fruto do mar
/ˈfɾu.tu du ˈma(ʁ)/masculine
Seafood in Portuguese is fruto do mar. Wiktionary also lists marisco.
Meaning: fish, shellfish, seaweed and other edible aquatic life (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fruto do mar | /ˈfɾu.tu du ˈma(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ˈfɾu.tu du ˈma(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
masculine |
| marisco | /maˈɾis.ku/ (Brazil) /maˈɾiʃ.ku/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine |
The term is used to describe fish, shellfish, seaweed and other edible aquatic life.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase fruto do mar literally translates to fruit of the sea.
Which one should you use?
fruto do mar is a general term for all seafood, whereas marisco specifically refers to shellfish or crustaceans.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to various types of seafood in the plural, use frutos do mar. The word marisco is a countable noun and becomes mariscos in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of fruto do mar is /ˈfɾu.tu du ˈma(ʁ)/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While fruto do mar is common in Brazil, people in Portugal are much more likely to use marisco as the general term for seafood on a menu.
- In Portuguese, calling someone a 'fruto do mar' would be nonsensical, but the root word fruto relates to the Latin 'fruor', meaning 'to enjoy'.
- If you are looking for a restaurant specializing in seafood, you might see the word mariscaria on a sign, which specifically denotes a shop or establishment that sells mariscos.
Examples in context
- Um campo de golfe situa-se agora entre as lojas de duriões e restaurantes de marisco num dos terrenos mais caros da cidade de Ho Chi Minh, mesmo à saída do centro.A golf driving range now sits among the durian stores and seafood restaurants on some of Ho Chi Minh City’s prime real estate, just outside of downtown.This sentence describes the location of seafood restaurants.Tatoeba #11162856 by Cangarejo, translation #11162855 by Cangarejo
- Suspeita-se que o surto tenha começado num mercado de marisco em Uane, que também vendia outros animais, como aves de capoeira, morcegos, marmotas e carne de caça selvagem.They suspect the outbreak started in a Wuhan seafood market, which also sold other animals such as poultry, bats, marmots, and wild game meat.This sentence mentions a seafood market in the context of an outbreak.Tatoeba #12104957 by Cangarejo, translation #12104956 by Cangarejo
- Gostaria de experimentar alguns mariscos frescos.I would like to try some fresh seafood.
- O restaurante serve excelentes pratos de frutos do mar.The restaurant serves excellent seafood dishes.
- Adoro comer peixe e marisco quando vou à praia.I love eating seafood when I go to the beach.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Beatriz are looking at a restaurant menu.
- GabrielVocê gosta de comer fruto do mar?Do you like eating seafood?
- BeatrizSim, eu amo camarão e lagosta.Yes, I love shrimp and lobster.
- GabrielEste restaurante tem o melhor fruto do mar da cidade.This restaurant has the best seafood in town.
- BeatrizEntão vamos pedir um prato para dividir.Then let's order a platter to share.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seafood” translations and entries fruto do mar, marisco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries do, fruto, fruto do mar, mar, marisco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
