absorvente interno
/ab.soʁˈvɛ̃.t͡ʃi ĩˈtɛʁ.nu/masculine
In Portuguese, the English phrase 'tampon' is translated as absorvente interno. Wiktionary also lists tampão.
Meaning: a plug of cotton or other absorbent material (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| absorvente interno | /ab.soʁˈvɛ̃.t͡ʃi ĩˈtɛʁ.nu/ (Brazil) | masculine |
| tampão | /tɐ̃ˈpɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /tɐ̃ˈpɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
The phrase is used to refer to a plug of cotton or other absorbent material.
Which one should you use?
absorvente interno is the standard term specifically for a menstrual tampon. In contrast, tampão is a more general word that can refer to an earplug, a cork or any physical plug used to seal a hole.
How does it change in a sentence?
absorvente interno is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ab.soʁˈvɛ̃.tʃi ĩˈtɛʁ.nu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use absorvente alone to mean a tampon. In Portuguese, absorvente usually refers to a sanitary pad. To specify a tampon, you should use absorvente interno.
Did you know?
- While tampão comes from the French word 'tampon', in Portuguese it shifted to mean any general plug and is rarely used for menstrual hygiene.
- Depending on the region, some Portuguese speakers use the brand name Tampax as a generic noun for any absorvente interno.
- The word tampão is used in Portuguese medicine to describe a blood clot that blocks a vessel, rather than a cotton product.
Examples in context
- Sra. Silva, você poderia me indicar onde posso comprar absorventes internos?Mrs. Silva, could you please tell me where I can buy tampons?
Example conversation
Mariana asks Gabriel to help her at the pharmacy.
- MarianaGabriel, você pode pegar um absorvente interno para mim?Gabriel, can you get a tampon for me?
- GabrielClaro, Mariana. Qual marca você prefere?Sure, Mariana. Which brand do you prefer?
- MarianaQualquer um serve, obrigada!Any one is fine, thanks!
- GabrielTudo bem, já estou pegando aqui.All right, I'm getting it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tampon” translations and entries absorvente interno, tampão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries absorvente, interno, tampão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
