Portuguese · Body & Health

"Elbow" in Portuguese: cotovelo

o cotovelo

Say it: koh-toh-VEH-loomasculine · o cotovelonoun/ko.to.ˈve.lu/

Elbow in Portuguese is o cotovelo. Say dor no cotovelo for elbow pain. Cotovelada is an elbow jab, sometimes literal, sometimes figurative.

Gym

Senti uma fisgada no cotovelo no levantamento.
I felt a twinge in my elbow on the lift.
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How to pronounce cotovelo

Say it

koh-toh-VEH-loo

/ko.to.ˈve.lu/

koh-toh-VEH-loo. Stress on VEH.

"Elbow" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
o cotoveloelbow

Default.

dor no cotoveloelbow pain

Symptom.

cotoveladaelbow jab / nudge

Action or figurative dig.

apoiar o cotoveloto rest your elbow

Posture.

cotovelo esquerdo / direitoleft / right elbow

Side.

How to use cotovelo in real life

  1. 1Gym

    Senti uma fisgada no cotovelo no levantamento.

    I felt a twinge in my elbow on the lift.

    No cotovelo.

  2. 2Desk work

    Não apoie o cotovelo na quina afiada da mesa.

    Don't rest your elbow on the sharp edge of the desk.

    Ergonomics tip.

  3. 3Crowd

    Alguém bateu o cotovelo em mim sem querer no metrô.

    Someone bumped their elbow into me by accident on the metro.

    Bater o cotovelo.

Mistakes English speakers make with cotovelo

Incorrect: A cotovelo.

Correct: O cotovelo.

Cotovelo is masculine.

Incorrect: Dói meu elbow.

Correct: Dói meu cotovelo.

Use cotovelo, not English elbow.

Good to know

Cotovelo is straightforward clinic vocabulary. Cotovelada can be a literal jab in a crowd or a figurative dig in conversation—tone decides. Desk workers complain about dor no cotovelo as much as athletes do.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

After a pickup basketball game

  1. ChatPal

    Seu cotovelo está inchado?

    Is your elbow swollen?

  2. You

    Um pouco. Bati o cotovelo no chão.

    A little. I hit my elbow on the floor.

  3. ChatPal

    Gelo no cotovelo agora, sério.

    Ice on the elbow now, seriously.

  4. You

    Vou fazer. O cotovelo ainda lateja.

    I will. The elbow is still throbbing.

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"Elbow" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Elbow" in Portuguese

Masculine or feminine?

Masculine: o cotovelo.

How do I say elbow pain?

Dor no cotovelo.

What is cotovelada?

An elbow jab, literal or figurative.

Left elbow?

Cotovelo esquerdo.

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