Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| casa | /ˈka.zɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈka.zɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| lar | /ˈlaʁ/ (Brazil) /ˈlaɾ/ (São Paulo) |
masculine |
The most straightforward translation for home is casa. You can also use lar when you want to emphasize the emotional warmth, family or the sentimental feeling of a home. In certain contexts, a cherished small space or nook might be referred to as a cantinho.
Which one should you use?
casa is used when referring to the physical building or the general concept of a home. In contrast, lar is a more poetic choice used to emphasize the emotional and sentimental aspects of a home rather than the structure itself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal, legal or bureaucratic contexts, the term moradia is used. If you want to be endearing, you might use casinha, which means "little house".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express being at home as a location, use the adverbial phrase em casa. To indicate movement towards home, such as when you are going home, use the directional phrase para casa.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of casa is /ˈka.zɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While casa is the standard word for home, the word lar is used in Portuguese to describe a fireplace or hearth.
- In Brazil, it is common to use casa to refer to a business or establishment, such as casa de câmbio for a currency exchange.
- While 'casa' refers to your house, the word 'lar' carries the weight of a guardian spirit. It is a learned borrowing from the Latin 'larem', which originally referred to the protective household gods of a family.
Examples in context
- É o seu lar.It's your home.This sentence shows how to use lar to express it is your home.Tatoeba #4929399 by ajdavidl, translation #2649131 by CK
- A casa é sua.Make yourself at home.This sentence uses casa to tell someone to make themselves at home.Tatoeba #6085415 by carlosalberto, translation #2378 by CK
- Ele vem da casa.He's coming from home.This sentence uses casa to show someone is coming from home.Tatoeba #1782774 by alexmarcelo, translation #12847960 by rul
- Vou para casa descansar.I'm going home to rest.
- Minha casa é pequena, mas confortável.My home is small but comfortable.
- Sinto-me feliz no meu lar.I feel happy in my home.
- A casinha é aconchegante e acolhedora.The little house is cozy and welcoming.
- A residência possui todas as comodidades necessárias.The residence has all the necessary amenities.
- O proprietário deseja vender a residência.The owner wants to sell the dwelling.
- 2307 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are talking about a real estate viewing.
- FelipeBeatriz, você gostou daquela casa?Beatriz, did you like that house?
- BeatrizSim, a casa é linda.Yes, the house is beautiful.
- FelipeEu também achei a casa ótima.I also thought the house was great.
- BeatrizVamos visitar a casa amanhã.Let's visit the house tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “home” translations and entries casa, lar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries casa, lar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
