praia
/ˈpɾaj.ɐ/feminine
The English word shore can be translated into Portuguese as praia or margem.
Meaning: land adjoining a large body of water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| praia | /ˈpɾaj.ɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈpɾaj.ɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| margem | /ˈmaʁ.ʒẽj̃/ (Brazil) /ˈmaɾ.ʒẽj̃/ (São Paulo) |
feminine |
Both words refer to land adjoining a large body of water, but they are used in different contexts.
Which one should you use?
Use praia specifically when you are referring to a sandy beach or a recreational area by the sea. Use margem when you are referring to the edge or shore of a river or a lake. For the general coastline or a coastal region of a country, use costa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of praia is praias and the plural form of margem is margens.
How do you pronounce it?
The word praia is pronounced /ˈpɾaj.ɐ/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word praia shares its roots with the English word 'plague' via the concept of a 'blow' or 'stroke' in Latin, though their modern meanings have drifted into entirely different realms.
- In Brazil, the expression estar na margem can be used figuratively to describe someone who is socially or economically marginalized.
- The word margem is not only used for geography but is also the standard term for the 'margin' of a notebook page or the edge of a document.
Examples in context
- Na margem de um grande lago fica um belo templo.On the shore of a large lake stands a beautiful temple.This sentence shows the use of margem regarding a lake.Tatoeba #10858012 by carlosalberto, translation #10858008 by carlosalberto
- Para um homem de pé na praia, o tempo passa mais depressa do que para um homem num bote especialmente se o homem no bote estiver com sua mulher.To a man standing on the shore, time passes quicker than to a man on a boat especially if the man on the boat is with his wife.This sentence shows the use of praia regarding a man standing on the shore.Tatoeba #3042358 by carlosalberto, translation #3042354 by carlosalberto
- O Gana começou a construção de paredões em pontos-chave ao longo da sua costa para travar a erosão costeira e proteger praias, comunidades e edifícios históricos.Ghana has started building seawalls at key points along its shore to stop coastal erosion and protect beaches, communities and historic buildings.This sentence shows the use of praia regarding the protection of beaches.Tatoeba #10871458 by Cangarejo, translation #10871457 by Cangarejo
- As praias com areias douradas se estendem ao longo da costa.The beaches with golden sands stretch along the shore.
- O litoral norte do Brasil possui belas paisagens.The northern shore of Brazil has beautiful landscapes.
- Vamos caminhar pela praia ao entardecer.Let's take a walk along the shore at sunset.
- Vamos dar um passeio pela beira do rio.Let's take a walk along the river's shore.
- A orla de Copacabana é famosa no mundo todo.Copacabana's shore is famous worldwide.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Gabriel are planning a walk by the ocean.
- JulianaVamos caminhar pela praia hoje?Shall we walk along the shore today?
- GabrielSim, a praia está linda nesta época.Yes, the shore is beautiful this time of year.
- JulianaVocê trouxe o protetor solar para nós?Did you bring the sunscreen for us?
- GabrielSim, já está na minha mochila.Yes, it is already in my backpack.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shore” translations and entries praia, margem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries margem, praia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
