Portuguese · Home, Clothes & Daily Life

"Floor" in Portuguese: chão

o chão

SHOWNgmasculine · o chãonoun/ˈʃɐ̃w̃/

Note: storey: o andar

Floor (the ground surface) in Portuguese is o chão (masculine). Cair no chão is to fall on the floor. A building storey is o andar, not chão.

Spilled drink

O suco caiu no chão da cozinha.

The juice fell on the kitchen floor.

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How to pronounce chão

Say it

SHOWNg

/ˈʃɐ̃w̃/

SHOWNɡ (like 'shaun' with nasal). Stress one syllable.

"Floor" in Portuguese: quick reference

Portuguese	English	When to use
o chão	the floor / ground Surface underfoot.	Surface underfoot.
no chão	on the floor Location.	Location.
cair no chão	to fall on the floor Accident talk.	Accident talk.
limpar o chão	to clean the floor Chores.	Chores.
andar	storey / floor of a building Not the same as chão.	Not the same as chão.

How to use chão in real life

1Spilled drink
O suco caiu no chão da cozinha.
The juice fell on the kitchen floor.
No chão = on the floor.
2Yoga at home
Coloca o tapete no chão limpo.
Put the mat on the clean floor.
Chão as surface.
3Kid's toys
Os brinquedos estão todos no chão.
The toys are all on the floor.
Common household line.

Mistakes English speakers make with chão

Incorrect: Moro no chão três.

Correct: Moro no terceiro andar.

Building floors are andar; chão is the ground surface.

Incorrect: Sente no floor.

Correct: Senta no chão.

Use chão, not English floor.

Good to know

Brazilians sit no chão at beach picnics and kids' parties without fuss. Apartment hunting uses andar (2º andar). Chão also appears in chão batido for packed-earth floors in older rural homes.