gavião
/ɡa.viˈɐ̃w̃/
The Portuguese word for hawk is gavião.
Gavião is a masculine noun used to refer to predatory birds of the Accipitridae family.
Meaning: predatory bird of Accipitridae (noun)
Which one should you use?
While gavião is the general term for a hawk, it is often used to distinguish larger raptors from smaller ones like falcões (falcons).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of gavião is gaviões.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ɡa.viˈɐ̃w̃/.
Did you know?
- The word gavião might share a distant ancestor with the Italian word gabbiano, which means 'seagull'.
- In Brazilian Portuguese, the term gavião is sometimes used colloquially to describe someone who is very observant or 'keeps a hawk eye' on others.
- In Brazilian folk songs and regional poetry, the gavião is often portrayed as a symbol of freedom or a lonely wanderer of the skies.
Examples in context
- O nosso primeiro encontro com esta espécie foi a 8 de junho de 1926, quando Wright encontrou uma coruja-gavião juvenil de cauda curta sentada despreocupadamente no chão, no meio da estrada.Our first encounter with this species was on June 8, 1926, when Wright found a bob-tailed young hawk owl sitting unconcernedly on the ground in the middle of the road.This sentence shows how to use gavião when describing an encounter with a specific species.Tatoeba #11154825 by Cangarejo, translation #11154824 by Cangarejo
- O falcão voou majestosamente pelo céu.The hawk flew majestically across the sky.
- O gavião estava pousado no topo da árvore.The hawk was perched on top of the tree.
- Hoje eu vi um gavião voando no céu.Today I saw a hawk flying in the sky.
- O gavião voou alto sobre a árvore.The hawk flew high above the tree.
- Eu vi um gavião caçando no campo.I saw a hawk hunting in the field.
Example conversation
Felipe and Camila are hiking in a nature reserve.
- FelipeCamila, olhe aquele gavião no céu!Camila, look at that hawk in the sky!
- CamilaSim, ele é muito majestoso, Felipe.Yes, he is very majestic, Felipe.
- FelipeEle parece estar procurando por uma presa.He looks like he is looking for prey.
- CamilaÉ verdade, a natureza é incrível.It's true, nature is amazing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gavião, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gavião, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
