papel de parede
/paˈpɛw d͡ʒi paˈɾe.d͡ʒi/masculine
The Portuguese word for wallpaper is papel de parede.
papel de parede refers to decorative paper used for walls, but it is also the term used for digital desktop backgrounds on a computer.
Meaning: decorative paper for walls (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, papel de parede means 'paper of wall'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When forming the plural, only the word papel changes to papéis, resulting in papéis de parede for wallpapers.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈpɛw dʒi paˈɾe.dʒi/. The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, the word papel is used for both the physical material of a wall and the abstract concept of a 'role' in a play or movie.
- While papel is the word for 'paper', it is a doublet of the Portuguese word pavio, which means 'wick'.
- The word papel is also used in the idiom papelão, which can refer to a piece of cardboard or a very bad acting performance.
Examples in context
- Por que você está usando esse papel de parede?Why are you using that wallpaper?This sentence is useful for asking why someone is using a specific wallpaper with papel de parede.Tatoeba #7927425 by Ricardo14, translation #9178531 by Nylez
- Acho que esse papel de parede não combinava com o seu quarto.I don't think this wallpaper matched your bedroom.This sentence shows how to express that a wallpaper does not match a room using papel de parede.Tatoeba #14015280 by Gold, translation #14015181 by haomakk
- Ele pensou no quarto dele com o seu horrível papel de parede amarelo, a cama velha com o seu feio cobertor vermelho.He thought of his room with its horrible yellow wallpaper, the old bed with its ugly red cover.This sentence provides a descriptive context for a room featuring papel de parede.Tatoeba #12417214 by Cangarejo, translation #12417213 by Cangarejo
- Eu mudei o fundo do meu computador.I changed the wallpaper on my computer.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are choosing decorations for their new living room.
- BeatrizVocê gosta deste papel de parede?Do you like this wallpaper?
- FelipeSim, o papel de parede é lindo.Yes, the wallpaper is beautiful.
- BeatrizEle combina com o seu sofá novo.It matches your new sofa.
- FelipeEntão vamos comprar esse papel de parede.Then let's buy this wallpaper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wallpaper” translations and entries papel de parede, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, papel, papel de parede, parede, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
