espalhamse

Espalhamse is the reflexive form of the Portuguese verb espalhar-se, typically written as espalham-se in standard spelling. It is the present indicative third person plural form, used when the subject performs the action and it affects itself or spreads out over an area or group. The base verb espalhar means to spread, scatter, or disseminate, and the reflexive suffix se adds the sense of spreading itself or becoming distributed.

In usage, espalham-se can describe physical dispersion (people, crowds, seeds) as well as metaphorical spreading (rumors, information, influence, trends). Examples include: "Os rumores espalham-se rapidamente" (The rumors spread quickly) and "Os moradores espalham-se pela cidade" (The residents spread out across the city). Other tenses follow the regular declension of reflexive verbs: espalharam-se (past), espalhavam-se (imperfect), espalhar-se (infinitive), espalhado-se (participle, in fixed constructions).

Etymology traces espalhar to the Latin-influenced Portuguese lexeme meaning to spread or extend, with espalham-se representing its reflexive, plural usage. The form is common across Portuguese-speaking regions, including Brazil and Portugal, though stylistic preferences may vary (such as hyphenation and pronoun placement).

See also: espalhar, reflexive verbs in Portuguese, pronoun clitics in verb phrases.