terço
/ˈteʁ.su/
The Portuguese word for rosary is terço.
terço is the term used for the Catholic prayer beads. It is the most common way to refer to the beads used for prayer in daily life.
Meaning: Catholic prayer beads (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word terço literally means third, which refers to the prayer being traditionally divided into three parts or being a third of a larger set of prayers.
Which one should you use?
While terço is the most common way to refer to the prayer beads used for the Rosary in daily Portuguese, rosário refers specifically to the full set of mysteries or the complete cycle of prayers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, you may hear the regional variation tercinho.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of terço is terços.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈteʁ.su/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word terço is also used in a military context to describe a specific type of infantry unit in the Spanish and Portuguese empires.
- In Brazil, it is common to see terços hanging from the rearview mirrors of cars and buses as a symbol of protection for the journey.
- The English word 'third' and the Portuguese word terço are distant linguistic cousins, both originating from the same Proto-Indo-European root for the number three.
Examples in context
- Maria reza o terço todas as noites.Maria says the rosary every night.
- O padre conduziu a oração do rosário na igreja.The priest led the rosary prayer in the church.
- Vou rezar um terçinho para pedir proteção.I will say a little rosary to ask for protection.
- A minha avó carrega sempre o seu rosarinho na bolsa.My grandmother always carries her little rosary in her purse.
- Eu guardo o meu terço na gaveta.I keep my rosary in the drawer.
- Ele comprou um terço de madeira.He bought a wooden rosary.
- O terço está sobre a mesa.The rosary is on the table.
Example conversation
Camila and Felipe are looking for a lost item in the living room.
- CamilaFelipe, você viu o meu terço?Felipe, have you seen my rosary?
- FelipeEu vi o seu terço no sofá.I saw your rosary on the sofa.
- CamilaObrigada por me ajudar.Thank you for helping me.
- FelipeDe nada, Camila.You're welcome, Camila.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry terço, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries terço, CC BY-SA 4.0.
