Portuguese · People & Family
"Son" in Portuguese: filho
o filho
Son in Portuguese is o filho. Filhos can mean sons or children in general. My son is meu filho; a newborn boy is still meu filho from day one.
School gate
Meu filho estuda na sala ao lado.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce filho
Say it
FEE-lyoo
/ˈfi.ʎu/
FEE-lyoo. The lh is like the lli in million.
"Son" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o filho | the son / the child (male) Default singular. | Default singular. |
| os filhos | the sons / the children Can include daughters in mixed groups. | Can include daughters in mixed groups. |
| meu filho | my son Also affectionate address. | Also affectionate address. |
| filho único | only child (male) Family status. | Family status. |
How to use filho in real life
- 1School gate
Meu filho estuda na sala ao lado.
My son studies in the classroom next door.
Meu filho is the basic possessive.
- 2Photo album
Esse é meu filho quando tinha cinco anos.
This is my son when he was five.
Stories keep filho visible.
- 3Pride moment
Meu filho passou no vestibular.
My son got into university.
Good-news Portuguese.
Mistakes English speakers make with filho
Incorrect: minha filho
Correct: meu filho
Filho is masculine: meu filho. Daughter is minha filha.
Incorrect: meu son
Correct: meu filho
Use filho, not English son.
Good to know
Meu filho is also a warm vocative for younger people—not always literal. Filhos in plural often means kids of any gender. Brazilian family talk mixes pride, teasing, and food in the same breath.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a parent's child at a barbecue
ChatPal
Esse é meu filho, o Lucas.
This is my son, Lucas.
You
Prazer, Lucas. Seu filho é muito simpático.
Nice to meet you, Lucas. Your son is very friendly.
ChatPal
Obrigado. Meu filho adora receber visita.
Thanks. My son loves having guests.
You
Que casa animada!
What a lively house!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Son" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Son" in Portuguese
Does filhos mean only sons?
It can mean sons, or children in general when the group is mixed or unspecified.
How do I say my son?
Meu filho.
Son vs daughter?
Filho is son; filha is daughter.
What is filho único?
An only child (boy). For a girl: filha única.
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
