Voluntária

Voluntária is the feminine form of voluntário in Portuguese and can function as a noun or an adjective. As a noun, it refers to a woman who performs voluntary work without pay. As an adjective, it describes actions or participation performed by choice, without obligation, for example participação voluntária. The corresponding masculine form is voluntário.

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from Latin voluntarius, from voluntas, meaning will or wish. In Portuguese, both voluntário and voluntária agree in gender with the noun they modify or describe.

Usage and scope: Voluntária is widely used in Portugal, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions to designate gender-specific references to volunteers or voluntary activities. It appears in contexts such as volunteer work in NGOs, healthcare, disaster relief, education, and community service. Common phrases include ações voluntárias and trabalho voluntário.

Distinction from related terms: Voluntária specifically marks femininity in the person or in the qualifying description. Voluntário serves as the masculine form. Voluntariado, also used in Portuguese, denotes the broader practice, system, or period of volunteering rather than a single person or attribute.

Legal and social context: Volunteering is typically unpaid and based on voluntary participation. Organizations often provide orientation or training, and some countries offer recognition, certificates, or non-monetary incentives. Voluntária reflects the personal and social dimension of civic engagement within civil society.

See also: voluntariado, voluntário, voluntariamente.