Portuguese · People & Family
"Brother" in Portuguese: irmão
o irmão
Brother in Portuguese is o irmão. The plural irmãos can mean brothers or mixed siblings. A little brother is irmão mais novo; an older one is irmão mais velho.
Family intro
Este é meu irmão, o Pedro.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce irmão
Say it
eer-MOWNG
/iʁˈmɐ̃w̃/
eer-MOWNG. The ão is a nasal diphthong, like owng without a hard g.
"Brother" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o irmão | the brother Default singular. | Default singular. |
| os irmãos | the brothers / siblings Mixed groups of siblings too. | Mixed groups of siblings too. |
| irmão mais velho | older brother Birth-order talk. | Birth-order talk. |
| irmãozinho | little brother (affectionate) Warm diminutive. | Warm diminutive. |
How to use irmão in real life
- 1Family intro
Este é meu irmão, o Pedro.
This is my brother, Pedro.
Meu irmão is the basic intro.
- 2Weekend plans
Meu irmão vem almoçar no domingo.
My brother is coming for lunch on Sunday.
Family logistics use irmão constantly.
- 3Childhood memory
Eu briguei muito com meu irmão quando criança.
I argued a lot with my brother as a kid.
Stories keep meu irmão as the anchor.
Mistakes English speakers make with irmão
Incorrect: minha irmão
Correct: meu irmão
Irmão is masculine: meu irmão. Sister is minha irmã.
Incorrect: os irmãos (when you mean only sisters)
Correct: as irmãs
Irmãos is brothers or mixed siblings. Only sisters are irmãs.
Good to know
Brazilian sibling bonds are often loud and close: nicknames, teasing, and big Sunday lunches. Calling a close male friend irmão can signal camaraderie, but start with the real family meaning before you borrow it.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a classmate's sibling
ChatPal
Você conhece meu irmão? Ele estuda aqui também.
Do you know my brother? He studies here too.
You
Ainda não. Seu irmão é o de camisa azul?
Not yet. Is your brother the one in the blue shirt?
ChatPal
Isso! Vou chamar meu irmão para cumprimentar você.
That's him! I'll call my brother over to say hi.
You
Legal. Quero conhecer.
Cool. I'd like to meet him.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Brother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brother" in Portuguese
How do I say older brother?
Irmão mais velho. Younger is irmão mais novo.
What does irmãos include?
Brothers, or brothers and sisters together. Only sisters are irmãs.
How do I pronounce ão?
A nasal sound like owng: ir-MOWNG.
Is irmãozinho okay with adults?
It is affectionate. Fine in family; with strangers it can sound too familiar.
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
