cana-de-açúcar
/ˌkɐ̃.nɐ.d͡ʒi.aˈsu.kɐʁ/feminine
Sugar cane in Portuguese is cana-de-açúcar.
The term refers to the species of grass whose sap is a source of sugar.
Meaning: species of grass whose sap is a source of sugar (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of cana (cane), de (of) and açúcar (sugar).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cana-de-açúcar is canas-de-açúcar, where only the first noun is pluralized.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌkɐ̃.nɐ.dʒi.aˈsu.kɐʁ/. The word has 6 syllables and the stress is on the 5th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the phrase cana is frequently used as slang for 'jail' or 'prison', completely unrelated to the plant or the drink.
- Traditional sweets made from the syrup of cana-de-açúcar are known as rapadura, a hard block of unrefined sugar used as a high-energy snack by laborers.
- The word açúcar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sugar', both originating from the Sanskrit word 'sharkara'.
Examples in context
- A cana-de-açúcar é uma fruta ou um legume?Is sugar cane a fruit or a vegetable?This sentence is useful for asking if sugar cane is a fruit or a vegetable.Tatoeba #3277420 by Ricardo14, translation #2195999 by acbarbosa
- Ele diz que o biocombustível derivado do uísque proporciona mais energia do que o bioetanol, um combustível produzido a partir de plantas como o milho ou a cana-de-açúcar.He says the whisky-based biofuel provides more power than bioethanol, a fuel made from plants like corn or sugar cane.This sentence is useful for discussing biofuels produced from plants like corn or sugar cane.Tatoeba #11647657 by Cangarejo, translation #11647654 by Cangarejo
- Há "couves-galegas, cana-de-açúcar, bananeiras, tomateiros, repolho", disse um jardineiro, um imigrante alto das Ilhas Virgens que usa o seu nome rastafári, Makado. Ele aparece quase todos os dias para mondar e regar.There are “collard greens, sugar cane, bananas, tomato trees (vines), cabbage,” said one gardener, a towering immigrant from the Virgin Islands who uses his Rastafarian name, Makado. He is here most days weeding and watering.This sentence is useful for listing various plants such as sugar cane and cabbage.Tatoeba #10915758 by Cangarejo, translation #10915757 by Cangarejo
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are at a street market.
- BeatrizVocê gosta de suco de cana-de-açúcar?Do you like sugar cane juice?
- RodrigoSim, eu acho esse suco delicioso.Yes, I think this juice is delicious.
- BeatrizA cana-de-açúcar é muito comum aqui.Sugar cane is very common here.
- RodrigoÉ verdade, Beatriz. Vamos comprar um copo.That is true, Beatriz. Let's buy a glass.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar cane” translations and entries cana-de-açúcar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cana-de-açúcar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
