Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| divórcio | /d͡ʒiˈvɔʁ.sju/ (Brazil) | masculine |
| separação | /se.pa.ɾaˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /sɨ.pɐ.ɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
divórcio specifically refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage, while separação can refer to a legal separation or a social state of living apart without a formal divorce.
Which one should you use?
The word divórcio is a masculine noun used for the legal dissolution of the marriage bond. In contrast, separação is a feminine noun. It can refer to a legal separation or a social separation where a couple lives apart but remains legally married.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, the term separação judicial is used as an alternative expression to refer specifically to a legal separation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that a person is getting a divorce, the reflexive verb divorciar-se is used.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the second syllable: /dʒiˈvɔʁ.sju/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget the reflexive pronoun when using the verb. In Portuguese, you typically divorciar-se (divorce oneself) rather than just divorciar someone else.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the term separação judicial was once a mandatory legal stepping stone that a couple had to complete before they could officially apply for a divórcio.
- In a social context, if a Portuguese speaker says they are separados, they might still be legally married but living entirely separate lives, which is a distinct cultural category from being 'divorced'.
- The suffix '-ção' in separação is the Portuguese equivalent of the English '-tion', a common pattern for turning Latin verbs into nouns.
Examples in context
- Deus odeia o divórcio.God hates divorce.This sentence uses divórcio to show a religious perspective on the concept.Tatoeba #7833750 by piterkeo, translation #6476468 by OsoHombre
- Estou pedindo o divórcio.I'm filing for divorce.This sentence uses divórcio to show the act of filing for the legal dissolution.Tatoeba #5894434 by sergiomelo, translation #5892541 by OsoHombre
- Tom pediu o divórcio em 2013.Tom filed for divorce in 2013.This sentence uses divórcio to state when a specific person filed for it.Tatoeba #6995486 by Ricardo14, translation #5735886 by CM
- Eles finalmente obtiveram o divórcio após muitos anos de discussões acaloradas.They finally got divorced after many years of heated arguments.
- Eu e minha esposa decidimos nos separar depois de refletirmos bastante sobre nosso relacionamento.My wife and I decided to separate after much reflection on our relationship.
- Todo divórcio traz consigo a necessidade de ajustar questões financeiras e de guarda dos filhos, quando aplicável.Every divorce brings with it the need to address financial and child custody matters, when applicable.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are discussing a mutual friend's situation.
- JulianaVocê soube do divórcio da Maria?Did you hear about Maria's divorce?
- RodrigoSim, eu fiquei surpreso com a notícia.Yes, I was surprised by the news.
- JulianaO divórcio foi amigável, pelo que soube.The divorce was amicable, from what I heard.
- RodrigoIsso é bom para as crianças.That is good for the children.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “divorce” translations and entries divórcio, separação, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries divórcio, separação, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
