sete
/ˈsɛ.t͡ʃi/
The Portuguese word for seven is sete.
sete is the cardinal number 7. It can also function as a noun to refer to the figure seven or a card bearing seven pips. If you want to explicitly refer to the numeral concept of seven, you can use the phrase O número sete. Other related numbers include setenta (seventy) and setecentos (seven hundred).
Meaning: cardinal number 7 (num)
Is it said differently in some regions?
Sete is widely used in Portugal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The number sete is invariant, which means it does not change its form to agree with plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsɛ.tʃi/
When do people say it?
The number is commonly used in various fixed phrases, such as sete maravilhas (seven wonders) and sete pecados capitais (seven deadly sins).
Did you know?
- While English speakers say cats have nine lives, Portuguese speakers say sete vidas, meaning 'seven lives'.
- To describe something kept secret or very secure, Portuguese speakers use the phrase a sete chaves, meaning 'under seven keys'.
- The word sete shares a distant common ancestor with the English word 'september', which originally marked the seventh month of the Roman calendar.
Examples in context
- Eram sete e meia.It was seven thirty.This sentence is useful for expressing time using the form sete.Tatoeba #1291755 by alexmarcelo, translation #264925 by CK
- Já são sete horas.It's already seven.Tatoeba #5250414 by alexmarcelo, translation #31683 by CK
- Ela tem sete filhos.She has seven sons.This sentence is useful for expressing quantity using the form sete.Tatoeba #1188823 by alexmarcelo, translation #640686 by jakov
- 263 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are counting items at a store.
- GabrielQuantos ovos faltam, Camila?How many eggs are missing, Camila?
- CamilaFaltam sete ovos na caixa.Seven eggs are missing from the box.
- GabrielVou pegar sete ovos agora.I will get seven eggs now.
- CamilaObrigada, Gabriel.Thank you, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seven” translations and entries sete, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sete, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
