Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rio | /ˈʁi.u/ (Brazil) /ˈʁiw/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| flume | /ˈflũ.mi/ (Brazil) /ˈflu.mɨ/ (Portugal) |
masculine, obsolete, poetic |
The word is used to describe a large stream which drains a landmass.
Which one should you use?
While rio is the standard term, flume is an obsolete and poetic form used in literature rather than in common speech. For a more formal context, specifically when referring to a tributary or a smaller river that flows into a larger one, you can use Afluente.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
rio is the masculine noun for everyday use. flume is reserved for poetic or archaic contexts, and Afluente is a formal term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term ribeira is often used to refer to smaller rivers. In the Amazon region of Brazil, the term igarapé is commonly used to describe a narrow river or a stream.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of rio is rios.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈʁi.u/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word igarapé comes from the indigenous Tupi language, reflecting the deep influence of native cultures on how Brazilians describe water.
- In Brazil, the word rio is famously used as a shorthand for the city of Rio de Janeiro, which literally means 'river of January'.
- The word rio comes from the Latin 'rīvus', which originally meant 'a small stream' rather than a large river.
Examples in context
- Ele caiu no rio.He fell into the river.This sentence is useful for showing the prepositional use of rio after falling into water.Tatoeba #1056094 by alexmarcelo, translation #300674 by CK
- Não nade no rio.Don't swim in the river.This sentence is useful for providing a command regarding swimming in the rio.Tatoeba #2105612 by alexmarcelo, translation #45778 by CK
- Tom caiu no rio.Tom has fallen into the river.This sentence is useful for describing the action of falling into the rio.Tatoeba #4984928 by bill, translation #3049954 by CK
- O rio Amazonas é o mais longo do mundoThe Amazon River is the longest in the world
- O Rio Xingu é um dos principais afluentes do Rio AmazonasThe Xingu River is one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River
- Vamos nadar no ribeirão hoje?Shall we swim in the stream today?
- A casa está perto do riachoThe house is close to the brook
- 375 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Rodrigo are walking in a park near the water.
- MarianaO rio é muito bonito hoje.The river is very beautiful today.
- RodrigoSim, a água está bem limpa.Yes, the water is very clean.
- MarianaPodemos caminhar perto do rio?Can we walk near the river?
- RodrigoClaro, vamos seguir por este caminho.Of course, let's follow this path.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries rio, flume, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries flume, rio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
