abafadiço (sultry)
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
The word "abafadiço" is a somewhat old-fashioned or regional adjective in Brazilian Portuguese. Though not commonly used in everyday speech today, especially in urban areas, it still carries rich semantic nuances. The term can describe both physical environments and emotional or psychological states. Essentially, it evokes a sense of discomfort, either due to a lack of ventilation or a person’s temperament.
There are two main senses in which "abafadiço" is used:
In its literal use, abafadiço describes an environment that is:
hot and humid
poorly ventilated
heavy and airless
physically uncomfortable or oppressive
This meaning aligns with English words such as:
stifling – uncomfortably hot or suffocating
sultry – hot and humid (can also imply sensuality)
stuffy – lacking fresh air
airless – without ventilation
oppressive – heavy and overwhelming
suffocating – making it hard to breathe or move freely
Examples in Portuguese and English:
O quarto estava abafadiço, sem uma brisa sequer.
The room was stifling, without a single breeze.
A tarde abafadiça prometia uma tempestade daquelas.
The sultry afternoon was a sure sign of an incoming storm.
O auditório estava abafadiço, com ar parado e quente.
The auditorium was stuffy, with hot, stale air.
Era um lugar abafadiço, quase sem oxigênio.
It was an airless place, with barely any oxygen.
O clima abafadiço da reunião deixou todos desconfortáveis.
The oppressive atmosphere of the meeting made everyone uncomfortable.
O calor abafadiço da cidade era insuportável no verão.
The city’s suffocating heat was unbearable in the summer.
In a figurative or emotional sense, abafadiço can refer to a person’s mood or temperament. It often describes someone who is:
easily irritated
impulsive
hot-headed or impatient
overwhelmed emotionally
This matches English adjectives such as:
irritable – easily annoyed
quick-tempered – gets angry quickly
hot-tempered – emotionally volatile or aggressive
Examples in Portuguese and English:
Ele é meio abafadiço, se irrita com qualquer coisa.
He’s a bit irritable—he gets annoyed at anything.
Minha avó dizia que meu tio era abafadiço, de pavio curto.
My grandmother used to say my uncle was quick-tempered.
A professora ficou abafadiça com a bagunça da sala.
The teacher became hot-tempered because of the classroom chaos.
Cultural Note:
While abafadiço isn’t frequently used in modern Brazilian Portuguese, especially among younger speakers or in urban areas, it may still appear in regional dialects, literature, or older texts. More common modern equivalents include abafado (for environments) and irritadiço or nervoso (for temperament).
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