celular
/se.luˈlaʁ/
The English phrase 'cellphone' is translated into Portuguese as celular.
The term refers to a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the word for cellphone is celular, though it is also common to use the term telefone celular. In Portugal, the word for cellphone is telemóvel.
How does it change in a sentence?
celular is a masculine noun and is used with the masculine article o to mean 'the cellphone'. The plural form of celular is celulares.
How do you pronounce it?
/se.luˈlaʁ/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portugal, using the word celular instead of telemóvel can be confusing because celular is more commonly associated with biological cells in a scientific context.
- In Portuguese, the word móvel used in the Portuguese telemóvel also means 'furniture' when used as a noun.
- The word celular is a learned borrowing from New Latin, meaning it entered the Portuguese language through formal academic and scientific channels rather than evolving naturally from common folk speech.
Examples in context
- Você tem um celular?Do you have a cellphone?This sentence is useful for asking if someone possesses a celular.Tatoeba #1068740 by alexmarcelo, translation #535419 by CM
- Onde está o celular?Where's the cellphone?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a celular.Tatoeba #7248394 by Ricardo14, translation #7248396 by Ricardo14
- Já não tenho celular.I don't have a cellphone anymore.This sentence is useful for stating that one no longer possesses a celular.Tatoeba #2115084 by alexmarcelo, translation #2113918 by sysko
- Eu tenho um celular novo.I have a new cellphone.
- Onde posso comprar um celular?Where can I buy a cellphone?
- Preciso consertar meu celular.I need to fix my cellphone.
- Quebrei meu cel, preciso arrumar.I broke my cellphone, I need to fix it.
- Vou usar meu telefone celular para ligar.I'm going to use my cellphone to make a call.
- Você poderia me emprestar o telefone?Could you lend me your cellphone?
- Preciso consertar meu telefone.I need to fix my cellphone/phone.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Felipe are at a cafe.
- CamilaO meu celular está sem bateria.My cellphone is out of battery.
- FelipeEu tenho um carregador para o seu celular.I have a charger for your cellphone.
- CamilaObrigada, Felipe! Você é muito gentil.Thanks, Felipe! You are very kind.
- FelipeDe nada, Camila.You're welcome, Camila.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry celular, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries celular, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
