Portuguese · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Gray" in Portuguese: cinza

cinza

Say it: SEEN-zahadjective/ˈsin.za/

Note: PT-PT: cinzento/a

Gray in Portuguese is cinza in Brazil. European Portuguese often uses cinzento/a. Say Um casaco cinza or Céu cinza. Cinza usually stays invariable.

Clothes

Vou de blazer cinza na reunião.
I’m wearing a gray blazer to the meeting.
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How to pronounce cinza

Say it

SEEN-zah

/ˈsin.za/

SEEN-zah

"Gray" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
cinzagray (BR)

Brazilian color.

cinzento/agray (PT-PT)

European Portuguese.

cinza clarolight gray

Shade.

cinza escurodark gray

Shade.

How to use cinza in real life

  1. 1Clothes

    Vou de blazer cinza na reunião.

    I’m wearing a gray blazer to the meeting.

    Fashion.

  2. 2Weather

    O céu cinza promete chuva à tarde.

    The gray sky promises afternoon rain.

    Sky color.

  3. 3Car

    Alugamos um carro cinza compacto.

    We rented a compact gray car.

    Vehicles.

Mistakes English speakers make with cinza

Incorrect: Uma camisa gray.

Correct: Uma camisa cinza.

Use cinza in Brazil.

Incorrect: Um sofá cinzento (forced BR furniture).

Correct: Um sofá cinza (BR). / cinzento (PT-PT).

Brazil prefers cinza; PT-PT often cinzento/a.

Good to know

Cinza is the Brazilian default for gray objects. Cinzento/a is common in European Portuguese and shows up in older or formal BR texts. Hair can be cabelo grisalho when you mean gray hair specifically.

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Picking paint samples

  1. ChatPal

    Prefere parede cinza claro ou bege?

    Do you prefer a light gray or beige wall?

  2. You

    Cinza claro mais limpo.

    Light gray — cleaner.

  3. ChatPal

    E a porta? Cinza escuro?

    And the door? Dark gray?

  4. You

    Isso. Cinza escuro na porta.

    Yes. Dark gray on the door.

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"Gray" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Gray" in Portuguese

Gray in Brazil?

Cinza.

PT-PT word?

Often cinzento/a.

Light gray?

Cinza claro.

Gray hair?

Often cabelo grisalho.

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