Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| calções de banho | /kawˈsõj̃s d͡ʒi ˈbɐ̃.ɲu/ (Brazil, word by word) | masculine, plural |
| sunga | /ˈsũ.ɡɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈsũ.ɡɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
The term refers to a pair of specifically designed shorts worn by men and boys for swimming or bathing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase calções de banho is composed of calções (shorts) and de banho (of bathing/swimming).
Which one should you use?
While calções de banho refers to loose-fitting shorts, sunga refers to a tight-fitting, brief-style swimming suit commonly worn by men.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Portugal, the term Calções de Mar is used. In some Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Angola or Mozambique, the term calções de piscina is used. In Brazil, the informal term Bermudas de Banho is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
calções de banho is a masculine plural noun. sunga is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /kawˈsõj̃s dʒi ˈbɐ̃.ɲu/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word sunga is borrowed from Kimbundu, a Bantu language spoken in Angola, and originally comes from the verb sungar, which means 'to lift the waistband'.
- The term banho in calções de banho is versatile and can mean 'bath', 'shower' or 'swim' depending on the context.
- In Brazil, wearing a sunga is a widely accepted cultural norm on public beaches, whereas loose calções are more typical in other Lusophone regions.
Examples in context
- Você pode me emprestar sua sunga? Esqueci a minha.Can you lend me your swimming trunks? I forgot mine.
- Vou pegar minhas bermudas de banho e já volto.I'll grab my swimming trunks and be right back.
- Eu adoro nadar com meus calções de natação novos.I love swimming with my new swimming trunks.
- Eu comprei uns calções de banho novos.I bought some new swimming trunks.
- Onde estão os meus calções de banho?Where are my swimming trunks?
- Ele esqueceu os calções de banho na praia.He forgot his swimming trunks at the beach.
Example conversation
A man is packing for a trip to the beach.
- RodrigoJá guardei os meus calções de banho na mala.I already packed my swimming trunks in the suitcase.
- JulianaNão te esqueças do protetor solar, Rodrigo.Don't forget the sunscreen, Rodrigo.
- RodrigoVou verificar se os calções de banho estão lá.I'm going to check if the swimming trunks are there.
- JulianaBoa ideia, para não termos problemas depois.Good idea, so we don't have problems later.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “swimming trunks” translations and entries sunga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (calções, de, banho) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banho, de, sunga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
