extraordinária

Extraordinária is the feminine form of the Portuguese adjective extraordinário, used to describe something that lies beyond what is ordinary. It conveys a sense of being remarkable, exceptional, unusual, or notable. The term can modify feminine nouns, as in uma pessoa extraordinária or uma realização extraordinária.

Etymology and forms: extraordinary derives from Latin extra ordinarius, meaning outside the ordinary. In Portuguese, the full set of forms includes extraordinário (masculine singular), extraordinária (feminine singular), extraordinários (masculine plural), and extraordinárias (feminine plural). As an adjective, extraordinária agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Usage: extraordinary is widely used in general language and formal contexts. It appears in descriptions of events, actions, or objects that stand out, such as uma reunião extraordinária or uma medida extraordinária. It also describes people or achievements: uma pessoa extraordinária, uma performance extraordinária. In journalism and rhetoric, the word can emphasize significance or commonality with notable, exceptional traits.

Synonyms and nuance: common synonyms include notável, excepcional, singular, and incrível. While both extraordinário and excepcional can express high quality, extraordinário often stresses going beyond the ordinary or standard, rather than merely being rare or perfect.

See also: extraordinário, extraordinariamente. The term is a standard descriptor in Portuguese, applicable across contexts from everyday speech to formal documentation.