Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| machucar | /ma.ʃuˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| ferir | /fiˈɾi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /feˈɾi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| aleijar | /a.le(j)ˈʒa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /a.le(j)ˈʒa(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
The verb refers to causing physical pain or injury. It can also be used metaphorically to describe hurting someone's feelings or pride.
Which one should you use?
While machucar is the standard term, ferir is used to mean wound or injure, often in a more formal sense. Aleijar is a much stronger term that specifically implies causing a permanent disability or maiming someone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone is hurting themselves, you must use a reflexive pronoun, such as machucar-se or se machucar. Additionally, the past participle machucado can function as an adjective meaning hurt or bruised, while ferido is the adjective for wounded or injured.
How do you pronounce it?
The word machucar has three syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. The IPA is /ma.ʃuˈka(ʁ)/.
Did you know?
- The word machucar is actually related to the action of grinding or pounding, stemming from an old word for a mallet or small hammer.
- In Brazil, machucado can be used to describe a specific type of skin lesion, like a scrape or a blister, rather than just the general state of being hurt.
- The verb aleijar is so severe that using it for a minor injury would be seen as a dark or hyperbolic joke, as it implies a life-changing disability.
Examples in context
- Eu vou te machucar.I'm going to hurt you.This sentence uses machucar to show an intention to hurt someone.Tatoeba #5055654 by hiroy, translation #2547202 by CK
- Tom vai se machucar.Tom is going to hurt himself.This sentence uses machucar to describe someone being going to hurt themselves.Tatoeba #5040372 by bill, translation #3436497 by CK
- Você vai se machucar.You will hurt yourself.This sentence uses machucar to describe a future action of hurting oneself.Tatoeba #1470102 by alexmarcelo, translation #22289 by CK
- Eu machuquei meu braço no acidente.I hurt my arm in the accident.
- As palavras dele machucaram o meu coração.His words hurt my heart.
- O acidente feriu gravemente o pedestre.The accident seriously injured the pedestrian.
- Essa negligência pode ferir seus direitos.This negligence can hurt your rights.
- Esses sapatos apertam e me doem os pés.These shoes are tight and hurt my feet.
- A cabeça dele está doendo muito.His head hurts a lot.
- A rejeição dela fez mal para a autoestima dele.Her rejection hurt his self-esteem.
- 145 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila sees Lucas cut his finger while cooking.
- CamilaLucas, você conseguiu se machucar?Lucas, did you manage to hurt yourself?
- LucasSim, a faca estava muito afiada.Yes, the knife was very sharp.
- CamilaDeixa eu ver se vai machucar muito.Let me see if it will hurt much.
- LucasNão parece estar tão grave.It doesn't seem to be that serious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hurt” translations and entries machucar, ferir, aleijar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aleijar, ferir, machucar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
