tirando

The Portuguese word tirando is a fascinating linguistic chameleon. While its primary identity is the gerund form of the verb tirar (meaning 'taking away', 'removing', or 'pulling'), its function as a preposition is what learners at the B1 level must master. In this specific prepositional context, tirando translates to 'excluding', 'except for', 'aside from', or 'with the exception of'. It is used to isolate a specific element from a group or a situation to indicate that the following statement applies to everything else but that specific part. It is one of the most common ways to express exclusion in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, though it is equally understood and used in Portugal, albeit sometimes with a more informal flavor than its cousin exceto.

Grammatical Classification

In this context, it is considered an improper preposition (preposição imprópria). This means a word from another class (a verb) is functioning as a preposition without changing its form.

People use tirando constantly in daily life because it feels less stiff than exceto or à exceção de. If you are talking about your weekend and want to mention that everything was perfect except for a brief rain shower, you would naturally reach for tirando. It sets a boundary. It tells the listener: 'Ignore this specific detail for a moment so you can understand the broader truth of what I am saying.' It is particularly useful in reviews, storytelling, and giving opinions where one negative or positive outlier needs to be set aside to make a general point. For example, in a restaurant review, one might say, 'Tirando a demora, a comida estava excelente' (Aside from the delay, the food was excellent).

The versatility of tirando also extends to abstract concepts. You can use it to exclude people, objects, time periods, or even complex ideas. It often appears at the very beginning of a sentence to set the stage, or in the middle as a qualifying clause. Linguistically, it provides a 'subtractive' logic to communication. Instead of listing everything that fits a criteria, you mention the one thing that doesn't. This is often more efficient. In business settings, it helps focus the conversation on the main goals by setting aside minor hurdles: 'Tirando o orçamento, temos tudo pronto' (Aside from the budget, we have everything ready). This usage bridges the gap between the physical act of 'taking something away' and the mental act of 'excluding a thought'.

Register and Tone

Neutral to Informal. It is perfect for conversations, emails, and social media. In highly formal legal documents, prefer salvo or exceto.

Historically, the transition of tirando from a verb to a preposition reflects the Portuguese language's tendency toward simplification in speech. By using the gerund, the speaker conveys a sense of 'action'—the act of mentally removing the obstacle. This makes the language feel more dynamic. In contrast, exceto feels more static and categorical. When a Brazilian says 'Tirando isso...', they are effectively saying 'Taking this out of the equation...'. It is a practical, almost physical way of organizing information. Understanding this word is key to sounding natural and moving beyond the textbook-style Portuguese that relies too heavily on formal conjunctions.

Common Contexts

Travel (excluding the weather), Work (excluding the deadline), Social Life (excluding the ex-boyfriend), and General Opinions (excluding the price).

Using tirando correctly involves understanding its placement and the relationship between the excluded item and the rest of the sentence. Because it acts as a preposition, it usually precedes a noun or a pronoun. It functions as a pivot point in the sentence. One of the most common structures is placing it at the very beginning to establish the exception immediately. This is particularly effective for emphasizing that, despite one specific problem, the overall situation is positive. For example: 'Tirando o trânsito, o caminho para a praia é curto' (Aside from the traffic, the way to the beach is short). Here, the focus remains on the short distance, while the traffic is acknowledged but set aside.

Structure 1: Sentence Starter

[Tirando] + [Noun/Pronoun], [Main Clause]. This is used for emphasis and setting the context early on.

Another frequent placement is in the middle of a sentence, acting as a parenthetical remark. This is common when you are listing items or describing a state and realize there is one exception you need to mention. 'Eu gosto de todas as frutas, tirando o melão' (I like all fruits, except for melon). In this case, the main idea (liking fruits) is presented first, and the exception is added as a qualifier. This flow is very natural in spoken Portuguese and mimics how we often think—generalizing first and then refining. You can also use it with demonstrative pronouns like isso or aquilo. 'Tirando isso, não tenho mais nada a declarar' (Aside from that, I have nothing else to declare).

Structure 2: Mid-Sentence Qualifier

[Main Clause], [tirando] + [Noun/Pronoun]. This is used to add a specific exception to a general statement already made.

For advanced learners, tirando can be combined with other conjunctions to create more complex logical structures. For instance, 'Tirando o fato de que...', which means 'Aside from the fact that...'. This allows you to exclude an entire clause or situation rather than just a single noun. 'Tirando o fato de que ele chegou atrasado, o trabalho dele foi impecável' (Aside from the fact that he arrived late, his work was impeccable). This construction is extremely powerful in professional evaluations and critical thinking. It allows for a nuanced balance between criticism and praise. It shows the speaker is looking at the whole picture while still noting specific discrepancies.

Structure 3: Excluding a Fact

[Tirando o fato de] + [Verb Clause], [Main Clause]. Use this to exclude an action or a condition rather than just a person or object.

Finally, consider the negative usage. While tirando is subtractive by nature, it can be used to emphasize that *nothing* is excluded. 'Não vou mudar nada, nem tirando uma vírgula' (I won't change anything, not even removing a comma). Here, it reverts slightly toward its verbal origin but maintains the sense of exclusion. In essence, mastering tirando is about mastering the art of the 'but'. It is the lubricant of Portuguese conversation, allowing speakers to navigate through generalizations and specifics with ease and rhythmic flow. Whether you are excluding a person from a list or a feeling from a memory, tirando is your go-to tool for clarity and conversational authenticity.

If you walk through the streets of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, or Lisbon, you will hear tirando in almost every social setting. It is a staple of 'Português falado' (spoken Portuguese). One of the most common places to hear it is in the context of personal reviews and storytelling. Friends catching up at a cafe will often use it to summarize their experiences. 'Como foi a viagem?' 'Foi ótima, tirando o hotel que era barulhento.' This structure—[Positive Summary] + [Tirando] + [Negative Outlier]—is the heartbeat of Brazilian social feedback. It allows people to remain generally positive while still being honest about the downsides. It is a linguistic tool for politeness and balance.

Context: Social Catch-ups

Used to qualify experiences, movies, dinners, or dates. It helps the speaker provide a nuanced opinion without sounding overly negative.

In the workplace, tirando is equally prevalent, especially in brainstorming sessions or project updates. It is used to clear the path of minor obstacles so the team can focus on the big picture. A project manager might say, 'Tirando a aprovação do jurídico, estamos prontos para lançar' (Aside from the legal approval, we are ready to launch). Here, it functions as a way to categorize tasks: what is done versus what is the sole remaining exception. It is also used when discussing personnel or attendance: 'Tirando o Marcos, todos entregaram o relatório' (Except for Marcos, everyone submitted the report). It is direct, efficient, and lacks the heavy formality of à exceção de, making it ideal for the fast-paced modern office environment.

You will also encounter tirando in the world of sports and competition. Sports commentators frequently use it to highlight a player's performance despite a single mistake. 'Tirando aquele erro no segundo tempo, ele jogou uma partida perfeita' (Aside from that error in the second half, he played a perfect match). It is the language of analysis. It allows the commentator to isolate a variable to show its impact—or lack thereof—on the overall outcome. Even in news reporting, when journalists want to convey that a situation is generally stable with one exception, tirando is the preferred choice for its clarity and accessibility to the general public.

Context: Media and Sports

Used to isolate specific events or people for analysis. It helps in creating a contrast between an individual and a group.

Finally, listen for it in customer service and retail. When a clerk says, 'Tirando este modelo, não temos mais nenhum em estoque' (Except for this model, we have no others in stock), they are using the word to define the limits of possibility. It is a word of boundaries. From the kitchen—'Tirando a cebola, posso colocar tudo na pizza'—to the classroom—'Tirando a lição de casa, não há mais avisos'—tirando is the invisible thread that helps Portuguese speakers categorize their world into 'the rule' and 'the exception'. For a learner, using it correctly is a signal that you understand the informal logic of the language, making you sound less like a textbook and more like a local.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using tirando is confusing its prepositional use with its verbal use. Because tirando is the gerund of tirar, it is easy to accidentally use it in a way that suggests an ongoing action when you actually mean to express an exception. For instance, 'Estou tirando a dúvida' means 'I am removing the doubt' (clarifying something), whereas 'Tirando a dúvida, eu entendi tudo' means 'Aside from the doubt, I understood everything.' The difference is subtle but vital. Learners often struggle to recognize that the word doesn't change its form when it shifts from a verb to a preposition, leading to confusion in complex sentences where both uses might be possible.

Mistake 1: Semantic Confusion

Failing to distinguish between the 'action of removing' and the 'state of exception'. Always check if the sentence makes sense if you replace tirando with exceto.

Another common error involves word order and the use of the word 'de'. In English, we often say 'Aside *from*...'. This leads many learners to say 'Tirando de...' in Portuguese. This is incorrect. Tirando as a preposition does not require the particle 'de' before the noun. You should say 'Tirando o problema' and never 'Tirando do problema'. Adding the 'de' changes the meaning significantly, often making it sound like you are physically pulling something out of the problem. This is a classic 'false friend' of grammatical structure where the English prepositional phrase 'aside from' misleads the learner into adding unnecessary connectors in Portuguese.

Learners also frequently over-rely on tirando in formal writing. While it is incredibly common in speech, using it in a formal academic essay or a high-level legal contract can make the writing seem amateurish. In these contexts, you should use exceto, salvo, or com exceção de. Another mistake is using the wrong pronoun after tirando. In English, we use object pronouns ('Except for *me*'). In Portuguese, specifically in Brazil, it is standard to use subject pronouns: 'Tirando eu', 'Tirando ele'. While 'Tirando mim' might seem more logical to an English speaker, it sounds unnatural and is grammatically questionable in this prepositional context in Brazilian Portuguese.

Mistake 2: Over-Formalization or Misapplied Pronouns

Using tirando in formal documents where exceto is required, or using 'mim' instead of 'eu' in casual speech.

Finally, be careful with the 'tirando que' construction. Sometimes learners try to use 'tirando que' as a direct translation of 'except that', but in Portuguese, it is much more common and correct to say 'tirando o fato de que' (excluding the fact that). Simply saying 'tirando que' can sound truncated or like a direct, clumsy translation from English. By adding 'o fato de', you provide the necessary grammatical 'bridge' to the next clause. Avoiding these common pitfalls will not only make your Portuguese more accurate but also more idiomatic, helping you navigate the subtle boundary between formal rules and the living, breathing language spoken on the streets.

Portuguese offers several ways to express exclusion, and knowing which one to choose depends on the register and the specific nuance you want to convey. The most direct synonym for tirando is exceto. Exceto is the universal 'except'. It is safe to use in almost any context, from a casual conversation to a formal report. While tirando feels like you are 'taking something out', exceto feels like you are 'marking something as an exception'. In many sentences, they are interchangeable: 'Todos vieram, tirando o Pedro' vs. 'Todos vieram, exceto o Pedro'. However, exceto is slightly more elevated and is the standard in European Portuguese for most contexts.

Exceto vs. Tirando

Exceto: Formal/Neutral, universal. Tirando: Informal/Neutral, very common in Brazil, carries a sense of 'removal'.

Another common alternative is fora. While fora literally means 'outside', when used as a preposition, it functions exactly like 'aside from' or 'besides'. It is very common in Brazil. 'Fora o frio, a viagem foi boa' (Aside from the cold, the trip was good). Fora is often used when you want to imply that there is an additional factor outside of the main one. It is slightly more versatile than tirando because it can also mean 'in addition to' in certain contexts. For example, 'Fora o salário, ele recebe bônus' (Besides the salary, he receives bonuses). Tirando would not work as well here because tirando almost always implies a negative or a singular exception that is being set aside.

In more formal or literary settings, you will encounter salvo and menos. Salvo is often found in legal or academic texts, meaning 'save for' or 'unless'. It is very formal. 'Todos os direitos são reservados, salvo autorização expressa'. Menos, which usually means 'less' or 'minus', is used colloquially as 'except'. 'Todo mundo foi, menos eu' (Everyone went, except me). Menos is very common and perhaps the most 'mathematical' way to express exclusion. It is very similar to tirando but is even shorter and more direct. It is the preferred choice when subtracting a specific person or number from a group.

Finally, there is the phrase a não ser (unless/except). This is used more for conditions. 'Não vou, a não ser que você vá' (I won't go, unless you go). While tirando deals with nouns (objects/people), a não ser often introduces a whole new condition or action. Understanding these differences allows you to paint with a finer brush. Use tirando when you want to sound like a local Brazilian setting aside a detail. Use exceto for clarity and professionalism. Use menos for quick subtractions. By mastering this cluster of 'exclusionary' words, you gain the ability to navigate complex social and professional interactions with the precision of a native speaker.

Comparison: Tirando vs. Menos

Tirando: Focuses on the act of setting a detail aside. Menos: Focuses on the mathematical subtraction from a total.