gema de ovo
/ˈʒẽ.mɐ d͡ʒi ˈo.vu/word by word
The English phrase "egg yolk" is gema de ovo in Portuguese.
gema de ovo refers to the yellow or orange part found in the center of a bird's egg. In a culinary context, if you have already established that you are talking about eggs, you can simply use the word gema to mean "yolk".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of gema, which means "yolk" and de ovo, which means "of egg".
Which one should you use?
While gema de ovo refers to the yolk, the term for the egg white, the opposite part of the egg, is clara de ovo or simply clara.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural "egg yolks", you pluralize the noun by changing gema de ovo to gemas de ovo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʒẽ.mɐ dʒi ˈo.vu/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portugal, the phrase gema de ovo is central to the tradition of conventual sweets, where yolks and sugar are used to make dense, golden desserts.
- In some Portuguese expressions, gema refers to the most elite or 'purest' part of a group of people.
- The word gema is etymologically related to the English word 'gem' because both come from the Latin word for a 'bud' or 'precious stone'.
Examples in context
- Coloque-as na assadeira, então unte-as com gema de ovo.Place them on the baking sheet, then glaze them with egg yolk.This sentence shows how to use gema de ovo when glazing items for baking.Tatoeba #904538 by alexmarcelo, translation #453592 by FeuDRenais
- Adicione uma gema de ovo na massa.Add an egg yolk to the dough.
- Quero apenas a gema.I just want the egg yolk.
- Pegue apenas a clara, eu vou ficar com a gema.Take only the egg white, I'll keep the yolk.
- A gema de ovo está bem laranja.The egg yolk is very orange.
- Eu prefiro comer apenas a gema de ovo.I prefer to eat only the egg yolk.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are preparing a cake in the kitchen.
- BeatrizRodrigo, você separou a gema de ovo?Rodrigo, did you separate the egg yolk?
- RodrigoSim, Beatriz. Já está na tigela.Yes, Beatriz. It is already in the bowl.
- BeatrizAgora precisamos bater as claras.Now we need to beat the egg whites.
- RodrigoVou fazer isso agora mesmo.I will do that right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (gema, de, ovo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, gema, ovo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
