avô
/aˈvo/masculine
The Portuguese word for grandfather is avô.
The term avô is a masculine noun used to refer to a grandfather from either the paternal or maternal side of a family.
Meaning: grandfather (from either side) (noun)
Which one should you use?
The masculine form avô is distinguished from the feminine form avó, which means grandmother, by the acute accent on the final vowel. To specify the side of the family, you can use Avô paterno for paternal grandfather or Avô materno for maternal grandfather.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You can also use the informal terms Vovô paterno and Vovô materno to highlight a paternal or maternal connection affectionately.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions of Portugal, you may encounter the terms avôzinho or vovozinho to add a sense of endearment when referring to a grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈvo/
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word avô is a distant cousin of the English word 'grandfather' through their shared Proto-Indo-European root *h₂éwh₂os.
- The term bisavô is used for a great-grandfather, where the prefix bis- comes from the Latin word for 'twice'.
- In some Portuguese dialects, the affectionate vovô is shortened even further to vô in casual conversation.
Examples in context
- Tom é meu avô.Tom is my grandfather.This sentence shows how to identify a person as a grandfather using avô.Tatoeba #1497095 by alexmarcelo, translation #1495853 by CK
- Cuide de seu avô.Take care of your grandfather.This sentence demonstrates using avô when telling someone to care for their grandfather.Tatoeba #5553263 by bill, translation #3735548 by CK
- Este é o meu avô.This is my grandfather.This sentence is useful for introducing a grandfather using avô.Tatoeba #6165323 by bill, translation #1898106 by CK
- Olá, este é o meu avô, Sr. Silva.Hello, this is my grandfather, Mr. Silva.
- Feliz aniversário, vovô! Espero que seu dia seja cheio de alegria e amor.Happy birthday, grandpa! I hope your day is filled with joy and love.
- 200 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are talking about family photos.
- JulianaQuem é esse homem no fundo?Who is this man in the background?
- RodrigoÉ o meu avô.He is my grandfather.
- JulianaEle parece um homem muito gentil.He looks like a very kind man.
- RodrigoSim, o meu avô era uma ótima pessoa.Yes, my grandfather was a great person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandfather” translations and entries avô, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avô, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
