Language/Portuguese/Vocabulary/Food
Հայերէն
Български език
官话
官話
Hrvatski jezik
Český jazyk
Nederlands
English
Suomen kieli
Français
Deutsch
עברית
हिन्दी
Magyar
Bahasa Indonesia
فارسی
Italiano
日本語
Қазақ тілі
한국어
Lietuvių kalba
Νέα Ελληνικά
Şimali Azərbaycanlılar
Język polski
Limba Română
Русский язык
Српски
Español
العربية القياسية
Svenska
Wikang Tagalog
தமிழ்
ภาษาไทย
Türkçe
Українська мова
Urdu
Tiếng Việt
| ◀️ Angola — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Drink ▶️ |
Welcome to our lesson on Food Vocabulary in Portuguese! As you embark on your journey to learn this beautiful language, one of the most delightful aspects you'll encounter is the rich and diverse world of Portuguese cuisine. Food is not just sustenance; it’s a cultural experience, a means of connection, and often a centerpiece of social gatherings. Understanding food vocabulary will not only enhance your language skills but also allow you to engage more deeply with Portuguese-speaking cultures.
In this lesson, we will cover a variety of food-related vocabulary, which will help you navigate menus, order at restaurants, and understand food-related conversations. The lesson is structured to ensure that you grasp the essentials of food vocabulary, with clear examples and engaging exercises to practice what you learn.
Vocabulary for Different Types of Food
In this section, we will explore the different categories of food items, from fruits and vegetables to meats and desserts. This vocabulary will serve as a foundation for your future conversations about food.
Fruits
Here are some common fruits in Portuguese:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| maçã | /maˈsɐ̃/ | apple |
| banana | /baˈnɐ̃nɐ/ | banana |
| laranja | /laˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ | orange |
| morango | /moˈɾɐ̃ɡu/ | strawberry |
| uva | /ˈuvɐ/ | grape |
| pêssego | /ˈpɛsɨɡu/ | peach |
| abacaxi | /abakaˈʃi/ | pineapple |
| melancia | /melãˈsiɐ/ | watermelon |
| kiwi | /ˈkivi/ | kiwi |
| limão | /liˈmɐ̃w/ | lemon |
Vegetables
Next, let’s look at some essential vegetables:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| cenoura | /seˈnoʊɾɐ/ | carrot |
| batata | /baˈtatɐ/ | potato |
| tomate | /toˈmaʧi/ | tomato |
| cebola | /seˈbola/ | onion |
| alface | /alˈfasɨ/ | lettuce |
| brócolis | /ˈbɾɔ.kɔ.lis/ | broccoli |
| pepino | /peˈpinu/ | cucumber |
| espinafre | /es.piˈna.fɾi/ | spinach |
| abobrinha | /aboˈbɾi.ɲɐ/ | zucchini |
| pimentão | /pimẽˈtɐ̃w/ | bell pepper |
Meats
Let’s now focus on meats and protein sources:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| frango | /ˈfɾɐ̃ɡu/ | chicken |
| carne de vaca | /ˈkaʁni dʒi ˈvaka/ | beef |
| porco | /ˈpoʁku/ | pork |
| peixe | /ˈpeɪʃi/ | fish |
| cordeiro | /koʁˈdeɾu/ | lamb |
| peru | /peˈɾu/ | turkey |
| salsicha | /salˈsiʃɐ/ | sausage |
| camarão | /kamaˈɾɐ̃w/ | shrimp |
| tofu | /ˈtofu/ | tofu |
| ovo | /ˈɔvu/ | egg |
Dairy Products
Dairy products are also essential in many diets:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| leite | /ˈlejtʃi/ | milk |
| queijo | /ˈkeʒu/ | cheese |
| manteiga | /mɐ̃ˈteɨɡɐ/ | butter |
| iogurte | /joˈɡuʁtʃi/ | yogurt |
| creme | /ˈkɾɛmɨ/ | cream |
| nata | /ˈnɐtɐ/ | heavy cream |
| requeijão | /ʁe.kejˈʒɐ̃w/ | cream cheese |
| leite condensado | /ˈlejtʃi kõdẽˈza.du/ | condensed milk |
| queijo fresco | /ˈkeʒu ˈfɾesku/ | fresh cheese |
| queijo cottage | /ˈkeʒu ˈkɔtʃɪʧ/ | cottage cheese |
Desserts
Who can resist a good dessert? Here are some popular options:
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| bolo | /ˈbɔlu/ | cake |
| pudim | /puˈdʒĩ/ | pudding |
| sorvete | /soʁˈvetʃi/ | ice cream |
| torta | /ˈtɔɾtɐ/ | pie |
| biscoito | /biˈskojtu/ | cookie |
| brigadeiro | /bɾiɡaˈdeɾu/ | brigadeiro (a chocolate truffle) |
| gelatina | /ʒelaˈtʃinɐ/ | gelatin |
| fruta | /ˈfɾutɐ/ | fruit |
| chocolate | /ʃo.koˈla.tʃi/ | chocolate |
| pavê | /paˈve/ | layered dessert |
Common Meals
Now that we have a good grasp of food vocabulary, let's look at some typical meals and the terms associated with them.
Breakfast (Café da Manhã)
Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day.
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| pão | /pɐ̃w/ | bread |
| manteiga | /mɐ̃ˈteɨɡɐ/ | butter |
| café | /kaˈfɛ/ | coffee |
| suco | /ˈsukʊ/ | juice |
| ovo frito | /ˈɔvu ˈfɾitu/ | fried egg |
| fruta | /ˈfɾutɐ/ | fruit |
| iogurte | /joˈɡuʁtʃi/ | yogurt |
| torrada | /toˈʁadɐ/ | toast |
| queijo | /ˈkeʒu/ | cheese |
| bolo | /ˈbɔlu/ | cake |
Lunch (Almoço)
Lunch tends to be a hearty meal in many Portuguese-speaking cultures.
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| arroz | /aˈʁoz/ | rice |
| feijão | /fejˈzɐ̃w/ | beans |
| carne | /ˈkaʁni/ | meat |
| salada | /saˈladɐ/ | salad |
| legumes | /leˈɡumɨs/ | vegetables |
| batata | /baˈtatɐ/ | potato |
| frango | /ˈfɾɐ̃ɡu/ | chicken |
| peixe | /ˈpeɪʃi/ | fish |
| sopa | /ˈsopɐ/ | soup |
| sobremesa | /sobɾeˈmeza/ | dessert |
Dinner (Jantar)
Dinner is often a time for families to gather and enjoy each other's company.
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| carne | /ˈkaʁni/ | meat |
| arroz | /aˈʁoz/ | rice |
| feijão | /fejˈzɐ̃w/ | beans |
| batata | /baˈtatɐ/ | potato |
| salada | /saˈladɐ/ | salad |
| sopa | /ˈsopɐ/ | soup |
| pão | /pɐ̃w/ | bread |
| peixe | /ˈpeɪʃi/ | fish |
| sobremesa | /sobɾeˈmeza/ | dessert |
| vinho | /ˈviɲu/ | wine |
Ordering Food in Portuguese
Understanding how to order food is a crucial skill when dining out in a Portuguese-speaking country. Here are some key phrases you'll need:
Key Phrases for Ordering
- Eu gostaria... - I would like...
- A conta, por favor. - The bill, please.
- Você tem um menu em inglês? - Do you have a menu in English?
- Qual é o prato do dia? - What is the dish of the day?
- Eu sou alérgico(a) a... - I am allergic to...
- Pode me trazer...? - Can you bring me...?
- Eu gostaria de pedir... - I would like to order...
- Tem alguma recomendação? - Do you have any recommendations?
- Isso é vegetariano? - Is this vegetarian?
- Eu quero... - I want...
Practice Exercises
Now that we’ve covered the vocabulary, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises to practice what you’ve learned.
Exercise 1: Match the Food Items
Match the Portuguese food items with their English translations.
1. maçã
2. carne
3. feijão
4. sorvete
5. queijo
- English Options:
a. cheese
b. ice cream
c. apple
d. beans
e. meat
- Answers:
1 - c
2 - e
3 - d
4 - b
5 - a
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct food vocabulary.
1. Eu gosto de comer ______ (chicken) no almoço.
2. No café da manhã, eu bebo ______ (coffee).
3. A ______ (salad) é fresca e deliciosa.
- Answers:
1. frango
2. café
3. salada
Exercise 3: Role Play Ordering Food
Imagine you are at a restaurant. Use the phrases you learned to order a meal. Write down a short dialogue.
- Example:
- Customer: "Olá, eu gostaria de pedir um frango grelhado e um suco de laranja."
- Waiter: "Claro! A conta, por favor, será no final."
Exercise 4: Translate the Menu Items
Translate the following menu items from English to Portuguese:
1. Pasta
2. Fish
3. Salad
4. Dessert
- Answers:
1. massa
2. peixe
3. salada
4. sobremesa
Exercise 5: Food Allergies
Write a sentence stating an allergy using the vocabulary you learned.
- Example:
- "Eu sou alérgico(a) a frutos do mar." (I am allergic to seafood.)
Exercise 6: Create Your Own Menu
Using the vocabulary learned, create a mini-menu for a fictional restaurant. Include at least five dishes and their translations.
Exercise 7: Describe Your Favorite Meal
Write a short paragraph in Portuguese describing your favorite meal using the vocabulary you’ve learned.
Exercise 8: Identify the Food Items
Look at a picture of a meal (you can find one online) and write down the names of the food items in Portuguese.
Exercise 9: Group Discussion
In small groups, discuss your favorite Portuguese dishes and share your experiences with food in Portuguese-speaking countries.
Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself
Test your knowledge by writing down as many food vocabulary words as you can remember in Portuguese.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on food vocabulary in Portuguese. By now, you should feel more comfortable navigating menus and ordering food in Portuguese-speaking environments. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try to incorporate these new words and phrases into your daily conversations.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson and are eager to learn more about the delicious world of Portuguese cuisine and culture in the upcoming lessons. Keep practicing, and até logo! (See you soon!)
Videos
European Portuguese FOOD VOCABULARY. Practice pronunciation ...
Understand basic food vocabulary in Portuguese. Comida e bebida ...
Learn ALL ABOUT PORTUGUESE FOOD, MEALS and CULTURE at ...
Sources
- Portuguese Food Vocabulary | Practice Portuguese
- 64 Brazilian Portuguese Food Words To Help You Order Like A Local
- Portuguese A-Z Food Dictionary » Cellar Tours
Other Lessons
| ◀️ Angola — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Drink ▶️ |