Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| costas | /ˈkɔs.tɐs/ (Brazil) /ˈkɔʃ.tɐʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
feminine, plural |
| lombo | /ˈlõ.bu/ (Brazil) /ˈlõ.bu/ (Portugal) |
The most common way to refer to the human back is with the plural feminine form costas. This word can be used literally to describe the body part, but it is also found in the idiomatic expression dar as costas, which means to turn one's back on someone or, figuratively, to abandon or ignore them. Related terms for the concept of 'back' include the adjective afastado for something away from a main area, and the adverb para trás for moving away from the front or an edge.
Which one should you use?
While costas is used for the human back, lombo refers to the back or loin of an animal, frequently used in the context of butchery or meat.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the human back, the word is almost always used in its plural form with the feminine article, as in as costas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word costas has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈkɔs.tɐs/.
Did you know?
- The word costas actually derives from the Latin word for 'rib', which is costa. This links the concept of the back directly to the skeletal structure that protects it.
Examples in context
- Não me dê as costas!Don't turn your back on me.This sentence shows the imperative use of the phrase to mean 'don't turn your back on me' using costas.Tatoeba #1000295 by alexmarcelo, translation #6319981 by OsoHombre
- Ela me deu as costas.She turned her back to me.This sentence illustrates the past tense of the phrase to mean 'turned her back to me' using costas.Tatoeba #957785 by alexmarcelo, translation #314255 by CK
- Tom quebrou as costas.Tom broke his back.This sentence shows how to describe a physical injury to the back using costas.Tatoeba #8428934 by JGEN, translation #8416333 by CK
- Estou de volta ao escritórioI'm back at the office
- O retorno dos funcionários é esperado amanhãThe employees' return is expected tomorrow
- Preciso regressar à minha cidade natalI need to go back to my hometown
- Ele decidiu voltar atrás na sua decisãoHe decided to go back on his decision
- Estou de volta à cidade depois de viajarI'm back in town after traveling
- Vamos voltar ao assunto principalLet's get back to the main topic
- Vou regressar ao Brasil para visitar minha famíliaI'm going back to Brazil to visit my family
- Eu estava pensando em desistir, mas voltarei atrásI was thinking about giving up, but I will change my mind
- 129 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Felipe are at a physiotherapy clinic.
- JulianaMinhas costas estão doendo muito hoje.My back is hurting a lot today.
- FelipeVocê deve massagear as costas para relaxar.You should massage your back to relax.
- JulianaFelipe, você pode me ajudar com as costas?Felipe, can you help me with my back?
- FelipeClaro, eu ajudo você agora mesmo.Of course, I will help you right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “back” translations and entries costas, lombo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries costas, lombo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
