biblioteca
/bi.bli.oˈtɛ.kɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for library is biblioteca.
The word refers to an institution which holds books, etc.
Meaning: institution which holds books, etc. (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, a bookstore is called livraria.
How does it change in a sentence?
biblioteca is a feminine noun. To express the plural, use bibliotecas. When you want to say "of the library", you combine the preposition de with the feminine article a to form da biblioteca.
How do you pronounce it?
/bi.bli.oˈtɛ.kɐ/. It has five syllables, with the stress on the fourth syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use livraria to mean "library", but livraria actually means "bookstore".
When do people say it?
If you need to ask for directions, you can use the phrase Onde fica a biblioteca? to ask "Where is the library?" or Onde posso encontrar uma biblioteca? to ask "Where can I find a library?"
Did you know?
- The concept of a 'library' in Portuguese is linked to the word teca, a suffix used to denote a place where things are collected, such as discoteca for a record library.
- The word biblioteca is built from two Ancient Greek components: 'biblio', meaning book, and 'theke', meaning a container or box.
- In some Brazilian contexts, a 'digital library' is called a biblioteca digital, but a collection of e-books is often referred to simply as a estante virtual or 'virtual shelf'.
Examples in context
- Eu fui à biblioteca.I went to the library.Tatoeba #5614962 by bill, translation #2547344 by CK
- Tom foi à biblioteca.Tom has gone to the library.Tatoeba #5541868 by bill, translation #3442241 by CK
- Ele está na biblioteca.He is in his library.Tatoeba #5019498 by bill, translation #299429 by CK
- A biblioteca é um lugar de conhecimento e descoberta.The library is a place of knowledge and discovery
- Vamos à biblioteca para estudar para o exame.Let's go to the library to study for the exam.
- Eu adoro ler, então passo bastante tempo na biblioteca.I love reading, so I spend a lot of time in the library.
- A biblioteca está fechada aos domingos.The library is closed on Sundays.
- Preciso devolver estes livros à biblioteca até amanhã.I need to return these books to the library by tomorrow.
- 293 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Lucas are discussing their study plans.
- BeatrizVamos estudar na biblioteca?Shall we study at the library?
- LucasSim, a biblioteca é silenciosa.Yes, the library is quiet.
- BeatrizVocê trouxe seus livros?Did you bring your books?
- LucasSim, eu trouxe tudo.Yes, I brought everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “library” translations and entries biblioteca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries biblioteca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
