vetor
/veˈtoʁ/Brazil, masculine
The English word 'vector' is translated into Portuguese as vetor. Wiktionary also lists vector.
Meaning: directed quantity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vetor | /veˈtoʁ/ (Brazil) /veˈtoɾ/ (São Paulo) |
Brazil, masculine |
| vector | Portugal, masculine |
As a masculine noun, it refers to a directed quantity. Common mathematical phrases include Adição de vetores (Vector addition), Espaço vetorial (Vector space), Vetor unitário (Unit vector), Vetor nulo (Zero vector), Vetor posição (Position vector) and Vetor velocidade (Velocity vector).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The spelling depends on the region: vector is the standard form used in Portugal, while vetor is the standard form used in Brazil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form for both the Portuguese and Brazilian spellings is vetores.
How do you pronounce it?
/veˈtoʁ/
Did you know?
- The word vetor shares an ancestral root with the English word 'wagon' through the Proto-Indo-European root *weǵʰ-.
- Beyond science and math, a Portuguese speaker might call a person a vetor de mudanças to describe them as a 'vehicle' or 'agent' of change.
- Brazilian scientific and academic discourse often uses vetor as a metaphor for a catalyst or driving force that pushes a social movement forward.
Examples in context
- As Nações Unidas e agências internacionais estão a alertar que mais de metade da população mundial corre risco devido à crescente ameaça das doenças transmitidas por vetores.The United Nations and international agencies are warning more than half the world’s population is at risk from the growing threat of vector borne diseases.This sentence is useful for discussing the threat of diseases transmitted by vetor.Tatoeba #11133140 by Cangarejo, translation #11133139 by Cangarejo
- Para resolver esse problema, precisamos usar vetores.To solve this issue, we need to use vectors.
- A representação vetorial do movimento é essencial para entender a física.The vector representation of motion is essential to understand physics.
- Gosto muito de matemática, especialmente de vetores.I really enjoy mathematics, especially vectors.
- O vetor de força foi calculado corretamente.The force vector was calculated correctly.
Example conversation
Two students are studying physics in a library.
- LucasVocê sabe qual é o vetor resultante?Do you know what the resultant vector is?
- BeatrizAinda estou tentando resolver esse problema.I am still trying to solve this problem.
- LucasO professor explicou o conceito de vetor ontem.The teacher explained the concept of vector yesterday.
- BeatrizSim, mas eu não entendi a parte prática.Yes, but I did not understand the practical part.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vector” translations and entries vetor, vector, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
