consumindo

Consumindo is the gerund form of the Portuguese verb consumir, meaning to consume, use up, or ingest. As a non-finite verb form, consumindo signals ongoing action and is typically used with auxiliary verbs to express a progressive aspect. In Brazilian Portuguese the common construction is estar consumindo: “Ela está consumindo várias fatias de pizza.” In European Portuguese it is also common to use estar a consumir: “Ela está a consumir várias fatias de pizza.” The gerund can also occur in contexts where an action is described as happening simultaneously or habitually, though its use is more restricted in formal writing.

Etymology: consumir comes from Latin consumere, with the root consum- derived from com- + sumere, meaning to take up or use up.

Uses: The scope of consumindo includes eating and drinking (“Ele está consumindo o almoço”), but also the consumption of resources such as energy, water, or materials (“está consumindo muita energia”), and of time (“está consumindo muito tempo”). In sociocultural or economic discussions, it often describes patterns of consumption.

Notes: The gerund can be considered informal or less preferred in some registers; in formal writing, other constructions may be preferred, such as “ele está a consumir” in European Portuguese or simply “ele consome” for habitual action. The noun “consumo” refers to the act of consuming, and “consumidor” to a consumer.

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