At the A1 level, you should focus on the root word 'preguiça'. 'Preguição' is the 'big' version of that word. Think of it as 'very, very lazy'. You can use it in simple sentences like 'Eu tenho preguição' (I have big laziness). It's a fun word to use because the '-ão' sound at the end sounds like a big, heavy sigh, which is exactly how you feel when you are lazy. At this stage, just remember it means 'a lot of laziness' and is used with friends. You might hear it when people talk about the weekend or why they don't want to go to school or work. It's a feminine word, so use 'a' or 'uma' before it. For example, 'uma preguição'. Don't worry about the grammar rules of augmentatives yet; just treat it as a separate vocabulary item that helps you express a strong feeling of wanting to stay in bed.
As an A2 learner, you can start using 'preguição' to add more flavor to your descriptions of daily life. Instead of always saying 'Estou com muita preguiça', try 'Que preguição!'. This makes you sound more like a native speaker. You should notice that 'preguição' is often used after lunch (o almoço) or on rainy days. It's a great word for small talk. You can also use it to describe why you are not doing an activity: 'Preguição de caminhar' (Laziness to walk). At this level, you should be comfortable with the nasal pronunciation of the '-ão' suffix. Practice saying it as if you are too lazy to even finish the word! You are also learning that Portuguese uses suffixes to change the intensity of words, and 'preguição' is one of the most common examples you will encounter in casual conversation.
At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance that 'preguição' often implies a temporary state rather than a permanent character trait. If you say someone is 'preguiçoso', you are judging their personality. If you say someone is 'com uma preguição', you are describing their current mood. You can start using more complex structures like 'Bateu uma preguição' (A wave of laziness hit). This uses the verb 'bater' in a figurative sense, which is very common in Portuguese. You should also be able to distinguish between 'preguição' and 'cansaço' (tiredness). 'Preguição' is about the lack of will, while 'cansaço' is about the lack of physical energy. Using 'preguição' in the right social context—like with colleagues during a coffee break—will help you build rapport and show that you understand the informal social codes of Portuguese-speaking cultures.
For B2 learners, 'preguição' becomes a tool for expressive storytelling. You can use it to set the scene: 'Era um domingo de sol, mas a preguição era tanta que ninguém quis ir à praia'. You should also be aware of regional variations. While 'preguição' is widely understood, some regions might prefer other augmentatives or idioms. You should also be able to use it in the masculine form when referring specifically to a person in a slangy way ('Ele é um preguição'), though this is less common than the feminine noun use. At this level, you should also understand the cultural relationship between the climate and 'preguição'. In many Lusophone countries, the heat is a legitimate reason for 'preguição', and using the word in this context shows you have moved beyond literal translation and into cultural fluency. You can also start to use it in writing, such as in informal emails or social media posts.
At the C1 level, you should have a sophisticated grasp of the 'preguição' concept, including its use in literature and media. You might encounter it in contemporary Brazilian novels or TV shows to depict a certain 'carioca' (from Rio) or 'baiano' (from Bahia) lifestyle that values relaxation. You should understand how the word functions within the broader system of Portuguese augmentatives and diminutives, and how it can be used sarcastically. For instance, 'Que preguição, hein?' could be a sarcastic comment to someone who is actually working very hard, or a genuine observation of someone's extreme lethargy. You should also be able to discuss the sociological aspects of 'preguiça' vs 'preguição' in Lusophone cultures, perhaps referencing the 'elogio da preguiça' (praise of laziness) and how 'preguição' fits into a modern world that demands constant productivity.
At the C2 level, 'preguição' is just one of many tools in your vast linguistic arsenal. You use it with perfect timing and intonation to achieve specific rhetorical effects. You understand its etymological roots and its relationship to other Latin-based words for indolence. You can use it in a variety of registers, knowing exactly when it will add a touch of relatability to a speech or when it would be considered too informal. You are also aware of how the word has evolved in digital spaces, including its use in hashtags and internet slang. Your mastery of 'preguição' is such that you can even invent new ways to use it or combine it with other colloquialisms to create a highly personalized and authentic 'sotaque' (accent) and 'jeito de falar' (way of speaking) that is indistinguishable from a native speaker.

preguição 30秒了解

  • Preguição is the augmentative of 'preguiça', meaning extreme laziness.
  • It is a feminine noun used mostly in informal, everyday Portuguese.
  • Commonly used with verbs like 'bater' or 'estar com' to describe a mood.
  • It often carries a relatable, sometimes humorous tone about wanting to rest.

The word preguição is a fascinating example of how the Portuguese language uses suffixes to intensify meaning. At its core, it is the augmentative form of the noun preguiça, which means laziness. By adding the suffix -ão, the speaker is not just describing a simple lack of energy, but rather an overwhelming, heavy, or even pleasurable state of total inactivity. While preguiça can be a character trait or a temporary feeling, preguição usually describes a specific moment where the desire to do absolutely nothing is magnified to the extreme.

Grammatical Category
Noun (feminine, though often used colloquially in a way that emphasizes the state rather than gendered grammar).
Register
Informal/Colloquial. It is rarely found in formal academic writing but is ubiquitous in daily Brazilian and European Portuguese conversations.

Imagine a Sunday afternoon after a heavy meal, or a rainy Monday morning when the bed feels like a magnetic field. This is the realm of preguição. It is often used with the verb bater (to hit/strike), as in 'bateu uma preguição' (a wave of laziness hit me). This phrasing suggests that the laziness is an external force that has suddenly overwhelmed the individual, making it feel less like a personal failing and more like a physical condition.

Depois do almoço de domingo, bateu aquela preguição e eu dormi a tarde toda.

Translation: After Sunday lunch, that massive laziness hit and I slept all afternoon.

The word also carries a certain level of comfort. Unlike 'indolência' (indolence) or 'ócio' (leisure), which can have negative or philosophical connotations, preguição is relatable. It’s the feeling of not wanting to move a single muscle because the effort seems monumental. It is also frequently used to describe a person who is exceptionally lazy in a specific moment, though preguiçoso is the standard adjective for a lazy person.

Que preguição de ir para a academia hoje!

In some regional contexts, particularly in Brazil, the augmentative can also imply a sense of 'slowness' or a 'languid' atmosphere. If a party is boring and slow, someone might describe the vibe as having a certain preguição. However, its primary use remains the internal feeling of being unwilling to expend energy.

Emotional Nuance
Can be self-deprecating, humorous, or a genuine complaint about exhaustion.

Hoje eu estou com uma preguição que não cabe em mim.

Ultimately, preguição is a word that captures the human need for rest pushed to its linguistic limit. It is a word of the domestic sphere, the weekend, and the heat. In tropical climates, the 'calor' (heat) often brings on a preguição that is culturally understood and accepted as a natural response to the environment.

Using preguição correctly involves understanding its role as an intensified noun. You don't just 'have' laziness; you are 'under the spell' of it. The most common verb pairings are estar com (to be with), dar uma (to give a), and bater uma (to hit a).

Estou com uma preguição imensa de estudar para a prova.

When you use 'estar com', you are describing your current state. Adding adjectives like 'imensa' (immense), 'monstruosa' (monstrous), or 'braba' (tough/wild) further emphasizes the scale of the laziness. Note that even though the suffix -ão is traditionally masculine, the word preguiça is feminine. Therefore, preguição is feminine: uma preguição, not um preguição. This is a common point of confusion for learners.

Common Collocations
Bater uma preguição (A wave of laziness hit); Preguição danada (A heck of a laziness); Que preguição! (What a laziness!).

Another way to use it is to describe the *cause* of the laziness. You can say 'preguição de [verb]'. This identifies the specific activity you are avoiding. For example, 'preguição de cozinhar' (laziness to cook). It suggests that while you might have energy for other things, that specific task feels impossible.

Me deu uma preguição de sair de casa no frio.

In conversational Portuguese, preguição can also be used as a standalone exclamation. If someone asks you to do something difficult on a Saturday morning, you might simply reply: 'Nossa, que preguição!'. This acts as a shorthand for 'I am feeling far too lazy for that right now'.

Aquela preguição matinal sempre me atrasa.

Finally, consider the rhythm of the sentence. Because preguição ends in a nasal diphthong (-ão), it carries a heavy phonetic weight. It sounds 'long' and 'slow', which phonetically mimics the meaning of the word. Use it when you want to draw out your complaint for comedic or dramatic effect.

Social Context
Use it with friends, family, and colleagues you are close with. Avoid it in formal business meetings unless you are making a lighthearted joke about the heat or the weekend.

If you are walking through a park in Rio de Janeiro on a hot afternoon, or sitting in a café in Lisbon during the 'siesta' hours, you are likely to hear preguição. It is a word of the 'clima tropical' (tropical climate) and the 'descanso' (rest). It is most commonly heard in domestic settings or social gatherings where the mood is relaxed.

Com esse calor, a preguição toma conta de todo mundo.

In Brazil, preguição is a staple of 'conversas de WhatsApp' (WhatsApp chats). Friends will send voice notes saying 'Ai, gente, que preguição de sair hoje, vamos ficar em casa?'. It serves as a valid social excuse. By using the augmentative, the person is signaling that their laziness is so great that it is almost a physical barrier, making it harder for friends to insist on going out.

Pop Culture
You will find this word in lyrics of Samba or Bossa Nova songs that describe the 'dolce far niente' lifestyle of the beach. It's also common in internet memes about Mondays.

You will also hear it in the workplace, but usually in the context of 'pós-feriado' (after a holiday). On the first day back at work, colleagues will commiserate over the preguição they are feeling. It acts as a bonding mechanism, acknowledging the shared difficulty of returning to a productive routine after a period of rest.

A segunda-feira chegou com uma preguição acumulada do fim de semana.

In television and social media, influencers often use preguição when doing 'vlogs' of their 'lazy days'. It has a cozy, 'hygge-like' quality when used in the context of staying in bed with blankets and movies. It’s not just laziness; it’s a lifestyle choice for that specific moment.

Regional Differences
In the Northeast of Brazil, the word might be accompanied by a specific intonation that stretches the 'ão' sound to emphasize just how long the laziness is lasting.

The most frequent mistake learners make is treating preguição as a masculine noun because of its ending. While many words ending in -ão are masculine (like coração or pão), augmentatives often retain the gender of their root word in common usage, or the gender becomes fluid. However, because preguiça is feminine, you should almost always use uma preguição. Saying um preguição sounds unnatural to most native ears.

Wrong: Estou com um preguição hoje.
Right: Estou com uma preguição hoje.

Another mistake is using preguição to describe a lazy *person* in a formal context. While you can call a friend 'um preguição' (in this case, referring to the person, the gender might shift to masculine if the person is male), the standard word for a lazy person is preguiçoso. Using preguição for a person is very slangy and can be slightly insulting or very affectionate depending on the tone.

Confusion with 'Preguiçoso'
Preguiçoso = Adjective (Lazy person). Preguição = Noun (The state of great laziness).

Learners also tend to use preguição in formal writing. This is a mistake. If you are writing a cover letter or a formal report, you should use indolência or simply state that a task is demorado (time-consuming). preguição belongs to the world of spoken language and informal texts.

Não confunda preguição com cansaço. Preguição é não querer fazer; cansaço é não conseguir fazer.

Note: Don't confuse laziness with tiredness. Laziness is not wanting to do; tiredness is not being able to do.

Lastly, don't over-augment. If you use preguição in every sentence where you mean laziness, it loses its impact. Save it for when you really want to emphasize that the laziness is substantial. If it's just a little bit of laziness, stick with preguiça or even preguicinha (the diminutive, which often implies a cute or cozy laziness).

While preguição is great for emphasis, Portuguese offers a rich palette of words to describe the lack of desire to work. Depending on the context, you might want to swap it for something more specific or more formal.

Moleza
Literally 'softness'. It refers to a physical feeling of weakness or lack of energy that leads to laziness. 'Estou com uma moleza no corpo'.
Desânimo
Discouragement or lack of spirit. This is more emotional than preguição, suggesting you aren't doing something because you feel unmotivated rather than just lazy.
Ócio
Leisure or idleness. This is a more 'noble' form of laziness, often associated with creative thinking or necessary downtime.

Ao contrário da preguição improdutiva, o ócio criativo pode gerar grandes ideias.

If you want to sound more regional, especially in Brazil, you might use 'vadiagem' (vagrancy/loafing around), though this has a more negative, judgmental connotation. 'Lentidão' (slowness) can also be a synonym in contexts where the laziness results in slow movement.

In Portugal, you might hear the term 'ronha'. 'Fazer ronha' is to linger in bed or to avoid work in a sneaky, lazy way. It captures a similar spirit to preguição but is more idiomatic to European Portuguese. Another alternative is 'pastice', used to describe a slow, lazy way of doing things.

Pare de vadiar e vá trabalhar, essa preguição não vai pagar as contas!

When talking about the weather, 'mormaço' (humid heat) is often the cause of preguição. In this context, the words are inextricably linked in the Lusophone imagination. Using these alternatives correctly will show a high level of fluency and cultural awareness.

Summary of Alternatives
Preguiça (Standard), Moleza (Physical), Desânimo (Emotional), Ócio (Philosophical/Leisure), Ronha (EP Idiom).

按水平分级的例句

1

Eu tenho muita preguição hoje.

I have a lot of big laziness today.

Uses the basic 'ter' (to have) verb structure.

2

Que preguição de ir à escola!

What laziness to go to school!

Exclamatory sentence with 'Que'.

3

O gato tem uma preguição grande.

The cat has a big laziness.

Simple noun-adjective agreement.

4

Domingo é dia de preguição.

Sunday is a day of big laziness.

Use of 'de' to show possession/attribute.

5

Você tem preguição de manhã?

Do you have big laziness in the morning?

Simple question structure.

6

Minha irmã tem preguição de lavar a louça.

My sister has big laziness to wash the dishes.

Preguição + de + infinitive verb.

7

Não gosto de preguição no trabalho.

I don't like big laziness at work.

Negative sentence with 'não'.

8

A preguição é ruim para os estudos.

Big laziness is bad for studies.

Subject-verb-adjective structure.

1

Bateu uma preguição depois do almoço.

A wave of laziness hit after lunch.

Uses the common idiomatic verb 'bater'.

2

Estou com uma preguição de fazer o dever de casa.

I am with a big laziness to do the homework.

'Estar com' is the standard way to express feelings.

3

No sábado, a preguição toma conta de mim.

On Saturday, laziness takes over me.

Personification of 'preguição'.

4

Que preguição boa de ficar na cama!

What a good laziness to stay in bed!

Using 'boa' to show that laziness can be positive.

5

Ele sempre tem preguição de sair no frio.

He always has laziness to go out in the cold.

Adverb 'sempre' used for frequency.

6

A preguição não me deixa levantar.

Laziness doesn't let me get up.

Verb 'deixar' (to let/allow).

7

Nossa, que preguição de arrumar o quarto!

Wow, what laziness to tidy the room!

Interjection 'Nossa' used for emphasis.

8

Amanhã não vou ter preguição, eu prometo.

Tomorrow I won't have laziness, I promise.

Future with 'vou + infinitive'.

1

Sempre que chove, me dá uma preguição enorme.

Whenever it rains, I get an enormous laziness.

Uses 'me dá' (it gives me) structure.

2

A preguição é a maior inimiga da produtividade.

Laziness is the greatest enemy of productivity.

Superlative 'a maior'.

3

Apesar da preguição, ele conseguiu terminar o projeto.

Despite the laziness, he managed to finish the project.

Conjunction 'Apesar de' (Despite).

4

Não deixe a preguição vencer a sua vontade de vencer.

Don't let laziness win over your will to win.

Imperative negative form.

5

Sinto uma preguição só de pensar em correr dez quilômetros.

I feel a laziness just from thinking about running ten kilometers.

'Só de pensar' (Just from thinking).

6

A preguição dele é tão grande que ele nem atende o telefone.

His laziness is so big that he doesn't even answer the phone.

Consecutive clause with 'tão... que'.

7

É preciso lutar contra essa preguição constante.

It is necessary to fight against this constant laziness.

Impersonal expression 'É preciso'.

8

A preguição matinal é comum em adolescentes.

Morning laziness is common in teenagers.

Adjective 'matinal' (morning).

1

O calor excessivo acaba gerando uma preguição coletiva na oficina.

The excessive heat ends up generating a collective laziness in the workshop.

Gerund 'gerando' to show ongoing result.

2

Se não fosse por essa preguição, eu já teria viajado o mundo.

If it weren't for this laziness, I would have already traveled the world.

Conditional sentence 'Se não fosse... teria'.

3

A preguição, às vezes, é apenas o corpo pedindo um descanso necessário.

Laziness, sometimes, is just the body asking for a necessary rest.

Parenthetical expression 'às vezes'.

4

Ela tentou disfarçar a preguição, mas o bocejo a entregou.

She tried to hide the laziness, but the yawn gave her away.

Verb 'entregar' used idiomatically (to betray/give away).

5

Há uma linha tênue entre o descanso merecido e a preguição pura.

There is a thin line between deserved rest and pure laziness.

Noun phrase 'linha tênue' (thin line).

6

A preguição dele é tamanha que chega a ser engraçada.

His laziness is so great that it happens to be funny.

Use of 'tamanha' (so great/such).

7

Vencer a preguição é o primeiro passo para o sucesso pessoal.

Overcoming laziness is the first step toward personal success.

Infinitive 'Vencer' acting as a noun.

8

A preguição se instalou na casa durante todo o feriado prolongado.

Laziness settled into the house during the entire long weekend.

Reflexive verb 'se instalar'.

1

A inércia burocrática muitas vezes é confundida com simples preguição.

Bureaucratic inertia is often confused with simple laziness.

Passive voice 'é confundida'.

2

O autor descreve a preguição tropical como um elemento estético da obra.

The author describes tropical laziness as an aesthetic element of the work.

Academic register 'elemento estético'.

3

Não podemos sucumbir à preguição intelectual em tempos de desinformação.

We cannot succumb to intellectual laziness in times of misinformation.

Abstract usage 'preguição intelectual'.

4

A preguição, quando crônica, pode ser sintoma de algo mais profundo.

Laziness, when chronic, can be a symptom of something deeper.

Conditional clause with 'quando'.

5

O que alguns chamam de preguição, eu chamo de preservação de energia.

What some call laziness, I call energy preservation.

Relative clause 'O que'.

6

A preguição de ler clássicos priva o indivíduo de um repertório vasto.

The laziness to read classics deprives the individual of a vast repertoire.

Verb 'privar' (to deprive).

7

Ele justificou sua falta de iniciativa como uma preguição passageira.

He justified his lack of initiative as a passing laziness.

Noun 'iniciativa' contrasted with 'preguição'.

8

A preguição é frequentemente romantizada em certas correntes filosóficas.

Laziness is frequently romanticized in certain philosophical currents.

Adverb 'frequentemente'.

1

A preguição, esse torpor d'alma, impede o florescimento do gênio.

Laziness, that numbness of the soul, prevents the flowering of genius.

Poetic apposition 'esse torpor d'alma'.

2

Subjaz a essa apatia uma preguição existencial difícil de erradicar.

Underlying this apathy is an existential laziness difficult to eradicate.

Verb 'subjaz' (underlies) at the start of the sentence.

3

A preguição sistêmica do governo atrasou as reformas necessárias.

The systemic laziness of the government delayed the necessary reforms.

Adjective 'sistêmica' (systemic).

4

O protagonista é a personificação da preguição e do descaso social.

The protagonist is the personification of laziness and social neglect.

Compound subject 'preguição e descaso'.

5

A preguição de espírito é o que nos torna vulneráveis à manipulação.

Laziness of spirit is what makes us vulnerable to manipulation.

Abstract noun phrase 'preguição de espírito'.

6

Tal preguição não condiz com a urgência da situação climática atual.

Such laziness does not match the urgency of the current climate situation.

Verb 'condizer' (to match/fit).

7

A preguição, em sua forma mais pura, é uma negação da vitalidade humana.

Laziness, in its purest form, is a negation of human vitality.

Prepositional phrase 'em sua forma mais pura'.

8

A preguição de agir pode ter consequências devastadoras a longo prazo.

The laziness to act can have devastating consequences in the long run.

Modal verb 'pode' indicating possibility.

近义词

Moleza Indolência Vadiagem Ócio Lentidão Desânimo Pastice Ronha

反义词

Disposição Diligência Atividade Vigor

常见搭配

Bater uma preguição
Preguição danada
Preguição imensa
Que preguição!
Preguição matinal
Vencer a preguição
Preguição de [verb]
Muita preguição
Preguição braba
Morrer de preguição

常用短语

Preguição total

— Complete and absolute laziness.

Hoje é dia de preguição total.

Xô, preguição!

— Go away, laziness! (used to motivate oneself).

Xô, preguição! Tenho muito o que fazer.

Bateu aquela preguição

— That specific, well-known feeling of laziness hit.

Bateu aquela preguição de domingo.

Preguição de leve

— A slight or mild laziness.

Estou apenas com uma preguição de leve.

Sem preguição

— Without laziness (an instruction to work hard).

Vamos treinar sem preguição!

Preguição acumulada

— Laziness that has built up over time.

É a preguição acumulada da semana toda.

Preguição de segunda-feira

— The specific laziness felt at the start of the work week.

Ninguém escapa da preguição de segunda-feira.

A preguição me pegou

— Laziness caught me (I became lazy).

Eu ia sair, mas a preguição me pegou.

Lutar contra a preguição

— To struggle to be productive despite feeling lazy.

Lutar contra a preguição é difícil no frio.

Preguição de estimação

— A 'pet' laziness (a joke about being always lazy).

Ele tem uma preguição de estimação.

习语与表达

"Estar com a macaca"

— To be in a bad mood or restless, sometimes used when someone is being difficult due to laziness.

Ele está com a macaca hoje, não quer fazer nada.

Informal
"Empurrar com a barriga"

— To procrastinate or do something with the minimum effort possible due to laziness.

Ele está empurrando o trabalho com a barriga.

Informal
"Ficar na maciota"

— To take it easy, to stay in a comfortable and lazy state.

Hoje eu vou só ficar na maciota.

Slang
"Sombra e água fresca"

— A life of ease and no work (the ultimate goal of 'preguição').

Tudo o que eu quero é sombra e água fresca.

Informal
"Dormir no ponto"

— To mis

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