Portuguese · Body & Health

"Eye" in Portuguese: olho

o olho

Say it: OH-lyoomasculine · o olhonoun/ˈo.ʎu/

Eye in Portuguese is o olho, masculine; the plural is os olhos. Brazilians say fecha os olhos for close your eyes, and no olho for something right in front of you in some regions.

At an eye exam

Meu olho direito está mais cansado.
My right eye is more tired.
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How to pronounce olho

Say it

OH-lyoo

/ˈo.ʎu/

OH-lyoo. The lh is like the lli in "million." Plural olhos adds -s.

"Eye" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
o olhoeye

Singular body part.

os olhoseyes

Plural; more common in descriptions.

fechar os olhosto close your eyes

Instructions and figurative ignoring.

olho no lancekeep an eye on the deal

Brazilian alertness phrase.

óculosglasses

Related vision word; always plural form.

How to use olho in real life

  1. 1At an eye exam

    Meu olho direito está mais cansado.

    My right eye is more tired.

    Olho direito / esquerdo specify which eye.

  2. 2Yoga or rest

    Fecha os olhos e respira fundo.

    Close your eyes and breathe deeply.

    Fecha os olhos is a common instruction.

  3. 3Describing someone

    Ela tem olhos verdes muito claros.

    She has very light green eyes.

    Descriptions usually use the plural olhos.

Mistakes English speakers make with olho

Incorrect: A olho está vermelho.

Correct: O olho está vermelho.

Olho is masculine: o olho.

Incorrect: Meus olho estão cansados.

Correct: Meus olhos estão cansados.

Use the plural olhos when both eyes are tired.

Good to know

Eye contact norms vary by region and setting, but Brazilian conversation often feels warm and direct. Health talk uses olho for the organ and vista for eyesight: Minha vista está ruim.

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Buying sunglasses at a beach shop

  1. ChatPal

    O sol está forte. Quer um óculos escuro para o olho?

    The sun is strong. Want dark glasses for your eyes?

  2. You

    Quero. Meu olho esquerdo fica sensível no meio-dia.

    Yes. My left eye gets sensitive at midday.

  3. ChatPal

    Esse modelo protege bem os olhos.

    This model protects the eyes well.

  4. You

    Levo esse. Quero cuidar do olho nessa viagem.

    I'll take this one. I want to protect my eye on this trip.

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"Eye" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Eye" in Portuguese

What is the plural of olho?

Olhos. Descriptions of color almost always use olhos.

How do I say itchy eyes?

Estou com coceira nos olhos or Meus olhos estão coçando.

Is olho masculine?

Yes: o olho, um olho irritado.

What is the difference between olho and vista?

Olho is the eye itself. Vista is eyesight or a view.

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