camarão
/ka.maˈɾɐ̃w̃/masculine
The English word 'prawn' is translated into Portuguese as camarão. Wiktionary also lists pitu.
Meaning: large shrimp (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| camarão | /ka.maˈɾɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /kɐ.mɐˈɾɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| pitu | /piˈtu/ (Brazil) /piˈtu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
camarão is a general term used to refer to both shrimp and prawns. If you want to refer to a langoustine, the more accurate term is lagostim.
Which one should you use?
While camarão is the general term for shrimp or prawn, pitu is used in certain Brazilian regions to specifically refer to small prawns or shrimp.
Is it said differently in some regions?
pitu is a regional term used in parts of Brazil to describe small prawns or shrimp.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of camarão is camarões. Both camarão and pitu are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ka.maˈɾɐ̃w̃/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word camarão contains the suffix -ão, which usually indicates something large, yet it is used for creatures of all sizes including tiny shrimp.
- The word camarão descends from the Ancient Greek word kámmaros, which has survived through Latin to reach modern Portuguese.
- In Brazil, the word camarão is used in the name of a popular traditional dish called bobó de camarão, which is a creamy shrimp stew made with cassava.
Examples in context
- Em São Luís, no Senegal, as equipas humanitárias estão a utilizar outra espécie indígena, o camarão, para manter os níveis de parasitas sob controlo nos rios locais.In Saint-Louis, Senegal, aid workers are using another indigenous species, the prawn, to keep parasite levels in check in local rivers.This sentence shows how camarão can be used when discussing an indigenous species in a river ecosystem.Tatoeba #10989651 by Cangarejo, translation #10989649 by Cangarejo
- Por favor, vou querer camarão na manteigaPlease, I would like prawns in butter
- Eu vou comprar camarão para o jantar.I am going to buy prawns for dinner.
- Este camarão está muito fresco.This prawn is very fresh.
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Mariana are looking at a restaurant menu.
- RodrigoMariana, você quer pedir o camarão?Mariana, do you want to order the prawns?
- MarianaSim, eu adoro camarão!Yes, I love prawns!
- RodrigoVou pedir para nós dois.I will order for both of us.
- MarianaÓtimo, obrigada, Rodrigo.Great, thank you, Rodrigo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prawn” translations and entries camarão, pitu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camarão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
