armário
/aʁˈma.ɾju/
The Portuguese word for cupboard is armário.
armário refers to a cabinet, closet or other piece of furniture intended for storing cookware, dishware or food. In Brazil, the phrase armário de cozinha is used to refer specifically to a kitchen cupboard.
Meaning: a cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food (noun)
Which one should you use?
While English often distinguishes between a cupboard (for dishes) and a closet (for clothes), the Portuguese word armário is used generically for both types of storage.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of armário is armários. When you want to say 'in the cupboard', you combine the contraction em (in) and the article o (the) to form no armário. To say 'of the cupboard', you combine the contraction de (of) and the article o (the) to form do armário.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the second syllable: /aʁˈma.ɾju/.
Did you know?
- The word armário is a cognate of the English word 'armory', as both derive from the Latin word for weapons.
- In Portuguese, the term armário is used for school lockers, meaning the same word covers everything from a kitchen cabinet to a gym locker.
- A Portuguese speaker might describe a large walk-in closet as a massive armário, whereas an English speaker would never call a room a 'cupboard'.
Examples in context
- O cachorro entrou no armário.The dog entered the cupboard.This sentence shows the use of armário to describe where an animal entered.Tatoeba #9044830 by carlosalberto, translation #9044851 by carlosalberto
- Se quiseres chá, tenho um pouco no armário.If you want tea, I have some in the cupboard.This sentence shows how to indicate that something is located in the armário.Tatoeba #8773800 by carlosalberto, translation #8773784 by carlosalberto
- A palavra turca para "geladeira" foi formada a partir das palavras "armário" e "gelo".The Turkish word for “refrigerator” was formed from the words ‘cupboard’ and “ice.”This sentence uses armário to explain the etymology of a word in another language.Tatoeba #14031540 by carlosalberto, translation #14031628 by carlosalberto
- O copo está dentro do armário.The glass is inside the cupboard.
- Por favor, coloque os pratos nos armários.Please put the plates in the cupboards.
- Guarde os utensílios no armário de cozinha.Store the utensils in the kitchen cupboard.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are in the kitchen looking for plates.
- CamilaOnde estão os pratos novos, Rodrigo?Where are the new plates, Rodrigo?
- RodrigoEles estão no armário de cima.They are in the upper cupboard.
- CamilaNão vejo nada neste armário.I don't see anything in this cupboard.
- RodrigoOlhe atrás dos copos, Camila.Look behind the glasses, Camila.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry armário, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries armário, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
