para cima
/pa.ɾɐ ˈsĩ.mɐ/word by word
The English phrase upward is translated to Portuguese as para cima.
Para cima is used to describe something that is moving up or is directed toward a higher place.
Meaning: moving up, directed toward a higher place (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition para (to/towards) and the noun cima (top/upward direction).
Which one should you use?
Para cima is the direct antonym of para baixo, which means downward.
Did you know?
- The term cima is distantly related to the Greek verb meaning 'to be pregnant', as both concepts stem from the idea of something being swollen.
- In Brazilian slang, the phrase para cima is often used to describe someone who is energetic, aggressive or highly motivated.
- While 'upward' is a direction, the word cima is often used in the idiomatic expression 'de cima para baixo', which describes a way of looking at someone with extreme condescension.
Examples in context
- Continuando para cima, agora muito alto a sul, estão duas estrelas brilhantes, lado a lado, nada mais nada menos que a famosa dupla de Gémeos, Pólux e Castor.Continuing upward, now very high in the south, are two bright stars, side by side, none other than the famous Gemini twins, Pollux and Castor.This sentence shows how to use para cima when describing the direction of looking toward the stars.Tatoeba #12366497 by Cangarejo, translation #12366496 by Cangarejo
- A pequena carroça baloiçou ao virar para uma estrada lateral e nós curvámos para cima através de vias afundadas desgastadas por séculos de rodas, margens altas de cada lado, pesadas com musgo transbordante e fetos carnudos de língua-cervina.The wagonette swung round into a side road, and we curved upward through deep lanes worn by centuries of wheels, high banks on either side, heavy with dripping moss and fleshy hart’s-tongue ferns.This sentence uses para cima to describe curving upward through deep lanes.Tatoeba #10666070 by Luciferous, translation #6606586 by Hybrid
- Para começar, é um mito que os perus são tão burros que eles se afogam se olharem para cima com o bico aberto durante um aguaceiro. Na natureza, eles são rápidos, sociáveis e suficientemente inteligentes para se esconderem da maioria dos humanos.First of all, it’s a myth that turkeys are so dumb that they actually drown if they look upward with their beaks open during a rainstorm. In the wild, they’re fast, sociable and smart enough to hide from most humans.This sentence uses para cima to describe the action of looking upward during a rainstorm.Tatoeba #12277085 by Cangarejo, translation #12277084 by Cangarejo
- O gráfico mostra um movimento ascendenteThe graph shows an upward movement
- Vamos pular pra cima!Let's jump upward!
- O balão está subindo pro altoThe balloon is going upward
- Vai correndo pra ribaRun upwards
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are looking at a painting in a gallery.
- GabrielOlha como as cores vão para cima.Look how the colors go upward.
- MarianaSim, cria um efeito de movimento.Yes, it creates an effect of movement.
- GabrielParece que tudo está a subir para cima.It seems like everything is moving upward.
- MarianaÉ uma técnica muito interessante, Gabriel.It is a very interesting technique, Gabriel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry para cima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (para, cima) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cima, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
