Portuguese · Food & Drink

"Shrimp" in Portuguese: camarão

o camarão

Say it: kah-mah-RAH-oongmasculine · o camarãonoun/ka.ma.ˈɾɐ̃w̃/

Note: PT-PT: a gamba

Shrimp in Portuguese is o camarão. In European Portuguese you may also hear a gamba.

Restaurant

Vou pedir o risoto de camarão.
I’ll order the shrimp risotto.
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How to pronounce camarão

Say it

kah-mah-RAH-oong

/ka.ma.ˈɾɐ̃w̃/

kah-mah-RAH-oong

"Shrimp" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
o camarãothe shrimp / prawn

Default Brazilian noun.

camarõesshrimp (plural)

Orders.

bobó de camarãoshrimp bobó

Classic dish.

a gamba (PT-PT)prawn/shrimp (Portugal)

European Portuguese.

How to use camarão in real life

  1. 1Restaurant

    Vou pedir o risoto de camarão.

    I’ll order the shrimp risotto.

    Menu.

  2. 2Market

    Esse camarão fresco cheira bem.

    This fresh shrimp smells good.

    Market quality.

  3. 3Allergy check

    O molho leva camarão?

    Does the sauce have shrimp?

    Safety.

Mistakes English speakers make with camarão

Incorrect: A camarão está caro.

Correct: O camarão está caro.

Camarão is masculine.

Incorrect: Quero gamba (Brazil expectation)

Correct: Quero camarão

Brazil says camarão; gamba is more PT-PT.

Good to know

Camarão stars in bobó de camarão, moqueca, and beach bars. Size names vary by region. Portugal’s gamba is a useful recognition word, not the Brazilian default.

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Ordering seafood

  1. ChatPal

    Prefere peixe ou camarão?

    Do you prefer fish or shrimp?

  2. You

    Camarão. Um prato de camarões grelhados.

    Shrimp. A plate of grilled shrimp.

  3. ChatPal

    Pedimos camarão para dividir então.

    We’ll order shrimp to share then.

  4. You

    Perfeito. Eu peço a limonada.

    Perfect. I’ll order the lemonade.

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"Shrimp" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Shrimp" in Portuguese

Gender?

Masculine: o camarão.

Plural?

Os camarões.

Portugal?

A gamba is common PT-PT.

Famous dish?

Bobó de camarão.

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