Infringir vs. quebrar vs. violar vs. transgredir
The Portuguese words infringir, quebrar, violar, and transgredir share meanings related to breaking or violating laws, rules, or norms but differ in nuance, formality, and context. Understanding these distinctions adds depth to their proper usage.
Infringir
B2Infringir refers to violating or not complying with a law, rule, or regulation in a formal or legal context. It emphasizes a breach of something strictly established.
Ele foi acusado de infringir as regras eleitorais.
(He was accused of violating the electoral rules.)
Infringir leis de trânsito pode resultar em multas pesadas.
(Violating traffic laws can result in heavy fines.)
É proibido infringir os direitos autorais de outra pessoa.
(It is forbidden to violate someone else's copyright.)
Quebrar
A2Quebrar literally means to break but can also be used figuratively to refer to the violation of rules, often implying a more casual or colloquial context.
Ele quebrou as regras da escola ao usar o telefone na sala de aula.
(He broke the school rules by using his phone in the classroom.)
Não queremos quebrar nenhuma promessa feita aos clientes.
(We don't want to break any promises made to our customers.)
Quebrar o contrato pode ter consequências legais.
(Breaking the contract may have legal consequences.)
Violar
B1Violar means to violate or infringe upon something, often implying a sense of disrespect or intrusion. It applies to both tangible and intangible concepts, such as laws, rights, or boundaries.
Eles violaram os direitos humanos das comunidades locais.
(They violated the human rights of the local communities.)
Violar a privacidade de alguém é uma atitude muito desrespeitosa.
(Violating someone's privacy is a very disrespectful action.)
O hacker tentou violar o banco de dados da empresa.
(The hacker tried to breach the company's database.)
Transgredir
C1Transgredir refers to the act of deliberately going against rules, norms, or laws. It suggests willful disobedience or a conscious decision to go beyond established boundaries, often with a more formal or literary tone.
Ela transgrediu as normas sociais ao expressar ideias tão polêmicas.
(She transgressed social norms by expressing such controversial ideas.)
Transgredir as leis ambientais prejudica a todos nós.
(Transgressing environmental laws harms us all.)
É importante ensinar às crianças a importância de não transgredir regras básicas de convivência.
(It is important to teach children the importance of not transgressing basic rules of coexistence.)
Summary
Infringir, quebrar, violar, and transgredir all refer to violating rules or norms, but they differ in context and tone. Infringir is formal and legal, quebrar is casual and often literal, violar suggests intrusion or disrespect, and transgredir implies deliberate disobedience, often in a formal or literary context.