focando

Focando is the gerund form of the Portuguese verb focar, meaning to focus or to direct attention toward a subject, goal, or task. It is commonly used to indicate an ongoing action, roughly equivalent to “focusing” or “concentrating on” in English, as in estou focando no relatório.

Etymology and usage context: Focar derives from the noun foco, which denotes a center, point of attention, or focal point, and has Latin roots in focus. The verb and its gerund became widespread in the 20th century with the adoption of scientific, technological, and media-related vocabulary. In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, focando is frequent in informal speech and writing. In European Portuguese, speakers sometimes prefer constructions like estar a focar or express alternatives such as concentrar-se, depending on register.

Grammatical note: Focando functions as a verbial gerund and pairs with a form of estar to express progressive aspect (e.g., estou focando). It can also be used more broadly as a participial adjective in some contexts, and reflexive forms like focando-se are possible.

Domains of use: In photography and optics, focar or focando refers to adjusting a lens to render a subject sharp. In business, education, and everyday life, focando describes prioritizing or narrowing attention to specific objectives (focar nos objetivos estratégicos). The noun foco remains common for the concept of focus itself, while the verb fokar and its gerund emphasize action and process.

See also: foco, focar, focalização.