descobrir vs revelar
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to descobrir
Listen to revelar
| descobrir | revelar |
|---|---|
/des-co-BRIR/ verb | /heh-veh-LAR/ verb |
| to discover; to find out something that was unknown before | to reveal; to make something known that was hidden or secret |
How they differ
Revelar focuses on making a hidden fact, secret, or identity known, often intentionally. Descobrir is broader: it can mean finding something out by investigation, chance, or experience, even when nobody intended to reveal it.
When to use each
When to use descobrir: Prefer descobrir when you mean you learned something, especially through investigation, observation, or by chance.
When to use revelar: Prefer revelar when the emphasis is on exposing or disclosing something that was previously hidden or secret.
Side-by-side examples
- Eu descobri a verdade ontem.
(I found out the truth yesterday.) - Ele revelou a verdade ontem.
(He revealed the truth yesterday.)
Register & nuance: Revelar is slightly more formal and is common in contexts like news, secrets, and public disclosure.