exército
/eˈzɛʁ.si.tu/
The English phrase 'army' is translated into Portuguese as exército.
The term exército is used to mean 'army'. You may also see the term forças armadas, which can be used to refer to the army as an institution or organization.
How do you pronounce it?
The word exército has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable. In IPA, it is pronounced /eˈzɛʁ.si.tu/.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word exército is a distant relative of the English word 'exercise'. Both stem from the Latin 'exercere', which means 'to keep busy' or 'to train'.
- If you are describing a large group of ants or students, you might use the phrase um exército de to emphasize their overwhelming number. This uses the military term as a common metaphor for scale.
- In Brazil, the Exército Brasileiro is renowned for its specialized jungle warfare training in the 'Amazonas' region, which utilizes distinct tactics from traditional European military models.
Examples in context
- Eu admiro o exército pelo seu compromisso com a proteção do país.I admire the army for its commitment to protecting the country.
- As forças armadas realizam exercícios conjuntos regularmente.The armed forces conduct joint exercises regularly.
- A força do exército é crucial para a segurança nacional.The strength of the army is crucial for national security.
- O meu irmão faz parte do exército.My brother is part of the army.
- Honramos aqueles que servem nas forças armadas e protegem nossa liberdade.We honor those who serve in the armed forces and protect our freedom.
- Ele serve no exército.He serves in the army.
- O exército protege a fronteira.The army protects the border.
- Eles estudam a estratégia do exército.They study the army's strategy.
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are talking about their family members' careers.
- RodrigoOnde o seu irmão trabalha agora?Where does your brother work now?
- MarianaEle trabalha no exército brasileiro.He works in the Brazilian army.
- RodrigoIsso deve ser muito difícil.That must be very difficult.
- MarianaSim, mas ele gosta muito disso.Yes, but he likes it a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry exército, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries exército, CC BY-SA 4.0.
