verdadeira

Verdadeira is the feminine singular form of the Portuguese adjective verdadeiro, meaning true, real, or genuine. It agrees with feminine singular nouns and is used to describe something that corresponds to fact, authenticity, or sincerity. Examples include uma afirmação verdadeira (a true statement), uma amiga verdadeira (a genuine friend), and a notícia verdadeira (the true news).

Etymology and sense: Verdadeira derives from verdade (truth), which in turn comes from the Latin veritas. The term encompasses concepts of accuracy, authenticity, and integrity, and it can modify nouns in a wide range of contexts—from everyday objects to abstract ideas such as identidade verdadeira (true identity) or valor verdadeiro (true value).

Usage notes: Verdadeira is contrasted with the antonym falso (false) or mentiroso (lying). It can describe physical realities, factual claims, or personal qualities that are sincere or reliable. In phrases, it often appears before a feminine noun, but it can also function predicatively: A notícia é verdadeira. It is part of the larger semantic field that includes verdade, veracidade, and autenticidade.

Variants and related terms: The masculine counterpart is verdadeiro, and the plural forms are verdadeiros (masculine) and verdadeiras (feminine). Related concepts include veracidade (truthfulness) and autenticidade (authenticity).

See also: Verdade, verdadeiro, veracidade, autenticidade, real. English equivalents include true, genuine, authentic, and real.