carcaju
/kaʁ.kaˈʒu/masculine
The English word 'wolverine' is translated into Portuguese as carcaju or glutão.
Meaning: Gulo gulo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| carcaju | /kaʁ.kaˈʒu/ (Brazil) /kaɾ.kaˈʒu/ (São Paulo) |
masculine |
| glutão | /ɡluˈtɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /ɡluˈtɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
Both terms refer to the wolverine (*Gulo gulo*). carcaju is the standard name used to identify the species, while glutão is a descriptive term based on the animal's reputation for being a glutton.
Which one should you use?
carcaju is the scientific and standard name for the species. In contrast, glutão is a colloquial term used to describe the animal based on its behavior.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In European Portuguese, the term glutão is occasionally used for the wolverine.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both carcaju and glutão are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʁ.kaˈʒu/. The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The term carcaju entered Portuguese via French, which had borrowed it from an Algonquian language spoken by indigenous peoples in North America.
- The Portuguese word glutão is used as a common insult for a person who eats excessively, regardless of any connection to the animal.
- While carcaju is the standard name in Brazil, speakers in Portugal are more likely to use glutão to refer to the animal.
Examples in context
- O carcaju é onívoro.The wolverine is an omnivore.This sentence is useful for learning about the diet of the carcaju.Tatoeba #3494202 by piterkeo, translation #8184263 by Adelpa
- O carcaju é um animal fascinante.The wolverine is a fascinating animal.
- O glutão é bastante diferente de outros animais.The wolverine is quite different from other animals.
- O carcaju é um animal muito forte.The wolverine is a very strong animal.
- Vi um desenho de um carcaju.I saw a drawing of a wolverine.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Juliana are talking about nature documentaries at home.
- FelipeVocê conhece o carcaju?Do you know the wolverine?
- JulianaSim, ele parece muito feroz.Yes, it looks very fierce.
- FelipeEu li que o carcaju vive em florestas frias.I read that the wolverine lives in cold forests.
- JulianaIsso é verdade, Felipe.That is true, Felipe.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wolverine” translations and entries carcaju, glutão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carcaju, glutão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
