Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dinheiro | /d͡ʒĩˈɲe(j).ɾu/ (Brazil) /diˈɲɐj.ɾu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| grana | /ˈɡɾɐ̃.nɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈɡɾɐ.nɐ/ (Portugal) |
colloquial, feminine |
| dindim | /d͡ʒĩˈd͡ʒĩ/ (Brazil) /dĩˈdĩ/ (Portugal) |
masculine, slang |
In specific contexts, such as formal business settings, the term capital is used to refer to financial assets or investments. Note that moeda can be used to mean money, but it specifically refers to a coin.
Which one should you use?
Dinheiro is the standard, neutral term for money. In contrast, grana is a colloquial term similar to saying 'cash' or 'dough' in English. The slang term dindim is often used in a more playful or diminutive way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal situations, you can use the colloquial grana. The term dindim is considered slang. In a professional business environment, use capital when discussing financial assets.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, it is common to use the word massa to refer to money. In Brazil, the colloquial term grana is very popular and the slang term bufunfa is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
Dinheiro is a masculine noun and must be used with masculine articles and adjectives. The colloquial form grana is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles and adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of dinheiro is /dʒĩˈɲe(j).ɾu/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, dindim is also the name of a popular street dessert made of frozen fruit juice. Depending on the city, the word can refer to either money or a treat.
- The word grana comes from the Italian word for 'grain'. This reflects an ancient time when grains were used as a medium of exchange before coins.
- In Portugal, the word massa is used as slang for money. While it means 'money' in this context, its literal meaning is 'dough' or 'paste'.
Examples in context
- O dinheiro é rei.Money talks.This sentence shows how to use dinheiro in a proverb.Tatoeba #1218049 by alexmarcelo, translation #18631 by CK
- É o meu dinheiro.It's my money.This sentence demonstrates ownership of dinheiro.Tatoeba #4902711 by Ricardo14, translation #2249099 by CK
- É o seu dinheiro.It's your money.Tatoeba #8069379 by MacGyver, translation #2249386 by CK
- Eu vou sacar dinheiro no bancoI will withdraw money from the bank
- O novo projeto exigirá um alto capitalThe new project will require a high capital investment
- Eu não tenho grana suficiente para issoI don't have enough money for that
- Eu preciso juntar mais grana para comprar aquele celularI need to save more money to buy that cellphone
- Ele ganhou muita bufunfa com esse negócioHe made a lot of money with that business
- Ela está sempre buscando alguma bufunfa extraShe's always looking for some extra cash
- 1893 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Lucas are discussing their plans for a weekend trip.
- JulianaLucas, você tem dinheiro para o hotel?Lucas, do you have money for the hotel?
- LucasSim, eu tenho o dinheiro guardado.Yes, I have the money saved.
- JulianaÓtimo, então vamos reservar agora.Great, then let's book it now.
- LucasCom certeza, Juliana.For sure, Juliana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries dinheiro, grana, dindim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dindim, dinheiro, grana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
