vaivém

Portuguese

Etymology

From vai (“goes”) +‎ vem (“comes”), third-person singular of the present indicative of ir and vir respectively.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ẽj̃

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˌvajˈvẽj̃/ [ˌvaɪ̯ˈvẽɪ̯̃]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˌvaj.iˈvɐ̃j̃/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˌvaj.iˈvɐ̃j̃/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˌbaj.iˈbɐ̃j̃/ [ˌbaj.iˈβɐ̃j̃]

• Hyphenation: vai‧vém

Noun

vaivém m (plural vaivéns)

1. to-and-fro motion; swaying motion
2. coming and going (bustle of activity)
3. (figurative) ups and downs (periods of positive and negative events, moods, or interactions)
4. (figurative, uncountable) inconstancy; the state of being constantly changing

   Synonym: inconstância

5. space shuttle

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:vaivém.