pipoca
/piˈpɔ.kɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for popcorn is pipoca.
pipoca refers to the snack food made from corn kernels popped by dry heating. To refer specifically to microwave popcorn, you can use the phrase Pipocas de micro-ondas.
Meaning: a snack food made from corn kernels popped by dry heating (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions of Brazil, the diminutive form Pipoquinha is used to emphasize smaller-sized popcorn.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /piˈpɔ.kɐ/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- Despite its indigenous linguistic roots, there is no definitive historical evidence that the Tupian peoples actually prepared or ate popcorn.
- The word pipoca likely comes from the Tupi language, combining 'pira' meaning 'skin' and 'pok' meaning 'to crack'.
- While English speakers associate popcorn almost exclusively with movies, in Brazil, pipoca is a staple street food often sold by vendors at public festivals and celebrations.
Examples in context
- Eu vou fazer pipoca.I'll make popcorn.This sentence shows how to say you will make pipoca.Tatoeba #4886759 by bill, translation #2247781 by CK
- Quero um pouco de pipoca.I want some popcorn.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for some pipoca.Tatoeba #3490449 by piterkeo, translation #2548403 by CK
- Nós estamos comendo pipoca.We're eating popcorn.This sentence is useful for describing the act of eating pipoca.Tatoeba #5045288 by alexmarcelo, translation #2240566 by CK
- Vamos ao cinema e depois comemos pipoca?Shall we go to the movies and have popcorn afterwards?
- Vou fazer uma pipoquinha para o filmeI'm going to make some popcorn for the movie
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Juliana are choosing a snack for a movie night at home.
- RodrigoVocê quer comer pipoca hoje?Do you want to eat popcorn today?
- JulianaSim, eu adoro pipoca.Yes, I love popcorn.
- RodrigoEu vou preparar a pipoca para nós.I will prepare the popcorn for us.
- JulianaMuito obrigada, Rodrigo!Thank you so much, Rodrigo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “popcorn” translations and entries pipoca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pipoca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
