Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buraco | /buˈɾa.ku/ (Brazil) /buˈɾa.ku/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| poço | /ˈpo.su/ (Brazil) /ˈpo.su/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| cavouco | /kaˈvo(w).ku/ (Brazil) /kɐˈvo(w).ku/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| vala | /ˈva.lɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈva.lɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| fosso | /ˈfo.su/ (Brazil) /ˈfo.su/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
The term refers to a hole in the ground. You can also use the related verb descaroçar when you mean to remove the stone from something.
Which one should you use?
While buraco is a general term for any hole, poço specifically implies a deep, vertical pit or a well. Use vala when the pit is long and narrow, like a trench or a ditch. The word fosso is often used for man-made pits or ditches, such as a moat around a castle or a drainage ditch.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the term bueiro is often used to refer to sidewalk drains or sewer pits.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of buraco is buracos. The plural of the feminine vala is valas.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of buraco is /buˈɾa.ku/. It has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
The phrase poço sem fundo is the standard way to express the idiom 'bottomless pit' in Portuguese.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word for a deep pit, poço, shares an ancient root with the English word 'strike'.
Examples in context
- Ele caiu em um poço sem fundo.He fell into the bottomless pit.This sentence shows how to use poço to describe a bottomless pit.Tatoeba #5426514 by Wagner1994, translation #302129 by CK
- Seu estômago parecia um poço sem fundo.His stomach seemed a bottomless pit.This sentence uses poço as an idiom for a bottomless pit.Tatoeba #5426516 by Wagner1994, translation #2728185 by Hybrid
- Tom encontrou o corpo de Maria em um buraco.Tom discovered Mary's body in a pit.This sentence demonstrates the use of buraco to describe a pit.Tatoeba #5006219 by alexmarcelo, translation #4986510 by Airvian
- No meio da estrada, havia um buraco profundo.In the middle of the road, there was a deep pit.
- Devemos evitar cavar covas em áreas protegidas.We should avoid digging pits in protected areas.
- Cuidado para não cair nesse buraquinho na calçada!Be careful not to fall into that little pit on the sidewalk!
- O dentista encontrou uma cavidade no meu dente.The dentist found a pit in my tooth.
- Tome cuidado ao andar próximo ao bueiro.Be careful when walking near the pit/cover drain.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Juliana are walking in a park.
- GabrielCuidado com esse buraco no chão.Watch out for that hole in the ground.
- JulianaObrigada, Gabriel. Quase tropecei.Thanks, Gabriel. I almost tripped.
- GabrielÉ um buraco muito grande.It is a very large hole.
- JulianaSim, alguém deve ter cavado isso.Yes, someone must have dug this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pit” translations and entries buraco, poço, cavouco, vala, fosso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buraco, cavouco, poço, vala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
