lago
/ˈla.ɡu/masculine
The English word 'lake' is translated into Portuguese as lago.
lago is the most common way to say lake in Portuguese.
Meaning: body of water (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lago is the standard masculine term for a lake, the feminine form lagoa is often used to refer to smaller bodies of water, such as lagoons or small lakes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term albufeira is primarily used to represent a reservoir or a dammed lake formed by human intervention. In the Northeast region of Brazil, brejo is typically used to refer to a shallow pond or a marshy area.
How does it change in a sentence?
lago is a masculine noun. The related feminine form lagoa is used for lagoons or smaller lakes.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈla.ɡu/.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word albufeira comes from the Arabic 'al-bufayra', meaning 'the small pond'.
- The word lago is an exact homograph for the first-person singular present tense of the verb lagar, which means 'to press' grapes.
- The Portuguese lago descends from the Latin 'lacus', which also gave rise to the English word 'lacustrine' used to describe lake environments.
Examples in context
- O lago é azul.The lake is blue.This sentence is useful for describing the color of the lago.Tatoeba #5319650 by carlosalberto, translation #5318968 by honeygod
- O lago é grande.The lake is big.This sentence is useful for describing the size of the lago.Tatoeba #4721802 by anthrax26, translation #1120810 by cntrational
- Tom foi ao lago.Tom went to the lake.This sentence is useful for describing movement toward the lago.Tatoeba #4962695 by Ricardo14, translation #2547524 by CK
- Visitar um lago tranquilo é uma ótima forma de relaxarVisiting a peaceful lake is a great way to relax
- A barragem que forma a albufeira é um importante ponto turísticoThe dam forming the reservoir is an important tourist spot
- As crianças adoram brincar no laguinho próximoThe kids love playing in the little lake nearby
- 166 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are planning a weekend trip.
- RodrigoNós podemos acampar perto do lago.We can camp near the lake.
- MarianaO lago é muito bonito nesta época.The lake is very beautiful this time of year.
- RodrigoEu quero nadar no lago amanhã.I want to swim in the lake tomorrow.
- MarianaA água do lago está gelada.The lake water is freezing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lake” translations and entries lago, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
