Portuguese · Food & Drink
"Onion" in Portuguese: cebola
a cebola
Onion in Portuguese is a cebola (feminine). Cebola roxa is red onion; cebola picada is chopped onion. Plural is cebolas.
Recipe start
Refoga a cebola até dourar.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cebola
Say it
seh-BOH-lah
/se.ˈbo.la/
seh-BOH-lah. Stress BOH.
"Onion" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a cebola | the onion Singular. | Singular. |
| as cebolas | the onions Plural. | Plural. |
| cebola roxa | red onion Variety. | Variety. |
| cebola picada | chopped onion Recipe step. | Recipe step. |
| cheiro de cebola | onion smell Kitchen talk. | Kitchen talk. |
How to use cebola in real life
- 1Recipe start
Refoga a cebola até dourar.
Sauté the onion until golden.
A cebola in cooking.
- 2Salad choice
Prefiro cebola roxa na salada.
I prefer red onion in the salad.
Cebola roxa variety.
- 3Market list
Compra duas cebolas grandes.
Buy two big onions.
Cebolas = plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with cebola
Incorrect: O cebola está forte.
Correct: A cebola está forte.
Cebola is feminine: a cebola.
Incorrect: Corta o onion.
Correct: Corta a cebola.
Use cebola, not English onion.
Good to know
Brazilian sofrito almost always starts with cebola and garlic. Cutting cebola brings the usual tears and jokes. Street snacks like vinaigrette toppings lean on raw cebola roxa.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Cooking together
ChatPal
Você corta a cebola?
Will you cut the onion?
You
Corto. Essa cebola está forte.
I will. This onion is strong.
ChatPal
Usa a cebola roxa na salada.
Use the red onion in the salad.
You
Ok. Sem cebola crua pra mim no prato.
Okay. No raw onion for me on the plate.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Onion" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Onion" in Portuguese
Gender?
Feminine: a cebola.
Red onion?
Cebola roxa.
Plural?
As cebolas.
Chopped onion?
Cebola picada.
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
