cinza
/ˈsĩ.zɐ/
The Portuguese word for "grey" is cinza.
cinza is used to describe the color that results from a mix of black and white.
How does it change in a sentence?
While cinza is the word for the color, the plural form cinzas is the standard noun used to mean "ashes" (for example, the remains of a fire).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈsĩ.zɐ/.
Did you know?
- While cinza is the color 'grey', if you want to talk about the grey hair of an elderly person, you might use the term cabelos grisalhos instead.
- In some contexts, calling a situation 'cinzenta' (the feminine adjective form) can imply that a topic is dull, gloomy, or even morally ambiguous.
- The word cinza is a cognate of the Spanish word ceniza, meaning they both stem from the same Latin root for 'cold ashes'.
Examples in context
- O rato é cinza.The mouse is grey.This sentence shows how to use cinza to describe the color of an animal.Tatoeba #14047727 by Castro5432, translation #12562341 by sundown
- O carro é cinza.The car is grey.This sentence shows how to use cinza to describe the color of a vehicle.Tatoeba #4388100 by ajdavidl, translation #3050128 by sundown
- Este lápis não é cinza.This pencil is not grey.This sentence shows how to use cinza in a negative statement.Tatoeba #6330743 by anthrax26, translation #1764754 by AlanF_US
- A sala foi pintada de cinzento, um tom elegante e sofisticado.The living room was painted in grey, an elegant and sophisticated shade.
- Ela escolheu uma camiseta cinza para o passeio.She chose a grey t-shirt for the outing.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are looking at clothes in a store.
- CamilaGabriel, você gosta desta camiseta?Gabriel, do you like this t-shirt?
- GabrielNão, eu não gosto de cinza.No, I don't like grey.
- CamilaMas esta cor é muito bonita.But this color is very beautiful.
- GabrielTalvez, mas prefiro azul.Maybe, but I prefer blue.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cinza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cinza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.