practice sporadically

[/ˈpræktɪs spəˈrædɪkli/]
verb phrase
praticar esporadicamente
1. to engage in an activity or skill at irregular intervals, without consistency or routine
He practices guitar sporadically, only when he remembers to pick it up.
Ele pratica guitarra esporadicamente, apenas quando se lembra de pegá-la.
2. to perform an action occasionally and unpredictably rather than on a regular schedule
She practices yoga sporadically instead of committing to a regular class.
Ela pratica yoga esporadicamente em vez de se comprometer com uma aula regular.
This phrase reflects a common reality in both Brazilian and American contexts where people struggle with commitment to regular practice. In Brazil, 'esporadicamente' emphasizes the irregular nature more formally, while casual speakers might say 'de vez em quando' (from time to time). In the US, this is often discussed in contexts of fitness, music lessons, or language learning, representing a common challenge to self-discipline.
NYC Slang
practice on-and-off / do something on-and-off
Synonyms / Sinônimos
practice occasionallypractice irregularlypractice inconsistentlypractice on and off
Antonyms / Antônimos
practice regularlypractice consistentlypractice dailypractice routinely

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
praticar esporadicamente
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
praticar de vez em quando
More colloquial alternative commonly used in Rio
São Paulo
praticar esporadicamente / praticar quando dá
Formal or informal depending on context
Portugal
praticar esporadicamente / treinar ocasionalmente
Both terms used; 'treinar' more common for sports contexts

Related Words

sporadicintermittent practiceoccasional traininginconsistent effort

Related Idioms & Phrases

practice on and off
hit or miss practice
practice when the mood strikes
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →