perceber
1. to become aware of through the senses; to notice or observe
She perceived a change in his tone of voice.
Ela percebeu uma mudança no tom de voz dele.
2. to understand or interpret something in a particular way
How do you perceive the current political situation?
Como você percebe a situação política atual?
3. to catch sight of; to see or detect
Through the fog, we could barely perceive the lighthouse.
Através da neblina, mal conseguíamos perceber o farol.
4. to become conscious of; to realize
He gradually perceived the gravity of the situation.
Ele gradualmente percebeu a gravidade da situação.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'perceber' is the standard translation and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. In American English, 'perceive' is often used in formal or written contexts, while in casual speech, 'notice' or 'see' might be preferred. The word emphasizes conscious awareness rather than passive observation.
NYC Slang
peep (informal: to notice or observe, as in 'I peeped that situation')
Related Idioms & Phrases
perceive the writing on the wall - perceber os sinais de alerta
perceive at first glance - perceber à primeira vista
perceive through the grapevine - saber através de boatos
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