Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| inútil | /iˈnu.t͡ʃiw/ (Brazil) /iˈnu.til/ (Portugal) |
| imprestável | /ĩ.pɾesˈta.vew/ (Brazil) /ĩ.pɾeʃˈta.vew/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
Both inútil and imprestável are used to describe something or someone that lacks use or the possibility of being used. In Brazil, you might also hear the phrase perda de tempo to indirectly convey that something is useless by calling it a 'waste of time'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word inútil is formed by the prefix in- (not) and útil (useful), literally meaning 'un-useful'.
Which one should you use?
While inútil means useless, imprestável is a much stronger and more insulting term. It is often used to describe a person as a 'good-for-nothing' or someone who is completely worthless.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective inútil is gender-neutral, meaning it stays the same whether you are describing a masculine or feminine noun. To make the word plural, add '-es' to form inúteis.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /iˈnu.tʃiw/.
Did you know?
- The word inútil is a learned borrowing, meaning it was consciously adopted from the Latin inūtilis rather than evolving naturally through speech.
- The word imprestável originates from a root meaning 'help' or 'service' and literally means someone who cannot be put to service.
Examples in context
- Eu me sinto inútil.I feel useless.This sentence shows how to express the feeling of being useless using inútil.Tatoeba #4818369 by Ricardo14, translation #2326022 by CK
- Este site é inútil.This website is useless.This sentence uses inútil to describe a website.Tatoeba #4840138 by bill, translation #3818821 by CK
- O meu marido é inútil.My husband is useless.This sentence uses inútil to describe a person.Tatoeba #5101914 by bill, translation #1660076 by fanty
- O objeto quebrado é completamente inútil agora.The broken object is completely useless now.
- Muitos dos programas instalados no meu computador são desprovidos de utilidade.Many of the programs installed on my computer are useless.
- Aquele guarda-chuva é completamente inútil, não adianta usar mesmo!That umbrella is totally useless, no point in using it!
- Essa máquina de lavar é péssima. Sempre deixa minhas roupas sujas!This washing machine is useless. It always keeps my clothes dirty!
- Alugar um carro aqui é uma perda de tempo, o trânsito é terrível!Renting a car here is a waste of time, the traffic is terrible!
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz are looking at a broken kitchen tool.
- LucasEste abridor de latas é inútil.This can opener is useless.
- BeatrizEle está muito enferrujado, Lucas.It is very rusty, Lucas.
- LucasNão serve para mais nada.It is good for nothing now.
- BeatrizVamos jogar fora esse objeto inútil.Let's throw away this useless object.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “useless” translations and entries inútil, imprestável, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries imprestável, inútil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
