enguia
/ẽˈɡi.ɐ/feminine
The English word "eel" is enguia in Portuguese.
enguia refers to any fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes.
Meaning: any fish of the order Anguilliformes (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural "eels", use enguias.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /ẽˈɡi.ɐ/.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word enguia is a close relative of the English word 'anguish', which stems from the same Latin root 'anguis' meaning 'snake' or 'serpent'.
- In Portuguese, the word enguia is often used figuratively to describe a person who is slippery, elusive or difficult to pin down in a conversation.
- In some traditional Portuguese culinary contexts, the preparation of enguia involves specific regional techniques that differ wildly between the north and south of the country.
Examples in context
- Eu peguei uma enguia.I have caught an eel.This sentence shows how to use enguia when talking about catching one.Tatoeba #8654917 by bill, translation #5757002 by Iriep
- Ibrahim gosta de enguia.Ibrahim likes eel.This sentence demonstrates how to express a preference for enguia.Tatoeba #7837358 by piterkeo, translation #6303501 by Hybrid
- Não podemos excluir a possibilidade de haver uma enguia gigante no lago Ness, mas não sabemos se estas amostras que recolhemos provêm de um animal gigante ou apenas de um normal—por isso ainda há este elemento de "nós simplesmente não sabemos".We can't exclude the possibility that there's a giant eel in Loch Ness, but we don't know whether these samples we've collected are from a giant beast or just an ordinary one so there's still this element of "we just don't know."This sentence uses enguia in a discussion about a possible giant creature in Loch Ness.Tatoeba #10709384 by Cangarejo, translation #8173565 by Hybrid
- Eu adoro enguia grelhada.I love grilled eel.
- O meu prato favorito é enguia com molho de alho.My favorite dish is eel with garlic sauce.
Example conversation
A couple is looking at the seafood selection at a market.
- MarianaAquela enguia parece muito fresca.That eel looks very fresh.
- LucasVocê quer comprar uma enguia para o jantar?Do you want to buy an eel for dinner?
- MarianaSim, eu adoraria comer uma enguia hoje.Yes, I would love to eat an eel today.
- LucasCerto, vou pegar uma para nós.Right, I will get one for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eel” translations and entries enguia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries enguia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
