alabote
/a.laˈbɔ.t͡ʃi/masculine
The English word halibut is translated into Portuguese as alabote. Wiktionary also lists hipoglosso and halibute.
Meaning: flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alabote | /a.laˈbɔ.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ɐ.lɐˈbɔ.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| hipoglosso | /ˌi.poˈɡlo.su/ (Brazil) /ˌi.poˈɡlɔ.su/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| halibute | masculine |
The term refers to a flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus.
Which one should you use?
The three available forms are hipoglosso, halibute and alabote.
How does it change in a sentence?
All provided forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.laˈbɔ.tʃi/. The third syllable is stressed.
Did you know?
- The taxonomic name Hippoglossus combines the Greek words for 'horse' and 'tongue'.
- In a Portuguese market, using the more scientific hipoglosso might actually confuse a vendor. They are far more likely to use more common or regional names for specific fish varieties.
- While halibute looks almost identical to the English word, it is treated as a masculine noun in Portuguese grammar.
Examples in context
- O alabote é um peixe muito saboroso.Halibut is a very tasty fish.
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are looking at a menu in a seafood restaurant.
- FelipeBeatriz, veja que este restaurante tem alabote.Beatriz, look, this restaurant has halibut.
- BeatrizEu adoro alabote! Vou pedir esse.I love halibut! I'll order that one.
- FelipeEu vou pedir o mesmo que você.I will order the same as you.
- BeatrizÓtima escolha, Felipe!Great choice, Felipe!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “halibut” translations and entries alabote, hipoglosso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alabote, hipoglosso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
