bolota
/boˈlɔ.tɐ/feminine
The English word 'acorn' is translated into Portuguese as bolota. Wiktionary also lists lande.
Meaning: fruit of the oak tree (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bolota | /boˈlɔ.tɐ/ (Brazil) /buˈlɔ.tɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| lande | /ˈlɐ̃.d͡ʒi/ (Brazil) /ˈlɐ̃.dɨ/ (Portugal) |
The term refers to the fruit of the oak tree.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Portugal, the variant lande is used to mean 'acorn'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bolota is bolotas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /boˈlɔ.tɐ/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, bolota is often used colloquially to describe someone who is short and chubby, similar to calling someone a 'little nugget'.
- The Portuguese word bolota comes from the Arabic word ballūṭa, which may have roots in the Ancient Greek term for 'acorn shaped'.
- In Portuguese culture, bolotas are essential for the feeding of the porco alentejano, the prized black pig of the Alentejo region.
Examples in context
- James Carville, um estratega do Partido Democrata americano que tinha previsto acertadamente os Estados onde o candidato presidencial vitorioso ganharia a maioria dos votos, foi apropriadamente modesto, dizendo que mesmo um esquilo cego encontra de vez em quando uma bolota.James Carville, a U.S. Democratic Party strategist who had accurately predicted the states in which the successful presidential candidate would win a majority of the votes, was suitably modest, saying that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use bolota in a metaphorical context.Tatoeba #10755105 by Cangarejo, translation #9407518 by Objectivesea
- O esquilo estava enterrando bolotas para o inverno.The squirrel was burying acorns for the winter.
- Minha avó me ensinou a fazer farinha de feijão-de-porco.My grandmother taught me how to make acorn flour.
- A bolota caiu da árvore.The acorn fell from the tree.
- Eu encontrei uma bolota no chão.I found an acorn on the ground.
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are walking through a park in autumn.
- CamilaOlhe, Lucas, encontrei uma bolota!Look, Lucas, I found an acorn!
- LucasQue legal, Camila, ela é bem pequena.How cool, Camila, it is very small.
- CamilaO esquilo vai adorar essa bolota.The squirrel is going to love this acorn.
- LucasSim, ele vai ficar muito feliz.Yes, he will be very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “acorn” translations and entries bolota, lande, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolota, lande, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
