Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fantasma | /fɐ̃ˈtaz.mɐ/ (Brazil) /fɐ̃ˈtaʒ.mɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine |
| abantesma | /a.bɐ̃ˈtez.mɐ/ (Brazil) /a.bɐ̃ˈteʒ.mɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
|
| avantesma | /a.vɐ̃ˈtez.mɐ/ (Brazil) /a.vɐ̃ˈteʒ.mɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
alternative form |
| abentesma | alternative form | |
| aventesma | /a.vẽˈtez.mɐ/ (Brazil) /a.vẽˈteʒ.mɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
alternative form |
| avejão | /a.veˈʒɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /ɐ.vɨˈʒɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
|
| simulacro | /si.muˈla.kɾu/ (Brazil) /si.muˈla.kɾu/ (Portugal) |
|
| lêmure | /ˈlẽ.mu.ɾi/ (Brazil) | |
| espectro | /isˈpɛk.tɾu/ (Brazil) /esˈpɛk.tɾu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| espírito | /isˈpi.ɾi.tu/ (Brazil) /esˈpi.ɾi.tu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| aparição | /a.pa.ɾiˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /ɐ.pɐ.ɾiˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| assombração | /a.sõ.bɾaˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /ɐ.sõ.bɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| larva | /ˈlaʁ.vɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈlaɾ.vɐ/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
| sombra | /ˈsõ.bɾɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈsõ.bɾɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| alma | /ˈaw.mɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈal.mɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
The various forms for ghost in Portuguese depend on whether you are referring to a frightening apparition, a benevolent spirit or a person's soul. While fantasma is the general term for a classic ghost, alma is used in religious or poetic contexts to mean 'soul'.
Which one should you use?
fantasma usually implies a classic or frightening ghost, while espírito refers to a spirit or a more benevolent spiritual entity. If you are describing a haunting or a scary apparition that inhabits a specific location, use assombração.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Although fantasma ends in -a, it is a masculine noun. The feminine forms in this list include aparição, assombração, larva, sombra and alma.
How do you pronounce it?
The word fantasma is pronounced /fɐ̃ˈtaz.mɐ/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- While fantasma is the standard word, the term lêmure is used in very formal or classical literary contexts to describe wandering spirits.
- The term larva refers to a ghost or spirit in some Portuguese contexts, rather than just a biological insect stage. It carries a more eerie, spectral connotation.
- While espírito is often used for a 'spirit', it is also the standard word for 'alcohol' or 'liquor' in many contexts. The word shares the same root as 'breath' or 'spirit' in English.
Examples in context
- Eu vi um fantasma.I saw a ghost.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of fantasma in a simple observation.Tatoeba #5830939 by bill, translation #5829227 by CK
- Você é um fantasma?Are you a ghost?This sentence is useful for asking a question using fantasma.Tatoeba #2825465 by MarlonX19, translation #1841748 by CK
- Eu não vi um fantasma.I didn't see a ghost.This sentence is useful for practicing the negation of the verb with fantasma.Tatoeba #2488231 by MarlonX19, translation #2275917 by CK
- No Halloween, as crianças adoram se fantasiar de assombrações.On Halloween, kids love to dress up as ghosts.
- O filme de terror estava cheio de assombrações.The horror movie was full of ghosts.
- 51 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is watching a horror movie in the living room.
- RodrigoAquele filme era sobre um fantasma.That movie was about a ghost.
- JulianaEu tive medo do fantasma!I was scared of the ghost!
- RodrigoNão precisa ter medo, Juliana.You don't need to be afraid, Juliana.
- JulianaO fantasma parecia muito real.The ghost looked very real.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ghost” translations and entries fantasma, abantesma, avantesma, abentesma, aventesma, avejão, simulacro, lêmure, espectro, espírito, aparição, assombração, larva, sombra, alma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
