Portuguese Phrase
Reduz o risco de se machucar.
Meaning
The sentence means “It reduces the risk of getting hurt.” It is often used when describing safety measures, protective equipment, or habits that help avoid injury.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving health or safety advice, describing a product’s protective features, or reminding someone to act carefully to avoid accidents.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Reduzoriscodesemachucar.
Reduz (verb)
Third‑person singular present indicative of reduzir (to reduce). Used for statements about what something does.
o risco (noun + article)
Definite article o + risco (risk). The article agrees in gender and number with the noun.
de (preposition)
Links the noun risco with the infinitive phrase that follows, meaning “of”.
se (reflexive pronoun)
Reflexive pronoun placed before the infinitive; indicates the action is performed on oneself.
machucar (infinitive)
Infinitive form of machucar (to hurt). With se it means “to hurt oneself”.
🗨In Conversation
Este capacete reduz o risco de se machucar.
This helmet reduces the risk of getting hurt.
Ótimo! Vou comprar um logo.
Great! I’ll buy one right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Reduz o risco de se machuca.
Use the infinitive machucar after de; se machuca is a conjugated form that changes the meaning.
Reduz o risco de machucar.
Missing the reflexive pronoun changes the sense; it would mean “risk of hurting (someone else)”.
Reduz risco de se machucar.
Omit the article and the phrase sounds incomplete.
↔Alternatives
Diminui a probabilidade de se ferir.
It lowers the probability of injuring yourself.
Ajuda a evitar lesões.
It helps avoid injuries.
Previne que você se machuque.
It prevents you from getting hurt.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese the reflexive pronoun can appear before the infinitive (se machucar) or attached to it (machucar‑se). Both are correct, but the pre‑position‑plus‑pronoun pattern (de se machucar) is the most common in formal writing. Also, “machucar” can refer to both physical and emotional hurt, so context matters.