piranha
/piˈɾɐ̃.ɲɐ/feminine
The English word piranha is piranha in Portuguese.
This term refers to the South American fish known as the piranha.
Meaning: South American fish (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun. To form the plural, add an -s to get piranhas.
How do you pronounce it?
/piˈɾɐ̃.ɲɐ/. The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian Portuguese, calling someone a piranha is a strong insult implying they are promiscuous or opportunistic. This slang usage is entirely unrelated to the fish's behavior in nature.
- The word piranha is derived from the Old Tupi words pira for 'fish' and tãj for 'tooth'.
- Despite the fearsome reputation of the 'piranha' in popular media, many Brazilian freshwater fish that look very similar are actually harmless to humans.
Examples in context
- A piranha é um peixe fascinante.The piranha is a fascinating fish.
- A piranha é um peixe perigoso.The piranha is a dangerous fish.
- Vi uma piranha no rio.I saw a piranha in the river.
- Cuidado com a piranha!Watch out for the piranha!
Example conversation
Two people are standing near a riverbank during a trip.
- BeatrizLucas, tem uma piranha perto de você!Lucas, there is a piranha near you!
- LucasOnde? Eu não vi nada.Where? I didn't see anything.
- BeatrizAli, na água!There, in the water!
- LucasNossa, que susto, Beatriz.Wow, that was a scare, Beatriz.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “piranha” translations and entries piranha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piranha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
