visível

Visível is an adjective in Portuguese that describes something that can be seen with the naked eye or is perceptible by sight. It can refer to objects, phenomena, or information that is apparent or detectable without the use of tools.

The term derives from Latin visibilis, from videre, “to see.” In Portuguese, visível forms part of a family of -ível adjectives and is used both in everyday language and in technical contexts.

In grammar, visível is invariable for gender in the singular (masculine and feminine forms are the same) and forms in the plural as visíveis. Examples: “A estrela é visível.”, “As estrelas são visíveis.” The opposite is invisível, meaning not visible. The noun form visibilidade means the quality or state of being visible, or the degree to which something can be seen.

Usage and nuance: visível is used to indicate visibility to the eye in physical, perceptual, or informational terms. It can be literal (a object that can be seen) or figurative (e.g., “informação visível” or “provas visíveis”). It is common in scientific, journalistic, and everyday speech to distinguish what is perceivable by sight from what remains hidden or unseen.

In science and technology, visível often refers to the visible spectrum of the electromagnetic spectrum, the range detectable by the human eye. Related concepts include visibilidade, the act or degree of visibility, and invisível, the lack or absence of visibility. See also vision-related terms and translations into English: visible.