alheios

Alheios is a term in the Portuguese language that functions as both adjective and noun. It describes things or people that are unfamiliar, external, or not belonging to the speaker’s group. In everyday speech, alheios can denote outsiders or a sense of detachment from a situation.

Etymology: The word derives from alheio, from Latin alienus, through Old Portuguese, sharing a common lineage with other Romance languages for “foreign” or “other.”

Grammatical usage: Alheio and its feminine form alheia agree with the noun they modify: um assunto alheio (a matter unrelated); alheios ao mundo (outsiders to the world). The expression ficar alheio a indicates being unaware of, indifferent to, or detached from something, as in “Ele ficou alheio aos acontecimentos.” The plural alheios can also serve as a noun meaning “the outsiders” in some contexts.

Cadence in literature and discourse: The term commonly appears in literature, journalism, and social commentary to signal distance between groups, or to critique insular or inattentive attitudes. It can carry a neutral sense when simply designating something not part of a given group, or a critical sense when implying neglect or ignorance.

See also: alien, otherness, outsider, foreigner.