baleia
/baˈlej.ɐ/feminine
The English word whale is baleia in Portuguese.
baleia refers to a large sea mammal.
Meaning: large sea mammal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of baleia is baleias.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables. The IPA is /baˈlej.ɐ/.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese baleia shares a common ancestor with the English word 'bloom', both tracing back to an ancient root meaning 'to swell' or 'to blow'.
- Brazil is one of the world's primary hubs for humpback whale watching, particularly in the coast of Bahia where baleias migrate every year.
- In Portuguese, calling someone a baleia is a common, albeit rude, way to mock their weight.
Examples in context
- Nunca vi uma baleia.I've never seen a whale.This sentence is useful for expressing that you have never seen a baleia.Tatoeba #6143606 by carlosalberto, translation #5850390 by CK
- Você já viu uma baleia?Have you ever seen a whale?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has ever seen a baleia.Tatoeba #913739 by alexmarcelo, translation #69421 by CK
- A baleia é um mamífero.A whale is a mammal.This sentence is useful for stating that a baleia is a mammal.Tatoeba #1292544 by alexmarcelo, translation #238461 by CK
- Eu espero ver uma baleia durante a minha viagem de barco para as Ilhas Baleares.I hope to see a whale during my boat trip to the Balearic Islands.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are at the beach watching the sea.
- FelipeCamila, olhe aquela baleia!Camila, look at that whale!
- CamilaNossa, a baleia é enorme!Wow, the whale is huge!
- FelipeEla está nadando perto da costa.It is swimming near the coast.
- CamilaFelipe, que coisa maravilhosa.Felipe, what a wonderful thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whale” translations and entries baleia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baleia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
