Portuguese · Travel & Getting Around

"Church" in Portuguese: igreja

a igreja

Say it: ee-GREH-zhahfeminine · a igrejanoun/i.ˈɡɾe.ʒa/

Church in Portuguese is a igreja (feminine). Say na igreja for at church. Missa is the mass service inside the igreja.

Sunday morning

Minha família vai à igreja cedo.
My family goes to church early.
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How to pronounce igreja

Say it

ee-GREH-zhah

/i.ˈɡɾe.ʒa/

ee-GREH-zhah. Stress GREH; g like zh before e.

"Church" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
a igrejathe church

Building or institution.

na igrejaat/in church

Location.

ir à igrejato go to church

Sunday habit.

frente da igrejain front of the church

Meeting point.

igreja históricahistoric church

Tourism.

How to use igreja in real life

  1. 1Sunday morning

    Minha família vai à igreja cedo.

    My family goes to church early.

    À igreja with ir.

  2. 2Tourist walk

    A igreja do centro é bem antiga.

    The downtown church is quite old.

    A igreja as landmark.

  3. 3Meeting point

    Te espero na frente da igreja.

    I'll wait for you in front of the church.

    Frente da igreja.

Mistakes English speakers make with igreja

Incorrect: O igreja está aberta.

Correct: A igreja está aberta.

Igreja is feminine: a igreja.

Incorrect: Fui na church.

Correct: Fui à igreja. / Fui na igreja.

Use igreja, not English church.

Good to know

Brazil has many Christian denominations; igreja can mean a Catholic church or another congregation's building. Historic igrejas are tourist magnets in cities like Salvador and Ouro Preto. Wedding photos often start on the igreja steps.

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Visiting a historic center

  1. ChatPal

    Quer entrar nessa igreja?

    Want to go into this church?

  2. You

    Quero. A igreja parece linda.

    Yes. The church looks beautiful.

  3. ChatPal

    Fala baixo dentro da igreja.

    Speak softly inside the church.

  4. You

    Combinado. Fotos fora da igreja.

    Deal. Photos only outside the church.

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"Church" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Church" in Portuguese

At church?

Na igreja.

Gender?

Feminine: a igreja.

Go to church?

Ir à igreja.

Mass vs church?

Missa is the service; igreja is the building/community.

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