calças
/ˈkaw.sɐs/feminine, plural
In Portuguese, the word for pants is calças.
The word calças refers to the garment that covers the body from the waist downwards. In Brazil, if you are specifically referring to shorts, it is common to use the word bermuda.
Meaning: garment covering the body from the waist downwards (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the term bermuda is commonly used to refer to shorts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun calças is feminine and plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of calças is /ˈkaw.sɐs/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly believe they must always use the plural form, but using the singular calça is a natural way to refer to a single garment in Portuguese.
Did you know?
- The word calças actually shares its ancestry with the English word 'shoe', as it derives from the Latin 'calceus'.
- Unlike English, which uses 'pants' for trousers in the US and 'pants' for underwear in the UK, calças never refers to underwear in any Portuguese-speaking country.
- In some regional dialects of Brazil, the term calça can be used colloquially to describe the lower half of a jumpsuit or a romper.
Examples in context
- Ele lava as calças.He washes the pants.This sentence shows how to use calças when discussing washing clothing.Tatoeba #729636 by brauliobezerra, translation #435032 by lukaszpp
- Tom tirou as calças.Tom took off his pants.This sentence demonstrates the use of calças when someone is removing their clothing.Tatoeba #6117655 by bill, translation #6105946 by CK
- Ele apertou as calças.He pressed his pants.This sentence illustrates the use of calças in the context of pressing clothing.Tatoeba #7575160 by Ricardo14, translation #290371 by CK
- Você poderia me emprestar um par de calças?Can you lend me a pair of pants?
- As calças compridas são obrigatórias para a cerimônia.Long pants are mandatory for the ceremony.
- Eu comprei uma calça nova hoje.I bought new pants today.
- Essas calças de ganga são muito confortáveis.These jeans are very comfortable.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are shopping for clothes in a mall.
- CamilaRodrigo, olhe estas calças azuis!Rodrigo, look at these blue pants!
- RodrigoElas são bonitas, Camila.They are beautiful, Camila.
- CamilaVocê acha que estas calças servem em mim?Do you think these pants fit me?
- RodrigoSim, elas parecem perfeitas para você.Yes, they look perfect for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pants” translations and entries calças, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calças, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
