estreta

Estreta is a term in the Portuguese language that appears mainly as a verb form. In standard grammar, estreta is the third-person singular present indicative (and the formal you) of the verb estreitar, which means to narrow, tighten, or contract. Thus, in sentences such as “Ele estreta o vão,” the sense is that he narrows or tightens the opening. The full present-tense paradigm of estreitar includes eu estreto, tu estreitas, ele estreta, nós estreitamos, vós estretais, eles estreitam, with regional and stylistic variations in usage.

As an adjective, the proper feminine form meaning narrow is estreita, not estreta. Therefore, when describing a feminine noun, correct usage is “a rua estreita.” In standard Portuguese, estreta as an adjective is considered nonstandard or a misspelling for estreita, though it may appear in some dialectal texts or informal writing.

Origin and meaning. Estreitar comes from a root connected to tightening or drawing tight, with etymological ties to Latin forms that conveyed tightness or constriction. The sense of making something narrower or tighter is carried through to the modern verb, yielding related terms such as estreitamento (narrowing, constriction) and estreito/estreita (narrow, tight).

Usage notes. The word estreta is most commonly encountered as a verb form in conjugated sentences. Learners should distinguish it from the adjective estreita, which correctly modifies feminine nouns to express narrowness.