Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mula | /ˈmu.lɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈmu.lɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| mulo | /ˈmu.lu/ (Brazil) /ˈmu.lu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
The term refers to the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. It is also used in the common idiom teimoso como uma mula, which means someone is extremely stubborn. Note that the colloquial term besta can also be used to mean a beast or a fool.
Which one should you use?
mula refers specifically to the hybrid offspring of a donkey and a horse, whereas burro refers specifically to the donkey itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the term burro is the most commonly used word for both donkeys and mules.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form mula is the standard way to refer to the animal in a general sense or when using idiomatic expressions, regardless of the animal's actual sex.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈmu.lɐ/.
When do people say it?
The idiom teimoso como uma mula is a frequent way to describe a person who is exceptionally stubborn.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian folklore, the Mula sem Cabeça or 'Headless Mule' is a cursed woman who transforms into a fire-breathing animal as punishment for sins.
- The term mula is used in modern Portuguese slang to describe a 'drug mule' who smuggles contraband across borders.
- The Latin root of 'mula' may actually come from a non-Indo-European substrate language, meaning its origins are a mystery even to linguists.
Examples in context
- Ele é teimoso como uma mula.He is stubborn as a mule.This sentence shows how to use mula in an idiom about stubbornness.Tatoeba #2432185 by marcospcruz, translation #1079523 by keira_n
- O Tom não sabe a diferença entre uma mula e um burro.Tom doesn't know the difference between a mule and a donkey.This sentence highlights the distinction between mula and a donkey.Tatoeba #10732448 by carlosalberto, translation #4278989 by shirlli
- O velho carregou a sua mula com sacos cheios de areia.The old man loaded his mule with bags full of sand.This sentence demonstrates using mula when referring to the animal carrying a load.Tatoeba #10732449 by carlosalberto, translation #326439 by CK
- A tradicional feira tinha várias mulas à venda.The traditional fair had several mules for sale.
- O João tem dois burros e uma mula no sítio dele.João has two donkeys and a mule on his farm.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are visiting a rural farm.
- GabrielOlha aquela mula branca no campo.Look at that white mule in the field.
- CamilaEla parece ser muito forte, Gabriel.She looks very strong, Gabriel.
- GabrielSim, a mula parece bem saudável.Yes, the mule looks quite healthy.
- CamilaA mula é realmente bonita.The mule is truly beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mule” translations and entries mula, mulo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mula, mulo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
