Portuguese · Body & Health

"Mouth" in Portuguese: boca

a boca

Say it: BOH-kahfeminine · a bocanoun/ˈbo.ka/

Mouth in Portuguese is a boca. Dentists talk about a boca, and so do everyday idioms like ficar de boca aberta when you are amazed. Keep breath freshening talk soft: pastilha para a boca.

At the dentist

Abra a boca com calma, por favor.
Open your mouth slowly, please.
Practice Portuguese out loud

Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free

How to pronounce boca

Say it

BOH-kah

/ˈbo.ka/

BOH-kah. Open o, clear kah.

"Mouth" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
a bocathe mouth

Body part and many idioms.

abrir a bocato open one's mouth

Literal or tell me / speak up.

boca a bocaword of mouth / mouth-to-mouth

Context decides meaning.

ficar de boca abertato be amazed

Everyday figurative use.

How to use boca in real life

  1. 1At the dentist

    Abra a boca com calma, por favor.

    Open your mouth slowly, please.

    Clinic Portuguese uses a boca directly.

  2. 2Spicy food

    Essa pimenta queimou minha boca.

    That chili burned my mouth.

    Food reactions name a boca.

  3. 3Surprise news

    Fiquei de boca aberta com a notícia.

    I was stunned by the news.

    Idiom built on boca.

Mistakes English speakers make with boca

Incorrect: o boca

Correct: a boca

Boca is feminine: a boca.

Incorrect: Minha mouth dói.

Correct: Minha boca dói.

Use boca, not the English mouth.

Good to know

Brazilian Portuguese packs emotion into boca: boca aberta for shock, boca suja for foul language, and boca a boca for rumors. At the table, talking with your boca full is gently corrected the same way as elsewhere—only warmer.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Helping a friend after spicy food

  1. ChatPal

    Sua boca está ardendo? Quer água?

    Is your mouth burning? Want water?

  2. You

    Sim. Essa salsa pegou fogo na boca.

    Yes. That salsa set my mouth on fire.

  3. ChatPal

    Toma leite. Ajuda mais que água na boca.

    Have milk. It helps more than water in the mouth.

  4. You

    Valendo. melhorou um pouco.

    Worth it. It's a bit better already.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

Practice this conversation in ChatPal

"Mouth" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Mouth" in Portuguese

How do I say open your mouth?

Abra a boca (polite) or Abre a boca in casual speech.

What does boca a boca mean?

Word of mouth for rumors or publicity, or mouth-to-mouth rescue—context decides.

Is boca feminine?

Yes: a boca, minha boca.

How do I say mouthwash?

Enxaguante bucal, or loosely produto para a boca in simple talk.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

Keep reading

Ready to say it out loud?

ChatPal is a voice-first app for practicing real conversations in Portuguese. Try real scenarios and get personalized feedback on your speaking.

Start with 7 days free.