Portuguese · Nature, Animals & Weather

"Does it bite?" in Portuguese: Ele morde?

Ele morde?

Say it: EH-lee MOR-jeephrase/ˈe.li ˈmoʁ.dʒi/

Does it bite? in Portuguese is Ele morde? Ask before petting a dog, cat, or any animal you do not know.

Neighbor's dog

Que fofo! Ele morde se eu chegar perto?
So cute! Does he bite if I come close?
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How to pronounce Ele morde?

Say it

EH-lee MOR-jee

/ˈe.li ˈmoʁ.dʒi/

EH-lee MOR-jee

"Does it bite?" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
Ele morde?Does it/he bite?

Masculine animal default.

Ela morde?Does it/she bite?

Feminine animal.

Morde?Does it bite?

Short form.

Posso fazer carinho? Ele morde?Can I pet it? Does it bite?

Full caution.

How to use Ele morde? in real life

  1. 1Neighbor's dog

    Que fofo! Ele morde se eu chegar perto?

    So cute! Does he bite if I come close?

    Before approaching.

  2. 2Pet shop parrot

    Ele morde o dedo se eu oferecer semente?

    Does it bite a finger if I offer seed?

    Bird caution.

  3. 3Farm visit

    Esse cavalo é manso? Ele morde?

    Is this horse gentle? Does it bite?

    Farm animal.

Mistakes English speakers make with Ele morde?

Incorrect: Ele bite?

Correct: Ele morde?

Morder is to bite.

Incorrect: Ele morda?

Correct: Ele morde?

Indicative morde for does it bite?

Good to know

Brazilians often answer Ele morde? with ele é bravo or ele é mansinho. Still ask—street dogs and pet-shop animals vary wildly.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Meeting a friend's energetic puppy

  1. ChatPal

    Quer conhecer o Thor?

    Want to meet Thor?

  2. You

    Queroele morde?

    I do—does he bite?

  3. ChatPal

    brinca com a mão. Vai devagar.

    He only plays with hands. Go slow.

  4. You

    Beleza. Se ele morde forte, eu paro.

    Okay. If he bites hard, I'll stop.

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"Does it bite?" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Does it bite?" in Portuguese

She (female dog)?

Ela morde?

Does it sting?

Different—arde / ferroa for insects.

Safe to pet?

Posso fazer carinho?

It bit me!

Ele me mordeu!

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