barata
/baˈɾa.tɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for cockroach is barata. Wiktionary also lists carocha.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| barata | /baˈɾa.tɐ/ (Brazil) /bɐˈɾa.tɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| carocha | /kaˈɾɔ.ʃɐ/ (Brazil) /kɐˈɾɔ.ʃɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
Both barata and carocha refer to the type of insect known as a cockroach.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of barata is baratas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /baˈɾa.tɐ/.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, barata is a homonym that also means 'cheap' when used as a feminine adjective.
- In Brazilian culture, the 'barata' is often featured in children's folklore and songs as a clumsy or comical character rather than just a pest.
- The phrase carocha shares a linguistic root with the Spanish coroza, which refers to a type of hood or cap.
Examples in context
- A barata subiu em mim!A cockroach has climbed up on me!This sentence shows how to describe a cockroach climbing on someone using barata.Tatoeba #1773890 by alexmarcelo, translation #3000729 by al_ex_an_der
- Você comeria uma barata?Would you ever eat a cockroach?This sentence uses barata to pose a hypothetical question about eating the insect.Tatoeba #1571728 by alexmarcelo, translation #954690 by CK
- Como você matou a barata?How did you kill the cockroach?This sentence uses barata to ask about the method used to kill the insect.Tatoeba #5139812 by alexmarcelo, translation #5143867 by CarpeLanam
- Ai! Tem uma barata na cozinha!Eek! There's a cockroach in the kitchen!
- Cuidado! Tem uma baratinha no chão!Watch out! There's a cockroach on the floor!
- Por favor, mate aquela barata!Please kill that cockroach!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Juliana are at home in the living room.
- FelipeJuliana, tem uma barata aqui no chão!Juliana, there is a cockroach here on the floor!
- JulianaAi meu Deus, onde ela está?Oh my God, where is it?
- FelipeEla está perto do sofá.It is near the sofa.
- JulianaFelipe, por favor, mate essa barata!Felipe, please, kill that cockroach!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries barata, carocha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries barata, carocha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
