molho de soja
/ˈmo.ʎu d͡ʒi ˈsɔ.ʒɐ/masculine
Soy sauce in Portuguese is molho de soja. Wiktionary also lists shoyu.
Meaning: a condiment and ingredient made from fermented soybeans (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| molho de soja | /ˈmo.ʎu d͡ʒi ˈsɔ.ʒɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈmo.ʎu dɨ ˈsɔ.ʒɐ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| shoyu | /ˈʃo.ju/ (Brazil) | masculine |
The term refers to a condiment and ingredient made from fermented soybeans.
What does it mean word for word?
molho de soja is composed of molho (sauce) and soja (soy).
Which one should you use?
molho de soja is the literal translation, while shoyu is a much more common term used in everyday speech and on product labels in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
shoyu is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmo.ʎu dʒi ˈsɔ.ʒɐ/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Brazil has one of the largest Japanese populations in the world, which explains why the Japanese word shoyu is often preferred over molho de soja.
- In Portuguese, molho can also mean a 'handful' or 'bunch', such as a bunch of keys.
- The word soja entered the Portuguese language via Dutch rather than directly from Japanese or Chinese.
Examples in context
- Nunca tentei pôr molho de soja no abacate.I've never tried putting soy sauce on avocados.This sentence shows how to use molho de soja when talking about putting it on avocados.Tatoeba #12350491 by piterkeo, translation #9458304 by CK
- Aqueça um pouco de óleo numa frigideira e frite um pouco de gengibre e alho durante alguns segundos. Depois adicione molho de tomate, molho de soja e molho de pimiento. Acrescente sal e pimenta a gosto.Heat some oil in a pan and fry some ginger and garlic for a few seconds. Then add tomato sauce, soy sauce and pimiento sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.This sentence demonstrates how to use molho de soja when adding it to a mixture of other sauces in a recipe.Tatoeba #10641662 by Luciferous, translation #9464825 by sundown
- A empresa produz molho de soja e outros produtos alimentares.The company produces soy sauce and other food products.This sentence uses molho de soja in the context of food production.Tatoeba #2037460 by patlima, translation #280340 by CM
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are preparing sushi at home.
- FelipeBeatriz, onde está o molho de soja?Beatriz, where is the soy sauce?
- BeatrizEstá no armário, ao lado do sal.It is in the cupboard, next to the salt.
- FelipeObrigado! Vou colocar um pouco aqui.Thanks! I'll put some here.
- BeatrizNão coloque muito, pois é bem salgado.Don't put too much, because it is very salty.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soy sauce” translations and entries molho de soja, shoyu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, molho, shoyu, soja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
