pó
/ˈpɔ/masculine
The English word 'powder' is translated into Portuguese as pó.
pó refers to fine particles of any dry substance. In Brazil and Portugal, the term pó de café is commonly used to refer to coffee powder or coffee grounds.
Meaning: fine particles of any dry substance (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pó is pós.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɔ/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, pó is a common street slang term for cocaine.
- The expression virar pó literally means 'to turn into powder' but is used to describe someone who is utterly exhausted.
- The Portuguese word pó shares a common ancestor with the English word 'flour', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *pel-.
Examples in context
- Um rato é assado no forno até ficar "crocante", depois é triturado até ficar em pó e este pó é administrado.A mouse is baked in the oven to a ‘scrump,’ then pounded to powder, and this powder administered.Tatoeba #12131189 by Cangarejo, translation #12131188 by Cangarejo
- Ninguém pode conhecê-los, nenhum caçador pode atirar neles com pólvora ou chumbo – Os pensamentos são livres!No man can know them, no hunter can shoot them, with powder and lead – Thoughts are free!This sentence uses pó in the context of gunpowder, though the specific word pólvora is also used.Tatoeba #6758074 by lucasmg123, translation #476620 by MUIRIEL
- Um arame de níquel-crómio é torcido com a forma desejada, colocado num recipiente e coberto com uma mistura de pó de náilon e areia de granulação fina.A nickel-chromium wire is bent into the desired shape, placed in a container and covered in a mix of nylon powder and fine-grained sand.Tatoeba #11152709 by Cangarejo, translation #11152708 by Cangarejo
- Eu preciso de pó de talco.I need talcum powder.
- Passe um pouco de talco nos pés para evitar o suor.Apply some talcum powder on your feet to prevent sweating.
- Passa um pouco de talquinho nesse bebê para evitar assaduras.Put some talcum powder on the baby to prevent diaper rash.
- Maria está sempre com pó-de-arroz no rosto.Maria always has face powder on.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Felipe are baking a cake together.
- JulianaFelipe, você já comprou o pó de coco?Felipe, did you already buy the coconut powder?
- FelipeSim, está aqui na mesa.Yes, it is here on the table.
- JulianaÓtimo, agora vou misturar esse pó na massa.Great, now I will mix this powder into the batter.
- FelipeCuidado para não derrubar o pó no chão.Be careful not to spill the powder on the floor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “powder” translations and entries pó, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pó, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
