animal de estimação
masculine
The Portuguese word for a pet is animal de estimação. Wiktionary also lists animal de companhia and animal doméstico.
Meaning: an animal kept as a companion (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| animal de estimação | masculine | |
| animal de companhia | /a.niˈmaw d͡ʒi kõ.pɐ̃ˈɲi.ɐ/ (Brazil, word by word) | |
| animal doméstico | ||
| pet | /ˈpɛt͡ʃ/ (Brazil) /ˈpɛ.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
The term refers to an animal kept as a companion. If you wish to express the action of petting or stroking an animal, you should use the verbs acariciar or fazer carinho. Note that while pet is a noun in English, these Portuguese terms function as verbs for the action of fondling an animal.
Which one should you use?
While animal de estimação specifically implies a companion animal, animal doméstico is a broader term that can refer to livestock or any domesticated species.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form animal de estimação is masculine. The word pet is also used as a masculine noun in Portuguese.
Did you know?
- The word estimação comes from the verb estimar, which means to value, esteem, or cherish. Therefore, an animal de estimação is literally an 'animal of esteem'.
- In Brazil, the phrase fazer carinho used for petting an animal literally translates to 'making affection'.
- The Portuguese word animal is a direct descendant of the Latin 'animalis', meaning 'having breath'. This links your companion directly to the concept of a living, breathing being.
Examples in context
- Você tem um animal de estimação?Do you have a pet?This sentence is useful for asking if someone owns a pet using animal de estimação.Tatoeba #1048434 by brauliobezerra, translation #953189 by CK
- Ele tem algum animal de estimação?Does he have a pet?This sentence is useful for asking if a third party owns a pet using animal de estimação.Tatoeba #2939804 by carlosalberto, translation #2939452 by CM
- Você já teve um animal de estimação?Have you ever had a pet?This sentence is useful for asking about past pet ownership using animal de estimação.Tatoeba #8606420 by bill, translation #2713491 by CK
- Eu adoro o meu animal de estimação.I love my pet.
- Meu companheiro canino é muito leal.My canine companion is very loyal.
- Eles estão procurando um bom lar para o mascote deles.They are looking for a good home for their pet.
- Onde está o seu bichinho de estimação?Where is your pet?
- Adoro passar tempo com o meu bicho de estimação.I love spending time with my pet.
- Meu bicho está muito brincalhão hoje.My pet is very playful today.
- Meu animal de companhia é um cachorro bem fofo.My pet is a very cute dog.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are talking about their homes.
- RodrigoMeu animal de estimação dorme no sofá.My pet sleeps on the sofa.
- BeatrizQue fofo! Qual é o nome dele?How cute! What is his name?
- RodrigoEle se chama Max e é um cachorro.His name is Max and he is a dog.
- BeatrizEu também quero um animal de estimação.I want a pet too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pet” translations and entries animal de estimação, pet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (animal, de, companhia) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries animal, companhia, de, doméstico, estimação, pet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
