mergulhar
/meʁ.ɡuˈʎa(ʁ)/
Dip in Portuguese is mergulhar, meaning to lower something into a liquid. If unsure, use mergulhar. Wiktionary also lists imergir.
Meaning: to lower into a liquid (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| mergulhar | /meʁ.ɡuˈʎa(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /meɾ.ɡuˈʎa(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
| imergir | /i.meʁˈʒi(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /i.meɾˈʒi(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
mergulhar is used for putting food or objects into a liquid, and it also means to dive.
Which one should you use?
imergir is another verb for putting something into a liquid.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first person past tense is mergulhei, I dipped. The gerund mergulhando describes an ongoing action, dipping.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /meʁ.ɡuˈʎa(ʁ)/, with three syllables and the stress on the last one.
Did you know?
- The root of mergulhar is connected to the 'loon', a type of water bird known for its diving abilities. This connection is found in the Latin word 'mergulus', which describes the bird's behavior.
- In a metaphorical sense, you can use mergulhar to describe 'diving into' a book or a complex subject. Just as you immerse yourself in a liquid, you can 'mergulhar num livro' to show deep concentration.
- While mergulhar is common for all types of dipping, using imergir often sounds more scientific or formal. You might see imergir in a textbook describing how an object reacts to being submerged in a liquid.
Examples in context
- Mergulhe as batatas no óleo para fritá-las.Dip the potatoes into the oil in order to fry them.Mergulhe is a command form of the verb, telling someone to dip the potatoes.
- Vou mergulhar o biscoito no café.I am going to dip the biscuit in the coffee.
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz are eating snacks in the kitchen.
- LucasVocê quer mergulhar o pão no molho?Do you want to dip the bread in the sauce?
- BeatrizSim, parece muito bom.Yes, it looks very good.
- LucasCuidado para não molhar demais.Be careful not to soak it too much.
- BeatrizNão se preocupe, Lucas.Don't worry, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dip” translations and entries mergulhar, imergir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries imergir, mergulhar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
