golfinho
/ɡowˈfĩ.ɲu/masculine
The Portuguese word for dolphin is golfinho. Wiktionary also lists delfim.
Meaning: aquatic mammal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| golfinho | /ɡowˈfĩ.ɲu/ (Brazil) /ɡolˈfi.ɲu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| delfim | /dewˈfĩ/ (Brazil) /dɛlˈfĩ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
The word refers to the aquatic mammal.
Which one should you use?
delfim is a more formal or literary term and is much less common in everyday conversation than golfinho.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural of golfinho, add -s to create golfinhos.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɡowˈfĩ.ɲu/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The term delfim carries a double meaning in Portuguese, as it can also be used to refer to a 'crown prince' or a 'heir apparent'.
- The common word golfinho is a linguistic hybrid that blends the Latin root for dolphin with the Portuguese word golfo, meaning 'gulf' or 'bay'.
- Because delfim is so rare in speech, using it in a casual conversation might make a speaker sound like they are reading from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- Já tocaste um golfinho?Have you ever touched a dolphin?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever touched a golfinho.Tatoeba #4857460 by Sistemas, translation #682206 by Source_VOA
- O golfinho é um mamífero.A dolphin is a mammal.This sentence is useful for stating that a golfinho is a mammal.Tatoeba #1560065 by alexmarcelo, translation #65812 by CK
- O golfinho não é um peixe.The dolphin is not a fish.This sentence is useful for clarifying that a golfinho is not a fish.Tatoeba #11952187 by carlosalberto, translation #11952170 by carlosalberto
- Hoje vi um golfinho saltando nas ondas do mar.Today, I saw a dolphin jumping in the ocean waves.
- O boto-cor-de-rosa é um golfinho de água doce que vive no Rio Amazonas.The pink river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that lives in the Amazon River.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are watching a documentary about the ocean.
- GabrielOlha que golfinho inteligente!Look what an intelligent dolphin!
- CamilaÉ verdade, eles são incríveis.It is true, they are incredible.
- GabrielO golfinho consegue saltar muito alto.The dolphin can jump very high.
- CamilaEu adoro ver esses animais.I love seeing those animals.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dolphin” translations and entries golfinho, delfim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries delfim, golfinho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
