esgoto
/izˈɡo.tu/masculine
The English word "sewer" is esgoto in Portuguese.
esgoto refers to the pipes used to remove human waste and provide drainage. It is also the standard term for the liquid waste itself, known as "sewage".
Meaning: pipes used to remove human waste and to provide drainage (noun)
Which one should you use?
esgoto can describe both the physical infrastructure (the sewer) and the liquid waste (the sewage). If you need to be specific about sewage containing human waste to distinguish it from rainwater drainage, you can use the technical term esgoto sanitário.
How does it change in a sentence?
esgoto is a masculine noun. It is used with masculine articles, such as o (the) or um (a).
How do you pronounce it?
/izˈɡo.tu/, 3 syllables, stressed on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, the word esgotar is commonly used in shopping to say a product is 'sold out'. Because esgoto comes from this verb, the 'sewer' and a 'sold-out' item share the same linguistic root.
- In Brazilian Portuguese, esgoto is often used metaphorically to describe a place or situation that is morally corrupt or 'filthy'. Calling a conversation or a political environment um esgoto implies it is toxic and repulsive.
- If you call a city's waste system cloaca, you will sound like a biologist or an ancient historian. In modern Portuguese, cloaca is reserved for scientific terms like the chamber in a bird's body.
Examples in context
- Este lugar cheira a esgoto.This place smells like a sewer.This sentence uses esgoto to describe a smell.Tatoeba #8831618 by RochaAr, translation #8584142 by CK
- Gotas de sangue caíam do cano de esgoto do açougue.Drops of blood dripped from the butcher shop's sewer pipe.This sentence uses esgoto to describe a pipe.Tatoeba #13738971 by carlosalberto, translation #13738980 by carlosalberto
- A estrada está interrompida por causa do rebentamento de um cano de esgoto.The route is blocked due to a leak in a sewer pipe.Tatoeba #7067562 by iart61, translation #9921717 by lucasmg123
- O sistema de esgoto da cidade precisa de reparos urgentes.The city's sewer system requires urgent repairs.
- O governo está investindo na melhoria dos esgotos.The government is investing in upgrading the sewers.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are walking down a street in a rainy neighborhood.
- BeatrizO esgoto está transbordando na rua.The sewer is overflowing in the street.
- FelipeÉ verdade, a água está subindo rápido.It is true, the water is rising fast.
- BeatrizFelipe, cuidado com esse esgoto!Felipe, watch out for that sewage!
- FelipeObrigado, eu não tinha visto.Thanks, I hadn't seen it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sewer” translations and entries esgoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
