Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Sad" in Portuguese: triste
triste
Sad in Portuguese is triste, the same for he and she in the singular. Say Estou triste to share your mood. To comfort someone, Brazilians often say Que triste or Sinto muito.
Sharing a feeling
Estou triste porque meu time perdeu.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce triste
Say it
TREES-chee
/ˈtɾis.tʃi/
TREES-chee in much of Brazil, or TREES-tuh in some accents. Stress the first syllable.
"Sad" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| triste | sad Default adjective for sad. | Default adjective for sad. |
| tristinho / tristinha | a bit sad Softened diminutive. | Softened diminutive. |
| tristeza | sadness The noun form. | The noun form. |
| ficar triste | to get sad Common verb pairing. | Common verb pairing. |
| Que triste! | How sad! Empathy reaction. | Empathy reaction. |
How to use triste in real life
- 1Sharing a feeling
Estou triste porque meu time perdeu.
I'm sad because my team lost.
Estar triste + porque explains the cause.
- 2Noticing a friend
Você parece triste hoje. Quer conversar?
You look sad today. Want to talk?
Parecer triste is a gentle observation.
- 3Reacting to news
Que triste essa notícia. Sinto muito.
How sad that news is. I'm so sorry.
Que triste is a natural empathy opener.
Mistakes English speakers make with triste
Incorrect: Ela está trista.
Correct: Ela está triste.
Triste already ends in -e and does not become trista in standard Portuguese.
Incorrect: Eu sou triste agora (for a passing mood)
Correct: Eu estou triste agora.
Passing moods usually take estar, not ser.
Good to know
Brazilian friends often answer sadness with physical warmth: a hug, a cafezinho, or let's talk. Que triste and Sinto muito are short empathy tools you can use safely without overexplaining.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Comforting a friend after a bad day at work
ChatPal
Você está quieto. Está triste com a reunião?
You're quiet. Are you sad about the meeting?
You
Um pouco. Fiquei triste com o feedback.
A little. I got sad about the feedback.
ChatPal
Que triste. Quer contar o que aconteceu?
How sad. Want to tell me what happened?
You
Quero. Obrigado por perguntar quando eu estou triste.
Yes. Thanks for asking when I'm sad.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sad" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sad" in Portuguese
Does triste change for gender?
Not in the singular. The plural is tristes for mixed or masculine groups, and also for feminine plurals.
How do I comfort someone?
Try Que triste, Sinto muito, or Quer conversar? Keep it short and kind.
What is the noun for sadness?
Tristeza. Example: Senti uma tristeza enorme.
Is triste formal?
No. It works in casual talk, messages, and writing.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
