ondas' (the hoarse sound of the waves) in a poetic essay. You are aware of the word's etymology (from Latin 'raucus') and how it relates to other Romance languages. You can distinguish between 'rouco' and more obscure terms like 'estertoroso' or 'gutural' in a medical or linguistic context. Your use of the word is effortless, and you can play with its connotations to create specific effects in your writing or speaking. You can analyze how 'rouquidão' is treated in classical Portuguese literature.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'rouco' and all its possible applications. You can use it in highly sophisticated wordplay or in deep academic analysis of phonetics and vocal pathologies. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its variants across different Lusophone countries (Portugal, Brazil, Angola, etc.). You can interpret the use of 'rouco' in the most complex poetic works, understanding the subtle emotional and sensory layers it adds. Your vocabulary is so broad that 'rouco' is just one of many options you have to describe sound, and you choose it specifically for its unique resonance and history within the Portuguese language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

rouco in 30 Seconds

Rouco means hoarse or husky in English, primarily describing a raspy voice caused by illness or shouting.
It is an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the subject: rouco, rouca, roucos, roucas.
Typically used with the verb 'estar' for temporary states or 'ficar' for changes in vocal quality.
Can be used figuratively for low, rough sounds like engines, wind, or certain musical instruments.

The Portuguese word rouco is a descriptive adjective that primarily refers to the physical state of a person's voice when it sounds rough, harsh, or strained. In English, the most direct translation is 'hoarse' or 'husky.' This condition, known as rouquidão (hoarseness), usually occurs due to inflammation of the vocal cords, often caused by a common cold, excessive shouting, or prolonged speaking. When you use rouco, you are describing a temporary or chronic change in vocal timbre that makes the voice sound deeper and more breathy than usual. It is a very common term in daily life, especially during winter months or after major social events like football matches or music festivals.

Anatomy of the Word: The word changes based on gender: rouco for masculine subjects and rouca for feminine subjects. For example, 'Ele está rouco' (He is hoarse) versus 'Ela está rouca' (She is hoarse).

Beyond the biological context, rouco can be used figuratively to describe sounds that mimic a hoarse human voice, such as a saxophone playing low notes or the sound of a distant foghorn. It carries a connotation of effort or weariness. In a social setting, telling someone 'Você está rouco' is often followed by advice to drink tea with honey or to stop talking to rest the voice.

Depois de gritar tanto no concerto, o João acordou completamente rouco e não conseguia falar.

Cultural Context: In Portugal and Brazil, being 'rouco' is frequently associated with 'torcer' (cheering) for one's favorite soccer team. It is almost a badge of honor after a big win to have a 'voz rouca' the next day.

A cantora tem uma voz naturalmente rouca que é perfeita para cantar jazz.

Medical Nuance: While 'rouco' is the general term for hoarseness, 'afônico' is used when the voice is completely gone (aphonia). If you can still whisper or talk with a raspy sound, you are 'rouco.'

O motor do carro velho fazia um barulho rouco antes de parar de vez.

Using rouco correctly requires attention to the verb it accompanies and the gender of the subject. Most commonly, it is paired with the verb estar (to be - temporary state) or ficar (to become). Because hoarseness is usually a temporary condition, ser (to be - permanent) is rarely used unless describing someone whose natural, permanent voice has that quality. For instance, 'Eu estou rouco' means 'I am hoarse (right now),' whereas 'Eu sou rouco' would imply that your voice is naturally and permanently husky.

Agreement Rules: Always match the adjective to the noun. 'O menino rouco' (The hoarse boy) vs 'As meninas roucas' (The hoarse girls). Note the plural form 'roucos/roucas' when referring to multiple people.

When expressing the cause of the hoarseness, the preposition de is often used. 'Estou rouco de tanto gritar' (I am hoarse from so much shouting). This structure is essential for explaining the context of your condition. You can also use adverbs of intensity to specify how hoarse you are: 'um pouco rouco' (a bit hoarse), 'muito rouco' (very hoarse), or 'completamente rouco' (completely hoarse).

Ela ficou rouca por causa do ar condicionado forte no escritório.

Common Verbs: 1. Estar (to be) - Estás rouco? 2. Ficar (to become) - Vou ficar rouco se continuar a falar. 3. Acordar (to wake up) - Acordei rouca hoje. 4. Parecer (to seem) - A tua voz parece rouca.

Nós ficámos roucos depois de cantar no karaoke a noite toda.

Negation: To say you are NOT hoarse, simply add 'não': 'Eu não estou rouco, apenas estou com sono.'

Apesar da gripe, ele não ficou rouco, mas a garganta dói-lhe muito.

You will encounter rouco in various real-life scenarios. The most frequent is in the context of health and wellness. If you visit a pharmacy or a doctor in a Portuguese-speaking country complaining about your throat, the professional might ask: 'Sente-se rouco?' (Do you feel hoarse?). Similarly, in a workplace, if a colleague's voice sounds different, you might hear: 'Estás com uma voz rouca, estás doente?' (You have a hoarse voice, are you sick?).

In Sports: Sports commentators often describe themselves as 'roucos' after a particularly exciting match where they had to shout 'Golo!' repeatedly. Fans in the stadium will also use it to describe their state the following morning.

In the music industry, rouco is used to describe a specific vocal style. Many famous Portuguese 'Fado' singers or Brazilian 'Samba' artists are praised for their 'voz rouca e melancólica' (hoarse and melancholic voice), which is seen as soulful and emotive. It's not always a negative thing; sometimes it's a desirable aesthetic quality.

O treinador gritou tanto com os jogadores que terminou a conferência de imprensa totalmente rouco.

In Literature and Media: In novels, an author might describe a villain with a 'riso rouco' (hoarse laugh) to make them sound more menacing. In news reports about winter illnesses, you will hear health experts discussing 'sintomas como tosse e voz rouca.'

A rádio anunciou que o locutor seria substituído hoje porque ele está rouco.

Everyday Social Interactions: When someone calls you and your voice is raspy, they might say: 'Desculpa, acordei-te? Pareces rouco.' (Sorry, did I wake you? You sound hoarse.) It is a common way to express concern or observation about someone's immediate physical state.

O público ficou rouco de tanto chamar pelo bis no final do espetáculo.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using rouco is forgetting the gender and number agreement. Since English 'hoarse' is invariable, learners often say 'Elas estão rouco' instead of the correct 'Elas estão roucas.' Always look at the subject of the sentence to determine the correct ending.

The 'Rouco' vs. 'Afônico' Confusion: Learners sometimes use 'rouco' when they have completely lost their voice. While people will understand you, 'afônico' is the technically correct term for total voice loss. 'Rouco' implies you can still make sound, just a raspy one.

Another mistake involves the pronunciation of the 'ou' diphthong. Many English speakers try to pronounce it like the 'ou' in 'out' or 'house.' In Portuguese, 'ou' is almost always a closed 'o' sound, similar to 'boat' or 'go' but without the final 'u' glide in some dialects. Pronouncing it as 'rau-co' will make you sound misunderstood.

Errado: A Maria está rouco. Correto: A Maria está rouca.

Misusing 'Ser' and 'Estar': Using 'Eu sou rouco' when you just have a cold is a common error. This implies a permanent character trait. Use 'Eu estou rouco' for the temporary condition of having a sore throat or having yelled too much.

Errado: Eu sou rouco por causa da gripe. Correto: Eu estou rouco por causa da gripe.

Spelling Errors: Sometimes learners confuse 'rouco' with 'roco' (which sounds similar but is incorrect) or 'rouco' with 'rouca' in the wrong context. Remember: ending in -o is masculine singular, -a is feminine singular, -os is masculine plural, and -as is feminine plural.

As crianças estão roucas de tanto brincar no frio.

While rouco is the most common way to say 'hoarse,' there are several other words you can use depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Knowing these will enrich your vocabulary and help you understand native speakers better.

Afônico: This is a stronger term than 'rouco.' It means having no voice at all. If you are 'afônico,' you can only whisper. Context: 'Depois da laringite, fiquei totalmente afônico por três dias.'
Rouquenho: This is a diminutive or softer version of 'rouco.' It describes someone who is slightly hoarse or has a naturally husky voice that isn't necessarily unpleasant. It's often used for children or singers.
Fanhoso: This describes a nasal voice, like when you have a stuffed nose. It's different from 'rouco' (which is throat-based), but often confused by learners because both happen during a cold.

A sua voz não está rouca, está apenas um pouco fanhosa devido à alergia.

Comparison Table: Rouco: Raspy voice (standard). Afônico: No voice (medical/severe). Rouquenho: Slightly raspy (often natural). Fanhoso: Nasal/stuffed nose sound.

O cantor de blues é conhecido pelo seu tom rouquenho e profundo.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"O palestrante encontra-se rouco devido à exaustão vocal."

Neutral

"Estou um pouco rouco hoje, desculpe."

Informal

"Fiquei todo rouco no concerto ontem!"

Child friendly

"O senhor Sapo está rouco e não pode cantar."

Slang

"Tô roucaço de tanto berrar!"

Fun Fact

The English word 'raucous' comes from the same Latin root as the Portuguese 'rouco'. They are linguistic cousins!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈʁo.ku/

US /ˈʁo.ku/

The stress is on the first syllable: ROU-co.

Rhymes With

pouco (little) louco (crazy) soco (punch) oco (hollow) foco (focus) bloco (block) troco (change) toco (stump)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'ou' like the English 'out'.
Pronouncing the final 'o' as a strong 'oh' instead of a soft 'u'.
Making the 'R' too soft like an English 'R'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text as it resembles 'raucous' or 'ronco' (snore).

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'ou' spelling and gender agreement.

Speaking 3/5

The 'ou' diphthong and the guttural 'R' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Usually clear in context, especially when the speaker sounds hoarse!

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

voz estar ficar doente garganta

Learn Next

afônico rouquidão laringite tosse resfriado

Advanced

pigarro estertor gutural timbre fonação

Grammar to Know

Gender agreement of adjectives

O homem rouco / A mulher rouca.

Pluralization of adjectives ending in -o

Os meninos roucos / As meninas roucas.

Use of 'estar' for temporary states

Eu estou rouco (not 'sou', unless permanent).

Preposition 'de' for cause

Rouco de gritar.

Diphthong 'ou' pronunciation

Pronounced as a closed 'o', not 'ow'.

Examples by Level

Eu estou rouco hoje.

I am hoarse today.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state.

Ela está rouca?

Is she hoarse?

Feminine agreement: 'rouca'.

O meu amigo está rouco.

My friend is hoarse.

Masculine singular.

Nós estamos roucos.

We are hoarse.

Masculine plural.

Você parece rouco.

You seem hoarse.

Verb 'parecer' + adjective.

Estou rouca, não posso falar.

I (fem.) am hoarse, I can't speak.

Subject 'I' is female.

O cão está rouco de ladrar.

The dog is hoarse from barking.

'De' indicates the cause.

Ele não está rouco.

He is not hoarse.

Negation with 'não'.

Fiquei rouco porque gritei no jogo.

I got hoarse because I shouted at the game.

'Ficar' indicates a change of state.

As cantoras estão um pouco roucas.

The singers (fem.) are a bit hoarse.

Feminine plural agreement.

Se bebes água fria, ficas rouco.

If you drink cold water, you get hoarse.

Conditional 'if' structure.

Ontem ele estava rouco, mas hoje está bem.

Yesterday he was hoarse, but today he is fine.

Contrast between past and present states.

A minha voz fica rouca no inverno.

My voice gets hoarse in winter.

'Voz' is feminine, so 'rouca'.

Eles falaram tanto que ficaram roucos.

They spoke so much that they got hoarse.

Resultative 'que' clause.

Estás rouco? Bebe um chá com mel.

Are you hoarse? Drink a tea with honey.

Imperative advice.

A professora está rouca e usa um microfone.

The teacher (fem.) is hoarse and uses a microphone.

Compound sentence.

O motor fazia um barulho rouco e estranho.

The engine was making a hoarse and strange noise.

Figurative use for mechanical sounds.

Sempre que tenho gripe, fico completamente rouca.

Whenever I have the flu, I get completely hoarse.

'Sempre que' + indicative for habits.

Apesar de estar rouco, ele deu a palestra.

Despite being hoarse, he gave the lecture.

'Apesar de' + infinitive.

Ela tem uma voz naturalmente rouca e bonita.

She has a naturally hoarse and beautiful voice.

Describes a permanent quality.

Não fiques rouco, tenta falar mais baixo.

Don't get hoarse, try to speak lower.

Negative imperative.

O saxofone emitiu um som rouco e profundo.

The saxophone emitted a hoarse and deep sound.

Describing musical timbre.

Ele acordou rouco de tanto chorar.

He woke up hoarse from crying so much.

Cause expressed with 'de tanto'.

A multidão ficou rouca a cantar o hino.

The crowd got hoarse singing the anthem.

Collective noun 'multidão' is feminine singular.

A sua voz rouca conferia-lhe um ar de mistério.

His hoarse voice gave him an air of mystery.

Adjective used for characterization.

Se soubesse que ia ficar rouco, não teria gritado.

If I had known I was going to get hoarse, I wouldn't have shouted.

Past unreal conditional.

A rouquidão é um sintoma comum da laringite.

Hoarseness is a common symptom of laryngitis.

Using the noun 'rouquidão'.

O ator, já rouco, esforçava-se por terminar a cena.

The actor, already hoarse, was struggling to finish the scene.

Appositive adjective phrase.

O vento soprava com um assobio rouco entre as árvores.

The wind blew with a hoarse whistle between the trees.

Personification/Metaphor.

É impressionante como ela canta jazz com aquele tom rouco.

It's impressive how she sings jazz with that hoarse tone.

Exclamatory structure.

O rádio transmitia a voz rouca do velho capitão.

The radio transmitted the hoarse voice of the old captain.

Descriptive possessive.

Ficar rouco é o maior medo de qualquer orador profissional.

Getting hoarse is the greatest fear of any professional speaker.

Infinitive as subject.

O timbre rouco da sua voz denunciava anos de tabagismo.

The hoarse timbre of his voice betrayed years of smoking.

'Denunciar' used as 'to reveal'.

A escrita de Saramago é por vezes descrita como tendo um tom rouco.

Saramago's writing is sometimes described as having a hoarse tone.

Abstract literary criticism.

Havia uma qualidade rouca no som do violoncelo antigo.

There was a hoarse quality in the sound of the old cello.

Nuanced auditory description.

O orador prosseguiu, embora a sua voz estivesse cada vez mais rouca.

The speaker continued, although his voice was increasingly hoarse.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + subjunctive.

A rouquidão persistente deve ser avaliada por um especialista.

Persistent hoarseness should be evaluated by a specialist.

Passive voice 'deve ser avaliada'.

O grito rouco da gaivota ecoava pela falésia deserta.

The seagull's hoarse cry echoed across the deserted cliff.

Evocative imagery.

A sua garganta, irritada e rouca, impedia-o de proferir o discurso.

His throat, irritated and hoarse, prevented him from delivering the speech.

Adjectives used as a cause.

O som rouco das engrenagens indicava a falta de lubrificação.

The hoarse sound of the gears indicated the lack of lubrication.

Technical metaphor.

A rouquidão fustigava-lhe as cordas vocais após o concerto épico.

Hoarseness lashed his vocal cords after the epic concert.

Sophisticated verb 'fustigar'.

Sob o céu de chumbo, ouvia-se o coaxar rouco dos sapos no pântano.

Under the leaden sky, the hoarse croaking of frogs in the swamp could be heard.

Highly descriptive literary style.

A voz rouca, quase um sussurro gutural, conferia uma gravidade solene à ocasião.

The hoarse voice, almost a guttural whisper, gave a solemn gravity to the occasion.

Complex noun phrases.

O autor utiliza a metáfora do 'mundo rouco' para descrever a falta de comunicação.

The author uses the metaphor of the 'hoarse world' to describe the lack of communication.

Metaphorical analysis.

A patologia manifestava-se através de um pigarro constante e um tom rouco.

The pathology manifested itself through a constant throat-clearing and a hoarse tone.

Clinical terminology.

Nada é mais evocativo do que o som rouco de um comboio a vapor na distância.

Nothing is more evocative than the hoarse sound of a steam train in the distance.

Comparative of superiority.

A rouquidão, outrora um sinal de fadiga, tornara-se agora a sua marca registada.

Hoarseness, once a sign of fatigue, had now become his trademark.

Use of 'outrora' and pluperfect.

As palavras saíam-lhe roucas, tingidas pela emoção de um reencontro tardio.

The words came out hoarse, tinged by the emotion of a late reunion.

Participial phrase 'tingidas pela'.

Common Collocations

voz rouca

ficar rouco

estar rouco

som rouco

completamente rouco

acordar rouco

riso rouco

latido rouco

grito rouco

tom rouco

Common Phrases

Estou rouco de tanto falar.

— I am hoarse from talking too much.

Depois da reunião de três horas, estou rouco de tanto falar.

Ficar rouco de tanto gritar.

— To get hoarse from shouting too much.

No estádio, todos ficaram roucos de tanto gritar.

Voz rouca de sono.

— A voice that sounds hoarse because the person just woke up.

Desculpa o atraso, ainda estou com voz rouca de sono.

Uma voz rouca e cansada.

— A voice that sounds hoarse and tired.

A enfermeira respondeu com uma voz rouca e cansada.

Rouco como um corvo.

— An idiom meaning very hoarse (like a crow).

Com esta gripe, estou rouco como um corvo.

Não fiques rouco!

— Don't get hoarse! (Advice).

Bebe água, não fiques rouco.

Pareces rouco, estás bem?

— You sound hoarse, are you okay?

Pareces rouco ao telefone, estás com febre?

Voz rouca e profunda.

— A husky and deep voice.

O locutor de rádio tem uma voz rouca e profunda.

Acordar com a voz rouca.

— To wake up with a hoarse voice.

É horrível acordar com a voz rouca no dia de um exame.

Falar com um tom rouco.

— To speak in a hoarse tone.

Ele falou com um tom rouco para não acordar o bebé.

Often Confused With

rouco vs louco

Means 'crazy'. Only the first letter is different, so be careful with pronunciation!

rouco vs roubo

Means 'theft' or 'robbery'. The 'b' vs 'c' is the key difference.

rouco vs roco

Not a standard Portuguese word, but often a misspelling by learners.

Idioms & Expressions

"Gritar até ficar rouco"

— To shout until one's voice is gone.

Os adeptos gritaram até ficarem roucos.

common

"Voz de cana rachada"

— Literal 'cracked cane voice'; describes a very ugly, hoarse, or harsh voice.

Ele canta mal, tem uma voz de cana rachada.

informal

"Estar com o sapo na garganta"

— To have a 'frog in the throat' (need to clear the throat).

Desculpem, estou com o sapo na garganta, estou um pouco rouco.

colloquial

"Ter voz de lixa"

— To have a voice like sandpaper (very rough and hoarse).

Aquele fumador tem uma voz de lixa.

informal

"Falar para o boneco"

— To talk to a puppet (to be ignored); often results in getting hoarse for nothing.

Estou aqui a ficar rouco a explicar e tu não ouves, parece que falo para o boneco.

slang

"Engolir um sapo"

— To swallow a frog (to put up with something unpleasant); can metaphorically make one's voice 'rouca' with suppressed emotion.

Tive de engolir muitos sapos e agora estou rouco de raiva.

idiomatic

"Voz de trovão"

— Voice of thunder (very loud); the opposite of rouco, but can lead to it.

Ele tem voz de trovão, mas hoje está rouco.

literary

"Perder a voz"

— To lose one's voice (extreme hoarseness).

Perdi a voz no concerto ontem.

neutral

"Voz de veludo"

— Velvet voice; the smooth opposite of a 'voz rouca' (unless it's a 'rouco' sexy voice).

Ela tem uma voz de veludo, nada rouca.

poetic

"Dar o grito do Ipiranga"

— To make a decisive stand (historical reference); often involves shouting until hoarse.

Ele deu o seu grito do Ipiranga e ficou rouco.

historical/Brazilian

Easily Confused

rouco vs afônico

Both relate to voice problems.

Rouco is raspy/harsh; Afônico is no voice at all.

Estou rouco (can talk), mas ele está afônico (cannot talk).

rouco vs fanhoso

Both happen during a cold.

Rouco is in the throat; Fanhoso is in the nose (nasal).

Falo fanhoso porque o nariz está entupido.

rouco vs grave

Both describe low voices.

Grave is just low pitch; Rouco is rough/strained texture.

Ele tem uma voz grave, mas não está rouco.

rouco vs áspero

Both mean rough.

Áspero is a general texture; Rouco is specific to voice/sound.

A lixa é áspera; a minha voz está rouca.

rouco vs rouquenho

Very similar meaning.

Rouquenho is a 'light' or natural version of rouco.

O bebê tem um choro rouquenho.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + estar + rouco/a

Eu estou rouco.

Subject + ficar + rouco/a + por causa de + noun

Ela ficou rouca por causa do frio.

Subject + acordar + rouco/a

Nós acordámos roucos.

Noun (voice/sound) + ser/estar + rouco/a

A voz dele é rouca.

Estar + rouco/a + de + tanto + infinitive

Estou rouco de tanto rir.

Apesar de + estar + rouco/a, ...

Apesar de estar rouco, ele falou.

Um som + rouco + que + verb

Um som rouco que vinha da cave.

A rouquidão + verb + subject

A rouquidão impedia o seu discurso.

Word Family

Nouns

rouquidão hoarseness

enrouquecimento the act of becoming hoarse

rouquice quality of being hoarse (rare)

Verbs

enrouquecer to become hoarse

rouquejar to make hoarse sounds

Adjectives

rouco hoarse

rouquenho slightly hoarse

enrouquecido made hoarse

How to Use It

frequency

High in daily life, especially in health and sports contexts.

Common Mistakes

Eu sou rouco (when sick) → Eu estou rouco
'Ser' implies a permanent state; 'estar' is for a temporary cold.
As meninas estão rouco → As meninas estão roucas
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Estou rau-co (pronunciation) → Estou rou-co (closed O)
The 'ou' is a closed vowel, not an 'ow' sound.
O meu voz está rouco → A minha voz está rouca
'Voz' is feminine, so the possessive and adjective must be feminine.
Fiquei rouco de tanto grito → Fiquei rouco de tanto gritar
Use the infinitive verb after 'de tanto' to express the action.

Tips

Watch the Agreement

Always check if the person you are describing is male or female. 'Ele rouco', 'Ela rouca'.

Learn the Noun

Learn 'rouquidão' alongside 'rouco' to talk about the condition itself.

Close that O

Make sure the 'ou' is closed. Don't say 'rau-co'.

Soccer Context

Expect to hear 'rouco' a lot on Mondays after big soccer games.

Medical Precise

Use 'afônico' if you literally cannot make a sound.

Husky Jazz

Use 'voz rouca' to describe that cool, raspy jazz singer vibe.

Mechanical Sounds

Use 'rouco' to describe a car engine that sounds like it's struggling.

Idiomatic Use

Use 'rouco de tanto...' to explain why someone is hoarse.

Showing Concern

Saying 'Estás rouco?' is a polite way to ask if someone is feeling okay.

Rock Star Mnemonic

Remember: Rock stars get rouco!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Rock' star. They sing 'Rock' music and their voice gets 'Rouco' (hoarse). Rock = Rouco.

Visual Association

Imagine a piece of sandpaper (rough) sitting on a pair of vocal cords. The sound it makes is 'rouco'.

Word Web

garganta doente gritar voz frio chá mel silêncio

Challenge

Try to describe three different things that can be 'rouco' (a person, an engine, a bird) in Portuguese sentences.

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'raucus', which also meant hoarse, rough, or deep-sounding.

Original meaning: Hoarse, harsh, or clattering.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Portuguese.

Cultural Context

There are no major sensitivities, but avoid making fun of someone's 'voz rouca' if it might be due to a chronic health condition.

In English, 'hoarse' is purely descriptive. In Portuguese, it often triggers a conversation about the cause (usually sports or a cold).

The famous Brazilian singer Alcione is known for her 'voz rouca'. Eusébio, the soccer legend, was often 'rouco' after matches. The poem 'O Corvo' (The Raven) translated into Portuguese uses 'rouco' to describe the bird's croak.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Health/Doctor

Dói-me a garganta.
Estou rouco há dois dias.
Perdi a voz.
Tenho rouquidão.

Music/Singing

Ela tem uma voz rouca.
O cantor está rouco.
Não forces a voz.
O tom é muito rouco.

Sports/Events

Gritei muito no estádio.
Fiquei rouco com o golo.
A claque está rouca.
Celebramos até ficar roucos.

Weather/Winter

O frio deixa-me rouco.
Apanhei uma corrente de ar.
Estou constipado e rouco.
Protege a garganta.

Mechanical/Sounds

O motor parece rouco.
Um som rouco na máquina.
O vento está rouco.
Barulho rouco e baixo.

Conversation Starters

"Acho que estás a ficar rouco, queres um chá?"

"Porque é que estás tão rouco hoje? Gritaste muito ontem?"

"Gostas de cantores com voz rouca ou vozes mais claras?"

"O que costumas fazer quando acordas rouco?"

"Já ficaste rouco num concerto da tua banda favorita?"

Journal Prompts

Descreve uma vez em que ficaste completamente rouco. O que aconteceu?

Escreve sobre o teu cantor favorito que tem uma voz rouca. Porque gostas dele?

Como te sentes quando estás rouco e não consegues comunicar bem?

Imagina que és um locutor de rádio que acordou rouco. Escreve o teu monólogo de abertura.

Faz uma lista de remédios caseiros que conheces para quem está rouco.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it can also describe sounds from animals (like a dog's bark), instruments (like a saxophone), or machines (like an engine).

The feminine form is 'rouca'. Example: 'A Maria está rouca.'

You use the verb 'ficar': 'Estou a ficar rouco' (Portugal) or 'Estou ficando rouco' (Brazil).

No, 'rouco' is an adjective. The noun form is 'rouquidão' (hoarseness).

Usually, it implies a health issue or strain, but in music, a 'voz rouca' can be considered very attractive or soulful.

'Estar rouco' is temporary (you have a cold). 'Ser rouco' is permanent (your natural voice is husky).

It's a closed 'o' sound, like in the English word 'soul' or 'boat.'

Yes: 'roucos' (masculine plural) and 'roucas' (feminine plural).

Usually, we say 'tosse seca' (dry cough) or 'tosse com expetoração' (wet cough). 'Rouco' is specifically for the voice.

Yes, it is common and used exactly the same way in all Portuguese-speaking countries.