gradualmente, pouco a pouco, paulatinamente
1. in a slow or gradual manner; step by step; incrementally over time
The patient recovered by degrees after the surgery.
O paciente se recuperou gradualmente após a cirurgia.
2. through successive stages or intervals; not all at once
By degrees, she became more confident in her new role.
Pouco a pouco, ela se tornou mais confiante em seu novo papel.
This phrase is commonly used in both American English and Brazilian Portuguese to describe slow, steady progress. In Portuguese, 'pouco a pouco' and 'aos poucos' are especially popular in everyday speech, while 'gradualmente' is more formal. The expression is universal across both cultures when discussing personal growth, recovery, learning processes, or any gradual change.
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →