geral

Geral is a Portuguese adjective meaning broad, comprehensive, or common, and it can translate as general, overall, or universal. It is used to indicate a non-specific or wide scope, as in faixa geral (general range), tendência geral (general trend), or conhecimento geral (general knowledge). The term contrasts with more specific or particular terms such as particular, específico, or interno.

Etymology and form: Geral comes from Latin generalis, through the evolution of Romance languages, including Old French général, into Portuguese. The word has the same form for masculine and feminine nouns, and a plural is gerais. It is common in both spoken and written Portuguese and widely used in formal and informal contexts.

Usage and common expressions: In everyday language, expressions like em termos gerais or de forma geral introduce statements that apply broadly. In academic or public discourse, one speaks of estudos gerais, leis gerais, or administração geral to denote broad or overarching aspects. In government and organizations, you encounter terms such as secretaria geral (general secretariat), conselho geral (general council), and administração geral (general administration), where geral denotes a broad, overarching scope rather than a specialized unit.

Notes: In Portuguese, the capitalized form General refers to the military rank equivalent to “General” in English; geral (lowercase) is the general, non-rank sense. The word is closely related to its cognates in other Romance languages and translates to general concepts across disciplines, including science, philosophy, and everyday speech.