How to Say "Adultery" in Portuguese

adultério

/a.duwˈtɛ.ɾju/masculine

The English phrase 'adultery' is translated into Portuguese as adultério.

adultério is a noun used to describe sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse.

Meaning: sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse (noun)

Which one should you use?

While adultério is the standard term, you may also see infidelidade conjugal used to specifically describe marital infidelity.

adultério is a masculine noun.

The word has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /a.duwˈtɛ.ɾju/.

While adultério is the technical term, Brazilians often use the slang chifrar to describe the act of cheating, which literally means 'to horn'.
In a legal sense in Brazil, 'adultério' used to be a specific crime in the penal code, but it was decriminalized in 2005, shifting it from a criminal matter to a civil matter regarding divorce.
The word adultério is a learned borrowing from the Latin 'adulterium', which stems from 'adulter', meaning someone who corrupts or falsifies.

Em muitas religiões, adultério é pecado.
In many religions adultery is a sin.
This sentence shows how adultério is viewed in a religious context.
Tatoeba #1176641 by paula_guisard, translation #11915042 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
De acordo com muitas religiões, adultério é crime.
According to many religions, adultery is a crime.
Tatoeba #3467673 by piterkeo, translation #402587 by Grayster
Não cometerás adultério.
You shall not commit adultery.
This sentence is a command regarding adultério.
Tatoeba #8087493 by carlosalberto, translation #10028275 by shekitten
O adultério é considerado uma violação dos votos matrimoniais.
Adultery is considered a violation of marital vows.
A infidelidade conjugal é inaceitável em qualquer relacionamento comprometido.
Marital infidelity is unacceptable in any committed relationship.
Ele cometeu traição ao ter um caso extraconjugal.
He committed adultery by having an extramarital affair.
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are discussing a news story about a famous politician.

Camila

O escândalo de adultério destruiu a carreira dele.
The adultery scandal destroyed his career.
Felipe

Foi um erro muito grave para um homem casado.
It was a very serious mistake for a married man.
Camila

Sim, ele perdeu tudo por causa do adultério.
Yes, he lost everything because of the adultery.
Felipe

Infelizmente, a vida dele mudou completamente.
Unfortunately, his life changed completely.

Sources

Wiktionary, “adultery” translations and entries adultério, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries adultério, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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