nim
/ˈnĩ/masculine
The English phrase neem is translated into Portuguese as nim. Wiktionary also lists amargoseira.
Meaning: Azadirachta indica (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nim | /ˈnĩ/ (Brazil) /ˈnĩ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| amargoseira | /a.maʁ.ɡoˈze(j).ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /a.maɾ.ɡoˈze(j).ɾɐ/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
The term refers to the biological species Azadirachta indica.
Which one should you use?
The masculine form nim is the more common way to refer to the plant in Portuguese than the feminine amargoseira.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in Brazil, the term amargoseira might be employed as an equivalent to neem.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word nim is a masculine noun, while amargoseira is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnĩ/
Did you know?
- The word nim is a homonym in Portuguese. While it refers to the neem tree, it is also a colloquial blend of não ('no') and sim ('yes'), similar to the German word 'Jein'.
- In Brazil, the amargoseira is often planted as a living fence to protect crops from pests and wind.
- The Portuguese term amargoseira comes from the word amargo, which means 'bitter'. This refers to the intense bitterness of the tree's leaves and seeds.
Examples in context
- Tenho um creme à base de margosa para tratar a pele irritada.I have a cream made from neem to treat irritated skin.
- Você já experimentou o óleo de nim? Dizem que é ótimo para o cabelo.Have you tried neem oil? They say it's great for hair.
- O nim é muito usado na Índia.The neem is widely used in India.
- Eu comprei óleo de nim na farmácia.I bought neem oil at the pharmacy.
- As folhas do nim têm propriedades medicinais.The neem leaves have medicinal properties.
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are in a natural health store.
- CamilaVocê conhece os benefícios do nim?Do you know the benefits of neem?
- RodrigoSim, ele é ótimo para a pele.Yes, it is great for the skin.
- CamilaRodrigo, você pode me indicar um bom creme?Rodrigo, can you recommend a good cream to me?
- RodrigoEste aqui com extrato de nim é excelente.This one with neem extract is excellent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “neem” translations and entries nim, amargoseira, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nim, CC BY-SA 4.0.
