Portuguese · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Earthquake" in Portuguese: terremoto
o terremoto
Note: PT-PT: o terramoto
Earthquake in Portuguese is o terremoto in Brazil. News and drills use that form; European Portuguese often says o terramoto instead.
News headline
O terremoto foi sentido em várias cidades.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce terremoto
Say it
teh-heh-MO-too
/te.ʁe.ˈmo.tu/
teh-heh-MO-too
"Earthquake" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o terremoto | the earthquake Brazilian standard. | Brazilian standard. |
| um terremoto | an earthquake Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| tremor de terra | earth tremor Softer related term. | Softer related term. |
| alerta de terremoto | earthquake alert Phone/news warnings. | Phone/news warnings. |
How to use terremoto in real life
- 1News headline
O terremoto foi sentido em várias cidades.
The earthquake was felt in several cities.
Sentido = felt.
- 2Travel worry
Já teve terremoto nesta região?
Has there been an earthquake in this region?
Já teve = has there been.
- 3Drill instruction
No terremoto, afaste-se das janelas.
In an earthquake, stay away from windows.
Safety tip.
Mistakes English speakers make with terremoto
Incorrect: O terramoto (in Brazil).
Correct: O terremoto.
Terramoto is PT-PT; Brazilians say terremoto.
Incorrect: Um earthquake forte.
Correct: Um terremoto forte.
Use terremoto.
Good to know
Strong quakes are rarer in most of Brazil than in the Andes, but terremoto still appears in world news and school science. In Portugal, expect terramoto on signs and broadcasts—treat it as a PT-PT note.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking local safety tips
ChatPal
Você já sentiu um terremoto?
Have you ever felt an earthquake?
You
Não. Tem risco de terremoto aqui?
No. Is there earthquake risk here?
ChatPal
Baixo, mas o hotel tem instruções.
Low, but the hotel has instructions.
You
Bom saber. Obrigada.
Good to know. Thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Earthquake" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Earthquake" in Portuguese
Terremoto vs terramoto?
Terremoto in Brazil; terramoto in Portugal.
Tremor?
Tremor de terra is a lighter shake.
Aftershock?
Réplica or tremor secundário.
Earthquake alert?
Alerta de terremoto.
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
