ouriço-do-mar
/o(w)ˌɾi.su.duˈma(ʁ)/masculine
The English phrase "sea urchin" is ouriço-do-mar in Portuguese.
The term refers to any of many marine echinoderms of the class Echinoidea.
Meaning: any of many marine echinoderms of the class Echinoidea (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This is a compound phrase where ouriço means "hedgehog" and do mar means "of the sea".
How do you pronounce it?
/o(w)ˌɾi.su.duˈma(ʁ)/. It has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 5th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word ouriço is also used as a slang term in some regions to describe a person who is grumpy or difficult to approach, mimicking the prickles of a hedgehog.
- If you are looking for the edible part of the sea urchin in a Portuguese market, you might ask for the 'ovas', which means 'eggs'.
- While ouriço-do-mar describes the animal, the Portuguese word for a 'sea cucumber' is pepino-do-mar, following the same logic of naming a sea creature after a land-based object.
Examples in context
- Os ouriços-do-mar são perigosos para os pés.Sea urchins are dangerous for feet.
- Eu vi um ouriço-do-mar na praia.I saw a sea urchin at the beach.
- O ouriço-do-mar é um animal perigoso.The sea urchin is a dangerous animal.
- Cuidado com o ouriço-do-mar nas pedras.Watch out for the sea urchin on the rocks.
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are walking along the shoreline.
- CamilaRodrigo, olhe aquele ouriço-do-mar ali!Rodrigo, look at that sea urchin over there!
- RodrigoÉ muito pequeno e bonito.It is very small and beautiful.
- CamilaNão chegue muito perto dele.Don't get too close to it.
- RodrigoVocê tem razão, Camila.You are right, Camila.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea urchin” translations and entries ouriço-do-mar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
