alce
/ˈaw.si/masculine
The English word moose is alce in Portuguese.
alce is a masculine noun used to refer to the largest member of the deer family (Alces alces).
Meaning: largest member of the deer family (Alces alces) (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
alce is the standard term for moose in Portugal.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural, use alces.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈaw.si/.
Did you know?
- The word alce shares the same Latin root as the English word 'elk', meaning that in many contexts, Portuguese speakers use it to describe the same animal that English speakers call an 'elk'.
- In Portuguese-language literature, the term alce is frequently used to evoke cold, northern, or much more remote landscapes than the local words for deer.
- Because moose are not native to most Portuguese-speaking regions, the word alce is almost exclusively encountered in nature documentaries or literature rather than daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Tom viu um alce americano.Tom saw a moose.This sentence shows how to identify a specific type of alce.Tatoeba #11089865 by bill, translation #8416482 by CK
- Yanni matou um alce americano.Yanni killed a moose.This sentence describes the action of killing an alce.Tatoeba #11089871 by bill, translation #10030927 by Amastan
- Nós vimos um alce americano hoje.We saw a moose today.This sentence demonstrates seeing an alce on a specific day.Tatoeba #11089867 by bill, translation #9449027 by CK
- Eu admiro muito o alce.I greatly admire the moose.
- Você sabia que o veado-alce é o maior cervídeo do mundo?Did you know that the moose is the largest deer in the world?
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are looking at a nature documentary on TV.
- CamilaAquele alce é muito grande!That moose is very large!
- GabrielSim, o alce parece impressionante.Yes, the moose looks impressive.
- CamilaEle vive em florestas frias.It lives in cold forests.
- GabrielÉ verdade, o habitat dele é longe daqui.It's true, its habitat is far from here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moose” translations and entries alce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alce, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
