bruxa
/ˈbɾu.ʃɐ/feminine
The English word "witch" is translated into Portuguese as bruxa. Wiktionary also lists estria and estrige.
Meaning: person who uses magic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bruxa | /ˈbɾu.ʃɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈbɾu.ʃɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| estria | /isˈtɾi.ɐ/ (Brazil) /esˈtɾi.ɐ/ (Brazil) |
feminine |
| estrige | /isˈtɾi.ʒi/ (Brazil) /esˈtɾi.ʒi/ (Brazil) |
feminine |
The term refers to a person who uses magic. It is a feminine noun used to identify female practitioners of magic or for the insult.
Which one should you use?
While bruxa is the standard feminine form for a witch, estria and estrige are also feminine forms for this concept.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions of Portugal, particularly in the north, the term meiga is used colloquially to describe a witch or sorceress.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is grammatically feminine. To refer to a male witch or a wizard, use the masculine form bruxo.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbɾu.ʃɐ/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word bruxa might not actually be of Romance origin, but could instead stem from the Proto-Celtic word *brixtā, meaning 'spell' or 'magic'.
- While bruxa is the general term, the word meiga is used in northern Portugal and Galicia, where it carries a more positive connotation of a folk healer.
- The word bruxo is not only used for wizards but is also a common slang term in some regions for someone who is very skilled or 'magical' at a particular craft.
Examples in context
- Ela é uma bruxa.She's a witch.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as a bruxa.Tatoeba #6393769 by Ricardo14, translation #5643829 by narnar
- Não sou uma bruxa.I am not a witch.This sentence is useful for a person denying they are a bruxa.Tatoeba #1711263 by alexmarcelo, translation #794758 by Scott
- Tua mãe é uma bruxa.Your mother is a witch.This sentence is useful for identifying someone else's mother as a bruxa.Tatoeba #1782029 by alexmarcelo, translation #10067786 by Nylez
- A bruxa lançou um feitiço sobre a vila.The witch cast a spell on the village.
- A feiticeira possuía um grande poder mágico.The witch possessed great magical power.
- A bruxinha voou pelo céu montada em sua vassoura.The little witch flew through the sky riding her broomstick.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Lucas are discussing a movie they just watched.
- CamilaA bruxa do filme era muito assustadora.The witch in the movie was very scary.
- LucasSim, eu tive medo dela.Yes, I was afraid of her.
- CamilaEla parecia uma bruxa de verdade.She looked like a real witch.
- LucasCom certeza, a atuação foi ótima.For sure, the acting was great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witch” translations and entries bruxa, estria, estrige, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bruxa, estria, estrige, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
