One-word Portuguese Lesson [Video]: Avacalhar

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.

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