criativo
/kɾi.aˈt͡ʃi.vu/
The Portuguese word for creative is criativo.
The word is used as an adjective to describe someone or something that is original, expressive and imaginative. It can also be used as a noun to refer to a person directly involved in a creative marketing process.
Meaning: original, expressive, and imaginative (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form changes to agree with the gender and number of the noun. Use criativa for feminine nouns, criativos for masculine plural nouns and criativas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɾi.aˈtʃi.vu/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- Portuguese has a specific term called gambiarra for a 'creative' makeshift repair, which is a culturally celebrated form of improvisation in Brazil.
- In certain Portuguese-speaking contexts, calling someone a criativo can occasionally carry a slightly ironic or skeptical undertone, implying they are 'too clever for their own good' or 'making things up' rather than being genuinely artistic.
- While criativo is the standard adjective, you might hear Brazilians use the phrase ter muita ideia to describe a creative person. This literally translates to 'having many ideas' and is a very common colloquial way to praise someone's ingenuity.
Examples in context
- O Tom é criativo.Tom is creative.This sentence is useful for stating that Tom is creative using the form criativo.Tatoeba #2440980 by alexmarcelo, translation #2202710 by CK
- Eu não sou criativo.I'm not creative.This sentence is useful for saying that you are not creative using the form criativo.Tatoeba #3435956 by Ricardo14, translation #3330599 by CK
- Sou um cara criativo.I'm a creative guy.This sentence is useful for describing yourself as a creative guy using the form criativo.Tatoeba #5976826 by bill, translation #5975682 by CK
- Ele é um escritor criativoHe is a creative writer
- Ela tem uma mente criativaShe has a creative mind
- O pintor é muito inventivoThe painter is very creative
- Aquele garoto é muito criativoThat boy is very creative
- Aquele cantor é um criativão!That singer is such a creative powerhouse!
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Felipe are talking about a school project.
- MarianaFelipe, seu projeto é muito criativo.Felipe, your project is very creative.
- FelipeObrigado, Mariana! Eu me esforcei bastante.Thanks, Mariana! I put in a lot of effort.
- MarianaVocê sempre tem um jeito criativo de fazer as coisas.You always have a creative way of doing things.
- FelipeEu gosto de tentar coisas novas.I like to try new things.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “creative” translations and entries criativo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
