recuperar-se
To recover in Portuguese is recuperar-se. Wiktionary also lists melhorar.
Meaning: intransitive: to get better, regain health (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| recuperar-se | |
| melhorar | /me.ʎoˈɾa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /me.ʎoˈɾa(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
The verb is used to describe the process of getting better or regaining health. While recuperar-se specifically implies a recovery from a state of illness or weakness, melhorar is a more general term for getting better or improving a situation.
Which one should you use?
The reflexive form recuperar-se is used when the subject is the one regaining health, whereas the non-reflexive recuperar is used when one recovers an object or a lost thing. In contrast to the specific recovery from illness implied by recuperar-se, the word melhorar can be used for any general improvement in a situation.
Did you know?
- The term recuperar is used in Portuguese schools to describe 'recovery exams' that students take to pass a grade after failing initial tests.
- In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, melhorar is sometimes used as a command to tell someone to 'shape up' or 'behave better' during an argument.
- Portuguese speakers may use melhorar to describe the weather 'recovering' after a storm, a usage that sounds unnatural in English.
Examples in context
- Ele está se recuperando bem da cirurgiaHe is recovering well from the surgery
- O tratamento ajudou a restabelecer sua saúdeThe treatment helped to restore his/her health
- Recobrou a confiança do seu chefe após o erroHe/she regained the trust of their boss after the mistake
- Ele vai precisar de tempo para se recuperar do acidenteHe will need time to recover from the accident
- Vou tirar uns dias de descanso para repor as energiasI'll take a few days off to recharge my batteries
- Depois do divórcio, ela precisou se refazerAfter the divorce, she needed to recover
- Depois do acidente, ele demorou algum tempo para recuperar a formaAfter the accident, it took him some time to get back in shape
- Espero que você consiga recuperar-se logo.I hope you can recover soon.
- Ele precisa de repouso para recuperar-se.He needs rest to recover.
- Ela demorou um mês para recuperar-se da gripe.It took her a month to recover from the flu.
Example conversation
Lucas is visiting Beatriz who has been sick.
- LucasComo você está se sentindo, Beatriz?How are you feeling, Beatriz?
- BeatrizEstou melhor, mas ainda preciso recuperar-se totalmente.I'm better, but I still need to recover fully.
- LucasVocê deve descansar bastante hoje.You should rest a lot today.
- BeatrizEu vou descansar, obrigada, Lucas.I will rest, thank you, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “recover” translations and entries melhorar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
