pia
/ˈpi.ɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for sink (noun) is pia.
pia is the most common word used to describe a sink in both European and Brazilian Portuguese. To be more specific, you can use the phrase pia da cozinha for a kitchen sink or pia do banheiro for a bathroom sink.
Meaning: basin (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pia refers to the sink or basin itself, it is different from the verbs used for the action of sinking or submerging, such as afundar or submergir.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
pia is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpi.ɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Because pia is a homonym for a form of the verb piar (to chirp), a sentence like A pia pia could literally be interpreted as 'The sink chirps'.
- In Portuguese, the word 'pia' can also be an adjective meaning 'pious' or 'devout', though this is a different linguistic root than the noun for a sink.
- The word pia is a distant relative of the English word 'pill', both originating from the Latin 'pila' which refers to a heavy mortar or vessel.
Examples in context
- Tom esfregou a pia.Tom scrubbed the sink.This sentence is useful for seeing the verb used with pia.Tatoeba #5402116 by Wagner1994, translation #2546963 by CK
- A pia é cor-de-rosa.The sink is pink.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a pia.Tatoeba #11174640 by carlosalberto, translation #11174631 by carlosalberto
- A pia do banheiro entupiu.The bathroom sink is plugged.This sentence is useful for describing a problem with a pia in the bathroom.Tatoeba #1077008 by alexmarcelo, translation #1528874 by erikspen
- Aqui está a pia da cozinha.Here is the kitchen sink.
- Por favor, use o lavatório para lavar as mãos.Please use the sink to wash your hands.
- Vou lavar os pratos na pia.I'm going to wash the dishes in the sink.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are in the kitchen.
- CamilaGabriel, a pia está muito suja.Gabriel, the sink is very dirty.
- GabrielEu vou limpar a pia agora.I will clean the sink now.
- CamilaObrigada, a pia precisa de atenção.Thank you, the sink needs attention.
- GabrielNão tem problema, Camila.No problem, Camila.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sink” translations and entries pia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
