polvo
/ˈpow.vu/masculine
The Portuguese word for octopus is polvo.
polvo refers to the mollusc known as an octopus.
Meaning: mollusc (noun)
Which one should you use?
While polvo is the standard term, polvinho is used as an informal way to say 'little octopus'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the term polvinho is used informally to mean 'little octopus'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of polvo is polvos.
How do you pronounce it?
polvo is pronounced /ˈpow.vu/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, the word polvo is also used to describe a 'polvo' in a technical sense, such as a multi-socket power strip or a multi-way connector.
- In Portuguese culinary culture, polvo à lagareiro is a famous dish where the octopus is roasted with a generous amount of olive oil and garlic.
- The Ancient Greek root of polvo literally means 'many feet', combining poly for 'many' and pous for 'foot'.
Examples in context
- Você quer mais polvo?Do you want more octopus?This sentence shows how to offer more polvo.Tatoeba #6584983 by alexmarcelo, translation #6584706 by Eccles17
- O tubarão comeu o polvo.The shark ate the octopus.This sentence describes a shark eating polvo.Tatoeba #11524523 by carlosalberto, translation #11524511 by carlosalberto
- Nunca comi um polvo vivo.I've never eaten a live octopus.This sentence is useful for expressing that one has never eaten a live polvo.Tatoeba #978776 by alexmarcelo, translation #953922 by CK
- Estou ansioso para experimentar o polvo grelhado no restaurante português.I'm looking forward to trying grilled octopus at the Portuguese restaurant.
- A chef preparou uma deliciosa salada com lulas e polvo.The chef made a delicious salad with squid and octopus.
- Trouxe polvinho frito como aperitivo para a festa.I brought fried octopus as an appetizer for the party.
- Hoje comi arroz de choco com polvo no almoço.Today I had rice with cuttlefish and octopus for lunch.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are choosing food at a seafood restaurant.
- BeatrizO polvo está fresco?Is the octopus fresh?
- RodrigoSim, o polvo é do dia.Yes, the octopus is from today.
- BeatrizEu vou pedir o polvo.I am going to order the octopus.
- RodrigoBoa escolha, eu também gosto muito.Good choice, I like it a lot too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “octopus” translations and entries polvo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries polvo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
