desvio
/dezˈvi.u/
The English phrase 'detour' is translated into Portuguese as desvio.
desvio refers to a temporary alternative route to a main route. To express the action of taking a detour, it is common to use the phrase fazer um desvio (to make a detour).
Meaning: temporary alternative route to the main route (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word desvio is derived from the verb desviar, which means 'to deviate' or 'to divert'. It literally translates to 'deviation' or 'detour'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In mainland Portugal, desvio is the most predominant word for 'detour'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of desvio is desvios.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable: /dezˈvi.u/.
When do people say it?
If you see a road sign indicating a detour in a Portuguese-speaking country, it will most likely say Desvio.
Did you know?
- In a legal or financial context, desvio is frequently used to describe the 'misappropriation' or 'embezzlement' of funds. While an English speaker thinks of a road, a Portuguese speaker might be describing a crime.
- The root of desvio connects it to the Latin 'via', meaning 'way' or 'road'. This makes it a linguistic relative of the English word 'via', which we use to describe the route taken to reach a destination.
- While 'detour' usually implies a physical path in English, desvio is frequently used by Portuguese speakers to describe a statistical anomaly or a mathematical deviation.
Examples in context
- O secretário-geral da ONU, Ki-moon Ban, fez um pequeno desvio até ao Ruanda durante uma visita à Europa esta semana.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made a detour to Rwanda during a European trip this week.This sentence shows how to use desvio when describing a trip detour.Tatoeba #10817776 by Cangarejo, translation #10817775 by Cangarejo
- O fumo dos incêndios florestais torna-se tão denso que os voos das companhias aéreas têm de fazer desvios e os residentes em toda a região sofrem de doenças respiratórias.Smoke from forest fires becomes so dense that airline flights must detour and residents across the region suffer respiratory illnesses.This sentence uses desvio to describe how flights must detour due to smoke.Tatoeba #10807017 by Cangarejo, translation #10807016 by Cangarejo
- Há um desvio na estrada principal.There is a detour on the main road.
- Devido às obras, será necessário seguir um caminho alternativo.Due to construction work, it will be necessary to take a detour.
- Vamos precisar pegar uma rota alternativa para evitar o trânsito.We'll need to take a detour to avoid the traffic.
- Sempre siga as placas de 'Desvio' quando necessário.Always follow the 'Detour' signs when necessary.
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are driving in the car.
- FelipeO GPS indicou um desvio na estrada.The GPS indicated a detour on the road.
- BeatrizSerá que este desvio demora muito tempo?Will this detour take a long time?
- FelipeEspero que o desvio seja rápido.I hope the detour is quick.
- BeatrizPode ser, mas vamos seguir o mapa.It might be, but let's follow the map.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desvio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desvio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
