Portuguese Phrase
Às vezes me sinto cansado.
Meaning
This phrase directly translates to "Sometimes I feel tired." It's a common and natural way to express a state of fatigue, whether physical or mental. The use of "me sinto" emphasizes the personal feeling or sensation of being tired.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to express that you occasionally experience tiredness or fatigue. It's suitable for informal and semi-formal conversations, such as talking to friends, family, or colleagues about your energy levels. It implies that tiredness is not a constant state, but rather something that happens from time to time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Às vezesmesintocansado
Às vezes
This is an adverbial phrase meaning 'sometimes' or 'at times'. The grave accent on 'às' indicates a crase, which is the contraction of the preposition 'a' with the feminine plural definite article 'as'.
me
This is a reflexive pronoun, indicating that the action of the verb 'sentir' (to feel) is directed back at the subject. It's essential for expressing 'to feel oneself' or 'to feel' in this context.
sinto
This is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb 'sentir' (to feel) in the present indicative tense. It corresponds to 'I feel'.
cansado
This is an adjective meaning 'tired'. It must agree in gender and number with the subject. For a male speaker, it's 'cansado'; for a female speaker, it would be 'cansada'.
🗨In Conversation
Como você está se sentindo hoje depois do trabalho?
How are you feeling today after work?
Estou bem, mas às vezes me sinto cansado.
I'm good, but sometimes I feel tired.
✕Common Mistakes
Às vezes sinto cansado.
The verb 'sentir-se' (to feel oneself) requires the reflexive pronoun 'me' when expressing how one feels. Omitting 'me' makes the sentence grammatically incomplete in this context.
Às vezes me sinto cansada.
The adjective 'cansado' (tired) must agree in gender with the speaker. If the speaker is male, use 'cansado'; if female, use 'cansada'.
Às vezes sinto-me cansado.
While grammatically correct, in Brazilian Portuguese, the pronoun 'me' typically precedes the verb in this context ('me sinto'). 'Sinto-me' is more common in European Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Estou cansado(a) às vezes.
I am tired sometimes.
Fico cansado(a) de vez em quando.
I get tired from time to time.
Tenho andado cansado(a).
I've been feeling tired.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese-speaking cultures, it's generally acceptable to express feelings of tiredness, especially among friends and family, as it's seen as a natural human experience. The phrase 'às vezes' (sometimes) softens the statement, indicating that it's not a constant complaint but rather an occasional state. It's a common way to share a personal feeling without sounding overly negative.