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A2 noun #1,500 most common 7 min read

sintomas

Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips sintomas in 30 Seconds

Explanation sintomas in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that 'sintomas' is a word used when you feel sick. You might use it in very simple sentences like 'Eu tenho sintomas' (I have symptoms). It is important to remember that it is a masculine word, so you use 'os' and not 'as'. You will mostly hear this word when talking to a doctor or a pharmacist about basic health problems like a cold or a headache. Focus on the connection between 'sintomas' and feeling 'mal' (bad).

At the A2 level, you can start to describe your symptoms more specifically. You should be able to say 'Os sintomas da gripe são febre e tosse' (The symptoms of the flu are fever and cough). You are learning to use adjectives with the word, such as 'sintomas leves' (mild symptoms) or 'sintomas fortes' (strong symptoms). You will encounter this word in health brochures and simple news reports. It is also the level where you distinguish between 'sintoma' (what you feel) and 'dor' (pain).

At the B1 level, you can use 'sintomas' in more complex sentence structures. You can talk about the duration of symptoms using 'desde' or 'há'. For example: 'Tenho estes sintomas há três dias' (I've had these symptoms for three days). You also start to use the word metaphorically, like 'sintomas de estresse' in a work context. You should be comfortable discussing symptoms with a healthcare professional in a more detailed way, including their frequency and intensity.

At the B2 level, you understand the clinical nuance of 'sintomas' versus 'sinais'. You can read medical articles or listen to health podcasts where 'sintomas' are discussed in the context of prevention and diagnosis. You can use more sophisticated adjectives like 'persistentes', 'recorrentes', or 'atípicos'. You are also able to discuss 'sintomas psicossomáticos' and how mental health affects the body. Your vocabulary around this word is now broad enough to cover various medical specialties.

At the C1 level, you use 'sintomas' with precision in academic or professional discussions. You can analyze the 'sintomatologia' (set of symptoms) of complex diseases. You understand the metaphorical use of the word in sociology, economics, and literature at a deep level. You can write reports or essays discussing the 'sintomas de uma sociedade em crise'. You are aware of the etymology and the historical evolution of the term in the Portuguese language.

At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over the word 'sintomas'. You can use it in highly technical medical discourse or in subtle literary contexts. You understand the semiotics of symptoms—how they function as signs within a larger system of meaning. You can debate the philosophical implications of 'assintomático' conditions in public health policy. Your usage is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, including the use of rare collocations and idiomatic expressions.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

sintomas in 30 Seconds

Sintomas are subjective signs of illness felt by a patient.
It is a masculine noun: 'o sintoma' / 'os sintomas'.
Commonly used with verbs like 'ter', 'sentir', and 'apresentar'.
Can be used metaphorically for economic or social problems.

The word sintomas is the plural form of the masculine noun sintoma. In a clinical context, it refers to the subjective experiences reported by a patient that suggest a deviation from normal health. Unlike a 'sign' (sinal), which is an objective finding observed by a doctor (like a rash or high blood pressure), a symptom is what the patient feels, such as pain, nausea, or fatigue.

Subjectivity: Sintomas are internal experiences. If you feel a headache, that is a symptom because only you can feel the intensity and nature of that pain.

Quais são os seus sintomas principais hoje?

Etymologically, the word comes from the Greek symptoma, meaning 'accident' or 'misfortune'. In modern Portuguese, it has evolved to cover a wide range of manifestations. We categorize symptoms into various types: sintomas físicos (physical), sintomas psicológicos (psychological), and even sintomas sociais when used metaphorically to describe problems in a community or economy.

Clinical Importance: Identifying symptoms is the first step in the diagnostic process. Doctors use the 'anamnese' (patient history) to gather a list of symptoms to narrow down potential illnesses.

Ela não apresenta nenhuns sintomas de gripe.

In a broader sense, sintomas can refer to the early signs of a larger issue. For example, a drop in sales might be a symptom of a poor marketing strategy. This metaphorical use is very common in journalism and academic writing.

A inflação alta é um dos sintomas da crise econômica.

Duration: Sintomas can be 'agudos' (sudden and short-term) or 'crônicos' (long-lasting and persistent).

Os sintomas persistiram por mais de duas semanas.

O paciente começou a manifestar sintomas leves ontem à noite.

Using sintomas correctly involves understanding its grammatical gender and its typical verbal pairings. As a masculine noun, it must be accompanied by masculine articles (os, uns) and adjectives (graves, leves, persistentes).

Common Verbs: Ter (to have), Sentir (to feel), Apresentar (to present/show), Descrever (to describe), Aliviar (to relieve), and Ignorar (to ignore).

Você ainda sente os mesmos sintomas?

When describing the severity of symptoms, Portuguese speakers use specific adjectives. Sintomas graves refers to serious conditions, while sintomas leves or brandos refers to mild ones. If a symptom comes and goes, it is intermitente.

Sentence Structure: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Adjective] + sintomas. Example: 'O João apresenta sintomas preocupantes.'

É importante não ignorar os sintomas iniciais da doença.

In a medical consultation, you might hear the doctor ask: 'Quando começaram os sintomas?' (When did the symptoms start?). You should respond by listing them: 'Os sintomas começaram com uma dor de cabeça e depois tive febre.'

Muitas pessoas confundem os sintomas de alergia com os de um resfriado.

Negation: To say someone has no symptoms, use 'assintomático' (adjective) or 'não apresenta sintomas'.

Ele está infectado, mas não tem sintomas.

O tratamento visa reduzir a intensidade dos sintomas.

The word sintomas is ubiquitous in daily life, especially in health-related contexts. You will encounter it in hospitals, pharmacies, health blogs, and news reports about public health crises.

At the Doctor's: This is the most common place. Doctors will ask you to list your symptoms to understand your condition.

Por favor, descreva todos os sintomas que sentiu nos últimos dias.

In the media, especially during flu season or pandemics, health officials often discuss the sintomas mais comuns of a virus to educate the public. You'll see infographics listing things like 'tosse', 'febre', and 'falta de ar'.

In Pharmacies: Pharmacists might ask about your symptoms before recommending an over-the-counter medication.

Este remédio é eficaz contra os sintomas da rinite.

Beyond health, you'll hear it in political and economic analysis. Analysts might say that high unemployment is a sintoma of a deeper structural problem in the country's economy.

A corrupção é apenas um dos sintomas da má gestão pública.

Mental Health: With the increasing awareness of mental health, discussions about 'sintomas de depressão' or 'sintomas de burnout' are very common in workplaces and schools.

Reconhecer os sintomas de estresse é o primeiro passo para o autocuidado.

O silêncio dele era um dos sintomas de sua tristeza profunda.

The most frequent mistake learners make with sintomas is regarding its gender. Because it ends in '-a', many assume it is feminine.

Gender Error: Incorrect: 'As sintomas são fortes.' Correct: 'Os sintomas são fortes.' This is a common pattern for words of Greek origin (like 'problema', 'tema', 'sistema').

Muitos alunos dizem 'a sintoma', mas o correto é o sintoma.

Another mistake is confusing sintomas with sinais. While often used interchangeably in casual speech, in a technical sense, you 'feel' a symptom but 'show' a sign. You shouldn't say 'O médico viu os meus sintomas' unless the doctor is observing your behavior; usually, 'O médico observou os sinais' is more accurate.

Usage Confusion: Don't use 'sintomas' to mean 'causes'. A symptom is the result or manifestation, not the reason why you are sick.

A febre é um sintoma, não a causa da infecção.

Learners also sometimes use 'sintomas' when they mean 'sentimentos' (feelings). While a symptom can be emotional (like anxiety), 'sentimentos' refers to general emotions like love or joy, which are not necessarily medical manifestations.

Eu tenho sintomas de gripe, mas tenho sentimentos de felicidade.

Pluralization: Sometimes people forget to pluralize the adjective. If you have multiple symptoms, the adjective must be plural: 'sintomas graves', not 'sintomas grave'.

Os sintomas são muito variados.

O paciente apresenta sintomas claros de exaustão.

Portuguese has several words that overlap with sintomas. Understanding the nuances between them will help you sound more natural and precise.

Sinal vs. Sintoma: A 'sinal' (sign) is objective (fever measured by a thermometer). A 'sintoma' (symptom) is subjective (feeling hot or cold).

A febre é um sinal, mas o mal-estar é um sintoma.

Another related word is indício. This is often used in legal or investigative contexts to mean 'clue' or 'indication'. While a symptom indicates a disease, an 'indício' indicates a fact or a crime.

Manifestação: This is a more formal, clinical term. It refers to how a disease 'shows itself'. Doctors often speak of 'manifestações clínicas'.

As manifestações da doença incluem vários sintomas gástricos.

Evidência is used when there is clear proof of something. In medicine, evidence might come from a lab test, whereas symptoms come from the patient's report.

Não há evidências físicas, apenas sintomas relatados.

Vestígio: This means 'trace' or 'remnant'. It's used for something left behind, like 'vestígios de uma infecção antiga'.

Já não restam sintomas, apenas pequenos vestígios da doença.

A tontura foi o prenúncio de sintomas mais graves.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Masculine nouns ending in -a

Pluralization of nouns

Adjective agreement

Preposition 'de' for specification

Verbs of perception (sentir)

Examples by Level

Eu tenho sintomas de gripe.

I have flu symptoms.

Uses 'os' because it is masculine.

Quais são os sintomas?

What are the symptoms?

Plural masculine article 'os'.

Os sintomas são novos.

The symptoms are new.

Adjective 'novos' matches plural masculine noun.

Ela não tem sintomas.

She has no symptoms.

Negative sentence with 'não'.

Sintomas de febre.

Symptoms of fever.

Preposition 'de' links the noun to the condition.

Meus sintomas são leves.

My symptoms are mild.

Possessive 'meus' is masculine plural.

Onde estão os sintomas?

Where are the symptoms?

Question word 'onde'.

Sintomas no corpo.

Symptoms in the body.

Prepositional phrase 'no corpo'.

Os sintomas começaram ontem.

The symptoms started yesterday.

Past tense verb 'começaram'.

Você sente sintomas de alergia?

Do you feel allergy symptoms?

Verb 'sentir' in the present tense.

Estes sintomas são muito comuns.

These symptoms are very common.

Demonstrative 'estes' is masculine plural.

O médico perguntou sobre os sintomas.

The doctor asked about the symptoms.

Preposition 'sobre' meaning 'about'.

Os sintomas de resfriado passam logo.

Cold symptoms go away soon.

Verb 'passar' meaning 'to pass/go away'.

Não ignore os seus sintomas.

Don't ignore your symptoms.

Imperative 'não ignore'.

Quais sintomas você apresenta?

Which symptoms do you present?

Verb 'apresentar' is common in medical contexts.

Os sintomas sumiram hoje.

The symptoms disappeared today.

Verb 'sumir' meaning 'to disappear'.

Os sintomas persistiram apesar do remédio.

The symptoms persisted despite the medicine.

Conjunction 'apesar de'.

É difícil descrever os sintomas com precisão.

It's hard to describe the symptoms accurately.

Infinitive 'descrever' after 'difícil'.

Os sintomas de ansiedade podem ser físicos.

Anxiety symptoms can be physical.

Modal verb 'podem'.

Ele relatou sintomas de exaustão extrema.

He reported symptoms of extreme exhaustion.

Verb 'relatar' (to report).

Os sintomas variam de pessoa para pessoa.

Symptoms vary from person to person.

Verb 'variar'.

Anote todos os sintomas que você sentir.

Write down all the symptoms you feel.

Relative clause 'que você sentir'.

Os sintomas apareceram de forma gradual.

The symptoms appeared gradually.

Adverbial phrase 'de forma gradual'.

Ela teve sintomas leves durante a viagem.

She had mild symptoms during the trip.

Preposition 'durante'.

O paciente é assintomático, não tem sintomas.

The patient is asymptomatic; they have no symptoms.

Use of the technical term 'assintomático'.

Os sintomas podem ser mascarados por outros medicamentos.

Symptoms can be masked by other medications.

Passive voice 'podem ser mascarados'.

Houve um agravamento dos sintomas durante a noite.

There was a worsening of symptoms during the night.

Noun 'agravamento' (worsening).

Os sintomas de depressão nem sempre são visíveis.

Depression symptoms are not always visible.

Adverbial phrase 'nem sempre'.

A ausência de sintomas não garante saúde total.

The absence of symptoms doesn't guarantee total health.

Subject 'A ausência de sintomas'.

Os sintomas psicossomáticos requerem atenção especial.

Psychosomatic symptoms require special attention.

Technical adjective 'psicossomáticos'.

Identificar os sintomas precocemente é fundamental.

Identifying symptoms early is fundamental.

Adverb 'precocemente'.

Os sintomas de abstinência são muito difíceis.

Withdrawal symptoms are very difficult.

Noun 'abstinência'.

A sintomatologia apresentada é bastante atípica.

The symptomatology presented is quite atypical.

Advanced noun 'sintomatologia'.

Os sintomas de recessão já são visíveis no mercado.

Symptoms of recession are already visible in the market.

Metaphorical use of 'sintomas'.

O médico analisou a evolução dos sintomas crônicos.

The doctor analyzed the evolution of chronic symptoms.

Noun 'evolução' and adjective 'crônicos'.

Há uma correlação entre o estresse e os sintomas gástricos.

There is a correlation between stress and gastric symptoms.

Noun 'correlação'.

Os sintomas remanescentes podem durar meses.

The remaining symptoms can last for months.

Adjective 'remanescentes'.

A mitigação dos sintomas é o foco do tratamento paliativo.

Mitigating symptoms is the focus of palliative treatment.

Noun 'mitigação'.

Os sintomas cognitivos são frequentes em idosos.

Cognitive symptoms are frequent in the elderly.

Adjective 'cognitivos'.

O estudo foca nos sintomas prodrômicos da doença.

The study focuses on the prodromal symptoms of the disease.

Technical adjective 'prodrômicos'.

Os sintomas de desagregação social são alarmantes.

The symptoms of social disintegration are alarming.

Highly abstract metaphorical use.

A semiologia médica estuda os sinais e os sintomas.

Medical semiology studies signs and symptoms.

Academic field 'semiologia'.

A subjetividade dos sintomas dificulta a análise clínica.

The subjectivity of symptoms complicates clinical analysis.

Abstract noun 'subjetividade'.

Os sintomas de uma crise institucional tornaram-se patentes.

The symptoms of an institutional crisis became evident.

Adjective 'patentes' meaning 'obvious'.

A manifestação de sintomas psicóticos exige intervenção imediata.

The manifestation of psychotic symptoms requires immediate intervention.

Formal noun 'manifestação'.

O autor utiliza sintomas físicos para espelhar o declínio moral.

The author uses physical symptoms to mirror moral decline.

Literary analysis context.

A exacerbação dos sintomas ocorreu subitamente.

The exacerbation of symptoms occurred suddenly.

Advanced noun 'exacerbação'.

Os sintomas de ineficiência burocrática são onipresentes.

Symptoms of bureaucratic inefficiency are omnipresent.

Complex socio-political usage.

Synonyms

manifestações indícios sinais queixas evidências traços marcas vestígios

Antonyms

saúde bem-estar cura normalidade

Common Collocations

sintomas graves

sintomas leves

sintomas persistentes

apresentar sintomas

sentir sintomas

descrever sintomas

aliviar sintomas

sintomas iniciais

sintomas comuns

sintomas de gripe

Common Phrases

Quais são os sintomas?

Não tenho sintomas.

Sintomas de estresse.

Tratar os sintomas.

Sintomas de gravidez.

Sintomas de depressão.

Sintomas de alergia.

Os sintomas pioraram.

Os sintomas melhoraram.

Sintomas físicos.

Often Confused With

sintomas vs sentimentos

sintomas vs sinais

sintomas vs causas

Idioms & Expressions

"Sintoma de algo maior"

"Apenas a ponta do iceberg (related to symptoms)"

"Sintoma de tempos modernos"

"Sintoma de crise"

"Sintoma de abandono"

"Sintoma de mudança"

"Sintoma de fraqueza"

"Sintoma de força"

"Sintoma de amor"

"Sintoma de medo"

Easily Confused

sintomas vs Sinal

Objective finding vs subjective symptom.

sintomas vs Sentimento

Emotion vs medical manifestation.

sintomas vs Sistema

Phonetically similar, also masculine ending in -a.

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

sintomatologia

How to Use It

clinical

Strictly refers to subjective reports.

metaphorical

Can be used for non-medical issues like 'sintomas de crise'.

Common Mistakes

Nouns of Greek origin ending in -a are usually masculine.
Sentimentos are emotions; sintomas are medical.
In Portuguese, use 'n' before 't'.
Wrong verb collocation.
Adjective must agree in number.

Tips

Gender Rule

Remember: problema, sistema, tema, sintoma are all masculine.

Medical Context

Use 'apresentar' instead of 'ter' to sound more formal in a clinic.

Nasal Sound

The 'sin-' in sintomas is nasal, like the word 'sing' in English but without the 'g'.

Metaphors

Use 'sintomas' to describe problems in society or business for advanced levels.

Agreement

Always make sure your adjectives are masculine: 'sintomas claros'.

Context Clues

If you hear 'febre' or 'dor', the word 'sintomas' is likely nearby.

Social Talk

Don't be afraid to discuss symptoms; it's a common social bonding topic in Lusophone cultures.

Cognates

It's a near-cognate to 'symptoms'. Focus only on the gender difference.

Doctor Visit

Practice the phrase 'Eu estou com sintomas de...' for emergencies.

Plurality

We rarely talk about just one 'sintoma'; usually, we use the plural 'sintomas'.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Greek

Cultural Context

Brazilians often use 'virose' as a generic term for any set of symptoms that look like a virus.

In Portugal, the healthcare system (SNS) is a common topic when discussing symptoms and wait times.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Você já teve sintomas de COVID?"

"Quais são os sintomas mais chatos de uma gripe?"

"Você costuma ignorar seus sintomas de cansaço?"

"Como você descreve seus sintomas para o médico?"

"Você conhece os sintomas de um ataque cardíaco?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva como você se sente quando tem sintomas de resfriado.

Escreva sobre uma vez que você teve sintomas estranhos.

Como você cuida dos seus sintomas de estresse?

Você acha que a internet ajuda ou atrapalha quando pesquisamos sintomas?

Liste os sintomas de felicidade para você.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is masculine. You say 'o sintoma' and 'os sintomas'. This is because it comes from Greek.

A symptom is subjective (what you feel), while a sign is objective (what the doctor sees).

No, that is a common mistake. Always use the masculine 'os'.

You say 'sintomas leves'.

Common verbs are 'ter', 'sentir', and 'apresentar'.

Yes, but technically it is also a sign because it can be measured.

It is spelled 'sintomas'.

Yes, for example, 'sintomas de ansiedade'.

It means someone has a disease but shows no symptoms.

It is 'sintoma' with an 'n'.