grama
/ˈɡɾɐ̃.mɐ/
In Portuguese, the English word 'sod' is translated as grama.
grama refers to the turf or grass grown specifically for the establishment of a lawn.
Meaning: turf grown for establishment of lawn (noun)
Which one should you use?
While grama is the standard term, you may also encounter the informal phrase tapete de grama, which literally translates to 'grass carpet'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables. The stress is on the first syllable: /ˈɡɾɐ̃.mɐ/.
Did you know?
- The word grama is a homonym in Portuguese. While it means 'grass' in the context of a lawn, it is also the word used for the unit of measurement 'gram'.
- In Portugal, the word relva is much more common for a lawn, whereas in Brazil grama is the dominant term.
- The term grama for turf actually shares a common ancestor with the English word 'grass', both tracing back to the same Latin root 'grāmen'.
Examples in context
- O jardim está coberto de gramado.The garden is covered in sod.
- O quintal precisa de um tapete de grama.The yard needs some sod.
- O jardineiro instalou o tapete de grama no jardim.The gardener installed the sod on the garden.
- Precisamos comprar grama para o jardim.We need to buy sod for the garden.
- A grama nova foi colocada ontem.The new sod was laid yesterday.
- O custo da grama está muito alto.The cost of the sod is very high.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are discussing their backyard renovation.
- GabrielMariana, já compramos a grama?Mariana, have we bought the sod yet?
- MarianaAinda não, Gabriel. Vou encomendar amanhã.Not yet, Gabriel. I will order it tomorrow.
- GabrielÓtimo, o jardim ficará lindo.Great, the garden will look beautiful.
- MarianaSim, vai ficar perfeito.Yes, it's going to be perfect.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry grama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grama, CC BY-SA 4.0.
