calção
/kawˈsɐ̃w̃/masculine
The English word "shorts" can be translated into Portuguese as calção. If unsure, use calção. Wiktionary also lists short and calções.
Meaning: leg garment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calção | /kawˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /kalˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| short | /ˈʃɔʁ.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) | |
| calções | /kawˈsõj̃s/ (Brazil) /kawˈsõj̃ʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
|
| bermuda | /beʁˈmu.dɐ/ (Brazil) /beɾˈmu.dɐ/ (São Paulo) |
The terms used to describe this leg garment depend on the specific style and context. calção is often used for athletic gear, such as soccer shorts. In contrast, bermuda typically refers to casual, longer or more stylish cotton shorts.
Which one should you use?
While calção often refers to a single piece of athletic or swimming gear, bermuda is used for more casual and stylish cotton versions. The plural form calções is the grammatically standard way to refer to the garment.
How does it change in a sentence?
In colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, the English loanword short is often used in the singular form to mean "shorts". While calções is the standard plural, it can sound more formal or traditional than the loanword short.
How do you pronounce it?
/kawˈsɐ̃w̃/
Did you know?
- While calção is used for sports, calling a pair of fancy dress shorts calções in some contexts might mistakenly imply they are underwear, as the term historically overlapped with undergarments.
- The word bermuda comes from the name of the Bermudas islands. It refers to the style of shorts worn by the British Royal Navy in that region.
- In Portugal, you are more likely to hear calções than the Brazilian singular short. This creates a linguistic divide where the same garment is discussed using different grammatical numbers across the Atlantic.
Examples in context
- Tom estava de short.Tom had shorts on.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the singular form short to describe what someone is wearing.Tatoeba #5409766 by bill, translation #4501277 by CK
- Vou usar calções no churrasco de domingo.I'll wear shorts to Sunday's barbecue.
- Comprei uma bermuda nova para a praia.I bought new shorts for the beach.
- Esqueci de levar as bermudas para o passeio.I forgot to bring the shorts for the outing.
- Faz calor, vou de shorts hoje!It's hot, I'll wear shorts today!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Felipe are packing for a trip.
- MarianaFelipe, você já guardou seu calção?Felipe, have you packed your shorts already?
- FelipeAinda não, Mariana. Vou colocar agora.Not yet, Mariana. I'll put them in now.
- MarianaLeve aquele calção azul, por favor.Take those blue shorts, please.
- FelipeTudo bem, eu vou levar.All right, I'll take them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shorts” translations and entries calção, short, calções, bermuda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bermuda, calção, short, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
