capricho vs escrúpulo
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to capricho
Listen to escrúpulo
| capricho | escrúpulo |
|---|---|
/cah-pree-SHO/ noun | /ehs-KROO-poo-loo/ noun |
| Attention to detail, care, or special effort put into doing something well; it can also mean a whim or fancy depending on context. | scrupulous care, conscientiousness, or moral caution |
How they differ
Escrúpulo is narrower and more serious than capricho: it implies carefulness driven by conscience, standards, or moral concern. Capricho is broader and can be lighter, more aesthetic, or even mean a whim depending on context.
When to use each
When to use capricho: Prefer capricho when you mean careful attention in a practical or aesthetic sense.
When to use escrúpulo: Prefer escrúpulo when you want to stress strict conscientiousness or ethical caution.
Side-by-side examples
- Fez o trabalho com capricho.
(He did the work carefully.) - Fez o trabalho com escrúpulo.
(He did the work scrupulously.)
Register & nuance: Escrúpulo is more formal and abstract, and is less common in everyday speech than capricho.