estou gripado
masculine
In Portuguese, 'I have a cold' is translated as estou gripado. Wiktionary also lists estou gripada and estou resfriado.
Meaning: I have a cold (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| estou gripado | masculine | |
| estou gripada | feminine | |
| estou resfriado | /isˈto(w) ʁes.fɾiˈa.du/ (Brazil, word by word) | masculine |
| estou resfriada | feminine |
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction in precision between the two main options. estou resfriado is the more precise way to say one has a common cold. In casual conversation, people often use estou gripado, though this literally refers to having the flu (gripe).
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree with the gender of the speaker. Use the masculine forms estou gripado or estou resfriado for men, and the feminine forms estou gripada or estou resfriada for women.
Did you know?
- While English speakers say they 'have' a cold, Portuguese speakers use the verb estar meaning 'to be'. This frames the cold as a temporary state or condition rather than a possession.
- The word resfriado literally means 'cooled down'. It describes the person as having been cooled, reflecting an old belief that colds were caused by a sudden drop in body temperature.
- In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, if you say you are resfriado, a person might suggest drinking 'chá de limão com mel' (lemon and honey tea) immediately.
Examples in context
- Já que eu estou gripado, estou sem paladar.Since I have a cold, I have no sense of taste.This sentence is useful for connecting having a cold with a loss of taste using estou gripado.Tatoeba #541394 by brauliobezerra, translation #541148 by CK
- Como estou resfriado, não sinto o gosto de nada.Since I have a cold, I can't taste anything.This sentence is useful for describing the inability to taste things when using estou resfriado.Tatoeba #1175229 by paula_guisard, translation #541147 by CK
- Meu nariz sempre escorre quando estou resfriado.My nose runs whenever I have a cold.This sentence is useful for describing a runny nose when using estou resfriado.Tatoeba #1583280 by alexmarcelo, translation #319786 by Miktsoanit
- Tenho uma constipação.I have a cold
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Felipe are talking on the phone.
- CamilaVocê quer ir ao cinema hoje?Do you want to go to the movies today?
- FelipeNão posso, estou gripado.I can't, I have a cold.
- CamilaSinto muito, Felipe. Você está se sentindo mal?I'm sorry, Felipe. Are you feeling sick?
- FelipeSim, estou com muita febre.Yes, I have a high fever.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I have a cold” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (estou, resfriado) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estou, resfriado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
