Portuguese · People & Family
"Grandfather" in Portuguese: avô
o avô
Note: affectionate: vovô
Grandfather in Portuguese is o avô. Affectionate speech often uses vovô. Say o meu avô for my grandfather.
Family story
Meu avô conta piadas ruins o tempo todo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce avô
Say it
ah-VOH / voh-VOH
/a.ˈvo/
ah-VOH with a closed ô. Vovô is voh-VOH.
"Grandfather" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o avô | the grandfather Standard word. | Standard word. |
| vovô | grandpa Affectionate everyday form. | Affectionate everyday form. |
| meu avô | my grandfather Family talk. | Family talk. |
| avô materno / paterno | maternal / paternal grandfather Family-tree detail. | Family-tree detail. |
| vô | grandpa (short) Very casual. | Very casual. |
How to use avô in real life
- 1Family story
Meu avô conta piadas ruins o tempo todo.
My grandfather tells bad jokes all the time.
Meu avô is the default possessive.
- 2Weekend visit
Vamos levar o avô ao mercado amanhã.
We're taking grandpa to the market tomorrow.
O avô in plans.
- 3Phone call
O avô pediu para a gente ligar cedo.
Grandfather asked us to call early.
Avô is standard; vovô is warmer.
Mistakes English speakers make with avô
Incorrect: A avô dele.
Correct: O avô dele. / A avó dela for grandmother.
Avô (grandfather) is masculine; avó (grandmother) is feminine.
Incorrect: Meu grandfather.
Correct: Meu avô.
Use Portuguese avô.
Good to know
Avô and avó look similar—accent direction matters (ô vs ó). Brazilian families lean on vovô for affection, soccer stories, and Sunday lunch. Mixing the accents flips the gender.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a birthday call
ChatPal
Seu avô faz aniversário amanhã?
Is your grandfather's birthday tomorrow?
You
Sim. Quero ligar para o avô de manhã.
Yes. I want to call grandfather in the morning.
ChatPal
O avô gosta de vídeo ou só áudio?
Does grandfather like video or only audio?
You
Vídeo. O avô quer ver o neto.
Video. Grandfather wants to see his grandson.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Grandfather" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Grandfather" in Portuguese
Avô vs avó?
Avô = grandfather. Avó = grandmother.
Cute form?
Vovô or vô.
My grandfather?
Meu avô.
Gender?
Masculine: o avô.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
