Portuguese · Food & Drink

"Pepper (spice)" in Portuguese: pimenta-do-reino

a pimenta-do-reino

Say it: pee-MEN-tah doo HAY-noofeminine · a pimenta-do-reinonoun/ˈa pi.mẽ.ta-.do-.ˈɾej.nu/

Note: PT-PT: a pimenta

Black pepper in Brazilian Portuguese is a pimenta-do-reino. Recipes say pimenta-do-reino a gosto; shakers hold pimenta-do-reino moída.

Seasoning steak

sal e pimenta-do-reino nesta carne.
Just salt and black pepper on this meat.
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How to pronounce pimenta-do-reino

Say it

pee-MEN-tah doo HAY-noo

/ˈa pi.mẽ.ta-.do-.ˈɾej.nu/

pee-MEN-tah doo HAY-noo. Reino like HAY-noo in many regions.

"Pepper (spice)" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
a pimenta-do-reinoblack pepper

Brazilian spice name.

pimenta-do-reino moídaground black pepper

Table / cooking.

pimenta-do-reino a gostoblack pepper to taste

Recipes.

grãos de pimenta-do-reinopeppercorns

Whole spice.

How to use pimenta-do-reino in real life

  1. 1Seasoning steak

    sal e pimenta-do-reino nesta carne.

    Just salt and black pepper on this meat.

    Classic duo.

  2. 2Recipe card

    Adicione pimenta-do-reino a gosto no final.

    Add black pepper to taste at the end.

    Cooking instruction.

  3. 3Table ask

    Passa a pimenta-do-reino, por favor?

    Pass the black pepper, please?

    Shaker request.

Mistakes English speakers make with pimenta-do-reino

Incorrect: Pimenta (só) quando quer pepper BR.

Correct: Pimenta-do-reino.

In Brazil pimenta alone often means chili heat; black pepper is pimenta-do-reino. PT-PT may say just pimenta.

Incorrect: Black pepper no molho.

Correct: Pimenta-do-reino no molho.

Use the Portuguese spice name.

Good to know

Brazilians specify pimenta-do-reino because pimenta often means hot chili. European Portuguese frequently says a pimenta for black pepper—clear in Portugal, ambiguous in Brazil kitchens.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Finishing a pasta sauce

  1. ChatPal

    pôs pimenta-do-reino no molho?

    Have you already put black pepper in the sauce?

  2. You

    Pus pouca pimenta-do-reino prova aí.

    I put little black pepper — taste it.

  3. ChatPal

    Mais uma pitada de pimenta-do-reino resolve.

    One more pinch of black pepper will do it.

  4. You

    Feito. Agora o queijo.

    Done. Now the cheese.

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"Pepper (spice)" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Pepper (spice)" in Portuguese

Why the long name?

To separate black pepper from chili pimenta in Brazil.

Portugal?

PT-PT often says a pimenta for black pepper.

Ground pepper?

Pimenta-do-reino moída.

To taste?

Pimenta-do-reino a gosto.

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