cabelo
/kaˈbe.lu/masculine
The Portuguese word for hair is cabelo.
cabelo is the most common and general term for hair in Portuguese. It refers specifically to the mass of filaments on the human head.
Meaning: mass of such filaments on the human head (noun)
Which one should you use?
While cabelo refers to human hair on the head, pelo is the word used for animal fur or hair on the body. For horsehair, the specific term crina is used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term juba is used informally in some regions, particularly in Northeastern Brazil, to describe voluminous or messy hair.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form cabelos is used to refer to individual strands of hair or to describe hair in a more poetic or descriptive sense.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /kaˈbe.lu/.
Did you know?
- The word cabelo is a linguistic relative of the English word 'capillary'. Both derive from the Latin capillus, which specifically referred to the finest hairs of the head.
- In Brazil, using the word juba to describe someone's cabelo compares their hair to a lion's mane. This is a common way to compliment or tease someone with very voluminous hair.
- While cabelo describes the hair on your head, the word pelo is used for body hair. If you say you have pelos on your head, it implies you are hairy like an animal.
Examples in context
- Ela fez o cabelo.She got her hair done.This sentence shows how to use cabelo when saying someone got their hair done.Tatoeba #10921600 by Advanced, translation #2793982 by Hybrid
- Ele lava o cabelo.He washes his hair.This sentence shows how to use cabelo when saying someone washes their hair.Tatoeba #3769264 by ajdavidl, translation #435026 by lukaszpp
- Tom tinge o cabelo.Tom dyes his hair.This sentence shows how to use cabelo when saying someone dyes their hair.Tatoeba #1718616 by alexmarcelo, translation #4495405 by CK
- Ela tem cabelos longos e escuros.She has long and dark hair.
- Meu cabelo está precisando de um corte.My hair needs a haircut.
- Que bela cabeleira você tem!What a beautiful head of hair you have!
- Ela tem uma cabeleira encaracolada.She has curly hair.
- 516 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are talking about a new haircut.
- LucasCamila, o seu cabelo está diferente.Camila, your hair looks different.
- CamilaSim, eu cortei o cabelo ontem.Yes, I cut my hair yesterday.
- LucasFicou ótimo em você!It looks great on you!
- CamilaObrigada, Lucas!Thank you, Lucas!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hair” translations and entries cabelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
