Today’s one-word Portuguese lesson is about the verb avacalhar.

It’s a great verb to know, especially when you are really upset about a service or product. Hopefully you will be using the the verb avacalhar, and not the other way around!

Avacalhar means:

• to ridicule, to demoralize, to demean
• to make a travesty of

Avacalhar is a regular verb.

The video above shows the pronunciation of avacalhar and has the first example of the verb in use. Below are two additional examples.

Example 1:

• Os críticos avacalharam o filme. = The critics ridiculed the movie.

Example 2:

Milena and Clara are going out to dance. Milena is wearing her new dress, which is very colorful. Here’s their dialogue:

Milena: Gostou do meu vestido novo?

Clara, mockingly: Eu não sabia que a gente ia pra uma festa de carnaval.

Milena: Não precisa avacalhar!

Translation:

Milena: How do you like my new dress?

Clara, tirando onda: I didn’t know that we were going to a carnival party.

Milena: There’s no need to ridicule me.

Example 3:

• (talking about a soccer game) O narrador avacalhou o desempenho do time. = The commentator ridiculed the team’s performance.

The best way to take your Portuguese to the next level is through real conversations with real people. There is only so much the books, apps, and videos can do for you.

Street Smart Brazil offers one-on-one, live, online Portuguese lessons. Enjoy your own private Brazilian Portuguese tutor and learn Portuguese from wherever you are in the world.

Book a Trial Lesson today!