bacia
/baˈsi.ɐ/feminine
The English word 'basin' can be translated into Portuguese as bacia. Wiktionary also lists pia.
Meaning: wide bowl for washing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bacia | /baˈsi.ɐ/ (Brazil) /bɐˈsi.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| pia | /ˈpi.ɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈpi.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
Bacia refers to a physical wide washing bowl and is also used for geographical features, such as a river basin (bacia hidrográfica).
Which one should you use?
Bacia refers to a portable wide bowl or basin, whereas pia is used for a fixed sink, such as a kitchen or bathroom sink.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /baˈsi.ɐ/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- While bacia is the physical object, in a medical context, a doctor might use a bacia to refer specifically to a person's pelvis.
- The term bacia is used in Portuguese to describe the 'basin' of a guitar or similar instruments to refer to the sound cavity.
- The word pia can also refer to a baptismal font in a church.
Examples in context
- Ela jogou água na bacia.She poured water into the basin.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use bacia when pouring water.Tatoeba #8226181 by arademaker, translation #315480 by CK
- Na palestra utilizava-se apenas água fria, e o banho ou era tomado diretamente na bacia ou então o atleta ficava de pé enquanto um amigo o enxaguava com um balde.In the palæstra cold water was used alone, and the bath was either taken direct from the basin or else the athlete stood while a friend swilled him down from a bucket.This sentence shows a context where a bath is taken directly from a bacia.Tatoeba #11656802 by Cangarejo, translation #11656801 by Cangarejo
- Os grupos ambientalistas estão a louvar a decisão dos delegados de uma conferência das Nações Unidas de restringir o comércio internacional de mogno, a espécie de madeira nobre mais valiosa da bacia amazónica.Environmental groups are hailing the decision by delegates at a U.N. conference to curb the international trade of mahogany, the most valuable hardwood species in the Amazon basin.This sentence demonstrates the use of bacia in a geographical context regarding the Amazon basin.Tatoeba #12085275 by Cangarejo, translation #12085272 by Cangarejo
- Poderia me trazer uma bacia, por favor?Could you bring me a basin, please?
- O lavatório está entupido.The basin/sink is clogged.
- Vou lavar as mãos na pia.I will wash my hands in the basin/sink.
- Preciso lavar essa roupa no tanque.I need to wash this laundry in the basin/laundry sink.
- Não esqueça de dar a descarga na bacia sanitária.Don't forget to flush the toilet bowl.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Felipe are cleaning the kitchen after a party.
- MarianaFelipe, onde está a bacia de limpeza?Felipe, where is the cleaning basin?
- FelipeEstá guardada no armário da lavanderia.It is stored in the laundry cupboard.
- MarianaVou pegá-la para lavar os copos.I will get it to wash the glasses.
- FelipeÓtima ideia, eu ajudo você.Great idea, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “basin” translations and entries bacia, pia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
