adorável
/a.doˈɾa.vew/
The English word 'adorable' is translated to Portuguese as adorável.
adorável is used to describe someone or something that is befitting of being adored.
Meaning: befitting of being adored (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Brazil, particularly in the Northeast, the informal term xuxu is used to express that someone or something is cute or adorable.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective adorável is gender-neutral, meaning it remains the same whether it describes a masculine or feminine noun. To form the plural, add -es to the end to get adoráveis.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /a.doˈɾa.vew/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word xuxu, mentioned for its cuteness, is actually the name of a type of chayote squash used in cooking.
- In Portuguese, the verb adorar can mean 'to adore' in a religious sense, but it is also used colloquially to mean 'to love' a thing, such as adoro pizza.
- While adorável is used for people, calling a person 'adorável' in a professional setting can sometimes sound overly sentimental or even patronizing in Portuguese.
Examples in context
- O gato é adorável.The cat is adorable.This sentence shows how to use adorável to describe a cat.Tatoeba #1587234 by alexmarcelo, translation #487303 by adjusting
- Ela é uma mulher adorável.She is an adorable woman.This sentence shows how to use adorável to describe a woman.Tatoeba #1139826 by vekiano, translation #4823825 by whitefishglobal
- Você é muito adorável mesmo.You're so very adorable.This sentence shows how to use adorável when speaking to someone.Tatoeba #8901269 by Ricardo14, translation #8901268 by Ricardo14
- A apresentação dela foi simplesmente encantadora.Her presentation was simply charming.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are looking at photos of a puppy.
- FelipeEste filhote é adorável.This puppy is adorable.
- BeatrizSim, ele é muito adorável!Yes, he is very adorable!
- FelipeBeatriz, você também é adorável.Beatriz, you are also adorable.
- BeatrizObrigada, Felipe!Thank you, Felipe!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “adorable” translations and entries adorável, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
