Which one should you use?
Use loja when referring to a physical or online retail establishment. If you are using 'store' as a verb (meaning to keep or save items), use armazenar or guardar instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, boteco is an informal term for a small, casual place where you can buy drinks, snacks and sometimes even small groceries. The term mercearia for a small neighborhood grocery store is also commonly used in Portugal and some Brazilian regions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of loja is lojas. Because loja is a feminine noun, the contraction of the preposition 'de' (of) and the article 'a' (the) becomes da (as in da loja, meaning 'of the store'). Similarly, the contraction of the preposition 'em' (in/at) and the article 'a' (the) becomes na (as in na loja, meaning 'in/at the store').
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of loja is /ˈlɔ.ʒɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word loja shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'leaf', stemming from a root meaning 'to surround' or 'to cover'.
- The term loja can be used in a Masonic context to mean a 'lodge', showing its historical roots in 'shelter' or 'enclosure'.
- While loja is the standard term, if you are looking for a way to describe a 'shop window', you say montra in Portugal but often vitrine in Brazil.
Examples in context
- Onde é a loja?Where is the store?This sentence is useful for asking the location of the loja.Tatoeba #6470446 by heo598, translation #2312520 by Adelpa
- Quero ir à loja.I want to go to the store.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to go to the loja.Tatoeba #2973972 by alexmarcelo, translation #2967167 by mikulthegreat
- Você foi à loja?Did you go to the store?This sentence is useful for asking if someone went to the loja.Tatoeba #4784693 by carlosalberto, translation #4927739 by khaldoon
- Eu vou à loja hojeI'm going to the store today
- Eu frequento esse estabelecimento regularmenteI frequent this store regularly
- Vou à mercearia buscar pão frescoI'm going to the store to get fresh bread
- Adoro visitar o bazar para encontrar coisas interessantesI love visiting the store to find interesting things
- 258 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are walking in a shopping district.
- BeatrizRodrigo, aquela loja é bonita.Rodrigo, that shop is beautiful.
- RodrigoSim, a loja parece ser cara.Yes, the shop looks expensive.
- BeatrizVamos entrar na loja para ver?Shall we go into the shop to look?
- RodrigoTudo bem, Beatriz, vamos lá.Alright, Beatriz, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “store” translations and entries loja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
