santo
/ˈsɐ̃.tu/masculine
The Portuguese word for saint is santo. If unsure, use santo. Wiktionary also lists santa.
Meaning: person proclaimed as saint (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| santo | /ˈsɐ̃.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈsɐ̃.tu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| santa | /ˈsɐ̃.tɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈsɐ̃.tɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
This noun refers to a person proclaimed as a saint.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the term padroeiro is commonly used to refer to the patron saint of a specific town or city.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form santo is used for male saints, while the feminine form santa is used for female saints.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. The IPA is /ˈsɐ̃.tu/.
When do people say it?
In Portugal, the Festas do Espírito Santo (Holy Spirit Festivals) are widely celebrated, particularly in the Azores. Additionally, Santo António de Lisboa (Saint Anthony of Padua) is highly venerated in Portugal, especially in Lisbon.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, you might hear the expression 'santo do pau oco', which literally translates to 'saint of the hollow wood'.
- In some Brazilian folk traditions, people use simpatias, which are small rituals involving a santo, to bring luck or heal illnesses.
- The word santo is used in the common Portuguese expression 'santo de casa não faz milagre', meaning 'a saint from one's own house performs no miracles'.
Examples in context
- Qual é o santo mais popular no Brasil?Which is the most popular saint in Brazil?This sentence asks which saint is most popular in Brazil using santo.Tatoeba #989849 by alexmarcelo, translation #12259177 by filipe_s
- O santo mais popular no Brasil é Santo Antônio.The most celebrated saint in Brazil is Saint Anthony.This sentence identifies Saint Anthony as the most popular saint in Brazil using santo.Tatoeba #989852 by alexmarcelo, translation #2760412 by mervert1
- Santo Antônio de Pádua é o padroeiro das coisas perdidas.Saint Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of lost things.This sentence describes Saint Anthony of Padua as the patron saint of lost things using santo.Tatoeba #9060504 by carlosalberto, translation #6366768 by Hybrid
- O Santo PadroeiroThe Patron Saint
- As palavras do santoThe words of the saint
- São Francisco de AssisSaint Francis of Assisi
- São JoãoSaint John
- Aquele rapaz é um santinhoThat boy is a little saint
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are talking about a statue in a church.
- CamilaVocê sabe quem é esse santo?Do you know who this saint is?
- LucasAcho que é o santo padroeiro da cidade.I think it is the patron saint of the city.
- CamilaEle parece ser muito antigo.He seems to be very old.
- LucasSim, esse santo é venerado há séculos.Yes, this saint has been venerated for centuries.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “saint” translations and entries santo, santa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
