complaining

[/kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ/]
verb (gerund/present participle) / noun
reclamação / reclamando / lamentação
1. expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something
She is always complaining about the weather.
Ela está sempre reclamando do tempo.
2. making a formal statement or claim that something is unsatisfactory or illegal
The customer is complaining to the manager about poor service.
O cliente está reclamando com o gerente sobre o péssimo atendimento.
3. expressing pain or discomfort
He's complaining of a headache.
Ele está se queixando de uma dor de cabeça.
4. the act of expressing dissatisfaction (noun form)
All this complaining won't solve the problem.
Toda essa reclamação não vai resolver o problema.
In Brazilian culture, 'reclamação' is deeply embedded in social interactions and is often seen as a normal form of expression and dialogue. Brazilians tend to be more vocal about dissatisfaction compared to some other cultures. In American culture, excessive complaining can be viewed negatively as lacking resilience or positivity, though voicing legitimate concerns is generally accepted in formal contexts.
NYC Slang
griping / bellyaching / whining / kvetching (from Yiddish influence in NYC)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
grumblingwhininggripingprotestingobjectinglamentingmoaninggroaning
Antonyms / Antônimos
praisingcommendingappreciatingapprovingaccepting

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
reclamando / se queixando
Most common usage; 'reclamando' is more colloquial
Rio de Janeiro
reclamando / tá reclamando
Colloquial, often with 'tá' (está) contraction
São Paulo
reclamando / lamentando
Both terms are used; more formal in business contexts
Portugal
queixa-se / a reclamar
Portuguese Portuguese uses 'queixa-se' more frequently than Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

complaintcomplaincomplainergrievanceprotestdissatisfaction

Related Idioms & Phrases

no use complaining / no point in complaining
complaining up the chain
serial complainer
stop your complaining
without complaining
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