cortar
/koʁˈta(ʁ)/
To cut in Portuguese is cortar. Wiktionary also lists incisar.
Meaning: to divide with a sharp instrument (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| cortar | /koʁˈta(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /koɾˈta(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
| incisar | /ĩ.siˈza(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ĩ.siˈza(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
The verb cortar means to divide something using a sharp instrument. If you are specifically cutting paper, you can use the verb recortar.
Which one should you use?
While cortar is the general word for to cut, incisar is a more technical or formal term used specifically for making a precise incision, such as in a medical or surgical context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun corte refers to the act of cutting or the resulting cut itself. The form corta is the third-person singular present indicative of cortar, used for he/she cuts or you (informal) cut. The past participle cortado is used to form compound tenses or as an adjective meaning cut.
How do you pronounce it?
/koʁˈta(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'cut the line' in terms of a queue, you wouldn't use cortar a linha to mean jumping ahead, but rather you might use 'furar a fila'.
- In a romantic context, dar um corte means to bluntly reject someone's advances or 'shoot them down'.
- Portuguese speakers use cortar when talking about the wind, such as o vento corta, to describe a wind that is so cold it feels like it is slicing through clothing.
Examples in context
- Vá cortar o cabelo.Go get your hair cut.This sentence is useful for using cortar to talk about hair.Tatoeba #8427606 by bill, translation #3825499 by CK
- Eles cortaram a árvore.They cut down the tree.This sentence is useful for using cortar to talk about a tree.Tatoeba #4833153 by Vitie, translation #305855 by CK
- Vi-o cortar uma árvore.I saw him cut down a tree.Tatoeba #5057458 by alexmarcelo, translation #5057455 by mailohilohi
- Eu preciso cortar essa árvore que está obstruindo a visão da estrada.I need to cut down that tree that is obstructing the view of the road.
- Por favor, você pode fatiar o pão em fatias finas?Could you please cut the bread into thin slices?
- Pode picar a cebola em pedaços bem pequenos, por favor?Could you chop the onion into very small pieces, please?
- Precisamos cortar o bolo em pedaços para que todos possam comer.We need to cut the cake into pieces so that everyone can have some.
- Vou cortar os legumes para a sopa.I'm going to cut the vegetables for the soup.
- Você poderia picar um pouco de salsa para a salada?Could you chop some parsley for the salad?
- Preciso cortar em pedaços essa folha de papel para caber no envelope.I need to cut this piece of paper into pieces to fit in the envelope.
- O médico vai fazer um corte para remover o tumor.The doctor will make an incision to remove the tumor.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In the kitchen, preparing a snack.
- BeatrizGabriel, você pode cortar o queijo?Gabriel, can you cut the cheese?
- GabrielSim, eu vou cortar agora.Yes, I am going to cut it now.
- BeatrizObrigada, use a faca certa.Thank you, use the right knife.
- GabrielEstá bem, Beatriz.Okay, Beatriz.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cut” translations and entries cortar, incisar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
