Words ending in -eiro and -eira in Portuguese
You have just rented an apartment in São Paulo and you are setting up the place while getting to know the neighborhood.
The phrase
O padeiro aqui da rua faz um pão ótimo.10 words10 sentences
The ten words
- padeiro/paˈdeɾu/
bakernoun
A person who makes and sells bread.
- carteiro/kaʁˈteɾu/Also said kaɾˈteɾu.
mail carriernoun
A person who delivers letters to homes.
- bombeiro/bõˈbeɾu/
firefighternoun
A person trained to put out fires.
- engenheiro/ẽʒẽˈɲeɾu/
engineernoun
A professional who designs structures and machines.
- cabeleireiro/kabeleˈɾeɾu/
hairdressernoun
A professional who cuts hair.
- geladeira/ʒelaˈdeɾɐ/
refrigeratornoun
An appliance that keeps food cold.
- lixeira/liˈʃeɾɐ/
trash cannoun
A container where you throw trash.
- travesseiro/tɾaveˈseɾu/
pillownoun
A cushion that supports your head while sleeping.
- brasileiro/bɾaziˈleɾu/
Brazilianadjective
From Brazil.
- estrangeiro/istɾɐ̃ˈʒeɾu/
foreignadjective
Coming from another country.
The sentences
O padeiro aqui da rua faz um pão ótimo.
The baker on this street makes great bread.
O carteiro deixou uma carta para você na portaria.
The mail carrier left a letter for you at the front desk.
Em caso de incêndio, você liga para o bombeiro.
In case of fire, you call the firefighters.
O engenheiro vem olhar a rachadura na parede amanhã.
The engineer is coming tomorrow to look at the crack in the wall.
Você conhece um bom cabeleireiro aqui no bairro?
Do you know a good hairdresser around here in the neighborhood?
A geladeira nova chega amanhã de manhã.
The new refrigerator arrives tomorrow morning.
Onde fica a lixeira de reciclagem do prédio?
Where is the building's recycling bin?
Preciso comprar um travesseiro antes de dormir hoje.
I need to buy a pillow before I go to sleep tonight.
Meu vizinho é brasileiro, mas morou fora muitos anos.
My neighbor is Brazilian, but he lived abroad for many years.
O porteiro percebeu logo que eu sou estrangeiro.
The doorman realized right away that I'm a foreigner.
Pronunciation
engenheiro/ẽʒẽˈɲeɾu/
The en at the start is nasal and comes out through the nose, with no n sound, as in vento.
cabeleireiro/kabeleˈɾeɾu/
The stressed syllable is rei, and the lei in the middle usually sounds like just le.
geladeira/ʒelaˈdeɾɐ/
The e in ge is closed, as in você.
lixeira/liˈʃeɾɐ/
The x sounds like ch, as in chave.
estrangeiro/istɾɐ̃ˈʒeɾu/
The es at the start sounds like is, the an is nasal, and gei sounds like j with a closed e.
Good to know
- portaria
- In many São Paulo buildings there is a doorman and a front desk, where letters and packages arrive. It usually pays to introduce yourself to the staff when you move in.
- coleta seletiva
- Many buildings have separate bins for recyclables and regular trash. It's worth asking at the front desk how it works in yours.
- padaria
- The padaria is an everyday spot in the neighborhood. It usually sells fresh bread, coffee and snacks, and many open early.
- 192 e 193
- In Brazil, 192 calls an ambulance and 193 calls the fire department. Both numbers are free and work across the country.
Questions
- How do you say "refrigerator" in Brazilian Portuguese?
- You say geladeira, as in "A geladeira nova chega amanhã de manhã." It is the appliance that keeps food cold.
- What do I say to ask where the recycling bin is?
- You can say "Onde fica a lixeira de reciclagem do prédio?" A lixeira is the container where you throw the trash.
- What is the difference between brasileiro and estrangeiro?
- Brasileiro means from Brazil, and estrangeiro means from another country. In the example, the speaker says the doorman quickly noticed he is estrangeiro.