avó
standard
In Brazil "grandmother" is avó, and most families say vó or the more tender vovó. The grandfather is avô, vô or vovô.
Meaning: mother of a parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| avó | standard |
| Vó | everyday, Brazil |
| Vovó | affectionate |
Brazilians use vó to address her directly: Oi, vó! The plural for grandparents is avós.
How do you pronounce it?
The accent in avó falls on the last syllable, so it sounds like "ah-VAW". The grandfather avô has a closed o.
Did you know?
- The accents in avó (grandmother) and avô (grandfather) are what separate the two words in writing.
Examples in context
- Minha avó mora no interior.My grandmother lives in the countryside.
- A vovó fez bolo.Grandma made a cake.
- Visito minha vó todo domingo.I visit my grandma every Sunday.
Example conversation
Caio visits his grandmother on a Sunday in Ribeirão Preto. Dona Cecília is the grandmother.
- CaioOi, vó! Trouxe pão.Hi, grandma! I brought bread.
- Dona CecíliaEntra, meu neto.Come in, my grandson.
- CaioQue cheiro de café!What a smell of coffee!
