Quick answer
Sustar interrupts an action or effect. Suster supports or holds something back.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
sustar
to suspend or halt
Use sustar for officially stopping the execution, progress, or effect of a measure.
suster
to sustain, restrain, or hold back
Use suster for supporting something or preventing movement, emotion, or decline.
How to choose
- sustar: Choose sustar if the sentence points to officially stopping the execution, progress, or effect of a measure.
- suster: Choose suster if the sentence points to supporting something or preventing movement, emotion, or decline.
Examples
O tribunal decidiu sustar a cobrança.
The court decided to suspend the charge.
Ela mal conseguiu suster o riso.
She could barely hold back her laughter.
Common trap
Their conjugations diverge: ele susta a medida, but ele sustém o peso or o impulso.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with sustar, then once with suster. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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