Recelo

Recelo is a noun used in Portuguese and Spanish to denote suspicion, mistrust, or misgiving. It can also refer to precaution or wariness when approaching a situation. The related adjective receloso (in Spanish) or receloso/recelosa (in Portuguese) describes someone who is wary or guarded. In both languages, recelo often expresses doubt about another’s motives, the truth of a statement, or the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

In Portuguese, recelo is common in formal and literary contexts as well as everyday speech. Examples include describing a reaction “com recelo” (with suspicion or hesitance) or noting “tive um recelo de que algo estivesse errado” (I had a misgiving that something was wrong). It can also indicate cautious or guarded action, as in taking measures “com recelo.”

In Spanish, recelo likewise conveys desconfianza or temor. It appears in phrases such as “recelo de la gente” (the people’s mistrust) or “con recelo ante una novedad” (with suspicion toward a new development). The adjective receloso/recelosa is used for a person who is suspicious or wary.

Etymology is linked to Latin roots associated with guarding or concealing, and the term spread through Iberian Romance languages to acquire its current senses of suspicion and caution. In modern usage, recelo tends to be more formal or literary, with desconfianza or temor as common everyday alternatives.