ano
/ˈɐ̃.nu/masculine
The Portuguese word for "year" is ano.
ano is the standard Portuguese word used to refer to a year, the unit of time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.
Meaning: time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ano refers to the unit of time, the word idade is used specifically when referring to a person's age.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term anozão is used colloquially in Brazil to refer to an eventful year.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ano is anos.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ˈɐ̃.nu/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portuguese, the word ano is a homonym with a common anatomical term. Because of this, Brazilians sometimes use the word ano as a pun or a joke in informal settings.
- The root of ano can be traced back to a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to go', suggesting the concept of a year is a 'going' cycle.
- In Brazil, the expression ano bissexto refers to a leap year. This occurs every four years to keep the calendar aligned with the Earth's orbit.
Examples in context
- Até o ano que vem!See you next year!This sentence shows how to use ano in the phrase "next year."Tatoeba #7260102 by carlosalberto, translation #7259574 by MessDjaaf
- É o começo do ano.It's the beginning of the year.This sentence demonstrates using ano to describe the beginning of the year.Tatoeba #9147549 by carlosalberto, translation #9147520 by carlosalberto
- Eu vou lá todo ano.I go every year.This sentence illustrates how to use ano when saying "every year."Tatoeba #1200132 by alexmarcelo, translation #322472 by CK
- Um ano tem 365 dias.A year has 365 days.
- As receitas anuais da empresa aumentaram em 10%.The company's annual revenues increased by 10%.
- Parabéns! Você está fazendo um aninho!Happy birthday! You're turning one year old!
- Acredita? Estamos juntos há cinco anozinhos!Can you believe it? We've been together for five whole years!
- 1365 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are talking about their travel plans.
- FelipeVocê quer viajar este ano?Do you want to travel this year?
- BeatrizSim, eu quero ir para a praia.Yes, I want to go to the beach.
- FelipeQual mês do ano é melhor?Which month of the year is better?
- BeatrizAcho que dezembro é perfeito.I think December is perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “year” translations and entries ano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
