namorado
/na.moˈɾa.du/masculine
The Portuguese word for boyfriend is namorado.
Namorado is the standard and most commonly used term for a male partner in a romantic relationship.
Meaning: male partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Which one should you use?
While namorado is the standard term, you might hear the diminutive namoradinho to add a sense of playfulness or endearment. In certain Brazilian contexts, there is also the phrase namorado(a) de vez, which refers to an official partner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Brazil, particularly in the Northeast, the term namorado(a) de vez is used to mean an official partner.
How does it change in a sentence?
Namorado is the masculine form. To refer to a girlfriend, use the feminine form namorada.
When do people say it?
Terms like Mozão or the diminutive namoradinho are used to express warmth and closeness in a relationship.
Did you know?
- While namorado means 'boyfriend' today, the verb namorar used to mean 'to gaze' or 'to look at with desire' before it meant 'to date'.
- While namorado is the standard, many Brazilians use the term ficante to describe someone they are casually dating or 'hooking up' with, which occupies a social space between a friend and a 'namorado'.
- The word namorado is a linguistic cousin to the Italian innamorato and Spanish enamorado, all sharing a root that combines a prefix with the word for 'love'.
Examples in context
- Ela ama o namorado.She loves her boyfriend.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of namorado to express affection.Tatoeba #2814834 by alexmarcelo, translation #2807603 by Hybrid
- Tom é meu namorado.Tom is my boyfriend.This sentence is useful for introducing someone as your namorado.Tatoeba #5285611 by bill, translation #2273294 by CK
- Ela tem um namorado.She has a boyfriend.This sentence is useful for stating that someone has a namorado.Tatoeba #7077034 by hansemannbr, translation #7075959 by azraelgnosis
- Ele é meu namoradoHe is my boyfriend
- Oi, meu namoradoHi, my boyfriend
- Meu namoradinho é muito fofoMy boyfriend is very cute
- Oi, mozão! Tudo bem?Hey, babe! How are you?
- Oi, meu namoradinho, senti sua falta!Hi, my darling, I missed you!
- Preciso contar uma novidade para o meu mozão!I need to tell something exciting to my babe!
- 213 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana is introducing Felipe to her friend.
- MarianaEste é o meu namorado, Felipe.This is my boyfriend, Felipe.
- FelipePrazer em conhecê-la, Mariana.Nice to meet you, Mariana.
- MarianaO Felipe é muito gentil.Felipe is very kind.
- FelipeObrigado pelo elogio!Thanks for the compliment!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries namorado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries namorado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
