Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| academia | /a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ/ (Brazil) /ɐ.kɐ.dɨˈmi.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
Brazil, feminine |
| ginásio | /ʒiˈna.zju/ (Brazil) /ʒiˈna.zju/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
The term refers to a sporting facility specialized for lifting weights and exercise.
Which one should you use?
In Brazil, the standard term for a commercial fitness center or weightlifting gym is academia. In contrast, in Portugal, ginásio is the more common term for a sports facility or gymnasium.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, academia is the primary word for a gym, though you may also hear academia de ginástica or estúdio de ginástica to refer to certain fitness studios. In Portugal, ginásio is the preferred term and centro de desportos can be used as an alternative to academia. In Brazil, the term malhação can be used informally to refer to both the gym itself and the act of working out.
How does it change in a sentence?
academia is a feminine noun, while ginásio is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of academia is /a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ/. It has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly assume academia refers only to an academic institution, but in Portuguese, it is the standard word for a fitness gym.
Did you know?
- The word ginásio comes from the Ancient Greek word gumnós, meaning 'naked', because athletes in Ancient Greece trained without clothes.
- In Brazil, malhação is a slang term for working out that became so popular it inspired a long-running and famous telenovela of the same name.
- While academia means 'gym' in a fitness context, it is also used to describe a 'fine arts academy' or a 'lettered academy' like the Brazilian Academy of Letters.
Examples in context
- Eu fui à academia.I went to the gym.This sentence shows usage of the form academia to indicate movement toward a gym.Tatoeba #4955757 by Ricardo14, translation #3331414 by CK
- Tom está na academia.Tom is in the gym.This sentence shows usage of the form academia to describe a person's location.Tatoeba #8594266 by bill, translation #7966963 by CK
- Eu odeio ir à academia.I hate going to the gym.This sentence shows usage of the form academia to express an opinion about going to the gym.Tatoeba #10003415 by bill, translation #6026637 by Hybrid
- Eu vou para a academia todos os dias para me exercitar.I go to the gym every day to work out.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are talking about their fitness routine.
- BeatrizRodrigo, você vai à academia hoje?Rodrigo, are you going to the gym today?
- RodrigoSim, eu vou treinar agora.Yes, I am going to train now.
- BeatrizEu também quero ir à academia.I also want to go to the gym.
- RodrigoEntão vamos juntos, Beatriz.Then let's go together, Beatriz.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gym” translations and entries academia, ginásio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries academia, ginásio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
