Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hortelã | /oʁ.teˈlɐ̃/ (Brazil) /oɾ.teˈlɐ̃/ (São Paulo) |
|
| menta | /ˈmẽ.tɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈmẽ.tɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
Both terms refer to the herb or the flavor of mint. Menta is often used in more technical, botanical or specific commercial contexts (like 'mint tea' or 'mint flavor') compared to the general term hortelã.
Which one should you use?
While both words refer to mint, hortelã is the more common term used in everyday Brazilian Portuguese for the herb or the flavor. In contrast, menta is often used in more technical, botanical or specific commercial contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Brazil, people are more likely to ask for chá de hortelã than chá de menta when ordering herbal tea.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word hortelã is a masculine noun, whereas menta is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word hortelã has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable: /oʁ.teˈlɐ̃/.
Did you know?
- The word hortelã comes from the Latin word hortulana, meaning 'gardener'.
- In Brazilian culture, chá de hortelã is frequently served after heavy meals specifically as a digestive aid.
- In Brazil, hortelã is the standard term for the fresh herb and tea, but you will typically see menta on the packaging of toothpaste and chewing gum.
Examples in context
- Menta cresce como erva daninha.Mint grows like a weed.This sentence shows how to describe the growth of menta.Tatoeba #7901693 by piterkeo, translation #7876047 by CK
- Tom trouxe uma xícara de chá de menta para Mary.Tom brought Mary a cup of mint tea.This sentence shows how to use menta when referring to tea.Tatoeba #11158500 by lucasmg123, translation #9177376 by CK
- Esta cor verde sempre me lembra sorvete de menta.This green color always reminds me of mint ice cream.This sentence uses menta to describe a flavor in ice cream.Tatoeba #6910301 by Bran, translation #6910215 by Eccles17
- Vou fazer um chá de hortelã para acalmar meu estômago.I'm going to make some mint tea to calm my stomach.
- No verão, adoro tomar um suco de menta bem gelado.In the summer, I love to have a refreshing ice-cold mint juice.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Juliana are preparing a drink in the kitchen.
- GabrielVocê tem hortelã no jardim?Do you have mint in the garden?
- JulianaSim, eu tenho um vaso de hortelã aqui.Yes, I have a pot of mint here.
- GabrielÓtimo, vou usar a hortelã na limonada.Great, I'll use the mint in the lemonade.
- JulianaA hortelã vai dar um sabor refrescante.The mint will give it a refreshing flavor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mint” translations and entries hortelã, menta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hortelã, menta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
