lula
/ˈlu.lɐ/feminine
The Portuguese word for squid is lula.
lula is the standard and most widely used term for squid in Portuguese.
Meaning: sea animal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
lula is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlu.lɐ/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Portuguese has a dedicated word for the 'ink' of the lula, tinta, which also means 'paint', highlighting the substance's pigment-like quality.
- In some Portuguese culinary contexts, if you order lula instead of choco or sépia, you might receive a very different texture, as the term specifically implies the thinner skin of a true squid.
- The Portuguese word lula is a cognate of the Latin word lōlīgō, which was the original root for 'squid' or 'cuttlefish' in antiquity.
Examples in context
- Adoro comer lula frita.I love to eat fried squid.This sentence shows how to talk about enjoying fried lula.Tatoeba #9944861 by lucasmg123, translation #4466807 by orcrist
- Tinta de lula é comestível, enquanto tinta de caneta não é.Squid ink is edible whereas ballpen ink is not.This sentence distinguishes between edible lula ink and ballpen ink.Tatoeba #3467688 by piterkeo, translation #2761907 by mervert1
- Arroz negro tem gosto de tinta porque é feito com tinta de lula.Arroz negro tastes inky because it's made with squid ink.This sentence explains how lula ink is used to flavor black rice.Tatoeba #3832375 by piterkeo, translation #718015 by papabear
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are visiting an aquarium.
- RodrigoOlha aquela lula gigante ali!Look at that giant squid over there!
- BeatrizNossa, ela é realmente enorme.Wow, it is really huge.
- RodrigoVocê sabia que a lula é inteligente?Did you know that the squid is intelligent?
- BeatrizSim, eu já li sobre isso.Yes, I have already read about that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squid” translations and entries lula, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lula, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
