Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jantar | /ʒɐ̃ˈta(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ʒɐ̃ˈta(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
|
| janta | /ˈʒɐ̃.tɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈʒɐ̃.tɐ/ (Portugal) |
|
| ceia | /ˈsej.ɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈsɐj.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
The term is used to refer to the evening meal. When using the form jantar as a noun to mean "the dinner", it is a masculine noun and requires the masculine article o.
Which one should you use?
janta is a colloquial, shortened version. In contrast, ceia refers to a much lighter meal or a late-night snack, often used in religious contexts or specifically for a meal eaten late at night or during Christmas Eve.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
janta is an informal, colloquial version commonly used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. The term ceia is formal and is primarily used in religious contexts, such as for the Last Supper or the ceremonial meal on Christmas Eve.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form jantar can function as both a noun meaning "dinner" and a verb meaning "to dine".
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒɐ̃ˈta(ʁ)/
Did you know?
- In the history of the language, jantar originally referred to 'lunch' before it shifted to mean the evening meal.
Examples in context
- É hora da janta.It's dinner time.This sentence is useful for saying it is time for the informal janta.Tatoeba #4225428 by carloseperola, translation #2249074 by CK
- É hora do jantar.Time for dinner.This sentence is useful for saying it is time for the standard jantar.Tatoeba #380478 by brauliobezerra, translation #324656 by CM
- Tom fez o jantar.Tom cooked dinner.This sentence is useful for describing someone who cooked the standard jantar.Tatoeba #1174903 by paula_guisard, translation #1026639 by CK
- O Senhor gostaria de participar da ceia de Natal na nossa igreja?Would you like to join us for the Christmas Eve dinner at our church?
- Que tal uma jantinha em casa?How about a cozy dinner at home?
- 530 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to do for their evening meal at home.
- FelipeMariana, o que vamos ter no jantar?Mariana, what are we having for dinner?
- MarianaEu posso fazer um jantar leve.I can make a light dinner.
- FelipePerfeito, eu ajudo você na cozinha.Perfect, I will help you in the kitchen.
- MarianaObrigada, Felipe!Thanks, Felipe!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinner” translations and entries jantar, janta, ceia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ceia, janta, jantar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
