cidade
/siˈda.d͡ʒi/feminine
The English word 'city' is translated into Portuguese as cidade. Wiktionary also lists urbe.
Meaning: large settlement (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cidade | /siˈda.d͡ʒi/ (Brazil) /siˈda.dɨ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| urbe | /ˈuʁ.bi/ (Brazil) /ˈuɾ.bi/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
cidade is the most straightforward and widely used term for a large settlement. It is often used to describe urban living in contrast to the campo (countryside).
Which one should you use?
While cidade is the standard term, urbe is a poetic alternative used for a city or urban center. Additionally, metrópole serves as a formal counterpart when referring specifically to a metropolis or large urban area.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
urbe is reserved for literary, poetic or highly formal contexts. For a more informal way to describe a small town or village, you can use the diminutive cidadezinha.
How does it change in a sentence?
cidade is a feminine noun. The plural form is cidades.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /siˈda.dʒi/.
Did you know?
- If you want to describe a city that is extremely crowded or chaotic, you might hear the term selva de pedra, which literally means 'jungle of stone'.
- The word cidade is a direct descendant of the Latin cīvitātem, which referred not just to a physical city but to the body of citizens and their legal rights.
- While cidade refers to the city, the word município is used in official Portuguese contexts to describe the combined area of a city and its surrounding rural districts.
Examples in context
- A cidade é bela.The city is beautiful.This sentence illustrates how to use cidade to describe a quality of the city.Tatoeba #1318809 by bufo, translation #4889851 by warrenbisch
- A cidade é grande.The city is big.This sentence shows how to use cidade to describe the size of the city.Tatoeba #2105874 by alexmarcelo, translation #2002502 by bichodebola
- Ele mora na cidade.He lives in the city.This sentence demonstrates the use of cidade when stating where someone lives.Tatoeba #1247832 by Welton, translation #1681406 by aka_aj
- Ela vive em uma cidade bonitaShe lives in a beautiful city
- Cresci em uma cidadezinha encantadoraI grew up in a charming little city
- Eu moro em um município bonitoI live in a beautiful city
- 729 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are talking about a travel plan.
- BeatrizQual cidade você quer visitar?Which city do you want to visit?
- GabrielEu quero conhecer uma cidade nova.I want to get to know a new city.
- BeatrizEssa cidade é muito longe daqui?Is that city very far from here?
- GabrielNão, a cidade é bem perto.No, the city is quite close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “city” translations and entries cidade, urbe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cidade, urbe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
