descascar
/des.kasˈka(ʁ)/
To peel in Portuguese is descascar. Wiktionary also lists pelar.
Meaning: to remove skin (verb)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| descascar | /des.kasˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /d͡ʒis.kasˈka(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| pelar | /peˈla(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /peˈla(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
Use descascar when you are preparing ingredients for cooking.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb descascar is composed of the prefix des- (undo/remove) and casca (skin/peel/bark).
Which one should you use?
Descascar is the standard verb used for peeling food like fruits or vegetables.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd of 3 syllables: /des.kasˈka(ʁ)/.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, descascar is used as a slang term meaning to scold someone harshly or 'tear into' them.
- The word pelar can also mean to be completely broke or penniless in certain regional contexts.
- The verb pelar has a hidden connection to hair, tracing back to the Latin 'pilare', which means 'to deprive of hair'.
Examples in context
- Eu sei descascar uma maçã.I can peel an apple.This sentence shows how to express the ability to peel an apple using descascar.Tatoeba #972545 by alexmarcelo, translation #262241 by CK
- Tenho que descascar as maçãs.I have to peel the apples.This sentence demonstrates the necessity of peeling apples using descascar.Tatoeba #6958431 by Ricardo14, translation #1744804 by Amastan
- É difícil descascar castanhas.It's difficult to peel chestnuts.This sentence describes the difficulty of peeling chestnuts using descascar.Tatoeba #5618455 by bill, translation #1190321 by CK
- você pode descascar a laranja?Can you peel the orange?
- por favor, retire a casca das batatasPlease peel the potatoes
- descasca a banana para mim?Peel the banana for me?
- tira a casca das maçãs, por favorPeel the apples, please
- Você pode descascar essa maçã para mim, por favor?Can you peel this apple for me, please?
- Gosto de descascar laranjas frescasI enjoy peeling fresh oranges
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Mariana are preparing a salad in the kitchen.
- LucasVocê pode me ajudar a descascar a cenoura?Can you help me peel the carrot?
- MarianaClaro, Lucas. Eu descascar as cenouras agora.Of course, Lucas. I'll peel the carrots now.
- LucasObrigado, Mariana. Onde está o descascador?Thanks, Mariana. Where is the peeler?
- MarianaEstá logo ali na gaveta.It is right there in the drawer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peel” translations and entries descascar, pelar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries descascar, pelar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
