conhecido

Conhecido is the masculine singular adjective in Portuguese that means "known" or "familiar," used to describe someone or something that is recognized by people. The feminine form is conhecida, and the plural forms are conhecidos (masculine) and conhecidas (feminine). The word comes from the verb conhecer, meaning "to know," and ultimately from Latin cognoscere.

In usage, conhecido emphasizes recognition or familiarity rather than broad fame. For example, um rosto conhecido means “a familiar face,” and ele é um pesquisador conhecido implies that the person is known within a certain field or community. By contrast, famoso conveys widespread fame or notoriety rather than mere recognition.

Conhecido can also be used with por to indicate what someone is known for, as in Ele é conhecido por suas contribuições à ciência (He is known for his contributions to science). Additionally, conhecido can function as a noun: o conhecido refers to an acquaintance, a person one knows. Its feminine form as a noun is a conhecida, with plural os conhecidos or as conhecidas for a group of female acquaintances.

The term is widely used in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, with no substantial difference in core meaning. It is common in everyday language, journalism, and literature to describe recognizable people, places, or objects, as well as to discuss reputation and familiarity within social or professional circles.