pressagiar
/pɾe.sa.ʒiˈa(ʁ)/
To bode in Portuguese is expressed as pressagiar. Wiktionary also lists augurar.
Meaning: (transitive) of a thing: to be an indication, omen, or sign of (something), (intransitive) to be an indication, omen, or sign of something (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| pressagiar | /pɾe.sa.ʒiˈa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /pɾe.saˈʒja(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| augurar | /aw.ɡuˈɾa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /aw.ɡuˈɾa(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
The verb is used to indicate that a thing is a sign, omen or indication of something. It is commonly used when describing signs that suggest future events, such as weather patterns or political developments. Additionally, the expression bode expiatório translates to the English term scapegoat.
Which one should you use?
pressagiar is the standard term for 'to bode'. In contrast, augurar is a more formal or literary alternative that is often used specifically in the context of well-wishes or formal omens.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /pɾe.sa.ʒiˈa(ʁ)/.
Did you know?
- The term bode expiatório for 'scapegoat' uses the word bode, which in Portuguese also means 'goat' (the animal), linking the concept of a sacrificial animal to the idea of a person taking blame.
- While augurar is the formal term for 'to bode', its relative agourar is often used in common speech to mean predicting something bad or bringing bad luck.
- The English word 'presage' and the Portuguese pressagiar are direct linguistic cousins, both descending from the Latin 'praesāgiō'.
Examples in context
- Esses sinais podem pressagiar tempos difíceis.These signs may bode difficult times.
- O céu escuro parece pressagiar uma tempestade.The dark sky seems to bode a storm.
- Sua atitude positiva pode pressagiar um bom futuro.Your positive attitude may bode a good future.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Beatriz are looking at the dark clouds during a walk.
- GabrielOlhe para essas nuvens, elas podem pressagiar chuva forte.Look at those clouds, they may bode heavy rain.
- BeatrizVocê tem razão, Gabriel, o tempo está mudando.You are right, Gabriel, the weather is changing.
- GabrielMelhor irmos para casa logo.Better if we go home soon.
- BeatrizSim, vamos evitar o temporal.Yes, let's avoid the storm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bode” translations and entries pressagiar, augurar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries augurar, pressagiar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
