seixo
/ˈse(j).ʃu/
The Portuguese word for pebble is seixo. Wiktionary also lists pedregulho.
Meaning: stone (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| seixo | /ˈse(j).ʃu/ (Brazil) /ˈsɐj.ʃu/ (Portugal) |
|
| pedregulho | /pe.dɾeˈɡu.ʎu/ (Brazil) /pɨ.dɾɨˈɡu.ʎu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
While seixo and pedregulho are used for pebbles, you may also encounter the synonym calhau or the specific term seixo rolado to describe a smooth, water-worn pebble. Additionally, pedrinha is a diminutive form of pedra, which means 'stone' in Portuguese.
Which one should you use?
seixo specifically refers to a smooth, water-worn stone, whereas pedregulho is a more general term for a small stone or pebble.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of pedregulho is pedregulhos and the plural of seixo is seixos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈse(j).ʃu/
Did you know?
- In many Portuguese-speaking regions, the word calhau is used for a pebble, but it can also be used colloquially to describe a person who is particularly dull or slow-witted.
- The word seixo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sax', referring to a knife or cutting tool, due to the Latin root meaning 'to cut'.
- In some Portuguese expressions, pedra is used to refer to a precious gemstone, such as a diamond or emerald.
Examples in context
- Isto é um pedregulho.This is a pebble.This sentence shows how to identify a single pedregulho.Tatoeba #11128005 by bill, translation #6995589 by mailohilohi
- Eu atirei o pedregulho.I threw the pebble.This sentence demonstrates the action of throwing a pedregulho.Tatoeba #11128018 by bill, translation #6995588 by mailohilohi
- Há um pedregulho em meu sapato.I have a pebble in my shoe.This sentence describes having a pedregulho inside a shoe.Tatoeba #11128010 by bill, translation #2258774 by _undertoad
- Na praia, cuidado ao andar descalço, pois pode machucar seus pés com os cascalhos.At the beach, be careful when walking barefoot, as you can hurt your feet with the pebbles.
- Eu sempre encontro pedrinhas interessantes na beira do rio.I always find interesting pebbles by the river.
- As crianças adoram brincar com seixos à beira-mar.Children love playing with pebbles by the seaside.
- A praia estava repleta de pequenas pedrinhas brancas.The beach was filled with small white pebbles.
- Os níveis de água no rio são tão baixos que é fácil ver os calhaus na margem.The water levels in the river are so low that it's easy to see the pebbles on the bank.
- Adoro colecionar seixos rolados durante minhas caminhadas na praia.I love collecting rounded pebbles during my walks on the beach.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are walking on a river bank.
- JulianaOlha que seixo bonito!Look at that beautiful pebble!
- RodrigoEle é bem redondo.It is very round.
- JulianaVou guardar este seixo.I'm going to keep this pebble.
- RodrigoPode levar, Juliana.You can take it, Juliana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pebble” translations and entries seixo, pedregulho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pedregulho, seixo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
