enfermeira
/ẽ.feʁˈme(j).ɾɐ/feminine
The English word nurse is translated into Portuguese as enfermeira or enfermeiro.
Meaning: person trained to provide care for the sick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| enfermeira | /ẽ.feʁˈme(j).ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /ĩ.feʁˈme(j).ɾɐ/ (Brazil) |
feminine |
| enfermeiro | /ẽ.feʁˈme(j).ɾu/ (Brazil) /ĩ.feʁˈme(j).ɾu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
The term refers to a person trained to provide care for the sick.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English word 'nurse' which is gender-neutral, Portuguese requires choosing the masculine or feminine form based on the person's gender. Use enfermeira for a female nurse and enfermeiro for a male nurse.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form enfermeira is used for a female nurse, while the masculine form enfermeiro is used for a male nurse. For plurals, enfermeiras is the plural form of the female nurse and enfermeiros is the plural form of the male nurse.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ẽ.feʁˈme(j).ɾɐ/.
Did you know?
- While enfermeira is the word for a medical nurse, Portuguese uses the word ama to describe a historical wet nurse or nanny.
- In Brazil, the term enfermeiro refers specifically to a university-educated professional. Those with a lower level of technical training are called técnicos de enfermagem.
- The word enfermeira contains the same root as the word 'infirmary' in English, which also stems from the concept of being 'sick' or 'weak'.
Examples in context
- A garota é enfermeira.The girl is a nurse.This sentence is useful for identifying a girl as an enfermeira.Tatoeba #869245 by alexmarcelo, translation #46459 by orge
- A mulher é enfermeira.The woman is a nurse.This sentence is useful for identifying a woman as an enfermeira.Tatoeba #2348579 by alexmarcelo, translation #2348107 by Adelpa
- Minha mãe é enfermeira.My mother is a nurse.This sentence is useful for identifying a mother as an enfermeira.Tatoeba #5404440 by bill, translation #3313812 by CK
- Eu agradeço ao enfermeiro pela sua dedicação.I thank the male nurse for his dedication.
- Os enfermeiros são fundamentais em qualquer sistema de saúde.Nurses are fundamental in any healthcare system.
- As enfermeiras desempenham um papel vital no cuidado dos pacientes.The nurses play a vital role in patient care.
- 69 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz are talking at a hospital.
- LucasBeatriz, você é enfermeira?Beatriz, are you a nurse?
- BeatrizSim, eu sou enfermeira aqui.Yes, I am a nurse here.
- LucasQue bom, eu preciso de ajuda.That's good, I need help.
- BeatrizEu posso ajudar você agora.I can help you now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nurse” translations and entries enfermeira, enfermeiro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
