tapume
/taˈpũ.mi/masculine
The English word siding can be translated into Portuguese as tapume. Wiktionary also lists tabique.
Meaning: material to cover the sides of a building (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tapume | /taˈpũ.mi/ (Brazil) /tɐˈpu.mɨ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| tabique | masculine |
tapume refers to the material used to cover the sides of a building. However, in professional architectural contexts, the word revestimento is more frequently used to describe actual exterior siding or cladding.
Which one should you use?
tabique is used specifically in architecture to refer to a partition or a thin, lightweight internal wall rather than external building siding.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /taˈpũ.mi/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the term tapume is often associated with the 'shanty' architecture of favelas, where repurposed materials are used to cover the sides of homes.
- The word tabique describes a wall made of mud and straw, a traditional technique that reflects the influence of Iberian and North African building styles.
- The word tapume can also be used metaphorically in Portuguese to describe something that 'covers up' or obscures the truth.
Examples in context
- A casa da Ana precisa de um novo revestimento externo.Ana's house needs a new siding.
- O revestimento lateral daquela construção não está em boas condições.The siding of that building is not in good condition.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are discussing home renovations.
- GabrielCamila, olhe a cor deste tapume.Camila, look at the color of this siding.
- CamilaEu achei esse tapume muito escuro.I thought this siding was too dark.
- GabrielPodemos escolher um tom mais claro.We can choose a lighter tone.
- CamilaSim, ficaria melhor na fachada.Yes, it would look better on the facade.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “siding” translations and entries tapume, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
