Portuguese · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Animal" in Portuguese: animal
o animal
Animal in Portuguese is o animal, masculine; the plural is os animais. Use animal for wildlife and pets in general. Brazilians also say bicho in casual talk for a creature.
At a zoo
Qual é o seu animal favorito neste zoológico?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce animal
Say it
ah-nee-MAHL
/a.ni.ˈmaw/
ah-nee-MAHL. Plural animais is ah-nee-MYSH in many Brazilian accents.
"Animal" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o animal | animal Default noun. | Default noun. |
| os animais | animals Irregular plural -ais. | Irregular plural -ais. |
| animal de estimação | pet Formal-ish pet phrase. | Formal-ish pet phrase. |
| bicho | critter / animal Casual Brazilian word. | Casual Brazilian word. |
| vida animal | animal life Nature and school contexts. | Nature and school contexts. |
How to use animal in real life
- 1At a zoo
Qual é o seu animal favorito neste zoológico?
What is your favorite animal at this zoo?
Animal favorito is a kid-friendly question.
- 2Pets
Não tenho animal de estimação no apartamento.
I don't have a pet in the apartment.
Animal de estimação means pet.
- 3Nature walk
Cuidado para não assustar os animais silvestres.
Be careful not to scare the wild animals.
Animais is the plural form.
Mistakes English speakers make with animal
Incorrect: Os animals são fofos.
Correct: Os animais são fofos.
The Portuguese plural is animais, not animals.
Incorrect: Uma animal grande
Correct: Um animal grande
Animal is masculine: um animal.
Good to know
Brazil's biodiversity makes animal talk common in travel and school life. Casual speech often switches to bicho: Que bicho é esse? Pets are usually named as cachorro, gato, and so on rather than the umbrella animal.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a documentary to watch
ChatPal
Prefere um filme de ação ou um documentário de animais?
Do you prefer an action movie or an animal documentary?
You
Documentário. Eu amo ver animal em habitat natural.
Documentary. I love seeing animals in a natural habitat.
ChatPal
Perfeito. Esse fala de animais da Amazônia.
Perfect. This one talks about Amazon animals.
You
Ótimo. Quero aprender o nome de cada animal.
Great. I want to learn each animal's name.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Animal" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Animal" in Portuguese
What is the plural of animal?
Animais. Example: Muitos animais.
How do I say pet?
Animal de estimação, or name the pet: cachorro, gato.
Is animal masculine?
Yes: o animal, um animal selvagem.
What does bicho mean?
A casual word for animal or critter in Brazilian Portuguese.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
