Descontrairse

Descontrair-se is a Portuguese verb in its reflexive form that means to relax, to loosen up, or to unwind, addressing both physical and mental states. It denotes releasing built-up tension in the body or in mood after exertion, stress, or a tense situation. The term can describe routine relaxation as well as activities aimed at reducing stress, such as light exercise, breathing practices, or engaging in leisure.

Etymology: the word is formed with the prefix des- (indicating reversal) attached to contrair, to contract. Thus, descontrair-se literally conveys undoing contraction. The reflexive pronoun marks that the action is performed on oneself. The non-reflexive form may appear in contexts where relaxation is described more impersonally or as a transitive action, but the reflexive emphasizes personal involvement.

Usage: widely used in Brazilian Portuguese and understood in other varieties to refer to unwinding after work, after a workout, or following a tense moment. It is closely related to relaxar-se, but with a stronger sense of releasing accumulated tension rather than merely becoming calm. It appears in casual speech as well as in descriptive or instructional writing about stress management and well-being.

See also: relaxar-se, desestressar-se, afrouxar-se, contrair-se.