faca
/ˈfa.kɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for knife is faca.
Faca is a feminine noun used to describe a utensil or tool designed for cutting. It is the most common and standard word for a knife in Portuguese.
Meaning: utensil or tool designed for cutting (noun)
Which one should you use?
While faca is the general term, punhal refers specifically to a dagger or a stabbing knife.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the northeastern region of Brazil, the word peixeira is used to refer to a large knife or a machete.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of faca is facas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈfa.kɐ/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the phrase está com a faca e o queijo na mão literally means 'to have the knife and the cheese in hand'. It is used to describe someone who has all the resources and the perfect opportunity to achieve a goal.
- The word faca may be a distant relative of the English word 'falcon' or 'falchion', as both share roots with the Latin 'falx' meaning a curved blade or sickle.
- In some regional Brazilian contexts, the peixeira is not just a tool for fish but is deeply tied to the culture of the 'cangaço' and the identity of folk heroes like Lampião.
Examples in context
- Me passa a faca.Hand me the knife.This is useful for asking someone to hand you the faca.Tatoeba #6572100 by heo598, translation #3439757 by CK
- A faca está cega.The knife is not sharp.This is useful for describing that the faca is dull.Tatoeba #1120563 by brauliobezerra, translation #60758 by CK
- Há uma faca aqui.There is a knife here.This is useful for stating that a faca is present in a location.Tatoeba #3605205 by alexmarcelo, translation #3603010 by Jesse
- Você pode me passar a faca, por favor?Can you pass me the knife, please?
- Preciso de uma faca afiada para cortar o pão.I need a sharp knife to cut the bread.
- Ele sempre carrega uma lâmina com ele.He always carries a pocket knife with him.
- 186 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Juliana are preparing dinner in the kitchen.
- LucasJuliana, você viu a minha faca?Juliana, did you see my knife?
- JulianaEstá na gaveta da cozinha, Lucas.It is in the kitchen drawer, Lucas.
- LucasAchei! Ela está bem limpa.Found it! It is very clean.
- JulianaÓtimo, agora podemos cortar o pão.Great, now we can cut the bread.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knife” translations and entries faca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
