engolir

Engolir is a Portuguese verb meaning to swallow, that is, to pass something from the mouth through the esophagus. It covers the physical action of taking solids, liquids, or medicines into the mouth and enabling them to pass onward. The term is also used figuratively to denote accepting or tolerating something, sometimes with reluctance or surprise.

Usage and expressions commonly associated with engolir include engolir uma pílula (to swallow a pill), engolir uma bebida (to swallow a drink), and engolir um objeto inteiro in more figurative contexts. The idiom engolir sapos, widely used in both Brazilian and European Portuguese, means to endure humiliation or accept an unpleasant situation without protest. Engolir uma mentira can imply believing or accepting a lie, often despite reservations.

Conjugation and forms: Engolir is a regular -ir verb in many forms. Present indicative forms include eu engulo, tu engoles, ele engole, nós engolimos, vós engoleis, eles engolem. Gerund form: engolindo; past participle: engolido. As with many Portuguese verbs, regional variation affects the second-person plural form (vós engoleis in Portugal; Brazilian usage typically relies on você/vocês forms).

Related terms and nuances: In a physiological context, the action is part of the deglutição (deglutition) process. Synonyms include ingerir (to ingest) and, in more literary or forceful contexts, tragar or engolir literally. The verb carries both literal and metaphorical meanings, depending on the sentence and intent.