leilão
/lejˈlɐ̃w̃/feminine
The English word 'auction' is leilão in Portuguese.
The word leilão refers to a public sales event. You can also use the related verb leiloar, which means to sell at an auction.
Meaning: public sales event (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of leilão is leilões.
How do you pronounce it?
/lejˈlɐ̃w̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not treat leilão as a feminine noun based on its ending. It is a masculine noun.
Did you know?
- The word leilão traces its roots back to the Arabic word ʔiʕlām, which originally meant 'to inform' or 'to make known'.
- The phrase fazer um leilão is sometimes used colloquially to describe the act of playing two people or companies against each other to get the best price.
- The verb leiloar can be used figuratively in Portuguese to mean 'to offer something up' in a way that suggests it is being displayed for judgment or scrutiny.
Examples in context
- O leilão acabou.The auction is over.This sentence shows how to say the auction is over using leilão.Tatoeba #10223816 by lucasmg123, translation #4494878 by CK
- Em vez de preparar um jantar à luz das velas, ela pôs o seu namorado em leilão no eBay.Instead of preparing a dinner by candlelight, she put her boyfriend up for auction on eBay.This sentence uses leilão in a humorous context regarding an eBay auction.Tatoeba #10680050 by AngeloDNick, translation #828796 by Snout
- Embora a arte moderna tenha sido o centro das atenções, outras vendas no leilão de quatro dias da Sotheby's, que termina na terça-feira, também excederam as expectativas.While modern art stole the limelight, other sales at Sotheby's four-day auction, which ends on Tuesday, also exceeded expectations.This sentence describes sales at a Sotheby's auction using leilão.Tatoeba #10943759 by Cangarejo, translation #10943758 by Cangarejo
- O leilão da casa foi um sucesso.The auction of the house was a success.
- A prefeitura realiza pregões para a aquisição de equipamentos.The city hall holds auctions to acquire equipment.
- Hoje tem um leilão de carros na praça central. Vamos lá conferir?There is a car auction in the central square today. Shall we go check it out?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are discussing an upcoming event.
- LucasVocê vai ao leilão este fim de semana?Are you going to the auction this weekend?
- CamilaSim, eu quero comprar um relógio antigo.Yes, I want to buy an old watch.
- LucasBoa sorte para você no leilão, Camila!Good luck to you at the auction, Camila!
- CamilaObrigada, Lucas!Thanks, Lucas!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “auction” translations and entries leilão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries leilão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
