Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| lambuzar | /lɐ̃.buˈza(ʁ)/ (Brazil) |
| untar | /ũˈta(ʁ)/ (Brazil) /ũˈta(ɾ)/ (São Paulo) |
To smear (a substance) is expressed using two main verbs. lambuzar is used when someone smears a substance, such as food or paint, messily or carelessly, often onto themselves or a surface. Related nouns include macha, meaning a mark and esfregaço, which refers to a preparation to be examined under a microscope.
Which one should you use?
lambuzar implies a messy or careless application.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Brazil, the word borrão is used to describe a smear or smudge.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participles of these verbs can function as adjectives. lambuzado describes someone who is covered in a messy substance, while untado describes a surface that has been coated with a substance.
How do you pronounce it?
The word lambuzar is pronounced /lɐ̃.buˈza(ʁ)/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The verb untar is a distant relative of the English word 'ointment'. Both words share a common ancestor in the Proto-Indo-European root for 'anoint'.
- While untar is a neutral way to coat a surface, using lambuzar to describe a person's eating habits can sound quite judgmental or mocking.
- The term esfregaço for a microscope smear comes from the verb esfregar, which means 'to rub' or 'to scrub'.
Examples in context
- A tinta manchou a paredeThe paint smeared the wall
- Ele lambuzou a camisa com molhoHe smeared the shirt with sauce
- Não encoste, senão vai melecar tudoDon't touch, or everything will get smeared
- A caneta emborrou tudoThe pen smeared everything
- Apaguei o borrão que fiz na páginaI erased the smear I made on the page
- Não vá lambuzar a mesa com a comida.Don't smear the table with food.
- A criança começou a lambuzar o rosto com o doce.The child started to smear their face with the sweet.
Example conversation
Lucas and Juliana are eating messy sandwiches in the kitchen.
- LucasOlha só, você conseguiu lambuzar a camisa!Look, you managed to smear your shirt!
- JulianaNossa, eu nem percebi que tinha caído molho.Wow, I didn't even notice that sauce had fallen.
- LucasVou pegar um pano para você se limpar.I'll get a cloth for you to clean yourself.
- JulianaObrigada, Lucas. Eu sou muito desastrada.Thank you, Lucas. I am very clumsy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smear” translations and entries lambuzar, untar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lambuzar, untar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
