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A2 verb #7,500 most common 11 min read

soluçar

Top 7,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips soluçar in 30 Seconds

Explanation soluçar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'soluçar' primarily in its most common physical context: having the hiccups. This is a very useful word for basic daily needs. You might need to tell a teacher or a friend that you have hiccups so they can offer you water. At this stage, focus on the present tense 'eu soluço' and the simple connection to drinking water or holding your breath. You don't need to worry about the deep emotional or literary meanings yet. Just think of it as a physical reaction that happens when you eat too fast. You will likely encounter it in simple stories about children or in basic health-related vocabulary lists. Remember that the noun is 'soluço' and the verb is 'soluçar'. If you can say 'Estou soluçando, preciso de água', you have mastered the A1 usage of this word. It is a regular verb, so its conjugation follows the patterns you are already learning for words like 'falar' and 'morar'.

At the A2 level, you begin to see 'soluçar' used in more descriptive ways, especially in the context of crying. You are now able to describe feelings and past events. You can use 'soluçar' to explain that someone was crying very hard. For example, 'A criança soluçava muito porque perdeu o brinquedo'. You should also be aware of the spelling change in the past tense: 'eu solucei'. This is a key grammar point at this level. You are moving beyond just 'having hiccups' to 'sob'. You can start to use it in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito and Imperfeito) to tell stories about people's emotional states. You might also encounter it in simple songs or short stories where characters are sad. Understanding that 'soluçar' is more intense than 'chorar' is a great way to show you are advancing in your vocabulary.

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'soluçar' in a variety of tenses, including the conditional and the subjunctive. You might say 'Se eu comesse mais devagar, não soluçaria'. You also start to understand the metaphorical uses of the word. For instance, a person might 'soluçar de rir' (sob with laughter). You are expected to recognize the word in slightly more complex texts, like news reports about emotional events or in intermediate-level literature. You should also be able to distinguish between 'soluçar' and its synonyms like 'choramingar' or 'gemer'. At this level, you can use the word to add more detail and 'color' to your descriptions of people's behavior. Instead of just saying someone was sad, you can say they were 'soluçando de tristeza', which provides a much clearer picture for the listener.

At the B2 level, you can use 'soluçar' to express nuances in your writing and speaking. You understand that the word can be used to describe not just people, but also objects and nature in a poetic sense. For example, 'O motor da balsa soluçava enquanto atravessava o rio'. You are familiar with the common collocations and idioms associated with the word. You can use it in the future subjunctive ('Quando você parar de soluçar, conversaremos') and in complex sentence structures. You also have a better grasp of the register—knowing when to use 'soluçar' for dramatic effect versus when to use 'ter soluços' for a medical description. Your ability to use this word correctly in an essay or a formal presentation about human emotions or literature shows a high level of linguistic competence.

At the C1 level, your understanding of 'soluçar' is deep and nuanced. You recognize its use in classical Portuguese literature and in the lyrics of Fado, where it often symbolizes a profound, existential 'saudade'. You can analyze how authors use the word to create rhythm or to personify the environment. You are aware of the word's etymology and how it relates to other Romance languages. In your own production, you use 'soluçar' with precision, perhaps using it to describe the 'soluçar das ondas' (the sobbing of the waves) in a descriptive piece of writing. You understand the subtle difference in tone between 'soluçar' and 'singultar'. You can use the word in all its forms, including the less common ones, and you never make the common spelling mistakes that beginners do. You are also sensitive to the cultural weight the word carries in Portuguese-speaking cultures, particularly regarding the expression of grief and passion.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'soluçar'. You can use it with the ease of a native speaker, employing it in highly specialized contexts, such as literary criticism or advanced medical discussions. You are familiar with every possible metaphorical application, from the 'soluçar' of a violin to the 'soluços' of a dying political movement. You can engage in debates about the translation of this word into other languages, noting how it captures a specific blend of physical and emotional distress that English words like 'sob' or 'hiccup' might miss in isolation. You can write poetry or prose in Portuguese that uses 'soluçar' to evoke specific emotional responses in your readers. Your usage is flawless, and you can even play with the word's onomatopoeic qualities to enhance your spoken or written expression. You are fully attuned to the word's ability to convey the most delicate and the most violent of human experiences.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

soluçar in 30 Seconds

Soluçar is the Portuguese verb for 'to hiccup' or 'to sob'. It involves a rhythmic, involuntary catching of the breath.
Commonly used when a person is crying intensely or has eaten too quickly, causing a diaphragm spasm.
In literary contexts, it describes melancholic sounds like the wind, waves, or the strings of a Portuguese guitar.
It is a regular -ar verb, but remember the spelling change to 'solucei' in the first-person past tense.

The Portuguese verb soluçar is a fascinating linguistic artifact because it bridges the gap between a purely physiological reflex and a deep, emotional expression of the human soul. At its most literal level, which you will encounter in daily life, it refers to the act of hiccuping. When your diaphragm contracts involuntarily and you make that sharp, repetitive sound, you are soluçando. However, the definition provided for this specific lesson focuses on its more evocative and emotional dimension: to sob or to make sounds of repressed crying or intense laughter. This dual nature makes it a versatile word in the Portuguese vocabulary. You will use it when describing a child who has been crying for so long that their breath becomes jagged and rhythmic, or when describing a person so overcome by grief that they cannot maintain a steady flow of breath. It is a word that captures the physical manifestation of internal pressure, whether that pressure comes from air in the stomach or sorrow in the heart. In literature and music, particularly in the melancholic tradition of Fado, soluçar is used to describe the way a guitar strings might 'sob' or how the wind 'hiccups' through the trees, giving nature a human-like capacity for sadness.

The Physicality of the Word: Unlike the English word 'sob', which is strictly emotional, soluçar maintains its connection to the involuntary spasm of the throat. This means that when a Portuguese speaker says someone is soluçando, they are describing a specific rhythmic sound, not just the presence of tears.

A criança começou a soluçar depois de chorar por horas, tentando recuperar o fôlego.

Emotional Depth: In a romantic or tragic context, soluçar implies a level of distress that has transcended simple crying. It is the stage of grief where the body takes over the emotional process, creating a physical tremor that is audible and heartbreaking to the listener.

Ele não conseguia falar; apenas conseguia soluçar enquanto segurava a carta de despedida.

Laughter and Joy: Though less common, one can 'soluçar de rir'. This describes that intense, breathless laughter where you are making gasping sounds because you cannot catch your breath between bouts of hilarity.

A piada foi tão engraçada que todos na sala começaram a soluçar de tanto rir.

O mar parecia soluçar contra as rochas naquela noite tempestuosa.

Mesmo tentando ser forte, ela sentiu o peito soluçar de tristeza.

Using the verb soluçar correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation as a regular first-conjugation verb ending in '-ar'. In the present tense, you say 'eu soluço', 'você soluça', 'nós soluçamos', and 'eles soluçam'. Because it is a verb of action (even if the action is involuntary), it often appears in the progressive form in Brazilian Portuguese: 'estou soluçando'. In European Portuguese, you would more likely hear 'estou a soluçar'. When using it to mean 'to sob', it is frequently paired with the preposition 'de' to indicate the cause of the sobbing, such as 'soluçar de dor' (to sob with pain) or 'soluçar de saudade' (to sob with longing). It is also common to see it used with the verb 'começar' (to begin) because the onset of hiccups or sobbing is usually a distinct, noticeable moment.

Transitive vs. Intransitive: Soluçar is almost always intransitive, meaning it does not require a direct object. You don't 'soluçar something'; you simply 'soluçar'. However, in poetic contexts, one might 'soluçar palavras' (to sob words), implying that the words are being broken up by the act of sobbing.

Ela tentou explicar o que aconteceu, mas só conseguia soluçar algumas frases desconexas.

Past Tense Nuances: In the Pretérito Perfeito, 'eu solucei' (note the spelling change from 'ç' to 'c' before 'e' to maintain the soft 's' sound) indicates a finished action. In the Pretérito Imperfeito, 'eu soluçava' describes a continuous state of sobbing in the past.

Ontem, eu solucei o caminho inteiro para casa depois de ver aquele filme triste.

Gerund Usage: The gerund 'soluçando' is very common in narrative writing to set a mood. It creates an atmosphere of ongoing distress or physical discomfort.

A pequena órfã adormeceu ainda soluçando, com o rosto molhado de lágrimas.

Nós soluçamos juntos quando recebemos a notícia da vitória inesperada.

Se você beber água de cabeça para baixo, talvez pare de soluçar.

You will hear soluçar in a variety of settings, ranging from the mundane to the highly dramatic. In a domestic setting, it is most frequently heard when someone has a persistent case of hiccups. A mother might say to her child, 'Você não para de soluçar, beba um pouco de água'. In this context, it is a clinical or descriptive term for a physical annoyance. However, move into the realm of Brazilian Telenovelas or Portuguese Fado houses, and the word takes on a much darker, more emotional hue. In these settings, soluçar is the sound of a broken heart. You will hear it in song lyrics where the singer describes their chest 'soluçando' with the pain of an absent lover. It is also a staple in literature. Authors use it to describe the sound of a person who is trying to hide their emotions but fails, as the physical 'hiccup' of a sob gives them away. In a hospital or a funeral, the word is used with gravity to describe the intense grief of the bereaved.

In the Doctor's Office: Doctors might use the verb to describe a patient's symptoms if they have chronic hiccups (soluços persistentes). They might ask, 'Há quanto tempo o senhor está soluçando?' (How long have you been hiccuping?)

O paciente começou a soluçar violentamente após a cirurgia abdominal.

In Literature and Poetry: Poets often personify the wind or the sea as 'soluçando'. This creates a sense of universal sadness or unrest in the environment. It is a powerful tool for establishing a 'saudade' atmosphere.

O vento soluçava entre as frestas da janela velha, como se estivesse com frio.

In Daily Conversations: You might hear it in gossip or storytelling: 'Ela estava soluçando tanto que nem conseguiu me contar o que o João fez'. Here, it highlights the intensity of the reaction.

Eu não aguento mais soluçar; vou tentar prender a respiração.

Ao ouvir o hino nacional, o atleta não conteve a emoção e começou a soluçar.

O motor do carro velho parecia soluçar antes de finalmente morrer na estrada.

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is assuming that soluçar is a direct equivalent to the English word 'to cry'. While 'cry' is 'chorar', 'soluçar' is a very specific type of crying. If you say someone is 'soluçando' when they are just shedding a few silent tears, you are using the word incorrectly. It must involve that convulsive, rhythmic gasping. Another common error is grammatical: the spelling of the first-person singular in the past tense. Many students write 'soluçei', but the correct spelling is 'solucei'. In Portuguese, the 'ç' is never used before 'e' or 'i'. The letter 'c' already has the soft 's' sound in those positions. Furthermore, learners often confuse 'soluçar' with 'engasgar' (to choke). While both involve the throat and breathing, 'engasgar' is about something being stuck in the airway, whereas 'soluçar' is about the spasm of the diaphragm.

Confusion with 'Chorar': Remember: Chorar = To cry (general). Soluçar = To sob/hiccup (specific sound/spasm). You can chorar without soluçar, but you usually soluçar while you are chorando heavily.

Não diga que ele está a soluçar se ele estiver apenas com os olhos lacrimejando.

Interchanging with 'Soluço': Learners often say 'Eu tenho soluçar' instead of 'Eu estou soluçando' or 'Eu tenho soluços'. Remember that 'soluçar' is the verb (the action), and 'soluço' is the noun (the thing you have).

É errado dizer 'Eu tive um soluçar'; o correto é 'Eu tive um soluço'.

Misusing in Formal Contexts: While 'soluçar' is not slang, using it to describe your hiccups in a very formal business meeting might be slightly too much information. Usually, people just excuse themselves without naming the specific bodily function unless necessary.

Peça desculpas em vez de dizer detalhadamente que você começou a soluçar.

Ele soluçou (correto) vs Ele soluçouou (incorreto) - evite prolongar as vogais finais.

Ela está soluçando de rir, não de chorar; observe o contexto antes de consolar alguém.

To enrich your Portuguese, it is helpful to know the words that orbit around soluçar. If you want to talk about general crying, 'chorar' is your go-to verb. If the crying is very loud and involves wailing, you might use 'berrar' or 'clamar'. For a more dignified or quiet form of crying, 'lacrimejar' (to tear up) or 'prantear' (to mourn/weep) are excellent choices. If you are specifically talking about the sound of sadness without necessarily the 'hiccup' aspect, 'gemer' (to groan or moan) or 'suspirar' (to sigh) are useful. In the context of hiccups, there aren't many direct synonyms for the verb 'soluçar', but you can use the phrase 'ter soluços'. Interestingly, in some regional dialects, you might hear 'singultar', though this is extremely rare and mostly found in medical or archaic texts.

Soluçar vs. Suspirar: A 'suspiro' (sigh) is a long, deep breath out, often indicating relief or resignation. A 'soluço' (sob/hiccup) is a sharp, involuntary breath in. They are physiological opposites but both express emotion.

Depois de soluçar muito, ela finalmente deu um longo suspiro e se acalmou.

Soluçar vs. Choramingar: 'Choramingar' means to whimper or whine. It is often used for children or people who are complaining in a high-pitched, annoying way. 'Soluçar' is much deeper and more involuntary.

Pare de choramingar por causa do sorvete e tente não soluçar tanto.

Gemer and its uses: 'Gemer' is used for physical pain. While you might 'soluçar' from the emotional shock of an injury, you 'gemer' from the ongoing physical throbbing of the pain itself.

O ferido começou a gemer e, logo depois, a soluçar de desespero.

O liquidificador velho está a soluçar; acho que vai quebrar em breve.

Entre um soluçar e outro, ele conseguiu pedir perdão.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The English word 'singultus' (the medical term for hiccups) comes from the same Latin root 'singultus', which also means a sob or a gasp. This shows how ancient the connection between these two physical actions is in Western thought.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /su.luˈsaɾ/

US /su.luˈsaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'sar'.

Rhymes With

amar cantar falar olhar pensar chegar andar lugar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'ç' like a 'k' sound.
Putting the stress on the second syllable instead of the last.
Confusing the 'u' sound with the English 'u' in 'sun'.
Failing to change 'ç' to 'c' when conjugating in the past (writing soluçei instead of solucei).
Making the 'o' too much like an 'ah' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in context, but can be confused with other verbs of crying.

Writing 4/5

The spelling change to 'solucei' is a common pitfall for learners.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward as long as you respect the cedilha (ç).

Listening 3/5

The 'ç' sound is very clear and distinctive in Portuguese.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

chorar água triste parar beber

Learn Next

suspirar gemer prantear engasgar respirar

Advanced

singultar convulsionar estertorar

Grammar to Know

Spelling change for verbs ending in -çar

Eu soluçar -> Eu solucei (The 'ç' becomes 'c' before 'e' or 'i').

Use of 'de' to indicate cause with verbs of emotion

Soluçar de medo, soluçar de frio.

Gerund formation for first conjugation verbs

Soluçar -> Soluçando.

Imperfect tense for continuous past actions

Ele soluçava enquanto lia a carta.

Nominalization of the infinitive

O soluçar das águas é relaxante.

Examples by Level

Eu estou soluçando porque bebi água muito rápido.

I am hiccuping because I drank water very fast.

Present continuous using the gerund 'soluçando'.

O bebê soluça depois de mamar.

The baby hiccups after nursing.

Present tense, third person singular.

Você quer água para parar de soluçar?

Do you want water to stop hiccuping?

Infinitive form after the preposition 'de'.

Eu sempre soluço quando como pimenta.

I always hiccup when I eat pepper.

Adverb of frequency 'sempre' with present tense.

O soluço é muito chato.

The hiccup is very annoying.

Using the noun 'soluço' instead of the verb.

Ela não para de soluçar.

She doesn't stop hiccuping.

Negative structure with 'parar de' + infinitive.

Nós soluçamos ao mesmo tempo.

We hiccuped at the same time.

Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), first person plural.

Tente prender a respiração para não soluçar.

Try to hold your breath so you don't hiccup.

Imperative 'tente' followed by infinitive.

A menina soluçava de tristeza porque perdeu o cão.

The girl was sobbing with sadness because she lost her dog.

Imperfect tense 'soluçava' used for continuous past action.

Eu solucei muito ontem à noite.

I sobbed a lot last night.

Note the spelling change from 'ç' to 'c' in 'solucei'.

Eles soluçaram quando viram o filme triste.

They sobbed when they saw the sad movie.

Pretérito Perfeito, third person plural.

Não chore assim, você vai começar a soluçar.

Don't cry like that, you will start to sob.

Future construction 'vai começar a' + infinitive.

Ela estava soluçando tanto que não conseguia falar.

She was sobbing so much that she couldn't speak.

Past continuous 'estava soluçando'.

O menino soluçou uma última vez e dormiu.

The boy sobbed one last time and fell asleep.

Pretérito Perfeito, indicating a completed action.

Por que você está soluçando? O que aconteceu?

Why are you sobbing? What happened?

Interrogative sentence in the present continuous.

Nós soluçávamos de rir com as piadas dele.

We were sobbing with laughter at his jokes.

Imperfect tense used for a repeated past state.

Se você bebesse água, pararia de soluçar imediatamente.

If you drank water, you would stop hiccuping immediately.

Conditional sentence: Imperfect Subjunctive + Conditional.

Espero que ele não comece a soluçar durante a apresentação.

I hope he doesn't start hiccuping during the presentation.

Present Subjunctive 'comece' after 'espero que'.

Ela soluçava palavras de amor enquanto ele partia.

She sobbed words of love as he left.

Transitive use of 'soluçar' in a literary context.

O cansaço era tanto que ele começou a soluçar sem motivo.

The exhaustion was so great that he started to sob for no reason.

Result clause 'tanto que' followed by the verb.

Mesmo soluçando, ela conseguiu terminar o discurso.

Even while sobbing, she managed to finish the speech.

Concessive use of the gerund 'soluçando'.

Eu teria soluçado se não tivesse controlado as minhas emoções.

I would have sobbed if I hadn't controlled my emotions.

Compound Conditional 'teria soluçado'.

O som do violino parecia soluçar na sala vazia.

The sound of the violin seemed to sob in the empty room.

Personification using 'parecia' + infinitive.

É comum soluçar quando se está em estado de choque.

It is common to sob when one is in a state of shock.

Impersonal 'se' construction with the infinitive.

A embarcação soluçava contra as ondas violentas do Atlântico.

The vessel sobbed against the violent waves of the Atlantic.

Metaphorical use of 'soluçar' for rhythmic mechanical movement.

Duvido que ela pare de soluçar antes do final da cerimônia.

I doubt she will stop sobbing before the end of the ceremony.

Subjunctive 'pare' after a verb of doubt 'duvido que'.

O motor soluçou e finalmente parou no meio da estrada.

The engine sobbed/sputtered and finally stopped in the middle of the road.

Using 'soluçar' to describe a mechanical failure.

Ela soluçava convulsivamente, incapaz de conter a dor da perda.

She was sobbing convulsively, unable to contain the pain of loss.

Use of the adverb 'convulsivamente' to modify 'soluçava'.

Ao soluçar, o peito dele subia e descia de forma irregular.

Upon sobbing, his chest rose and fell irregularly.

Infinitive used as a noun after the preposition 'ao'.

Talvez ele estivesse soluçando de frio e não de tristeza.

Perhaps he was shivering/sobbing from cold and not from sadness.

Subjunctive 'estivesse' expressing possibility.

O público soluçava diante da atuação emocionante da atriz.

The audience was sobbing at the actress's moving performance.

Collective noun 'público' with third person singular verb.

Não convém soluçar em público se você quer manter a compostura.

It is not advisable to sob in public if you want to maintain your composure.

Impersonal expression 'não convém' + infinitive.

A alma da cidade parecia soluçar sob o peso da negligência.

The soul of the city seemed to sob under the weight of neglect.

High-level personification and abstract noun usage.

O texto de Clarice Lispector faz a linguagem soluçar em busca de sentido.

Clarice Lispector's text makes language sob in search of meaning.

Causative 'fazer' + infinitive in a literary analysis context.

O fado é um canto que nasce do soluçar do peito lusitano.

Fado is a song born from the sobbing of the Lusitanian chest.

Nominalized infinitive 'o soluçar'.

Embora soluçasse, o herói não permitiu que as lágrimas caíssem.

Although he was sobbing (internally), the hero did not allow the tears to fall.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + Imperfect Subjunctive.

A flauta soluçava uma melodia melancólica que ecoava pelo vale.

The flute sobbed a melancholy melody that echoed through the valley.

Metaphorical transitive usage.

Há um soluçar contido em cada palavra daquela carta de despedida.

There is a contained sob in every word of that farewell letter.

Existential 'há' with a nominalized infinitive.

A estrutura da ponte soluçava sob o impacto das rajadas de vento.

The bridge's structure groaned/sobbed under the impact of the wind gusts.

Technical/Literary crossover usage.

Não há quem não soluça ao contemplar tal tragédia.

There is no one who does not sob when contemplating such a tragedy.

Relative clause with 'quem' requiring the subjunctive in some contexts (here indicative for emphasis).

O soluçar das águas contra o cais evocava uma saudade ancestral.

The sobbing of the waters against the pier evoked an ancestral longing.

Complex nominalization and evocative vocabulary.

A poética camoniana por vezes parece soluçar a dor de um império em declínio.

Camões' poetics sometimes seem to sob the pain of a declining empire.

Literary criticism syntax.

Incapaz de articular o trauma, o paciente limitava-se a soluçar ritmicamente.

Unable to articulate the trauma, the patient limited himself to sobbing rhythmically.

Pronominal verb 'limitar-se a' followed by infinitive.

O violoncelo, em suas notas mais graves, parecia soluçar a finitude humana.

The cello, in its lowest notes, seemed to sob human finitude.

Abstract philosophical direct object.

Sob a égide do luto, a nação inteira soluçou a perda do seu guia.

Under the aegis of mourning, the entire nation sobbed the loss of its guide.

Formal prepositional phrase 'sob a égide de'.

A cadência da prosa soluçada revela a instabilidade emocional do narrador.

The cadence of the sobbed prose reveals the narrator's emotional instability.

Past participle 'soluçada' used as an adjective.

O vento soluçava lúgubres presságios pelas fendas da torre abandonada.

The wind sobbed lugubrious omens through the cracks of the abandoned tower.

Advanced vocabulary ('lúgubres presságios').

Nada restava senão o soluçar monótono da chuva sobre o telhado de zinco.

Nothing remained but the monotonous sobbing of the rain on the zinc roof.

Restrictive 'senão' with nominalized infinitive.

Common Collocations

soluçar de rir

soluçar de tristeza

começar a soluçar

parar de soluçar

soluçar convulsivamente

soluçar baixinho

ataque de soluços

soluçar de dor

soluçar de medo

soluçar de saudade

Common Phrases

Estou soluçando.

— I am hiccuping. Used to describe the current physical state.

Estou soluçando há dez minutos.

Soluçar de tanto chorar.

— To sob from crying so much. Describes the physical exhaustion of grief.

Ela soluçou de tanto chorar a noite toda.

O soluço passou.

— The hiccups are gone. Used when the spasm stops.

Finalmente o soluço passou, que alívio!

Não soluce tanto.

— Don't sob so much. Often said as a comfort or instruction to calm down.

Calma, não soluce tanto, tudo vai ficar bem.

Soluçar sem parar.

— To sob/hiccup without stopping. Emphasizes persistence.

O motor do carro soluçava sem parar.

Prender o soluço.

— To hold back a sob or a hiccup. Describes the effort of suppression.

Ele tentou prender o soluço para não mostrar fraqueza.

Soluçar alto.

— To sob loudly. Describes the volume of the distress.

Ela soluçou alto quando ouviu a surpresa.

Remédio para soluçar.

— Cure for hiccups. Refers to folk or medical remedies.

Qual é o melhor remédio para parar de soluçar?

Soluçar de frio.

— To shiver/sob from cold. Describes the body's reaction to low temperatures.

As crianças soluçavam de frio na neve.

Soluçar um segredo.

— To sob out a secret. Used when someone confesses while crying.

Entre lágrimas, ela soluçou o segredo que guardava.

Often Confused With

soluçar vs chorar

Chorar is the general act of crying; soluçar is the specific, gasping sound of intense crying or hiccups.

soluçar vs engasgar

Engasgar is to choke on something; soluçar is a rhythmic spasm of the diaphragm.

soluçar vs suspirar

Suspirar is to sigh (exhaling); soluçar involves a sharp inhalation.

Idioms & Expressions

"Soluçar de rir"

— To laugh so hard that you start making gasping sounds similar to sobbing.

A turma soluçou de rir com a história do professor.

informal

"O motor está soluçando"

— A metaphorical way to say a car engine is misfiring or struggling rhythmically.

Precisamos ir ao mecânico, o motor está soluçando.

informal/technical

"A guitarra soluça"

— A common poetic expression in Fado music describing the emotional sound of the strings.

Nas mãos do mestre, a guitarra portuguesa parece soluçar.

poetic

"Soluçar a alma"

— To sob from the very depths of one's being; extreme emotional pain.

Ela parecia soluçar a alma naquele momento de perda.

literary

"Vento soluçante"

— Describing wind that comes in sharp, rhythmic gusts that sound like crying.

O vento soluçante batia contra as janelas da mansão.

literary

"Soluçar de sol"

— A rare, poetic way to describe the shimmering, jumpy light of a hot day (heat haze).

A estrada soluçava de sol sob o calor do meio-dia.

poetic

"Soluçar de susto"

— To have a sharp intake of breath or a sudden hiccup caused by being startled.

Ele soluçou de susto quando a porta bateu.

neutral

"O mar soluça"

— The rhythmic sound of waves hitting the shore, perceived as a sad sound.

Naquela praia deserta, apenas o mar soluçava.

poetic

"Soluçar de raiva"

— To be so angry that your breathing becomes jagged and you start to sob.

Ele soluçava de raiva por não ter sido ouvido.

neutral

"Soluçar de alívio"

— To cry with gasps because a great weight has been lifted.

Ao ver o filho a salvo, ela soluçou de alívio.

neutral

Easily Confused

soluçar vs soluço

Noun vs Verb

Soluço is the noun (the hiccup/sob), while soluçar is the verb (the action). You 'have' a soluço, but you 'are' soluçando.

Eu tive um soluço (noun). Eu não paro de soluçar (verb).

soluçar vs solução

Similar spelling

Solução means 'solution' (to a problem). It has nothing to do with hiccups or sobbing.

Qual é a solução para o problema? vs. Beba água para o soluçar parar.

soluçar vs sujar

Similar sound

Sujar means 'to dirty' something. The pronunciation is different but beginners might mix up the 'su' start.

Não vá sujar a roupa! vs. Ele começou a soluçar.

soluçar vs soltar

Similar start

Soltar means 'to release' or 'to let go'.

Solte a corda! vs. Ela soluçou de medo.

soluçar vs choramingar

Both are types of crying.

Choramingar is whimpering or whining; soluçar is deeper, more rhythmic, and often more involuntary.

O menino choramingou por um doce, mas soluçou quando caiu.

Sentence Patterns

Eu [verb] porque [reason].

Eu soluço porque bebi rápido.

A criança estava [gerund] de [emotion].

A criança estava soluçando de tristeza.

Se eu [subjunctive], eu não [conditional].

Se eu bebesse água, eu não soluçaria.

O [noun] parecia [infinitive] sob [condition].

O motor parecia soluçar sob o peso da carga.

Não há quem não [verb] ao [infinitive].

Não há quem não soluça ao ver tamanha dor.

O [nominalized infinitive] de [noun] evoca [abstract noun].

O soluçar das ondas evoca uma saudade profunda.

Mesmo [gerund], ele [past tense].

Mesmo soluçando, ele continuou.

Ela começou a [infinitive] de tanto [infinitive].

Ela começou a soluçar de tanto rir.

Word Family

Nouns

soluço (hiccup/sob)

soluçada (the act of a single sob)

Verbs

soluçar (to hiccup/sob)

Adjectives

soluçado (sobbed/jagged)

soluçante (sobbing/breathless)

chorar

suspirar

gemer

engasgar

respirar

How to Use It

frequency

Common in daily life for hiccups; common in literature/music for emotional expression.

Common Mistakes

Eu soluçei ontem. → Eu solucei ontem.
You must change 'ç' to 'c' before 'e'. This is a mandatory spelling rule in Portuguese.
Eu tenho um soluçar. → Eu tenho um soluço.
Use the noun 'soluço' for the thing you have, and the verb 'soluçar' for the action you are doing.
Ela está soluçando (when she is just crying silently). → Ela está chorando.
'Soluçar' requires the physical sound and spasm. Silent crying is just 'chorar'.
O soluço é de felicidade (meaning a simple laugh). → Ela está soluçando de rir.
You don't just 'have a hiccup' of happiness; you 'sob with laughter' as a continuous action.
Eu soluçar muito. → Eu soluço muito.
Remember to conjugate the verb according to the subject.

Tips

The Cedilha Rule

Always remember that 'ç' is a friend of 'a', 'o', and 'u'. When 'e' or 'i' comes along, 'ç' loses its tail and becomes a simple 'c'. This applies to all verbs ending in -çar, like 'começar' (comecei) and 'alcançar' (alcancei).

Paint a Picture

Use 'soluçar' when you want your listener to really hear the sadness. It is a much more powerful word than 'chorar' because it describes a physical struggle to breathe.

Folk Cures

If you are in Brazil and start to 'soluçar', don't be surprised if someone tells you to put a piece of paper on your forehead or to drink seven sips of water without breathing. It's part of the culture!

Stress the End

Portuguese verbs in the infinitive almost always have the stress on the last syllable. Make sure you say 'so-lu-ÇAR' and not 'so-LU-çar'.

Poetic Personification

If you are writing in Portuguese, try using 'soluçar' to describe the wind or the sea. It immediately gives your writing a melancholic, soulful tone.

Hiccups vs Sobs

In a clinical setting, 'soluço' is the term for the reflex. If you are describing a patient's emotional state, 'soluçar' describes their outward expression of pain.

Check the Cause

Always look for the preposition 'de' after 'soluçar'. It will tell you if the person is crying from 'tristeza' (sadness), 'rir' (laughter), or 'frio' (cold).

Onomatopoeia

The word 'soluçar' actually sounds a bit like a sob if you say it with a short, sharp 'u'. Use this sound-meaning connection to help you remember it.

Vary Your Verbs

Don't just use 'chorar' every time. A character who 'soluça' is much more distressed than one who just 'chora'. It adds depth to your storytelling.

Empathy

If someone tells you they are 'soluçando', they are likely very upset. It is a signal to offer comfort or a glass of water, depending on the context.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the word 'SOL' (sun) and 'U' (you) and 'ÇAR'. Imagine you are under the hot SUN (SOL) and YOU (U) are crying so hard you start to SOB (soluçar).

Visual Association

Visualize a person drinking a glass of water while their body jerks upward from a hiccup. The word 'soluçar' sounds a bit like the 'hic-hic' sound itself.

Word Web

soluço chorar água diafragma tristeza riso respiração convulsão

Challenge

Try to say 'Eu soluço, tu soluças, ele soluça' three times fast without actually starting to hiccup!

Word Origin

From the Latin verb 'subgluttiare', which is a compound of 'sub' (under) and 'gluttire' (to swallow).

Original meaning: The original sense was related to swallowing down or gulping, which perfectly describes the physical action of a hiccup or a sob.

Romance language family, specifically from the Western Ibero-Romance branch.

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when using 'soluçar' in a funeral context; it implies a very high level of visible distress.

English speakers often separate 'hiccup' and 'sob' completely. In Portuguese, the single word 'soluçar' covers both, highlighting a shared physical mechanism for different emotional/physical states.

The song 'Soluços' by the Brazilian singer Jards Macalé. Clarice Lispector's use of 'soluço' in her novel 'The Hour of the Star'. Amália Rodrigues, the queen of Fado, whose voice often 'soluça' in her recordings.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Medical/Physical

Estou com soluços.
Como parar de soluçar?
Ataque de soluços.
Soluçar sem parar.

Emotional/Sadness

Soluçar de tristeza.
Soluçar de saudade.
Soluçar convulsivamente.
Não aguentar de tanto soluçar.

Laughter

Soluçar de rir.
Quase soluçando de tanta piada.
Rir até soluçar.
Soluços de alegria.

Mechanical/Metaphorical

O motor está soluçando.
A máquina começou a soluçar.
O vento soluçava na janela.
O som soluçado da flauta.

Childcare

O bebê está soluçando.
Não chore até soluçar.
Beba água para o soluço passar.
Soluço de frio.

Conversation Starters

"Você conhece algum truque infalível para parar de soluçar?"

"Qual foi o filme que mais fez você soluçar de tanto chorar?"

"Você já soluçou de rir em uma situação inapropriada?"

"O que você faz quando vê uma criança soluçando de tristeza?"

"Você acha que o som da chuva parece o de alguém soluçando?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva um momento em que você soluçou de alegria e o que causou essa emoção.

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve um ataque de soluços em público e como se sentiu.

Pense em uma música que faz você querer soluçar e explique o porquê.

Crie uma pequena história onde o vento é um personagem que passa a noite soluçando.

Reflita sobre a diferença entre chorar silenciosamente e soluçar profundamente.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, while 'soluçar' is the primary verb for hiccuping in Portuguese, it is also very commonly used to describe deep, gasping sobbing. The context usually makes it clear which one is meant. For example, if someone is at a funeral, they are likely sobbing. If they just finished a spicy meal, they are likely hiccuping.

It is a regular -ar verb, but with one important spelling rule. In the Pretérito Perfeito, the 'eu' form is 'solucei'. The 'ç' changes to 'c' because Portuguese spelling rules dictate that 'ç' is never used before the letters 'e' or 'i'. All other forms keep the 'ç', such as 'você soluçou' and 'nós soluçamos'.

Not directly, but the phrase 'soluçar de rir' is common. It describes the state of laughing so hard that you start to gasp for air in a way that sounds like hiccups or sobbing. It indicates a very high intensity of laughter.

'Chorar' is the general verb for crying. You can 'chorar' silently or loudly. 'Soluçar' is a specific physical sound and movement—the 'hic' sound of a sob. You can't 'soluçar' without that rhythmic catching of the breath, but you can 'chorar' without 'soluçar'.

Both are correct! 'Estou com soluço' (literally: I am with hiccup) is very common in informal speech. 'Estou soluçando' (I am hiccuping/sobbing) is also common and slightly more descriptive of the action itself.

Yes, in a metaphorical sense. Portuguese speakers often describe a struggling car engine or a flickering machine as 'soluçando'. It suggests that the movement or sound is not smooth but jerky and rhythmic.

While 'soluçar' is perfectly fine, 'prantear' is a more formal and literary word for weeping or mourning. However, 'soluçar' is more effective if you want to describe the actual sound of the person's distress.

This is a fundamental rule of Portuguese orthography. The letter 'ç' (cedilha) is only used before 'a', 'o', and 'u' to give them an 's' sound. Since the letter 'c' already has an 's' sound when followed by 'e' or 'i', the cedilha is unnecessary and therefore grammatically incorrect in those cases.

Yes, the meaning is identical in both countries. The only difference is in the progressive form: Brazilians say 'estou soluçando' while the Portuguese say 'estou a soluçar'. Both use it for both hiccups and sobbing.

Physically, it is often blamed on eating too fast, drinking cold water, or spicy food. Emotionally, it is the standard sound of 'saudade' or deep grief in traditional Portuguese music and literature.