nome do meio
masculine
The English phrase 'middle name' is nome do meio in Portuguese.
nome do meio is used to refer to the name positioned between a person's given name and their surname.
Meaning: name between given name and surname (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'name of the middle'.
How does it change in a sentence?
nome do meio is a masculine noun.
When do people say it?
While nome do meio is used to translate the English concept, in many Lusophone cultures, people often have multiple given names or a string of surnames rather than a single designated middle name.
Did you know?
- In Portugal, the word apelido is used for the family name, whereas in Brazil, apelido usually means a 'nickname'.
- In Brazil and Portugal, the 'middle name' is often not a middle name at all, but a first surname inherited from the mother.
- The word nome descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁nómn̥, making it a very distant relative of the English word 'name'.
Examples in context
- Meu nome do meio é Tom.My middle name is Tom.This sentence is useful for stating what your nome do meio is.Tatoeba #4892519 by bill, translation #2891720 by CK
- Perigo é o meu nome do meio.Danger is my middle name.This sentence is useful for using the phrase in a metaphorical or idiomatic way.Tatoeba #11986547 by Advanced, translation #1389722 by CM
- Eu não tenho um nome do meio.I don't have a middle name.This sentence is useful for stating that you do not possess a nome do meio.Tatoeba #3455557 by piterkeo, translation #2891379 by CK
- Olá Sr. Silva, pode me informar qual é o seu nome do meio?Hello Mr. Silva, can you tell me what your middle name is?
- Qual o seu segundo nome mesmo?What's your middle name again?
- Meu nome do meio é…My middle name is…
- Eu tenho um segundo nome, que é…I have a middle name, which is…
- Qual é o seu nome do meio?What's your middle name?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are filling out a registration form.
- FelipeVocê tem um nome do meio?Do you have a middle name?
- MarianaSim, o meu nome do meio é Maria.Yes, my middle name is Maria.
- FelipeE o seu nome do meio é Mariana?And is your middle name Mariana?
- MarianaNão, Mariana é o meu primeiro nome.No, Mariana is my first name.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “middle name” translations and entries nome do meio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries do, meio, nome, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
