Naive, ingenuous in Portuguese 🇧🇷

ingênuo info.

Tips to remember the word:
• Note the similarity between “ingênuo” and “genuine”: both suggest a kind of natural, unpretentious quality. Imagine someone being overly open or trusting like someone “genuine” might be.
• Associate the accent “ê” with a pause that emphasizes honesty without prejudice.

Explanation:
• “Ingênuo” describes someone who is innocent, unsuspicious, and sometimes overly trusting, often lacking worldly experience or sophistication.
• It can carry both a positive sense (honesty, purity) and a negative one (credulity or simplicity leading to being easily deceived).

Other words with the same meaning:
• Cândido
• Inocente
• Inexperiente

Alternate meanings and slang usage:
• In some contexts, especially informally, “ingênuo” may be used to refer to someone who is too trusting or even a bit of a pushover.
• While not strictly slang, the word can imply that the person might be taken advantage of in situations requiring shrewdness.

Example sentences:
• “Ele era tão ingênuo que acreditava em todas as histórias que ouvia.”
 Translation: “He was so naive that he believed every story he heard.”
• “A atitude ingênua dela a impediu de perceber as intenções ocultas dos outros.”
 Translation: “Her naive attitude prevented her from noticing the ulterior motives of others.”
• “Muitas pessoas consideram o olhar ingênuo dele como um charme, mas, na verdade, é apenas falta de experiência.”
 Translation: “Many people see his naive look as charming, but in truth, it is just a lack of experience.”

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