Portuguese Pleonasms: The 39 Most Common Redundancies in Brazil

A pleonasm in Portuguese is when you repeat an idea that's already clear in the sentence, like "subir para cima" (literally "go up upward") or "sair para fora" ("go out outside"). We Brazilians use these redundancies in Portuguese all the time, usually without noticing, so you'll hear them in everyday conversations, telenovelas and even on the news.

If you speak English, the idea will feel familiar. It's the same as saying "repeat again", "unexpected surprise" or "in my personal opinion", what English grammar also calls a pleonasm or redundancy. Portuguese works the same way: in a casual chat nobody will correct you, but it's better to avoid these redundant phrases in Portuguese when you write or speak in a formal setting.

Below you'll find the most common pleonasms you'll hear in Brazil, from "repetir de novo" to "elo de ligação", with pleonasm examples so you can learn to spot them and say the same thing more clearly. And in the video I walk you through each one with everyday phrases.

Video: The redundancies in Portuguese you'll hear in Brazil

In this video I explain the most common redundancies in Portuguese we use in Brazil, with their pronunciation and usage examples, so you can recognize them when you hear them on the street, at work or in a telenovela.

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What is a pleonasm in Portuguese?

A pleonasm in Portuguese is the repetition of words that express an idea that's already clear in the sentence, like "voltar para trás" (go back backward) or "subir para cima". In Brazil you hear it all the time in casual speech, but in formal writing, a work email or a Portuguese exam it's considered a style mistake.

The good news is that many Portuguese pleonasms have an English twin ("return back", "free gift"), so they're easy to spot. The real challenge is not translating other structures word for word, the same trap that pushes Spanish speakers into Portuñol.

Are pleonasm and redundancy the same thing?

In everyday use, yes: pleonasm and redundancy are used as synonyms for the unnecessary repetition of an idea. In Brazilian grammar, pleonasmo is the name of the figure of speech, and when the repetition adds nothing it's called pleonasmo vicioso or simply redundância, the word for redundancy in Portuguese.

Pleonasmo vicioso vs. pleonasmo literário

Pleonasmo vicioso is repetition without intention, like "entrar para dentro" (enter inside), and it's the one you should avoid. Almost all the examples of pleonasm in this list belong here. Pleonasmo literário, on the other hand, is used on purpose to give a sentence strength or beauty, and you'll find it in poems and Brazilian songs, like in Camões' famous line "vi, claramente visto".

List of the most common redundancies in Portuguese

These are the 39 most common redundancies in Portuguese you'll hear in Brazil. For each one I explain why it's a pleonasm and what the correct form is, and I show each pleonasm in a sentence said the right way, with its English translation.

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Subir para cima

It's redundant because "subir" already means to go up, so "para cima" (upward) is extra. The correct form is just "subir", the same way "rise up" in English doesn't need the "up".

• "Sobe e pega o meu casaco." (Go upstairs and get my jacket.)

Descer para baixo

It's redundant because "descer" already means to go down, and nobody goes down upward. Just say "descer" or "descer as escadas" (go down the stairs).

• "Desce, que o táxi já chegou." (Come down, the taxi is already here.)

Sair para fora

It's redundant because "sair" already means going out. We say it all the time in Brazil, but in formal writing use just "sair", one of the most common irregular verbs in Portuguese.

• "Vamos sair um pouco, está muito calor aqui dentro." (Let's go out for a bit, it's really hot in here.)

Entrar para dentro

It's redundant because if you enter a place, you're already going inside, just like "enter into" in English. The correct form is simply "entrar".

• "Entra, que vai chover." (Come in, it's going to rain.)

Adiar pra depois

It's redundant because "adiar" means to postpone, that is, to leave something for later, so it's like saying "postpone until later". Also notice the "pra", one of the most common Portuguese abbreviations in Brazil.

• "Vamos adiar essa conversa." (Let's postpone this conversation.)

Cego dos olhos

It's redundant because "cego" already describes a person who can't see, and you only see with your eyes ("olhos"). Just say "cego".

• "Meu avô ficou cego depois dos 80 anos." (My grandfather went blind after he turned 80.)

Multidão de pessoas

It's redundant because "multidão" is already a very large group of people, like saying "a crowd of people". You can say just "multidão" or "muita gente" (a lot of people).

• "Tinha uma multidão na praia de Copacabana no Réveillon." (There was a huge crowd on Copacabana Beach on New Year's Eve.)

Repetir de novo

It's redundant because "repetir" already means doing something again, and "de novo" also means again. It's the Portuguese version of "repeat again". Use just "repetir" or "falar de novo" (say it again).

• "Pode repetir, por favor? Não entendi." (Can you repeat that, please? I didn't understand.)

Pessoa humana

It's redundant because every "pessoa" (person) is human, so the adjective adds nothing. To talk about people in general, we use "a gente" and "as pessoas".

• "Ele é uma pessoa muito generosa." (He's a very generous person.)

Further reading (in Spanish): The most common redundancies in Spanish

Viúva do falecido

It's redundant because a "viúva" (widow) is already a woman whose husband died, so "do falecido" (of the deceased) is obvious. Just say "a viúva".

• "A viúva recebeu muitas flores no velório." (The widow received a lot of flowers at the wake.)

Acabamento final

It's redundant because "acabamento" is already the last stage of a job, what we'd call the finish or finishing work in English. Just say "acabamento".

• "O pedreiro está fazendo o acabamento da cozinha." (The bricklayer is doing the finishing work in the kitchen.)

Conviver junto

It's redundant because "conviver" already means living with another person, so "junto" (together) repeats the idea. Just say "conviver".

• "Eles convivem há dez anos." (They've been living together for ten years.)

Duas metades iguais

It's redundant because a "metade" (half) is, by definition, one of two equal parts, so "two equal halves" says the same thing twice. Just say "duas metades" or "ao meio" (in half).

• "Corta a pizza em duas metades." (Cut the pizza into two halves.)

Monopólio exclusivo

It's redundant because a "monopólio" is already exclusive control of a market by a single company. Just say "monopólio".

• "Essa empresa tem o monopólio da internet na cidade." (That company has a monopoly on internet service in the city.)

Surpresa inesperada

It's redundant because if something is a "surpresa", you weren't expecting it. It's the classic "unexpected surprise" in English. Just say "surpresa".

• "A festa foi uma surpresa para ela." (The party was a surprise for her.)

Na minha opinião pessoal

It's redundant because if the opinion is yours, it's already personal, just like "in my personal opinion" in English. Just say "na minha opinião" or, more casually, "eu acho que" (I think that), one of the ways to use the verb achar.

• "Na minha opinião, esse filme é melhor que o livro." (In my opinion, this movie is better than the book.)

Further reading (in Portuguese): Tautologia (Pleonasmo): entenda o conceito de redundância na linguagem

Encarar de frente

It's redundant because "encarar" already means facing something head-on, so "de frente" (from the front) adds nothing. Just say "encarar o problema" (face the problem).

• "Você precisa encarar esse problema." (You need to face this problem.)

Continuar seguindo

It's redundant because "continuar" and "seguir" mean the same thing, like saying "continue on". Pick one: "continue reto" or "siga reto" (keep going straight).

• "Siga reto até o semáforo." (Go straight until you reach the traffic light.)

Silêncio absoluto

It's redundant because "silêncio" is already the total absence of noise. Even so, it's a widely accepted redundancy in Brazil when we want to add emphasis, much like "complete silence" in English.

• "Peço silêncio durante a prova." (Please be quiet during the test.)

Detalhes minuciosos

It's redundant because "minucioso" already means full of detail. You can say "com detalhes" (in detail) or "de forma minuciosa" (thoroughly).

• "Ela contou a história de forma minuciosa." (She told the story in great detail.)

Certeza absoluta

It's redundant because if you have "certeza" (certainty), there's no doubt at all. It's one of the most accepted redundancies in Brazil, and we use it to reinforce what we're saying, the same way you'd say "absolutely certain".

• "Tenho certeza de que fechei a porta." (I'm sure I closed the door.)

Há muitos anos atrás

It's redundant because "há" (from the verb haver) already marks past time, just like "atrás", so it's like saying "ago" twice. Use "há muitos anos" or "muitos anos atrás", but never both together.

• "Há muitos anos, eu morava no Rio." (Many years ago, I lived in Rio.)

How to use "TER" and "HAVER" in Portuguese

Baseado em fatos reais

It's redundant because a "fato" (fact) is already something that really happened, so "reais" (real) is extra, just like "true facts" in English. It's the phrase you'll see most on movie posters, but you can say "baseado em uma história real".

• "Esse filme é baseado em uma história real." (This movie is based on a true story.)

Fato verídico

It's redundant because "verídico" means true, and a "fato" is true by definition. Just say "é um fato" (it's a fact).

• "Isso aconteceu mesmo, é um fato." (That really happened, it's a fact.)

How to use FEITO and FATO in Portuguese

Sorriso nos lábios

It's redundant because a "sorriso" (smile) is always on the lips ("lábios"). In poems and songs it's accepted as a stylistic device, but in everyday speech "sorrindo" (smiling) is enough.

• "Ela chegou sorrindo." (She arrived smiling.)

Elo de ligação

It's redundant because an "elo" is already the link that joins two things, and "ligação" also means connection, so it's like saying "connecting link". Just say "elo" or "ligação".

• "Ele é o elo entre a empresa e os clientes." (He's the link between the company and the customers.)

5 ways to use LIGAR

Conclusão final

It's redundant because every "conclusão" comes at the end, just like "final conclusion" in English. Just say "a conclusão".

• "Qual foi a conclusão da reunião?" (What was the conclusion of the meeting?)

Consenso geral

It's redundant because a "consenso" is already everyone's agreement, so "geral" (general) repeats the idea, the same as "general consensus" in English. Just say "foi consenso".

• "Foi consenso: vamos viajar em dezembro." (Everyone agreed: we're traveling in December.)

Protagonista principal

It's redundant because the "protagonista" is already the main character of a story, as in any Brazilian telenovela.

• "A protagonista da novela é uma médica." (The main character of the telenovela is a doctor.)

Outra alternativa

It's redundant because an "alternativa" is already another option. Say "outra opção" (another option) or simply "uma alternativa".

• "Não temos alternativa, vamos de ônibus." (We have no other choice, we're taking the bus.)

Congelar de frio

It's redundant because "congelar" (to freeze) already implies cold. In Brazil we use it a lot to exaggerate, especially in the south of the country, a bit like "freezing cold" in English.

• "Eu congelei no show em Curitiba." (I froze at the concert in Curitiba.)

Novidade inédita

It's redundant because a "novidade" is already something new, never seen before, like saying "new innovation". It's very common when we share or react to news in Portuguese.

• "O jornal anunciou uma novidade sobre o caso." (The newspaper announced new information about the case.)

Panorama geral

It's redundant because a "panorama" is already a general view of something, like saying "overall overview". Just say "um panorama".

• "Vou te dar um panorama do projeto." (I'll give you an overview of the project.)

How to use GERAL in Portuguese

Comparecer pessoalmente

It's redundant because "comparecer" already means showing up somewhere in person ("pessoalmente"). Just say "comparecer".

• "Você precisa comparecer ao cartório." (You need to show up at the notary's office.)

Viver a vida

It's redundant because everything we live is life. In Brazil it's a very popular expression for enjoying yourself without worries; if you want to avoid it, use "aproveitar" (to enjoy).

• "Larguei o emprego para viajar e aproveitar." (I quit my job to travel and enjoy life.)

Habitat natural

It's redundant because a "habitat" is already the natural place where an animal or plant lives, so "natural habitat" repeats the idea in English too. Just say "habitat".

• "O mico-leão-dourado vive no seu habitat, a Mata Atlântica." (The golden lion tamarin lives in its habitat, the Atlantic Forest.)

Completamente cheio

It's redundant because "cheio" already means completely full. Just say "cheio" or, to exaggerate, "lotado" (packed).

• "O metrô estava lotado às seis da tarde." (The subway was packed at six in the evening.)

Gritar alto

It's redundant because nobody shouts quietly: "gritar" (to shout) already means speaking very loudly, so "alto" (loud) is extra. Just say "gritar".

• "Não precisa gritar, eu estou te ouvindo." (No need to shout, I can hear you.)

Dar de graça

It's redundant because "dar" (to give) already means handing something over without charging, and "de graça" means for free, which makes it the Portuguese version of "free gift". Just say "dar" or "presentear" (to give as a gift).

• "A loja está dando brindes para os clientes." (The store is giving away freebies to customers.)

More common mistakes learners make in Portuguese

Pleonasms are only one part of the journey. There are other slip-ups that come up again and again when you learn Portuguese, and some of them will surprise you:

• 13 common mistakes in Portuguese (speaking and writing)
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• Portuguese false friends that will embarrass you
• Regular and irregular past participles in Portuguese
• Common Portuguese mistakes Spanish speakers make