frango
/ˈfɾɐ̃.ɡu/masculine
The English word chicken can be translated into Portuguese as frango or galinha.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| frango | /ˈfɾɐ̃.ɡu/ (Brazil) /ˈfɾɐ̃.ɡu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| galinha | /ɡaˈlĩ.ɲɐ/ (Brazil) /ɡaˈʎĩ.ɲɐ/ (Brazil) |
feminine |
In a culinary context, frango is the standard term used when referring to chicken as meat or food.
Which one should you use?
Use frango when you are talking about chicken as food or meat. Use galinha when you are referring to the living animal, specifically a hen.
How does it change in a sentence?
frango is a masculine noun, while galinha is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfɾɐ̃.ɡu/. The first of two syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the expression quem não tem cão, caça com galinha literally means 'he who has no dog hunts with a chicken'. It is used to say that one must make do with whatever tools are available.
- The word frango is also used in Brazil as a slang term for a person who is considered physically weak or poorly built, much like how English speakers might use 'chicken' or 'wimp'.
- While galinha refers to the bird, the word galo is used specifically for a rooster. The suffix -inha in galinha is a diminutive, making the word literally a 'little rooster'.
Examples in context
- O frango está cru.The chicken is raw.This sentence shows how to describe the state of the meat using frango.Tatoeba #4115933 by alexmarcelo, translation #4104550 by Hybrid
- Eu gosto de frango.I like chicken.This sentence expresses a personal preference for the food frango.Tatoeba #1221731 by alexmarcelo, translation #3651741 by furoraceltica
- Ela pegou o frango.She caught the chicken.This sentence describes the action of catching the animal frango.Tatoeba #1690060 by alexmarcelo, translation #1690046 by Spamster
- Eu gosto de galinha grelhada.I like grilled chicken.
- Precisamos comprar frango para o jantar.We need to buy chicken for dinner.
- 102 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a farm market.
- GabrielAquele frango é muito grande.That chicken is very large.
- JulianaSim, o frango parece saudável.Yes, the chicken looks healthy.
- GabrielVou comprar esse frango.I am going to buy this chicken.
- JulianaO Gabriel vai levar o frango para casa.Gabriel is going to take the chicken home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries frango, galinha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries frango, galinha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
