You know that feeling? When something just isn't quite right, not a complete failure, but not smooth sailing either. It's that stop-and-start rhythm, the kind that can be both frustrating and, at times, even a little poetic. In English, we have a word for this: 'intermittent'. But like many words, its simple translation doesn't always capture the full story.
When we talk about something being 'intermittent', we're describing something that isn't continuous. It happens, then it stops, then it happens again. Think of a flickering light bulb, or a conversation that keeps getting interrupted by phone calls. The Portuguese word 'intermitente' perfectly captures this sense of something that 'não é contínuo, que se interrompe' – not continuous, that interrupts itself. The most direct English equivalent, of course, is 'intermittent'.
But the nuance doesn't stop there. The reference material points out that 'intermittent' can also be used in a more formal sense, meaning 'happening occasionally; stopping for a while and then starting again'. This is where the adverb form, 'intermittently', really shines. We might discuss a problem 'intermittently', meaning we've touched upon it now and then, but haven't tackled it head-on consistently. Or perhaps you've seen lightning flashing 'intermittently' in an otherwise clear sky – a beautiful, yet fleeting, display.
Interestingly, the concept of 'intermittent' also pops up in the context of vehicles. You might have heard of a 'turn signal'. This is that little light on your car that flashes to let other drivers know you're about to turn. In the UK, these are sometimes called 'indicators'. Both 'turn signal' and 'indicator' refer to lights that flash, or operate 'intermittently', to convey information. It's a practical application of something that isn't constantly on, but rather signals its intention through repeated, brief appearances.
So, while 'intermittent' is the go-to word, understanding its shades of meaning – from a simple pause to a flashing signal – helps us communicate more precisely. It’s about recognizing that not everything in life, or in language, is a constant, unbroken stream. Sometimes, it's the pauses, the interruptions, the moments that come and go, that tell the most compelling story.
