curto

Curto is a Portuguese adjective meaning short in length, duration, or extent. It is used to describe physical dimensions (cabelo curto, distância curta), time or deadlines (prazos curtos, tempo curto), and other measures where brevity is indicated. The term appears in common expressions such as “curto prazo” and “a curto prazo,” both used to refer to the near or immediate future.

Etymology and cognates: Curto derives from Latin curtus, meaning shortened. It has cognates in other Romance languages, for example Spanish corto, reflecting the same root related to brevity or length reduction. The feminine form is curta, and the plural forms are curtos (masculine) and curtas (feminine).

Usage and compounds: Beyond descriptive use, curto appears in fixed phrases and technical terms. One well-known compound is curto-circuito, the standard Portuguese term for a short circuit in electrical systems. The adjective also participates in constructions like “em curto espaço de tempo” or “em curto prazo,” conveying a sense of immediacy or brevity.

Grammar and variants: Curto is masculine; feminine use is curta. Adjectival agreement follows the noun it modifies: prazo curto, espaço curto, distâncias curtas, prazos curtos. It is common in both spoken and written Portuguese, including Brazilian and European varieties.

See also: corto, corto in Spanish; breve as a synonym; longo as antonym; curto-circuito for the electrical term. Curto is primarily a natural-language descriptor of brevity, with broad applicability across everyday and technical contexts.