trabalhoso

Trabalhoso is an adjective in Portuguese used to describe something that requires substantial effort, labor, or time. It can refer to physical tasks, mental work, or processes that are tedious or onerous. The term typically conveys a sense of burden or tedium resulting from the amount of work involved. It is commonly used in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese and is generally applied to tasks, projects, or situations rather than to people.

Etymology and nuance: the word comes from trabalhar (to work) with the suffix -oso, which in Portuguese forms adjectives that indicate abundance or characteristic. Trabalhoso literally means “full of work.” This reflects not only difficulty but also the enduring effort required to complete something.

Usage and context: trabalhoso describes activities that demand sustained effort, often over a long period or with many steps. It can refer to physical labor, complex procedures, or bureaucratic processes. It tends to carry a neutral to slightly negative connotation, signaling challenge or inconvenience rather than lack of skill. For contrast or nuance, speakers may use synonyms such as laborioso (more formal or literary), árduo (more intense), cansativo (tiring), or oneroso (burdensome). The opposite terms are fácil or simples.

Note: trabalhoso typically describes tasks or processes; to refer to a person, more appropriate terms are trabalhador or diligente, since trabalhoso is not used to describe people. Examples: “Essa tarefa é trabalhosa e leva horas.” “O caminho até o topo foi trabalhoso, mas recompensou-se no final.”