Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| criança | /kɾiˈɐ̃.sɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈkɾjɐ̃.sɐ/ (Brazil) |
feminine |
| filho | /ˈfi.ʎu/ (Brazil) /ˈfi.ʎu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| filha | /ˈfi.ʎɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈfi.ʎɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
In Portuguese, the word you choose depends on whether you are describing a person's age or their relationship to a parent. Use criança to refer to a young human being based on their stage of development, regardless of how they are related to you. This is the most common and neutral way to say child. Use filho to denote a son, specifically marking the biological or legal relationship of being a person's offspring.
Which one should you use?
There is a specific distinction between the forms. Use filho or filha when referring to someone's offspring (a son or daughter). In contrast, use criança to refer to a child in terms of their age or development. While filho and filha describe a parental relationship, criança describes a young person regardless of their relationship to you.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Brazil, particularly in the south, the informal word guria is used to refer to a girl or a child. In Brazil, the word garoto is also widely used in a casual manner to refer to a child or a boy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of the word must match the person being described: filho is masculine and filha is feminine. For plurals, use crianças to refer to multiple young children. When using the terms for offspring, the masculine plural filhos is used to refer to a group of children that includes both sons and daughters, whereas the feminine plural filhas is used only when referring to a group consisting entirely of daughters.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɾiˈɐ̃.sɐ/
Did you know?
- The root of filho and filha comes from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'sucker'. This refers to the act of a nursing infant sucking milk.
- If you are talking about a group of children in Brazil, you might hear the word baixinhos, which literally translates to 'little short ones'.
- While criança is the standard word for a young person, in many Brazilian states, you might hear the word moleque used for a child. Be careful, as it can also be used as a slang term for a 'rascal' or a 'troublemaker'.
Examples in context
- Tom é filho único.Tom is an only child.This sentence shows how to use filho to describe an only child.Tatoeba #1181532 by brauliobezerra, translation #2338949 by marcelostockle
- Eu tenho um filho.I have one child.This sentence shows how to use filho to state the number of children one has.Tatoeba #2441027 by MarlonX19, translation #4500152 by CK
- Sou o sexto filho.I'm the sixth child.This sentence shows how to use filho to indicate birth order.Tatoeba #12761418 by piterkeo, translation #12761420 by piterkeo
- A criança está brincando no parque.The child is playing in the park.
- O menino é muito inteligente.The child/boy is very intelligent.
- A menina está aprendendo a ler.The child/girl is learning to read.
- Vem cá, miúdo.Come here, kid.
- Esse garoto é muito esperto.This child/boy is very clever.
- Essa guria é muito simpática.This child/girl is very friendly.
- 527 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Mariana are talking about a neighbor's kid.
- FelipeAquela criança é muito educada.That child is very polite.
- MarianaSim, ela é uma criança ótima.Yes, she is a great child.
- FelipeDe quem é essa criança?Whose child is this?
- MarianaÉ a criança da vizinha.It is the neighbor's child.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries criança, filho, filha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries criança, filha, filho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
