Portuguese · Body & Health
"Nail (fingernail)" in Portuguese: unha
a unha
A fingernail in Portuguese is a unha. Salons do as unhas; broken nails are unha quebrada.
Manicure
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How to pronounce unha
Say it
OON-yah
/ˈu.ɲa/
OON-yah
"Nail (fingernail)" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a unha | the nail (fingernail) Singular. | Singular. |
| as unhas | the nails Plural / manicure. | Plural / manicure. |
| cortar a unha | to cut the nail Grooming. | Grooming. |
| esmalte na unha | polish on the nail Beauty. | Beauty. |
How to use unha in real life
- 1Manicure
Vou fazer as unhas amanhã de manhã.
I’m getting my nails done tomorrow morning.
Plural salon talk.
- 2Accident
Quebrei a unha abrindo a lata.
I broke my nail opening the can.
Singular mishap.
- 3Kids
Corta a unha dele com cuidado.
Cut his nail carefully.
Care instruction.
Mistakes English speakers make with unha
Incorrect: O unha está quebrada.
Correct: A unha está quebrada.
Unha is feminine.
Incorrect: Pintei o nail.
Correct: Pintei a unha.
Use unha (fingernail, not metal nail — that is prego).
Good to know
Fazer as unhas means getting a manicure. Metal nails for woodwork are pregos — different word. Brazilians also say roer unha for nervous nail-biting.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a job interview
ChatPal
Sua unha está ok ou quer esmalte claro?
Is your nail okay or do you want light polish?
You
Só limpar a unha já basta.
Just cleaning the nail is enough.
ChatPal
Corto as unhas bem curtinho então.
I’ll cut the nails nice and short then.
You
Perfeito. Obrigada.
Perfect. Thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Nail (fingernail)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Nail (fingernail)" in Portuguese
Gender?
Feminine: a unha.
Manicure phrase?
Fazer as unhas.
Metal nail?
Prego — different word.
Nail polish?
Esmalte.
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
