pata
/ˈpa.tɐ/feminine
The English word 'paw' is translated into Portuguese as pata.
pata refers to the soft foot of an animal. It can also be used metaphorically to refer to a person's foot in a derogatory or informal way, similar to calling someone 'clumsy' or 'heavy-footed'.
Meaning: soft foot of an animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Portuguese, just as in English, a distinction is made between mão (hand) for humans and pata (paw) for animals.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pata is patas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈpa.tɐ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, the word for a female duck is pata, which is spelled exactly the same as the word for a paw.
- Portuguese speakers might use pata to describe a poorly written letter or signature, implying the person wrote it with a paw instead of a hand.
- The word pata is inherited from the Vulgar Latin patta, which was a more colloquial version of the classical Latin word for foot.
Examples in context
- O gato estava tocando o rato com a pata.The cat was touching the mouse with its paw.This sentence shows how a cat might use its pata to touch something.Tatoeba #11387213 by carlosalberto, translation #11387164 by carlosalberto
- Este cachorro não quer se mexer porque sua pata está doendo.This dog doesn't want to move because his paw hurts.This sentence describes a dog in pain due to its pata.Tatoeba #11008392 by carlosalberto, translation #11008307 by tjwhale
- Que o Homem tenha mãos, em vez de patas, cascos, barbatanas ou asas, posicionou-o acima de todos os outros animais e permitiu-lhe desenvolver uma cultura baseada na fabricação e utilização de ferramentas.That man has a hand, rather than a paw, hoof, fin or wing has set him above all other animals and has enabled him to develop a culture based on toolmaking and tool using.This sentence contrasts the human hand with the animal pata.Tatoeba #10752003 by Cangarejo, translation #5146546 by Adelpa
- O gato machucou a pata.The cat hurt its paw.
- O cachorro machucou a perna.The dog hurt its paw/leg.
- Quando o gato caminha, ele levanta primeiro a pata dianteira e, em seguida, a pata traseira.When the cat walks, it raises the front paw first and then the back paw.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz is checking her kitten after it played outside.
- GabrielO que aconteceu com o gatinho, Beatriz?What happened to the kitten, Beatriz?
- BeatrizEle machucou a patinha no jardim.He hurt his little paw in the garden.
- GabrielA pata dele parece muito inchada.His paw looks very swollen.
- BeatrizSim, vou levá-lo ao veterinário agora.Yes, I am taking him to the vet now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “paw” translations and entries pata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
