em vão

Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese en vão. By surface analysis, em (“in”) +‎ vão (“vain”).

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽj̃ ˈvɐ̃w̃/ [ẽj̃ ˈvɐ̃ʊ̯̃], (natural pronunciation) /ĩ ˈvɐ̃w̃/ [ĩ ˈvɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɐ̃j̃ ˈvɐ̃w̃/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɐ̃j̃ ˈvɐ̃w̃/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ɐ̃j̃ ˈbɐ̃w̃/

Adverb

em vão

1. in vain (ending in failure; unsuccessfully)