espectro
/isˈpɛk.tɾu/Brazil, Portugal, masculine
The English phrase spectrum is translated into Portuguese as espectro. It is also spelled espetro.
Meaning: range (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| espectro | /isˈpɛk.tɾu/ (Brazil) /esˈpɛk.tɾu/ (Brazil) |
Brazil, Portugal, masculine |
| espetro | /(i)ʃˈpɛ.tɾu/ (Portugal) | Portugal, masculine, alternative form |
The word is a masculine noun used to refer to a range.
Which one should you use?
espetro is an alternative spelling of espectro.
Is it said differently in some regions?
espetro is an alternative spelling used in Portugal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of espectro is espectros.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA is /isˈpɛk.tɾu/.
Did you know?
- Unlike English where 'spectrum' is almost always abstract, Portuguese can use espectro to refer specifically to a singular ghostly apparition.
- The root of espectro connects it to the English word 'spectacle', as both derive from the Latin 'specere', meaning 'to look at'.
- The spelling espetro is a result of the Portuguese tendency to simplify consonant clusters by dropping the 'c' before the 't'.
Examples in context
- Tom provavelmente está no espectro.Tom is probably on the spectrum.This sentence is useful for talking about an individual being on the spectrum using espectro.Tatoeba #11690377 by Advanced, translation #8096638 by deniko
- No outro extremo do espetro estão os sons de frequência muito baixa (abaixo de 20 Hz), conhecidos como infrassons.At the other end of the spectrum are very low-frequency sounds (below 20 Hz), known as infrasound.This sentence uses espetro to describe the low-frequency end of a spectrum.Tatoeba #12364771 by Cangarejo, translation #12364770 by Cangarejo
- Uma em cada 160 crianças no mundo inteiro sofre de alguma forma de transtorno do espectro autista, também chamado TEA.One in every 160 children worldwide has some form for autism spectrum disorder, also called ASD.This sentence uses espectro to refer to autism spectrum disorder.Tatoeba #11510563 by Cangarejo, translation #11510561 by Cangarejo
- O nocivo estágio térmico está fora do espectro visívelThe harmful thermal stage is outside the visible spectrum
- O espectro eletromagnético é composto por diversas frequências de ondas de luz.The electromagnetic spectrum is composed of various frequencies of light waves.
- A luz visível está dentro do espectro das ondas eletromagnéticas.Visible light is within the spectrum of electromagnetic waves.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are discussing the variety of colors in a painting.
- GabrielEu gosto de como ela usou todo o espectro de cores.I like how she used the whole spectrum of colors.
- MarianaSim, as cores são muito vibrantes.Yes, the colors are very vibrant.
- GabrielA transição no espectro visual ficou perfeita.The transition in the visual spectrum turned out perfect.
- MarianaConcordo, Mariana adoraria este quadro.I agree, Mariana would love this painting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spectrum” translations and entries espectro, espetro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries espectro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
