civilizar
1. to bring a person, society, or group to a more advanced stage of social and cultural development
The colonizers sought to civilize the indigenous populations.
Os colonizadores procuravam civilizar as populações indígenas.
2. to teach someone to behave in a more polite, refined, or socially acceptable manner
Good manners and education help to civilize children.
Boas maneiras e educação ajudam a civilizar as crianças.
3. to improve or refine something that is crude or rough
Urban planning helped civilize the wild frontier region.
O planejamento urbano ajudou a civilizar a região selvagem da fronteira.
The term 'civilize' carries historically controversial connotations, as it was frequently used to justify colonialism and cultural imperialism. In modern usage, it is more commonly applied to personal refinement or urban development rather than cross-cultural contexts. In Brazilian and Portuguese contexts, the term maintains similar nuances and is used cautiously in academic and historical discussions.
Related Idioms & Phrases
civilize someone up - to make someone more refined or polished in behavior
civilize the wilderness - to develop underdeveloped land or regions
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