Portuguese · People & Family
"Man" in Portuguese: homem
o homem
Man in Portuguese is o homem. The plural is irregular: os homens. For addressing a mixed group Brazilians often say pessoal or gente, not homens.
Pointing in a crowd
Aquele homem de camisa azul é o guia.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce homem
Say it
OH-mẽỹ / OH-mẽys
/ˈo.mẽ/
OH-mẽỹ — nasal em. Plural OH-mẽys.
"Man" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o homem | the man Default noun. | Default noun. |
| os homens | the men Irregular plural. | Irregular plural. |
| homem de negócios | businessman Formal label. | Formal label. |
| aquele homem | that man Pointing someone out. | Pointing someone out. |
How to use homem in real life
- 1Pointing in a crowd
Aquele homem de camisa azul é o guia.
That man in the blue shirt is the guide.
Aquele homem is a clear pointer.
- 2News talk
O homem ajudou a atravessar a rua.
The man helped her cross the street.
Neutral description.
- 3Grammar practice
Os homens chegaram antes das mulheres.
The men arrived before the women.
Plural homens drops the e sound pattern learners must memorize.
Mistakes English speakers make with homem
Incorrect: Os homems chegaram.
Correct: Os homens chegaram.
Plural is homens, not homems.
Incorrect: A homem é alto.
Correct: O homem é alto.
Homem is masculine: o homem.
Good to know
Homem is fine for ‘adult male,’ but calling someone o homem across a room can sound blunt. Brazilians often prefer o senhor in polite service talk, or a name when they know it.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding someone at a conference
ChatPal
Você viu o homem da palestra de manhã?
Did you see the man from the morning talk?
You
Vi sim. O homem estava perto do café.
Yes. The man was near the coffee.
ChatPal
Aquele homem de óculos? Quero pedir o contato.
That man with glasses? I want to ask for his contact.
You
É ele. O homem saiu pelo corredor.
That's him. The man left down the hallway.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Man" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Man" in Portuguese
What is the plural of homem?
Homens — irregular and worth memorizing.
How do I say that man?
Aquele homem.
Is homem rude?
Not by itself, but tone and context matter. Prefer a name or o senhor when polite.
How do I say mankind / humans?
Often a humanidade or os seres humanos, not just homens.
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
