Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| magro | /ˈma.ɡɾu/ (Brazil) /ˈma.ɡɾu/ (Portugal) |
| esguio | /izˈɡi.u/ (Brazil) /izˈɡiw/ (Brazil) |
| delgado | /dewˈɡa.du/ (Brazil) /dɛlˈɡa.du/ (Portugal) |
The primary way to describe someone or something as slender is using the adjective magro. Related to this is the verb emagrecer, which means to lose weight.
Which one should you use?
While magro is the most common word for thin or skinny and can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation of being underweight, other forms offer different nuances. Esguio is a more poetic or aesthetic term used to describe a graceful, slender build or shape. Delgado is often used for objects or more formal descriptions of people, implying a fine or thin quality. For a more positive and formal tone, Esbelto can be used to describe someone who is attractively slim, slender or graceful.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Magro is the masculine form, but it changes to magra for feminine nouns. For multiple masculine or mixed-gender nouns, use the plural form magros.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈma.ɡɾu/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian Portuguese, the word magro can be used in a culinary context to describe 'lean' meat, such as 'carne magra'.
- While magro is the standard word for thin, saying someone is magro como um palito means they are 'thin as a toothpick'.
- The word delgado is a linguistic sibling to the English word 'delicate'. Both evolved from the Latin dēlicātus although they developed different primary meanings over time.
Examples in context
- Tom é muito magro.Tom is very slim.This sentence is useful for describing someone's physical state using magro.Tatoeba #4776035 by bill, translation #7737854 by CK
- O gafanhoto de asas vermelhas mais pequeno é esguio e tem corpo preto e pode ser difícil de ver em repouso, pois esconde-se na vegetação.The smaller red-winged grasshopper is slim and black-bodied and may be hard to see at rest, as it hides in vegetation.This sentence uses esguio to describe the build of a grasshopper.Tatoeba #12369640 by Cangarejo, translation #12369637 by Cangarejo
- As hélices zumbiam nas longas asas do avião esguio, enquanto o piloto suíço André Borschberg se preparava para fazer história ao pilotar um avião movido a energia solar durante dia e noite, sem combustível.Propellers whirred on the slim airplane's long wings as Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg set out to make history by flying a solar-powered airplane through day and night, without fuel.This sentence uses esguio to describe an airplane.Tatoeba #12162556 by Cangarejo, translation #12162555 by Cangarejo
- O atleta é muito magro.The athlete is very slim.
- A modelo tem uma figura esbelta.The model has a slender figure.
- A Joana é uma menina magrinha.Joana is a slim girl.
- O Marcos é muito enxuto.Marcos is very slim/well-toned.
- O gato é magro.The cat is slim.
- Ela é magricela.She is skinny.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are discussing a new clothing store.
- BeatrizEssas calças ficam bem em quem é magro.These pants look good on people who are slim.
- RodrigoVerdade, mas eu prefiro cortes mais largos.True, but I prefer wider cuts.
- BeatrizO Rodrigo também é magro e usa esse estilo.Rodrigo is also slim and uses that style.
- RodrigoSim, esse modelo combina com o meu corpo.Yes, this model suits my body.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slim” translations and entries magro, esguio, delgado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries delgado, esguio, magro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
