desdobra

Desdobra is a term used in Portuguese, most commonly recognized as a verb form. It denotes the third-person singular present indicative of desdobrar, meaning to unfold, unfurl, or to spread out. In sentences such as Ele desdobra o mapa or Ela desdobra os papéis, the action is literal, with the subject unfolding an object; it can also appear in figurative expressions, for example, a plan desdobra-se, meaning a plan unfolds or develops.

Etymology and form: The form comes from the prefix des- (undoing or reversing) combined with dobrar (to fold or double), yielding desdobrar “to unfold.” The related noun most commonly used for the resulting act is desdobramento or abertura; desdobra itself is uncommon as a noun in modern Portuguese and is primarily encountered as a verb form.

Usage: In contemporary Portuguese, desdobra is standard as the third-person singular present of desdobrar. The corresponding first-person form is desdobro, and the second-person informal is desdobras. The noun sense is not widespread; speakers often prefer desdobramento or abertura depending on context. Some regional varieties may show slight variation in pronunciation, but the core meaning—the unfolding or expansion of something—remains consistent.

See also: desdobrar, desdobramento, unfold.