How to Say "Cartwheel" in Portuguese

estrelinha

/is.tɾeˈlĩ.ɲɐ/Brazil

The English phrase 'cartwheel' can be translated into Portuguese as estrelinha. Wiktionary also lists estrela and aú.

Meaning: gymnastic maneuver (noun)

Ways to say it

“cartwheel” in Portuguese
Portuguese	IPA	Note
estrelinha	/is.tɾeˈlĩ.ɲɐ/ (Brazil) /es.tɾeˈlĩ.ɲɐ/ (Brazil)	Brazil
estrela	/isˈtɾe.lɐ/ (Brazil) /esˈtɾe.lɐ/ (Brazil)	Brazil
aú	/aˈu/ (Brazil)	Brazil
roda	/ˈʁɔ.dɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈʁɔ.dɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro)	Portugal

The term refers to the gymnastic maneuver. To express the action of performing this maneuver, use the phrase fazer a roda.

The word estrelinha is the diminutive form of estrela (star), meaning 'little star'.

While estrelinha and roda refer to a standard cartwheel, aú specifically refers to a cartwheel used in capoeira or a similar lateral movement.

In Brazil, you may use estrelinha, estrela or aú. In Portugal, the standard term is roda.

The word estrelinha has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /is.tɾeˈlĩ.ɲɐ/.

The word aú is a visual mnemonic used by practitioners of capoeira. It describes the body shape formed during the movement, which resembles the letters 'A' and 'U'.
The word estrelinha uses the suffix -inha, a linguistic feature in Portuguese that often expresses affection or smallness rather than just size.
The Portuguese word roda is a direct descendant of the Latin 'rota', the same ancestor for the English word 'rotate'.

Nossos pensamentos precedem-nos as ações, levando-nos a praticá-las. Para alguém, portanto, que fala ou age com más intenções, segue-se o sofrimento, assim como as rodas de uma carroça seguem pela trilha traçada pelo boi de tração.
The mind’s thoughts precede actions, guide them and make them. For someone, therefore, who speaks or acts with evil mind, suffering ensues, just as a cartwheel follows the path of the draft-ox.
The first sentence uses roda to compare a following path to a cartwheel.
Tatoeba #8117540 by carlosalberto, translation #8117150 by Objectivesea
Na ginástica olímpica, a atleta executou uma volta aérea perfeita.
In artistic gymnastics, the athlete performed a perfect cartwheel.
A roda ginástica é uma manobra fundamental para o desenvolvimento da coordenação motora.
The cartwheel is a fundamental maneuver for the development of motor coordination.
A criança fez uma estrelinha incrível no parque.
The child did an amazing cartwheel at the park.
A criança fez uma estrelinha na grama.
The child did a cartwheel on the grass.

At a park during a playdate.

Rodrigo

Camila, olha como eu faço uma estrelinha!
Camila, look at me doing a cartwheel!
Camila

Nossa, Rodrigo! Você é muito bom nisso.
Wow, Rodrigo! You are very good at that.
Rodrigo

Eu treinei bastante no quintal de casa.
I practiced a lot in my backyard.
Camila

Me ensina a fazer uma estrelinha também?
Can you teach me how to do a cartwheel too?

Sources

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