😓⚠️

How to Say ‘It gets difficult’ in Portuguese

Fica complicado

fee-kah kom-plee-KAH-doo

[fee-kah kom-plee-KAH-doo]

💬 Usage Tip: ficar means "to stay", but fica + adjective means "it becomes" or "it ends up". Same use: fica caro "it gets expensive".

Phrase Breakdown

Fica

[fee-kah]

becomes

To begin to be; to come to be something.

Example

A água fica fria no inverno.

The water becomes cold in winter.

complicado

[kom-plee-KAH-doo]

complicated

Difficult or awkward to manage.

Example

O caminho é complicado.

The route is complicated.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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