Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Estático does not move; extático is emotionally transported.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
estático
static or motionless
Use estático for remaining still or unchanged, without movement or development.
extático
ecstatic or enraptured
Use extático for overcome with intense admiration, joy, or astonishment.
How to choose
- estático: Choose estático if the sentence points to remaining still or unchanged, without movement or development.
- extático: Choose extático if the sentence points to overcome with intense admiration, joy, or astonishment.
Examples
O gráfico permaneceu estático durante a apresentação.
The chart remained static during the presentation.
O público ficou extático com a apresentação.
The audience was ecstatic about the performance.
Common trap
The initial ex in extático belongs to ecstasy, not physical position. Both words carry stress on á, so the opening letters matter.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with estático, then once with extático. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.