tigela
/t͡ʃiˈʒɛ.lɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for bowl is tigela. Wiktionary also lists malga.
Meaning: container for food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tigela | /t͡ʃiˈʒɛ.lɐ/ (Brazil) /tiˈʒɛ.lɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| malga | /ˈmaw.ɡɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈmal.ɡɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
Both tigela and malga refer to a container for food. In very formal contexts, you may encounter the word recipiente to refer to a bowl or any other type of container.
Which one should you use?
While tigela is the standard word for a bowl, malga is often used to describe bowls that are larger, deeper or more rustic in style.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural of these nouns, use tigelas for tigela and malgas for malga. Both nouns are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiˈʒɛ.lɐ/. The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word tigela is actually a diminutive of a word for a roof tile. It is related to the Portuguese words telha for 'tile' and tijolo for 'brick'.
- In Portuguese culinary traditions, a malga is frequently used specifically for serving hearty soups or porridges in a communal style.
- In some regional dialects of Portugal, malga can refer to a deep basin used for washing, not just for food.
Examples in context
- Não tem açúcar na tigela.There is no sugar in the bowl.Tatoeba #921896 by alexmarcelo, translation #35186 by CM
- Você tem uma tigela maior?Do you have a bigger bowl?Tatoeba #5142927 by bill, translation #3315259 by CK
- Você tem uma tigela para sopa?Do you have a bowl for soup?Tatoeba #2494108 by alexmarcelo, translation #52320 by AlanF_US
- Por favor, coloque a sopa na tigelaPlease put the soup in the bowl
- Pegue a vasilha para a saladaGrab the bowl for the salad
- Coloque o cereal na tigela, por favor.Please put the cereal in the bowl.
- Peço desculpas, mas você pode trazer outra tigela?I'm sorry, but can you bring another bowl?
- Pegue a vasilha e coloque as frutas dentro.Grab the bowl and put the fruits inside.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Mariana are in the kitchen preparing lunch.
- FelipeMariana, onde está a tigela?Mariana, where is the bowl?
- MarianaA tigela está no armário.The bowl is in the cupboard.
- FelipeEu preciso dela para o arroz.I need it for the rice.
- MarianaTudo bem, eu pego para você.Alright, I will get it for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bowl” translations and entries tigela, malga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malga, tigela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
