tosse
/ˈtɔ.si/feminine
The English word "cough" is tosse in Portuguese.
tosse refers to the sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis and out through the mouth.
Meaning: sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, and out through the mouth (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
tosse is a feminine noun, meaning it requires feminine articles and adjectives, such as a tosse (the cough) or uma tosse forte (a strong cough). The related verb tossir is an infinitive that follows standard conjugation patterns for '-ir' verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈtɔ.si/.
Did you know?
- While the English 'cough' sounds quite different, the Portuguese tosse shares the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'push', both relating to a striking or hitting motion.
- In Brazil, it is common to say estou com tosse ('I am with a cough') rather than estou tossindo ('I am coughing') when describing a lingering cold.
- The colloquial expression tosse de cachorro ('dog's cough') is used to describe a cough that sounds particularly harsh, dry or irritating.
Examples in context
- Eu estou com tosse.I have a cough.This sentence shows how to say you have a cough using tosse.Tatoeba #1644251 by alexmarcelo, translation #51340 by CK
- Sua tosse me preocupa.Your cough worries me.This sentence demonstrates how to express concern about someone's tosse.Tatoeba #3465941 by piterkeo, translation #3260346 by CM
- É só uma tosse ligeira.It's just a little cough.This sentence is used to describe a cough as being slight or light using tosse.Tatoeba #11813326 by carlosalberto, translation #8179414 by Eccles17
- A paciente estava com uma tosse persistenteThe patient had a persistent cough
- A coqueluche é uma doença grave, especialmente em criançasWhooping cough is a serious disease, especially in children
- Assim que sentiu o frio, começou a dar uma tosse muito forteAs soon as he felt the cold, he started coughing really hard
- Ele engasgou e começou a tossirHe choked and started coughing
- A minha avó está com uma tosse muito irritante.My grandmother has a very irritating cough.
- Depois de engasgar com a comida, comecei a tossir descontroladamente.After choking on my food, I started coughing uncontrollably.
- As crianças estão tossindo muito na sala de espera.The children are coughing a lot in the waiting room.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are at home during a rainy afternoon.
- CamilaEssa sua tosse parece forte, Lucas.That cough of yours sounds strong, Lucas.
- LucasSim, a tosse começou ontem à noite.Yes, the cough started last night.
- CamilaVocê precisa de um xarope para a tosse?Do you need a cough syrup?
- LucasAcho que não, vou descansar um pouco.I think not, I will rest a little.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cough” translations and entries tosse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tosse, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
