mato
/ˈma.tu/
mato is the Portuguese word for brush or thicket in English.
Which one should you use?
You can use floresta to specifically mean a forest or vegetação densa to describe dense vegetation.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈma.tu/.
Did you know?
- The word mato is a homonym for the first-person singular present tense of the verb matar, meaning 'I kill'.
- The expression estou no mato sem cachorro literally means 'I am in the brush without a dog' and is used to describe being in a desperate situation with no way out.
- The term 'mato' can sometimes be used to describe someone who is 'wild' or unrefined in their manners, depending on the regional context.
Examples in context
- Vamos caminhar na mata hoje à tarde?Let's go hiking in the woods this afternoon?
- O mato fechado proporciona uma sensação de aventura ao explorar a região.The dense forest provides a sense of adventure when exploring the area.
- O mato está crescendo muito rápido.The weeds are growing very fast.
- Cuidado para não cair no mato.Be careful not to fall into the brush.
- Tem muito mato no jardim.There is a lot of undergrowth in the garden.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Juliana are walking in a park.
- GabrielO caminho está sumindo no mato.The path is disappearing into the brush.
- JulianaSim, precisamos andar com cuidado.Yes, we need to walk carefully.
- GabrielOlha quanta sujeira nesse mato.Look how much dirt is in this undergrowth.
- JulianaÉ verdade, o mato está bem alto.It's true, the weeds are quite high.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
