Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ambos | /ˈɐ̃.bus/ (Brazil) /ˈɐ̃.buʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine, plural |
| qualquer um | masculine, plural |
The way you express 'either' depends on whether you mean the set of two or the choice between them. While ambos primarily means 'both', it is used in English contexts like 'not both' to mean 'either'. To express the choice between two options, such as 'either A or B', Portuguese uses the conjunction ou … ou. Additionally, if you want to say 'as well' after a negative, you can use também não or tampouco.
Which one should you use?
ambos is used to mean 'both' (the set of two), whereas qualquer um specifically captures the sense of 'one or the other' (either).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ambos must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing to ambas for feminine plural nouns. Similarly, the phrase qualquer um changes to qualquer uma to agree with feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
ambos is pronounced /ˈɐ̃.bus/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, the phrase qualquer um is often used as a slang term to describe someone who is unremarkable or 'just anyone'.
- The word ambos is a direct descendant of the Latin ambōs, making it a close linguistic relative to the English word 'ambidextrous', which means 'using both hands'.
- The word qualquer is actually a combination of qual, meaning 'which one', and quer, meaning 'wants'.
Examples in context
- Você pode ter qualquer um dos dois, mas não ambos.You can have either of these, but not both.This sentence is useful for illustrating how to use ambos when discussing a choice between two things.Tatoeba #2574302 by alexmarcelo, translation #55304 by qdii
- Acho que qualquer uma dessas pode ser uma tradução válida para o japonês.I think either of these could possibly be a valid translation into Japanese.This sentence shows how to use qualquer um when referring to one of several options.Tatoeba #11037501 by carlosalberto, translation #8950722 by shekitten
- Toda verdade tem dois lados, é aconselhável examinar ambos antes de nos comprometer com um deles.Every truth has two sides, it is as well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.This sentence demonstrates the use of ambos when referring to both sides of a situation.Tatoeba #2943890 by carlosalberto, translation #2943885 by carlosalberto
- Você pode escolher qualquer opção.You can choose either option.
- Você pode optar por um ou outro.You can choose either one or the other.
- Você quer café ou chá?Do you want either coffee or tea?
- Vamos ao cinema assistir um ou outro filme.Let's go to the movies and watch either one film or the other.
- Não tenho paciência nem para música, nem para filmes.I have no patience for either music or movies.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are looking at two different cake flavors.
- LucasVocê prefere o de chocolate ou o de baunilha?Do you prefer the chocolate or the vanilla one?
- CamilaEu gosto de ambos, Lucas.I like both of them, Lucas.
- LucasMas só podemos escolher um bolo.But we can only choose one cake.
- CamilaEntão escolha qualquer um.Then choose either one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “either” translations and entries ambos, qualquer um, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ambos, qualquer, qualquer um, um, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
