não fazer força
to make an effort
Wörtlich: not to make force
Use this phrase to call out laziness or describe a task that requires zero effort.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to describe someone who is being lazy or unmotivated.
- Literally means 'not making force' or not putting in effort.
- Common in casual complaints about coworkers, friends, or students.
Bedeutung
It describes someone who isn't putting in any effort or trying at all. It's like saying someone is 'coasting' or just being lazy about a task.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Complaining about a lazy colleague
O Ricardo não faz força nenhuma para ajudar a equipe.
Ricardo doesn't make any effort to help the team.
Talking about an easy exam
A prova estava tão fácil que eu nem fiz força.
The exam was so easy I didn't even have to try.
Texting a friend about their dating life
Você quer um namorado, mas não faz força para sair de casa!
You want a boyfriend, but you don't make an effort to leave the house!
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects a cultural disdain for apathy. While many Lusophone cultures are laid back, 'não fazer força' is a specific jab at someone's character or work ethic. It suggests that the person has the capacity to do more but chooses to remain idle.
The 'Nenhuma' Boost
Add 'nenhuma' (none) after 'força' to sound like a native. 'Ele não faz força nenhuma' sounds much more natural and emphatic.
Don't be too literal
If you are actually talking about physical strength (like a broken machine), use 'não tem força' (doesn't have strength) instead.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to describe someone who is being lazy or unmotivated.
- Literally means 'not making force' or not putting in effort.
- Common in casual complaints about coworkers, friends, or students.
What It Means
Imagine someone pushing a heavy box. If they aren't using their muscles, they aren't 'making force.' In Portuguese, não fazer força means exactly that. It describes a lack of effort. You use it when someone is being lazy. It also fits when a task is so easy you don't need to try. It is the ultimate expression for 'coasting.'
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb phrase. You can talk about yourself or others. If your friend is failing a class because they don't study, they are não fazendo força. If you win a game too easily, you might say you didn't even have to fazer força. It is very versatile. Just conjugate the verb fazer to fit the person you are talking about.
When To Use It
Use it when you feel frustrated by someone's lack of initiative. It is perfect for complaining about a lazy coworker. You can also use it in sports. If a team wins without trying, this is the phrase. Use it in texts to joke with friends about their laziness. It works well in casual conversations over coffee or beer.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this in a formal performance review with your boss. It sounds a bit too blunt and informal. Avoid it if someone is actually trying but failing. That would be quite mean! Also, don't use it for physical strength only. It is mostly about mental or general effort. If someone is literally weak, use different words.
Cultural Background
Brazilians and Portuguese people value hard work, but they also love 'jeitinho.' However, não fazer força is usually a critique. It implies a lack of passion or interest. In a culture that is often very social and energetic, being someone who 'doesn't make force' is seen as being a bit of a 'cold fish' or unmotivated. It’s the opposite of being a 'go-getter.'
Common Variations
You might hear não se esforçar, which is more formal. Another common one is não mexer uma palha. That means 'not moving a straw.' It is even more dramatic than não fazer força. If you want to be very informal, you can say someone is na maciota. That means they are taking it way too easy.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral-to-informal collocation. It is safe for daily use but should be avoided in very formal writing or high-stakes professional feedback where 'falta de empenho' would be better.
The 'Nenhuma' Boost
Add 'nenhuma' (none) after 'força' to sound like a native. 'Ele não faz força nenhuma' sounds much more natural and emphatic.
Don't be too literal
If you are actually talking about physical strength (like a broken machine), use 'não tem força' (doesn't have strength) instead.
The Lazy Student
In Brazil, teachers often tell parents 'Ele é inteligente, mas não faz força' (He's smart, but doesn't try). It's the classic 'could do better' comment.
Beispiele
6O Ricardo não faz força nenhuma para ajudar a equipe.
Ricardo doesn't make any effort to help the team.
Here it shows frustration with a coworker's lack of participation.
A prova estava tão fácil que eu nem fiz força.
The exam was so easy I didn't even have to try.
Used to show that something was effortless.
Você quer um namorado, mas não faz força para sair de casa!
You want a boyfriend, but you don't make an effort to leave the house!
A friendly poke at a friend's contradictory behavior.
Se você não fizer força, vai ficar no banco.
If you don't put in the effort, you'll stay on the bench.
A direct warning about performance and motivation.
Sinto que só eu tento, você não faz força nenhuma por nós.
I feel like only I try; you don't make any effort for us.
Used to express emotional hurt regarding a lack of commitment.
Hoje eu decidi que não vou fazer força nem para levantar.
Today I decided I won't even make an effort to get up.
Hyperbole used for comedic effect regarding laziness.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form of the verb 'fazer' to complete the sentence.
Eles perderam o jogo porque não ___ força.
Since the subject is 'Eles' (They), you need the third-person plural past tense 'fizeram'.
Complete the sentence to say you aren't trying at all.
Eu estou com preguiça, não quero ___ força hoje.
The collocation is always 'fazer força', never 'dar' or 'ter' force in this context.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
How formal is 'não fazer força'?
Too mild for heavy slang.
N/A
Perfect for friends and family.
Cara, você não faz força!
Safe for most daily interactions.
Ele não fez força na aula.
A bit too blunt for a CEO.
O funcionário não se esforçou.
Where will you hear this?
At the Gym
Someone barely lifting weights.
In the Office
A colleague missing deadlines.
At Home
A teenager refusing to clean.
Sports
A team playing without heart.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenMostly, yes. However, it can also mean a task was so easy that you didn't need to try, like ganhei sem fazer força (I won without trying).
Rarely. It's almost always a criticism of someone's effort or a comment on how easy something was. It's not a compliment to say someone não faz força at work.
Yes, they mean the same thing. Não se esforçar is just more formal and grammatically standard, while não fazer força is more idiomatic.
You would say Estou fazendo força or more commonly Estou me esforçando. It shows you are putting in the work.
Yes, it is common in both Brazil and Portugal. The meaning remains the same across the Lusophone world.
You can, but it's less common. If a car engine isn't working hard, you might say it não está fazendo força, but usually, it's about people.
The opposite is dar o sangue (to give blood) or se matar de trabalhar (to kill oneself working).
It can be. Telling someone você não faz força is a direct insult to their work ethic or interest in a situation.
Absolutely. Use não fiz força, não fez força, or não fizeram força depending on who you are talking about.
Using 'tentar' (to try) instead of 'fazer força'. While 'não tenta' is okay, 'não faz força' is much more common in spoken, idiomatic Portuguese.
Verwandte Redewendungen
não mexer uma palha
not to lift a finger
estar nem aí
not to care at all
corpo mole
to be lazy or avoid work (literally 'soft body')
empurrar com a barriga
to procrastinate or do a job poorly
Kommentare (0)
Zum Kommentieren AnmeldenStarte kostenlos mit dem Sprachenlernen
Kostenlos Loslegen