absentminded

[/ˌæbsəntˈmaɪndɪd/]
adjective
distraído
1. not paying attention to what is happening around you; forgetful
He was so absentminded that he forgot where he parked his car.
Ele era tão distraído que esqueceu onde estacionou seu carro.
2. showing a lack of attention or awareness; preoccupied
She had an absentminded expression while daydreaming in class.
Ela tinha uma expressão distraída enquanto sonhava acordada na aula.
3. characterized by inattention or forgetfulness
His absentminded manner often caused him to miss important details.
Seu jeito distraído frequentemente o fazia perder detalhes importantes.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, being absentminded is often portrayed humorously as a trait of intellectuals or creative people. In Brazil, it's frequently attributed to those lost in thought ('cabeça no ar'). The term is widely understood and used in everyday conversations to describe someone who is forgetful or inattentive in both professional and casual settings.
NYC Slang
spaced out / in your own world / not all there
Synonyms / Sinônimos
forgetfulinattentivepreoccupiedscatterbraineddistractedabsent
Antonyms / Antônimos
attentivemindfulfocusedalertobservantaware

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
distraído
most common term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
distraído / cabeça no ar
'cabeça no ar' (head in the air) is colloquially used
São Paulo
distraído / desatento
'desatento' is also commonly used in formal contexts
Portugal
distraído / ausente
both terms are used; 'ausente' emphasizes mental absence

Related Words

distractionforgetfulnessabsentmindattentionpreoccupation

Related Idioms & Phrases

head in the clouds
out to lunch
daydreaming
not all there
with one's head in the clouds
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