herdados

Herdados is a Portuguese word that is most commonly encountered as the masculine plural past participle of the verb herdar, meaning "inherited." In standard usage, herdados can function as an adjective describing things that have been inherited, such as bens herdados (inherited property) or traços herdados (inherited traits). The more common noun for people who receive property or succession is herdeiros; herdados as a standalone noun to mean “the heirs” is uncommon and juridical or historical texts may use it in a nonstandard or context-specific way.

Etymology and forms: The term derives from herdar (to inherit) and the participial form herdado, with plural agreement yielding herdados. This construction mirrors other Romance languages that employ participles as adjectives or nominal groups. In everyday Portuguese, more precise terms are typically used depending on meaning—bens herdados for inherited property or herdeiro/herdeiros for heirs.

Usage considerations: As an adjective, herdados denotes something that has been inherited, regardless of context. As a noun, its use to denote heirs is rare and can vary by legal tradition or historical period. In contemporary texts, it is generally safer to use herdado/herdados as adjectives and herdeiro/herdeiros for people who receive an inheritance.

In culture and literature: Because herdados is not widely adopted as a standalone concept or proper noun, any usage as a title, group name, or fictional entity would be authorial or context-specific rather than conventional.

See also: inheritance, hereditary, herdar, herdeiro.