Esta página no seu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

中文

हिन्दी

A2 adjective #7,000 mais comum 9 min de leitura

indignado

Top 7,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas indignado em 30 segundos

Explicação indignado in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'indignado' as a way to say 'very angry' because something is 'not fair' (não é justo). It is an advanced word for a beginner, but very useful for expressing strong feelings. You should focus on the simplest form: 'Eu estou indignado' (I am indignant). Imagine you are at a store and they charge you too much money. You feel 'indignado'. Remember that if you are a woman, you say 'indignada'. At this level, don't worry too much about complex grammar, just use it with 'estou' or 'fiquei'. It is a step up from 'triste' (sad) or 'bravo' (angry). Think of it as 'Angry + Unfair'.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the A2 level, you start to use 'indignado' with prepositions, especially 'com' (with). You should be able to say things like 'Estou indignado com o preço' (I am indignant with the price) or 'Ela está indignada com o serviço' (She is indignant with the service). You are also learning to use the plural forms: 'Nós estamos indignados'. This level requires you to understand that 'indignado' is more formal and specific than 'bravo'. You use it when you want to show that you have a good reason to be angry. You might also see it in short news headlines or social media posts. It's a key word for basic 'citizen' vocabulary.

At the B1 level, you can use 'indignado' to describe more complex social and political situations. You understand the nuance that indignation comes from a violation of 'dignidade' (dignity). You can use it in the past tense to describe reactions: 'Quando eu soube da notícia, fiquei indignado'. You start to use it with 'por' to explain reasons: 'Estou indignado por ter de esperar tanto'. You also begin to recognize related words like 'indignação' (the noun). At this level, you should be able to write a short paragraph or a complaint letter using this word to express a formal grievance.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the B2 level, you use 'indignado' with a high degree of precision. You can distinguish it from synonyms like 'revoltado' or 'inconformado'. You use it in debates or discussions about social justice, ethics, and current events. You are comfortable with the word in various registers, from a formal newspaper article to a passionate conversation with friends. You also understand the cultural weight of the word in Lusophone history, such as its use in political movements. You can use adverbs to modify it, like 'perfeitamente indignado' or 'justamente indignado' (rightly indignant).

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C1 level, 'indignado' is part of your sophisticated vocabulary for expressing complex emotional states. You use it in academic or professional writing to critique ideas or actions. You understand the etymological roots (in- + dignus) and how this informs its usage in legal and philosophical texts. You can use it as a substantive ('Os indignados') to refer to specific social groups. Your usage includes idiomatic expressions and you can detect subtle sarcasm or irony when the word is used in a hyperbolic way. You are also aware of regional variations in how indignation is expressed across the Portuguese-speaking world.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

At the C2 level, your use of 'indignado' is indistinguishable from a native speaker's. You use it to convey subtle shades of meaning, perhaps contrasting it with 'estupefata' or 'perplexo' to show a range of reactions to an event. You can analyze literature or political speeches where 'indignação' is a central theme. You are comfortable using the word in its most abstract forms and in complex grammatical structures, such as within 'se' clauses or the subjunctive mood: 'Se ele não estivesse tão indignado, talvez pudesse raciocinar melhor'. You have a deep understanding of the word's resonance in the collective consciousness of Portuguese-speaking societies.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

indignado em 30 segundos

Indignado means 'indignant' or 'outraged' due to unfairness.
It requires gender agreement: indignado (m) / indignada (f).
Commonly used with the preposition 'com' (with/at).
It is a more formal and moralistic word than just 'bravo' (angry).

The Portuguese word indignado is a powerful adjective that translates directly to the English word 'indignant'. However, its usage in the Lusophone world carries a specific weight of moral outrage and perceived injustice that transcends simple anger. When a person says they are indignado, they are not just 'mad' or 'annoyed'; they are expressing a profound sense that a boundary of fairness, ethics, or human dignity has been crossed. It is the emotion of a citizen seeing corruption, a customer facing blatant exploitation, or a friend witnessing a betrayal of trust. To be indignado is to stand on a platform of righteousness, signaling to others that what has occurred is fundamentally 'indigno' (unworthy) of the situation or the people involved.

Core Sentiment: The feeling of being offended by something considered unjust, mean, or beneath one's dignity. It is a reactive emotion triggered by external stimuli that violate a personal or social moral code.
Social Context: Commonly used in political discourse, social activism, and consumer complaints. It is a 'public' emotion, often shared with others to build solidarity against an unfair act.
Grammatical Nature: As an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the subject: indignado (masculine singular), indignada (feminine singular), indignados (masculine plural), and indignadas (feminine plural).

In everyday life, you might hear this word during a news broadcast where a reporter describes the reaction of a community to a new, unfair law. You might also hear it in a more personal setting, such as a restaurant where a patron is treated with inexplicable rudeness. The key is the cause of the anger. If you lose your keys, you are irritado (annoyed); if someone steals your keys and the police refuse to help, you are indignado. The latter implies a systemic or moral failure that justifies your emotional response.

"O povo saiu às ruas, indignado com as novas medidas de austeridade do governo."(The people took to the streets, indignant with the government's new austerity measures.)

Culturally, Portuguese speakers value 'respeito' (respect) and 'justiça' (justice) highly. Therefore, expressing indignation is a socially acceptable way to defend these values. It is less about 'losing control' and more about 'taking a stand'. In Brazil, the term became particularly prominent during the 2013 protests, often associated with the phrase 'o gigante acordou' (the giant has awakened), reflecting a collective state of being indignado with the status quo.

"Ela ficou indignada quando percebeu que o colega recebeu crédito pelo seu trabalho."(She became indignant when she realized her colleague received credit for her work.)

"Estamos todos indignados com a falta de segurança no bairro."(We are all indignant with the lack of security in the neighborhood.)

Using indignado correctly requires attention to both grammatical agreement and the preposition that follows it. In Portuguese, adjectives must mirror the gender and number of the noun they modify. This is the first hurdle for English speakers, as 'indignant' remains unchanged regardless of who is feeling it. Secondly, indignado is most frequently paired with the preposition com (with/at) or por (for/because of).

Agreement Patterns

Singular Masculine: Ele está indignado.
Singular Feminine: Ela está indignada.
Plural Masculine: Eles estão indignados.
Plural Feminine: Elas estão indignadas.

Common Prepositions

Indignado com: Used when the cause is a person, a thing, or a situation. Ex: Indignado com o preço. (Indignant with the price.)

Indignado por: Used to express the reason or motive. Ex: Indignado por ter sido enganado. (Indignant for having been deceived.)

When constructing sentences, it is often used with the verb estar (to be - temporary state) because indignation is typically a reaction to a specific event rather than a permanent personality trait. However, one can also sentir-se (feel) or ficar (become) indignado. Using ficar is particularly common to describe the moment someone's mood shifts upon hearing bad news or witnessing an injustice.

"Eu fiquei indignado ao ver como trataram aquele idoso no banco."(I became indignant upon seeing how they treated that elderly person at the bank.)

In more formal or literary contexts, you might find the word used as a noun: o indignado (the indignant one) or os indignados (the indignant ones). This was famously used during the 'Movimento dos Indignados' in Spain and Portugal (known as the 15-M movement), where the adjective became a collective identity for protesters against economic inequality.

"Não adianta ficar indignado e não fazer nada para mudar a situação."(It's no use being indignant and doing nothing to change the situation.)

The word indignado is ubiquitous in Portuguese-speaking media, particularly in journalism and social commentary. If you watch a news program like 'Jornal Nacional' in Brazil or 'Telejornal' in Portugal, you will frequently hear reporters describe the public's reaction to political scandals or social disparities using this term. It is the 'go-to' word for describing a collective sense of 'enough is enough'.

In the digital sphere, indignado is a staple of social media discourse. On platforms like Twitter (X) or Facebook, users often start their posts with "Estou indignado..." to signal a rant about a service failure, a controversial celebrity action, or a legal decision they find unfair. It serves as a linguistic 'red flag' that the speaker is about to present a moral argument. In this context, it is often paired with strong adverbs like profundamente (profoundly) or totalmente (totally).

News Media: Used to categorize the public mood. Reporters might say, "A população está indignada com o aumento das passagens de ônibus." (The population is indignant with the increase in bus fares.)
Customer Service: When a customer feels they have been cheated, they use indignado to elevate their complaint from a simple mistake to a breach of consumer rights. "Estou indignado com a demora na entrega!"
Legal/Judicial Settings: Lawyers might describe their clients as indignados to emphasize the emotional damage caused by an injustice or a false accusation.

Furthermore, in Brazilian Portuguese, there is a common colloquial expression: 'Tô de cara', which is a slang way of expressing a similar feeling of shock and indignation. However, indignado remains the standard and more formal way to express this. In Portugal, you might hear revoltado used interchangeably in many of these contexts, though indignado maintains a slightly more 'principled' connotation.

"O apresentador de TV parecia visivelmente indignado ao comentar a notícia sobre o crime."(The TV presenter seemed visibly indignant while commenting on the news about the crime.)

For English speakers learning Portuguese, the most frequent errors involving indignado fall into three categories: gender agreement, preposition choice, and semantic confusion with similar-sounding words.

The Gender Trap: Since English doesn't have gendered adjectives, students often default to the masculine indignado even when referring to a woman. Incorrect: "Minha mãe está indignado." Correct: "Minha mãe está indignada." Always check the subject!
Preposition Confusion: In English, we are often 'indignant at' or 'indignant about'. In Portuguese, using 'em' or 'sobre' is less common than com. Avoid: "Estou indignado sobre isso." Prefer: "Estou indignado com isso."
The 'Indigente' False Friend: Though they share a root, indignado (indignant) is very different from indigente (destitute/homeless). Confusing these two in a sentence can lead to very awkward misunderstandings.

Another mistake is using indignado for minor inconveniences where chateado (upset/annoyed) or aborrecido (bored/annoyed) would be more appropriate. If you say you are indignado because it's raining, people might look at you strangely, as if you're suggesting the rain is a moral injustice. Save indignado for when there is a 'villain' or a 'wrong' involved.

"Muitos alunos cometem o erro de não pluralizar o adjetivo: 'Eles estão indignado' em vez de 'indignados'."(Many students make the mistake of not pluralizing the adjective: 'They are indignant' [singular] instead of 'indignant' [plural].)

To truly master Portuguese, you need to know where indignado fits in the spectrum of emotions. It shares space with several other words, each with its own specific 'flavor'.

Revoltado: Comparison: While indignado is the feeling, revoltado (revolted/rebellious) implies a desire to act or rebel against the cause. It is more aggressive. If you are indignado, you are offended; if you are revoltado, you might start a protest.
Inconformado: Comparison: This means 'unable to accept' or 'dissatisfied'. It is often used for tragic events or losses that feel unfair. "Estou inconformado com a morte dele." (I cannot accept/am devastated by his death.) It is less about anger and more about a refusal to accept a reality.
Puto (Slang - Brazil): Comparison: In Brazil, ficar puto is very common slang for getting very angry. It is much less formal than indignado and should be avoided in professional settings. Note: In Portugal, puto usually just means 'kid/boy', so be careful with this one!
Escandalizado: Comparison: 'Scandalized'. This is used when the indignation is mixed with shock or a sense of violated social propriety. It's more about the 'scandal' than the personal injustice.

Choosing the right word depends on the intensity and the goal of your communication. Indignado is the most versatile 'serious' word for expressing that something is wrong. If you want to sound more sophisticated or precise, you might use agastado (more common in Portugal, meaning annoyed/irritated) or ofendido (offended).

"Ele não estava apenas bravo; ele estava revoltado com o sistema."(He wasn't just angry; he was revolted with the system.)

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

The word is built from 'in-' (not) and 'dignus' (worthy). So, when you are indignant, you are literally saying 'this is not worthy'.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ĩ.diɡ.ˈna.du/

US /ĩ.diɡ.ˈna.du/

The stress is on the penultimate syllable: in-dig-NA-do.

Rima com

cansado passado obrigado estado cuidado feriado teclado lado

Erros comuns

Pronouncing the 'g' as a 'j' sound (it should be hard 'g').
Missing the nasalization of the initial 'in'.
Stressing the final syllable.
Forgetting to change the final 'o' to 'a' for women.
Treating 'dig' as a separate English word 'dig' rather than part of the flow.

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 2/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to the English 'indignant'.

Escrita 3/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement.

Expressão oral 3/5

Nasal 'in' and hard 'g' can be tricky for beginners.

Audição 2/5

Usually stressed clearly in emotional speech.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

bravo triste justo com estar

Aprenda a seguir

revoltado injustiça corrupção dignidade manifestação

Avançado

estupefação ignomínia aviltamento desprezo exasperação

Gramática essencial

Gender Agreement

O homem está indignado / A mulher está indignada.

Number Agreement

Eles estão indignados / Elas estão indignadas.

Preposition 'Com'

Estou indignado com o governo.

Preposition 'Por'

Estou indignado por ter perdido o ônibus.

Adverbial Modification

Ele está extremamente indignado.

Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

Eu estou muito indignado.

I am very indignant.

Simple subject + verb + adjective agreement.

Ela está indignada.

She is indignant.

Feminine singular agreement.

Isso não é justo! Estou indignado.

This is not fair! I am indignant.

Using 'isso' as a trigger.

O menino está indignado.

The boy is indignant.

Masculine singular agreement.

Você está indignado?

Are you indignant?

Interrogative sentence.

Eles estão indignados.

They are indignant.

Masculine plural agreement.

Não fique indignado.

Don't be indignant.

Imperative with 'ficar'.

Maria está indignada hoje.

Maria is indignant today.

Proper noun agreement.

Estou indignado com o preço do pão.

I am indignant with the price of bread.

Use of 'com' + masculine noun.

Estamos indignados com a notícia.

We are indignant with the news.

First person plural agreement.

Ela ficou indignada com o atraso.

She became indignant with the delay.

Use of 'ficar' for a change of state.

O motorista está indignado com o trânsito.

The driver is indignant with the traffic.

Subject-adjective agreement.

As professoras estão indignadas com a escola.

The teachers are indignant with the school.

Feminine plural agreement.

Fiquei indignado com aquele comentário.

I became indignant with 그 comment.

Preterite of 'ficar' + 'aquele'.

Eles ficaram indignados com o resultado.

They became indignant with the result.

Plural change of state.

Estou indignada com a sua atitude.

I (fem.) am indignant with your attitude.

Possessive 'sua' + feminine noun.

É impossível não ficar indignado com tal injustiça.

It is impossible not to be indignant with such injustice.

Infinitive after 'não'.

Sinto-me indignado por não ter sido ouvido.

I feel indignant for not having been heard.

Reflexive 'sentir-se' + 'por' + infinitive.

A população manifestou-se, indignada com a corrupção.

The population protested, indignant with the corruption.

Adjective acting as an appositive.

Ele escreveu uma carta indignada ao jornal.

He wrote an indignant letter to the newspaper.

Adjective modifying the noun 'carta'.

Ficamos indignados quando vimos o estado da casa.

We became indignant when we saw the state of the house.

Temporal clause with 'quando'.

Ela parece indignada, mas não diz nada.

She seems indignant, but says nothing.

Linking verb 'parecer'.

Muitos cidadãos estão indignados por causa dos impostos.

Many citizens are indignant because of the taxes.

Compound preposition 'por causa de'.

O diretor estava visivelmente indignado na reunião.

The director was visibly indignant in the meeting.

Adverb 'visivelmente' modifying the adjective.

A sua voz soava indignada ao telefone.

His/Her voice sounded indignant on the phone.

Adjective modifying 'voz'.

Indignado, o advogado abandonou a sala de tribunal.

Indignant, the lawyer left the courtroom.

Adjective at the start of the sentence for emphasis.

Eles mostraram-se indignados perante a passividade do governo.

They showed themselves indignant before the government's passivity.

Reflexive 'mostrar-se' + 'perante'.

Não é para menos que estejas indignado.

It's no wonder that you are indignant.

Subjunctive mood 'estejas' after 'que'.

O tom indignado da conversa chamou a atenção de todos.

The indignant tone of the conversation caught everyone's attention.

Adjective modifying 'tom'.

Ela reagiu de forma indignada às acusações.

She reacted in an indignant way to the accusations.

Adverbial phrase 'de forma indignada'.

Sinto uma profunda necessidade de me expressar quando estou indignado.

I feel a deep need to express myself when I am indignant.

Complex sentence with infinitive and temporal clause.

O público, indignado, começou a vaiar o artista.

The audience, indignant, began to boo the artist.

Parenthetical adjective.

A retórica indignada do político inflamou a multidão.

The politician's indignant rhetoric inflamed the crowd.

Abstract noun modification.

Resta-nos apenas o grito indignado de quem não tem voz.

All that remains for us is the indignant cry of those who have no voice.

Pronominal verb 'restar-nos' + complex noun phrase.

A crônica era um relato indignado sobre a decadência urbana.

The chronicle was an indignant account of urban decay.

Literary context.

Embora indignado, ele manteve a compostura e a elegância.

Although indignant, he maintained his composure and elegance.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

A resposta dele foi um silêncio indignado e cortante.

His response was an indignant and cutting silence.

Metaphorical use of 'silêncio'.

Sentia-se indignado por ver a história ser distorcida daquela maneira.

He felt indignant to see history being distorted in that way.

Passive infinitive 'ser distorcida'.

A sua postura indignada conferia-lhe uma autoridade moral inesperada.

His indignant posture gave him an unexpected moral authority.

Complex subject and indirect object 'lhe'.

Nada mais perigoso do que um homem honesto e indignado.

Nothing is more dangerous than an honest and indignant man.

Comparative 'mais... do que'.

A obra transparece um espírito indignado contra as convenções sociais.

The work reveals an indignant spirit against social conventions.

Verb 'transparecer' meaning to reveal.

Sob a máscara da civilidade, fervilhava um coração indignado.

Under the mask of civility, an indignant heart seethed.

Metaphorical and literary structure.

A sua indignação não era um capricho, mas um imperativo ético.

His indignation was not a whim, but an ethical imperative.

Noun form usage in a philosophical context.

O olhar indignado que ela lhe lançou bastou para o calar.

The indignant look she gave him was enough to silence him.

Relative clause 'que ela lhe lançou'.

É um filme que retrata o despertar de uma consciência indignada.

It is a film that portrays the awakening of an indignant conscience.

Complex noun phrase 'despertar de uma consciência'.

A sua prosa, outrora lírica, tornara-se agora indignada e satírica.

His prose, once lyrical, had now become indignant and satirical.

Pluperfect tense 'tornara-se'.

Não se pode confundir o ódio cego com a fúria indignada do justo.

One cannot confuse blind hatred with the indignant fury of the righteous.

Impersonal 'se' + modal verb.

A decisão do juiz deixou a plateia num estado de torpor indignado.

The judge's decision left the audience in a state of indignant torpor.

Noun phrase 'estado de torpor'.

Colocações comuns

visivelmente indignado

profundamente indignado

justamente indignado

ficar indignado

sentir-se indignado

tom indignado

olhar indignado

povo indignado

indignado com a injustiça

indignado com a corrupção

Frases Comuns

Estou indignado!

— A standard exclamation of moral outrage.

Estou indignado! Isso é um absurdo!

É de ficar indignado.

— Used to say that a situation is naturally causes indignation.

O estado do hospital é de ficar indignado.

Não me deixes indignado.

— A warning not to do something unfair or wrong.

Faz o teu trabalho e não me deixes indignado.

Indignado, mas não surpreso.

— Expressing that while the event is wrong, it was expected.

Fiquei indignado, mas não surpreso com a decisão.

Um grito indignado.

— A metaphor for a protest or strong verbal complaint.

A sua música é um grito indignado contra o racismo.

Sair indignado.

— To leave a place because of a perceived offense.

Ele saiu indignado do restaurante.

Reação indignada.

— A response filled with indignation.

A sua reação indignada foi justificada.

Voz indignada.

— Speaking with a tone that shows moral anger.

Ouvi a sua voz indignada vindo da sala.

Manifesto indignado.

— A written document expressing collective outrage.

Publicaram um manifesto indignado contra a guerra.

Olhar de indignado.

— The specific facial expression of someone who is offended.

Ele fez aquele olhar de indignado que eu conheço.

Frequentemente confundido com

indignado vs indigente

Means destitute/homeless. Do not use when you mean angry.

indignado vs indigno

Means 'unworthy'. It is the cause, while 'indignado' is the feeling.

indignado vs indigesto

Means 'indigestible'. Used for food or very unpleasant people.

Expressões idiomáticas

"Deixar alguém de cabelo em pé"

— To shock or make someone extremely indignant/upset.

Essa conta de luz vai deixar você de cabelo em pé!

informal

"Subir o sangue"

— To get very angry or indignant suddenly.

Quando ele me insultou, subiu-me o sangue.

neutral

"Soltar os cachorros"

— To vent one's indignation or anger at someone.

Ela soltou os cachorros no gerente.

informal

"Pôr a boca no trombone"

— To denounce something publicly out of indignation.

Se não resolverem, vou pôr a boca no trombone!

informal

"Ficar de cara"

— Brazilian slang for being shocked and indignant.

Fiquei de cara com a audácia dele.

slang

"Perder as estribeiras"

— To lose control due to indignation or anger.

Ele perdeu as estribeiras com a injustiça.

neutral

"Virar o bicho"

— To become extremely angry/indignant.

Meu pai virou o bicho quando viu a nota.

informal

"Rodar a baiana"

— To cause a scene out of indignation.

Ela rodou a baiana na loja.

informal

"Dar um chilique"

— To have a tantrum or a fit of indignation.

Não precisa dar um chilique, vamos resolver.

informal

"Levar um tapa na cara"

— Used metaphorically for something that causes deep indignation.

Essa notícia foi um tapa na cara da sociedade.

neutral

Fácil de confundir

indignado vs revoltado

Both mean angry about injustice.

Revoltado is more active and aggressive; indignado is more about the feeling of offense.

Ele está indignado com a multa, mas revoltado com o sistema.

indignado vs bravo

General word for angry.

Bravo can be for any reason; indignado is only for injustice.

Estou bravo porque perdi a chave, mas indignado porque me roubaram.

indignado vs chateado

Means upset.

Chateado is softer, like being sad or annoyed; indignado is stronger and moralistic.

Fiquei chateado com o atraso, mas indignado com a grosseria.

indignado vs irritado

Means irritated.

Irritado is a physical or mental annoyance; indignado is a moral reaction.

O barulho me deixa irritado, a injustiça me deixa indignado.

indignado vs furioso

Means furious.

Furioso describes the intensity of anger; indignado describes the reason for it.

Ele ficou furioso e indignado ao mesmo tempo.

Padrões de frases

Eu estou [indignado/a].

Eu estou indignada.

Estou indignado com [artigo] [substantivo].

Estou indignado com o preço.

Fiquei indignado ao [verbo infinitivo].

Fiquei indignado ao saber disso.

É de ficar indignado com [situação].

É de ficar indignado com tamanha bagunça.

[Adjetivo], o [sujeito] [verbo]...

Indignado, o povo protestou.

Não é para menos que [sujeito] esteja indignado.

Não é para menos que ela esteja indignada.

A sua [substantivo] indignada [verbo]...

A sua carta indignada causou polêmica.

Nada mais [adjetivo] do que um [substantivo] indignado.

Nada mais perigoso do que um cidadão indignado.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

indignação (indignation)

indignidade (indignity)

Verbos

indignar (to make indignant)

indignar-se (to become indignant)

Adjetivos

indignado (indignant)

indigno (unworthy)

Relacionado

dignidade

digno

revoltado

justiça

mérito

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

High, especially in media and social discussions.

Erros comuns

Eu estou indignado (said by a woman) → Eu estou indignada
Adjectives must match the gender of the speaker in Portuguese.
Eles estão indignado → Eles estão indignados
The adjective must be plural to match the plural subject 'eles'.
Estou indignado sobre a corrupção → Estou indignado com a corrupção
While 'sobre' is understood, 'com' is the standard preposition used with 'indignado'.
Fiquei indigente com isso → Fiquei indignado com isso
Indigente means homeless/destitute; indignado means indignant. They are not interchangeable.
Estou indignado porque o café está frio → Estou chateado/irritado porque o café está frio
Indignado is usually too strong for a cold coffee unless there's a moral reason (e.g., you paid $50 for it).

Dicas

Agreement is Key

Don't forget to change the ending! Indignado (one man), indignada (one woman), indignados (men or mixed group), indignadas (only women).

Use it for Justice

Reserve this word for situations involving fairness. It makes your Portuguese sound more nuanced and emotionally intelligent.

Pair with Adverbs

To sound like a native, use adverbs like 'totalmente', 'profundamente', or 'completamente' before 'indignado'.

Social Media

If you want to see the word in action, search for the hashtag #indignado on Twitter or Instagram in Portuguese. You'll see thousands of examples.

Hard G

Make sure to pronounce the 'g'. Some beginners try to skip it, but 'in-di-gna-do' needs that hard 'g' sound to be clear.

Complaint Letters

This is the perfect word for the opening of a complaint letter to a company. It sets a serious, firm tone.

Tone of Voice

Indignation is a strong emotion. Don't say it with a smile! Your voice should be firm and perhaps a bit louder than usual.

In-Dignity

Whenever you feel your dignity is being ignored, you are 'in-dignado'. The connection is literal!

Preposition 'Com'

Always try to follow 'indignado' with 'com'. It's the most natural-sounding connection for native speakers.

Portugal vs Brazil

In Portugal, 'indignado' is very standard. In Brazil, it's also standard but often supplemented with more colorful slang. Both will understand you perfectly.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'In-Dignity'. When someone attacks your 'Dignity', you become 'In-Dignado'.

Associação visual

Imagine a person pointing a finger at a corrupt politician while holding a sign that says 'UNFAIR'. That person is 'indignado'.

Word Web

Anger Justice Unfair Moral Reaction Dignity Offense Protest

Desafio

Try to use 'indignado' in a sentence about a recent news story you found unfair. Make sure to match the gender!

Origem da palavra

From the Latin 'indignatus', past participle of 'indignari' (to be impatient, to be angry, to deem unworthy).

Significado original: To consider something as 'indignus' (unworthy) of oneself or of the situation.

Romance (Latin root).

Contexto cultural

While it is a strong word, it is not offensive. However, calling someone 'indignado' in a dismissive way can be seen as patronizing.

English speakers often use 'outraged' or 'appalled' in contexts where Portuguese speakers use 'indignado'. 'Indignant' exists in English but is slightly less common in casual speech than 'indignado' is in Portuguese.

Movimento dos Indignados (15-M movement in Spain/Portugal) The book 'Indignez-vous!' (Indignai-vos!) by Stéphane Hessel Brazilian protest songs of the 1960s/70s

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Political Scandal

Indignado com a corrupção
O povo está indignado
Indignação geral
Protesto indignado

Bad Service

Indignado com o atendimento
Vou reclamar, estou indignado
Serviço indigno
Ficar indignado com a demora

Personal Betrayal

Indignado com a mentira
Sinto-me indignado com você
Reação indignada
Como você pôde? Estou indignada!

Social Injustice

Indignado com a pobreza
Injustiça que deixa qualquer um indignado
Luta contra a indignidade
Vozes indignadas

Sports/Competition

Indignado com o juiz
Resultado injusto e indignado
Torcida indignada
Ficar indignado com a derrota

Iniciadores de conversa

"Você já ficou indignado com algum serviço de internet?"

"O que te deixa mais indignado no mundo hoje em dia?"

"Você costuma ficar indignado quando vê alguém sendo tratado injustamente?"

"Qual foi a última vez que você ficou realmente indignada com uma notícia?"

"Você acha que as pessoas estão mais indignadas hoje do que no passado?"

Temas para diário

Descreva uma situação em que você se sentiu indignado. O que aconteceu e como você reagiu?

Escreva sobre uma causa social que te deixa indignado e por que ela é importante para você.

Como você diferencia a raiva comum da indignação moral no seu dia a dia?

Se você pudesse mudar uma coisa que te deixa indignado no seu país, o que seria?

Reflita sobre uma vez que você viu alguém indignado. Você concordou com essa pessoa?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Yes, but it might sound dramatic. If you are 'indignado' because you ran out of milk, people will think you are joking or being very 'extra'. Use it for things that are truly unfair.

It is both! 'Indignado' is masculine and 'indignada' is feminine. You must change it to match the person who is feeling the emotion. For example, 'O João está indignado' but 'A Maria está indignada'.

'Indignado' is the feeling of moral offense. 'Revoltado' is when that feeling turns into a desire to fight back or rebel. Think of 'indignado' as the shock and 'revoltado' as the action.

The best way is 'Estou indignado com isso'. Portuguese speakers prefer the preposition 'com' (with) over 'sobre' (about) in this specific context.

Extremely common. Brazilians use it frequently in news, social media, and daily life to complain about corruption, high prices, or bad service.

Yes, it is appropriate for a formal complaint. It shows that you are serious and that your rights were violated. For example: 'Estou indignado com o descumprimento do contrato'.

In Brazil, 'tô de cara' is a very common slang that captures a similar feeling of being shocked and indignant. In Portugal, people might use 'revoltado' more casually.

Mostly, but it's a specific 'moral' anger. It's not just being mad; it's being offended by a lack of justice or dignity.

The 'g' in 'indignado' is a hard 'g', like in the English word 'goat'. It is never a soft 'j' sound.

The noun is 'indignação'. For example: 'A sua indignação é compreensível' (Your indignation is understandable).

Cadastre-se grátis para ver dicas e notas