Portuguese · Food & Drink
"Bread" in Portuguese: pão
o pão
Bread in Portuguese is o pão, masculine and irregular in the plural: os pães. The everyday roll in Brazil is often pão francês. At breakfast people say um pão na chapa for grilled bread with butter.
At the bakery
Me vê cinco pães franceses bem quentinhos.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pão
Say it
pow̃
/ˈpɐ̃w̃/
pow̃ — like "pound" without the d, nasal ão. Plural pães sounds roughly like "poyish" in many accents.
"Bread" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o pão | bread, a loaf/roll General word for bread. | General word for bread. |
| pão francês | crusty breakfast roll The most common fresh roll in Brazilian bakeries. | The most common fresh roll in Brazilian bakeries. |
| pão de queijo | cheese bread Cheesy gluten-free snack from Minas Gerais. | Cheesy gluten-free snack from Minas Gerais. |
| pão na chapa | grilled buttered bread Padaria classic with coffee. | Padaria classic with coffee. |
| a padaria | bakery Where Brazilians buy fresh pão daily. | Where Brazilians buy fresh pão daily. |
How to use pão in real life
- 1At the bakery
Me vê cinco pães franceses bem quentinhos.
Give me five nice hot French rolls.
Me vê is a casual Brazilian way to order.
- 2Making breakfast
O pão ainda está fresco da padaria.
The bread is still fresh from the bakery.
Fresco means fresh for bread and produce.
- 3Sharing a snack
Quer um pão de queijo com café?
Want a cheese bread with coffee?
Pão de queijo is a beloved Brazilian snack, not sandwich bread.
Mistakes English speakers make with pão
Incorrect: Comprei dois pãos.
Correct: Comprei dois pães.
The plural of pão is pães, not pãos.
Incorrect: A pão está duro.
Correct: O pão está duro.
Pão is masculine: o pão.
Good to know
Many Brazilian neighborhoods still buy fresh pão every morning at the padaria. Pão francês is a local name for a crusty roll, not necessarily bread from France. Portugal has its own classics like pão de Deus and broa.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Buying breakfast bread before work
ChatPal
Bom dia! Hoje o pão saiu agora do forno.
Good morning! The bread just came out of the oven.
You
Ótimo. Quero quatro pães franceses, por favor.
Great. I want four French rolls, please.
ChatPal
Leva também pão de queijo pra viagem?
Want cheese bread to go as well?
You
Levo dois. Esse pão cheira demais!
I'll take two. This bread smells amazing!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Bread" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Bread" in Portuguese
What is the plural of pão?
Os pães. It is irregular, so memorize it early.
What bread should I ask for at a Brazilian bakery?
Pão francês is the safe everyday roll. Add quentinho if you want it hot.
Is pão de queijo the same as sandwich bread?
No. It is a small cheesy baked snack, usually round and gluten-free.
How do I say sliced sandwich bread?
Pão de forma. It is the soft loaf used for toast and sandwiches.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
