Úmidos

Úmidos is the plural masculine form of the Portuguese adjective úmido, used to describe the presence of moisture in air, surfaces, or materials. It is commonly applied to describe environments and conditions with noticeable humidity, such as ar úmido, ambiente úmido, or solo úmido.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin umidus, related to the concept of moisture and humidity. It shares cognates with other Romance languages, like Portuguese humidade, Spanish húmedo, and French humide.

Usage and nuance: Úmido describes conditions rather than the precise amount of moisture; the percentage of humidity is measured by relative humidity. In weather reports, dias úmidos indicates damp days; in architecture and horticulture, ambiente úmido matters for mold risk and plant health.

Regional and stylistic notes: In standard Portuguese, úmido is widely used across Portugal and Brazil. The term can appear in scientific and everyday texts, and is preferred when referring to moisture in air or materials rather than a qualitative state.

See also: humidity, moisture, dampness, weather.