Inválido

Inválido is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with two main, related senses. Etymology traces it to the Latin invalidus, meaning weak or not strong, and the word acquired its current forms through the development of the romance languages. The accent on the first syllable helps distinguish it from válidos in both languages.

In both languages, inválido primarily functions as an adjective meaning not valid or no longer legally acceptable. Examples include a document or contract that is not binding, a password or entry that is incorrect, or any item considered not admissible or invalid in a given system. In everyday usage, phrases such as “documento inválido” or “la contraseña es inválida” are common.

Inválido also has a noun sense in historical or clinical contexts, referring to a person who is physically or mentally disabled. In Spanish, “el inválido” or “una inválida” can be used in older or more formal texts, though contemporary usage often prefers terms like “persona con discapacidad.” In Portuguese, a similar distinction exists: the masculine form “inválido” and the feminine “inválida,” with modern discourse favoring respectful expressions such as “pessoa com deficiência.”

Differences between español and português are primarily orthographic and stylistic rather than semantic. The opposite of inválido is válido. Related terms include inválidos, inválidas (plural) and válidos, válidas (plural).

In summary, inválido denotes not valid or disabled in various contexts, with modern usage tending toward neutral or person-first language when referring to people.