Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marmita | /maʁˈmi.tɐ/ (Brazil) /maɾˈmi.tɐ/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
| lancheira | /lɐ̃ˈʃe(j).ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /lɐ̃ˈʃɐj.ɾɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| merendeira | /me.ɾẽˈde(j).ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /mɨ.ɾẽˈdɐj.ɾɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
A lunchbox is a container used for transporting meals. In many Brazilian contexts, marmita can also refer to the actual meal contained within the container. Additionally, people in Portuguese-speaking countries often use the brand name Tupperware as a synonym for a lunchbox.
Which one should you use?
The terms you choose depend on the type of food being carried. Use marmita specifically for a container used for a full, heavy meal, which often implies homemade food brought from home. Use merendeira for a container intended for a merenda, which is a snack or a light afternoon meal. If you are referring to a smaller-sized lunchbox in an affectionate way, you might use marmitinha.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the state of São Paulo, Brazil, the word marmitex is a regional variation used specifically for lunchbox-like containers offered by restaurants for take-out meals.
How does it change in a sentence?
All three forms, lancheira, merendeira and marmita, are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word marmita has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /maʁˈmi.tɐ/.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the term marmita is often used as a social marker for the working class who carry homemade meals to job sites.
- The term marmitex is a hybrid word that combines the Portuguese marmita with a suffix that mimics the sound of English words ending in 'ex'.
- The word marmita comes from the French word marmite, which refers to a cooking pot.
Examples in context
- A lancheira de Tom está no carro.Tom's lunchbox is in the car.This sentence shows the position of the lancheira.Tatoeba #7154701 by Ricardo14, translation #6657885 by CK
- Meu almoço está na marmitaMy lunch is in the lunchbox
- Eu trouxe a minha lancheiraI brought my lunchbox
- Marmitex executivo disponívelExecutive lunchbox available
- A minha marmita está vazia.My lunchbox is empty.
- Você pode lavar a marmita?Can you wash the lunchbox?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are in the kitchen during a lunch break.
- FelipeOnde está a minha marmita?Where is my lunchbox?
- BeatrizA sua marmita está na mesa.Your lunchbox is on the table.
- FelipeObrigado, Beatriz.Thank you, Beatriz.
- BeatrizDe nada, Felipe.You're welcome, Felipe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lunchbox” translations and entries marmita, lancheira, merendeira, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lancheira, marmita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
