Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| quarto | /ˈkwaʁ.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈkwaɾ.tu/ (São Paulo) |
masculine |
| sala | /ˈsa.lɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈsa.lɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
While both terms can refer to a room, Portuguese speakers use specific words to distinguish the function of the space. quarto is the standard way to refer to a bedroom, while sala is the standard way to refer to a living room or lounge. If you wish to refer to a generic room or a division of a house without specifying its function, you should use the word cômodo.
Which one should you use?
Use quarto when you are talking about a bedroom. Use sala when you are talking about a living room or lounge. For a completely generic room, use cômodo.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural of quarto, use quartos (meaning bedrooms). To form the plural of sala, use salas (meaning living rooms).
How do you pronounce it?
The word quarto is pronounced /ˈkwaʁ.tu/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese word for 'bedroom', quarto, is actually the same word used for the number 'fourth'.
- In Portuguese, the word cômodo can be used as an adjective meaning 'comfortable' or 'convenient' in addition to being a noun for a 'room'.
- The word cômodo comes from the Latin 'commodus', meaning 'convenient' or 'suitable'. This reflects how a 'room' is a space designed for a specific, convenient purpose.
Examples in context
- A sala é escura.The room is dark.This sentence describes the lighting conditions in the sala.Tatoeba #11281405 by carlosalberto, translation #2002544 by bichodebola
- Tom está na sala.Tom is in the living room.This sentence describes a person's location within the sala.Tatoeba #5699317 by Ricardo14, translation #3410703 by CK
- Sai do meu quarto!Get out of my room!This sentence is an command to leave a quarto.Tatoeba #4512823 by KimiP, translation #1977541 by Spamster
- Eu gostaria de reservar um quarto no hotel.I would like to book a room at the hotel.
- Precisamos verificar todos os cômodos antes de finalizar a compra.We need to check all the rooms before finalizing the purchase.
- Vamos assistir TV na sala.Let's watch TV in the living room.
- Onde fica a sala?Where is the room?
- Podemos dormir na quartinha do fundo?Can we sleep in the small room at the back?
- 1185 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are at a hotel checking in.
- JulianaO nosso quarto é grande?Is our room big?
- RodrigoSim, e tem uma vista linda.Yes, and it has a beautiful view.
- JulianaO quarto tem ar-condicionado?Does the room have air conditioning?
- RodrigoSim, Juliana, tudo está pronto.Yes, Juliana, everything is ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “room” translations and entries quarto, sala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quarto, sala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
