This is an Swadesh list of words in English and Portuguese.
Presentation[]
- For further information, read the Wikipedia article: Swadesh list
A Swadesh word list, developed by the linguist Swadesh, is used as a tool to study the evolution of languages. It contains a set of basic words which can be found in every language to varying degrees. Various versions have been created, in particular:
- a complete 207 words version, in which some of the words are not found in every environment (it contains for instance snake and snow)
- a reduced 100 words version.
Some versions are more reliable than others in terms of the universality of concurrence between the words' meanings.
This word list should not be considered as an elementary lexicon to communicate with speakers of a given language; for such a purpose, the numerous existing Wikitravel lexicons are more useful. Its only objective is to give a rough idea of the language, by showing its lexical and, when possible, phonetic basis.
List[]
| No. | English | Portuguese português |
IPA pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | eu | [eu] |
| 2 | you (singular) | tu, você informal in BP, formal in EP | [tu], [vɔˈse], [voˈse] (BP) |
| 3 | he | ele | [ˈelɨ] (EP), [ˈeli] (BP) |
| 4 | we | nós | [ˈnɔʃ] (EP), [ˈnɔs] (BP) |
| 5 | you (plural) | vós, vocês informal in both BP and EP | [ˈvɔʃ] (EP), [vɔˈseʃ] (EP), [ˈvɔs] (BP), [vɔˈses] (BP) |
| 6 | they | eles | [ˈelɨʃ] (EP), [ˈelis] (BP) |
| 7 | this | isto near me, isso near you | [ˈiʃtu] (EP), [ˈistu] (BP) |
| 8 | that | aquilo | [ɐˈkilu] (EP), [aˈkilu] (BP) |
| 9 | here | aqui | [ɐˈki] (EP), [aˈki] (BP) |
| 10 | there | aí | [ɐˈi] (EP), [aˈi] (BP) |
| 11 | who | quem | [kɐ̃ĩ] (EP), [kẽ̃ĩ] (BP) |
| 12 | what | que, o que | [kɨ] (EP), [u] [kɨ] (EP), [ki] (BP), [u] [ki] (BP) |
| 13 | where | onde | [ˈõðɨ] (EP), [ˈõdʒi] (BP) |
| 14 | when | quando | [ˈkuɐ̃ðu] (EP), [ˈkuɐ̃du] (BP) |
| 15 | how | como | [ˈkomu] |
| 16 | not | não | [nɐ̃ũ] |
| 17 | all | todo | [ˈtoðu] (EP), [ˈtodu] (BP) |
| 18 | many | muito | [ˈmũĩtu] |
| 19 | some | alguns | [aɫˈɣũʃ] (EP), [auˈgũs] (BP) |
| 20 | few | pouco | [ˈpo(ou)ku] |
| 21 | other | outro | [ˈo(ou)tɾu] |
| 22 | one | um | [ũ] |
| 23 | two | dois | [doiʃ] (EP), [dois] (BP) |
| 24 | three | três | [tɾeʃ] (EP), [tɾes] (BP) |
| 25 | four | quatro | [ˈkuatɾu] |
| 26 | five | cinco | [ˈsĩku] |
| 27 | big | grande | [ˈɡɾɐ̃ðɨ] (EP), [ˈɡɾɐ̃dʒi] (BP) |
| 28 | long | longo | [ˈlõɣu] (EP), [ˈlõɡu] (BP) |
| 29 | wide | largo | [ˈlaɾɣu] (EP), [ˈlaʁgu] (BP) |
| 30 | thick | espesso, grosso | [ɨʃˈpesu] (EP), [isˈpesu] (BP) |
| 31 | heavy | pesado | [pɨˈzaðu] (EP), [peˈzadu] (BP) |
| 32 | small | pequeno | [pɨˈkenu] (EP), [piˈkenu] (BP) |
| 33 | short | curto | [ˈkuɾtu] |
| 34 | narrow | estreito | [ɨʃˈtɾɐitu] (EP), [isˈtɾeitu] (BP) |
| 35 | thin | fino | [ˈfinu] |
| 36 | woman | mulher | [muˈʎɛɾ] |
| 37 | man (male) | homem | [ˈɔmɐ̃ĩ] (EP), [ˈomẽĩ] (BP) |
| 38 | man (human) | homem | [ˈɔmɐ̃ĩ] (EP), [ˈomẽĩ] (BP) |
| 39 | child | criança | [kɾiˈɐ̃sɐ] |
| 40 | wife | mulher, esposa | [muˈʎɛɾ], [ɨʃˈpozɐ] (EP), [isˈpoza] (BP) |
| 41 | husband | marido, esposo | [mɐˈɾiðu] (EP), [ɨʃˈpozu] (EP), [maˈɾidu] (BP), [isˈpozu] (BP) |
| 42 | mother | mãe | [mɐ̃i] |
| 43 | father | pai | [pai] |
| 44 | animal | animal | [ɐniˈmaɫ] (EP), [aniˈmau] (BP) |
| 45 | fish | peixe | [ˈpɐiʃɨ] (EP), [ˈpe(ei)ʃi] (BP) |
| 46 | bird | ave, pássaro | [ˈavɨ] (EP), [ˈavi] (EP), [ˈpasɐɾu] (EP), [ˈpasaɾu] (BP) |
| 47 | dog | cão | [kɐ̃ũ] |
| 48 | louse | piolho | [piˈoʎu] |
| 49 | snake | serpente, cobra | [sɨɾˈpẽtɨ] (EP), [seʁˈpẽtʃi] (BP), [ˈkɔβɾɐ](EP), [ˈkɔbɾɐ] (BP) |
| 50 | worm | verme | [ˈvɛɾmɨ] (EP), [ˈvɛʁmi] (BP) |
| 51 | tree | árvore | [ˈaɾvuɾɨ] (EP), [ˈaʁvoɾi] (BP) |
| 52 | forest | floresta | [fluˈɾɛʃtɐ] (EP), [floˈɾɛstɐ] (BP) |
| 53 | stick | bastão | [bɐʃˈtɐ̃ũ] (EP), [basˈtɐ̃u] <smal>(BP) |
| 54 | fruit | fruta, fruto | [ˈfɾutɐ], [ˈfɾutu] |
| 55 | seed | semente | [sɨˈmẽtɨ] (EP), [seˈmẽtʃi] (BP) |
| 56 | leaf | folha | [ˈfoʎɐ] |
| 57 | root | raiz | [ɾɐˈiʃ] (EP), [xa'is] (BP) |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | casca | [ˈkaʃkɐ] (EP), [ˈkaskɐ] (BP) |
| 59 | flower | flor | [floɾ] (EP), [flox] (BP) |
| 60 | grass | grama | [ˈɛɾvɐ] (EP), [ˈʁɾvɐ] (BP) |
| 61 | rope | corda | [ˈkɔɾðɐ] (EP), [ˈkɔʁdɐ] (BP) |
| 62 | skin | pele | [ˈpɛlɨ] (EP), [ˈpɛli] (BP) |
| 63 | meat | carne | [ˈkaɾnɨ] (EP), [ˈkaʁni] (BP) |
| 64 | blood | sangue | [ˈsɐ̃ɣɨ] (EP), [ˈsɐ̃gi] (BP) |
| 65 | bone | osso | [ˈosu] |
| 66 | fat (noun) | gordura | [ɡuɾˈðuɾɐ] (EP), [ɡoʁˈduɾɐ] (BP) |
| 67 | egg | ovo | [ˈovu] |
| 68 | horn | chifre, corno | [ˈʃifɾɨ] (EP), [ˈkoɾnu] (EP), [ˈʃifɾi] (BP), [ˈkoʁnu] (BP) |
| 69 | tail | cauda, rabo | [ˈkauðɐ] (EP), [ˈɾaβu] (EP), [ˈkaudɐ] (BP), [ˈxabu] (BP) |
| 70 | feather | pena | [ˈpenɐ] |
| 71 | hair | cabelo | [kɐˈβelu] (EP), [kaˈbelu] (BP) |
| 72 | head | cabeça | [kɐˈβesɐ] (EP), [kaˈbesɐ] (BP) |
| 73 | ear | orelha | [oˈɾɐʎɐ] (EP), [oˈɾeʎɐ] (BP and EP alternative) |
| 74 | eye | olho | [ˈoʎu] |
| 75 | nose | nariz | [nɐˈɾiʃ] (EP), [naˈɾis] (BP) |
| 76 | mouth | boca | [ˈbokɐ] |
| 77 | tooth | dente | [ˈdẽtɨ] (EP), [ˈdẽtʃi] (BP) |
| 78 | tongue | língua | [ˈlĩguɐ] |
| 79 | fingernail | unha | [ˈuɲɐ] |
| 80 | foot | pé | [pɛ] |
| 81 | leg | perna | [ˈpɛɾnɐ] (EP), [ˈpɛʁnɐ] (BP) |
| 82 | knee | joelho | [ʒuˈɐʎu] (EP), [ʒuˈeʎu] (BP and EP alternative) |
| 83 | hand | mão | [mɐ̃u] |
| 84 | wing | asa | [ˈazɐ] |
| 85 | belly | ventre, barriga | [ˈvẽtɾɨ] (EP), [bɐˈʁiɣɐ] (EP), [ˈvẽtɾi] (BP), [baˈxigɐ] (BP) |
| 86 | guts | entranhas, intestino | [ẽˈtɾɐɲɐʃ] (EP), [ĩtɨʃˈtinu] (EP), [ẽˈtɾɐɲɐs] (BP), [ĩtesˈtʃinu] (BO) |
| 87 | neck | pescoço | [pɨʃˈkosu] (EP), [pesˈkosu] (BP) |
| 88 | back | costas | [ˈkɔʃtɐʃ] (EP), [ˈkɔstɐs] (BP) |
| 89 | breast | peito, seios | [ˈpɐitu] (EP), [ˈsɐiuʃ] (EP), [ˈpeitu] (EP), [ˈseius] (EP) |
| 90 | heart | coração | [kuɾɐˈsɐ̃w] (EP), [kɔɾaˈsɐ̃u] (BP) |
| 91 | liver | fígado | [ˈfiɣɐðu] (EP), [ˈfigɐdu] (BP) |
| 92 | to drink | beber | [bɨˈbeɾ] |
| 93 | to eat | comer | [kuˈmeɾ] |
| 94 | to bite | morder | [muɾˈdeɾ] |
| 95 | to suck | sugar, chupar | [suˈɡaɾ], [ʃuˈpaɾ] |
| 96 | to spit | cuspir | [kuʃˈpiɾ] |
| 97 | to vomit | vomitar | [vumiˈtaɾ] |
| 98 | to blow | soprar | [suˈpɾaɾ] |
| 99 | to breathe | respirar | [ɾɨʃpiˈɾaɾ] |
| 100 | to laugh | rir | [ɾiɾ] |
| 101 | to see | ver | [veɾ] |
| 102 | to hear | ouvir | [oˈviɾ] |
| 103 | to know | saber | [sɐˈbeɾ] |
| 104 | to think | pensar | [pẽˈsaɾ] |
| 105 | to smell | cheirar | [ʃejˈɾaɾ] |
| 106 | to fear | temer | [tɨˈmeɾ] |
| 107 | to sleep | dormir | [duɾˈmiɾ] |
| 108 | to live | viver | [viˈveɾ] |
| 109 | to die | morrer | [muˈʀeɾ] |
| 110 | to kill | matar | [mɐˈtaɾ] |
| 111 | to fight | lutar | [luˈtaɾ] |
| 112 | to hunt | caçar | [kɐˈsaɾ] |
| 113 | to hit | bater | [bɐˈteɾ] |
| 114 | to cut | cortar | [kuɾˈtaɾ] |
| 115 | to split | rachar | [ʀɐˈʃaɾ] |
| 116 | to stab | esfaquear, apunhalar | [eʃfɐkiˈaɾ], [ɐpuɲɐˈlaɾ] |
| 117 | to scratch | raspar | [ʀɐʃˈpaɾ] |
| 118 | to dig | cavar | [kɐˈvaɾ] |
| 119 | to swim | nadar | [nɐˈdaɾ] |
| 120 | to fly | voar | [vuˈaɾ] |
| 121 | to walk | andar, caminhar | [ɐ̃ˈdaɾ], [kɐmiˈɲaɾ] |
| 122 | to come | vir | [viɾ] |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | deitar-se (action), estar deitado (state) | [dɐjˈtaɾse], [ɨʃˈtaɾ] [dejˈtadu] |
| 124 | to sit | sentar-se (action), estar sentado (state) | [sẽˈtaɾse], [ɨʃˈtaɾ] [sẽˈtadu] |
| 125 | to stand | pôr-se de pé (action), estar em pé (state) | [poɾse] [dɨ] [pɛ], [ɨʃˈtaɾ] [ɐ̃j] [pɛ] |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | virar, girar | [viˈɾaɾ], [ʒiˈɾaɾ] |
| 127 | to fall | cair | [kɐˈiɾ] |
| 128 | to give | dar | [daɾ] |
| 129 | to hold | segurar | [sɨɡuˈɾaɾ] |
| 130 | to squeeze | apertar | [ɐpɨɾˈtaɾ] |
| 131 | to rub | esfregar | [ɨʃfɾɨˈɡaɾ] |
| 132 | to wash | lavar | [lɐˈvaɾ] |
| 133 | to wipe | enxugar | [ẽʃuˈɡaɾ] |
| 134 | to pull | puxar | [puˈʃaɾ] |
| 135 | to push | empurrar | [ẽpuˈʀaɾ] |
| 136 | to throw | atirar, lançar | [ɐtiˈɾaɾ], [lɐ̃ˈsaɾ] |
| 137 | to tie | atar | [ɐˈtaɾ] |
| 138 | to sew | coser (EP), costurar (BP) | [kuˈzeɾ] |
| 139 | to count | contar | [kõˈtaɾ] |
| 140 | to say | dizer | [diˈzeɾ] |
| 141 | to sing | cantar | [kɐ̃ˈtaɾ] |
| 142 | to play | brincar, jogar | [bɾĩˈkaɾ], [ʒuˈɡaɾ] |
| 143 | to float | flutuar, boiar | [flutuˈaɾ], [bojˈaɾ] |
| 144 | to flow | fluir | [fluˈiɾ] |
| 145 | to freeze | gelar | [ʒɨˈlaɾ] |
| 146 | to swell | inchar | [ĩˈʃaɾ] |
| 147 | sun | sol | [sɔl] |
| 148 | moon | lua | [ˈluɐ] |
| 149 | star | estrela | [ɨʃˈtɾelɐ] |
| 150 | water | água | [ˈaɡwɐ] |
| 151 | rain | chuva | [ˈʃuvɐ] |
| 152 | river | rio | [ˈʀiu] |
| 153 | lake | lago | [ˈlaɡu] |
| 154 | sea | mar | [maɾ] |
| 155 | salt | sal | [sal] |
| 156 | stone | pedra | [ˈpɛdɾɐ] |
| 157 | sand | areia | [ɐˈɾejɐ] |
| 158 | dust | poeira | [puˈejɾɐ] |
| 159 | earth | terra | [ˈtɛʀɐ] |
| 160 | cloud | nuvem | [ˈnuvɐ̃j] |
| 161 | fog | nevoeiro | [nɨvuˈejɾu] |
| 162 | sky | céu | [sɛw] |
| 163 | wind | vento | [ˈvẽtu] |
| 164 | snow | neve | [ˈnɛvɨ] |
| 165 | ice | gelo | [ˈʒelu] |
| 166 | smoke | fumo (EP), fumaça (BP) | [ˈfumu] |
| 167 | fire | fogo | [ˈfoɡu] |
| 168 | ash | cinzas | [ˈsĩzɐʃ] |
| 169 | to burn | arder, queimar | [ɐɾˈdeɾ] |
| 170 | road | estrada | [ɨʃˈtɾadɐ] |
| 171 | mountain | montanha | [mõˈtɐɲɐ] |
| 172 | red | vermelho | [vɨɾˈmɐjʎu] |
| 173 | green | verde | [ˈveɾdɨ] |
| 174 | yellow | amarelo | [ɐmɐˈɾɛlu] |
| 175 | white | branco | [ˈbɾɐ̃ku] |
| 176 | black | preto, negro | [ˈpɾetu], [ˈneɡɾu] |
| 177 | night | noite | [ˈnɔjtɨ] |
| 178 | day | dia | [ˈdiɐ] |
| 179 | year | ano | [ˈɐnu] |
| 180 | warm | quente | [kẽˈtɨ] |
| 181 | cold | frio | [ˈfɾiu] |
| 182 | full | cheio | [ˈʃeju] |
| 183 | new | novo | [ˈnovu] |
| 184 | old | velho | [ˈvɛʎu] |
| 185 | good | bom | [bõ] |
| 186 | bad | mau | [maw] |
| 187 | rotten | podre | [ˈpodɾɨ] |
| 188 | dirty | sujo | [ˈsuʒu] |
| 189 | straight | direito | [diˈɾɐjtu] |
| 190 | round | redondo | [ʀɨˈdõdu] |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | afiado, aguçado | [ɐfiˈadu], [ɐɡuˈsadu] |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | cego | [ˈsɛɡu] |
| 193 | smooth | liso | [ˈlizu] |
| 194 | wet | húmido (EP), úmido (BP) | [ˈumidu] |
| 195 | dry | seco | [ˈseku] |
| 196 | correct | correcto (EP), correto (BP) | [kuˈʀɛtu] (EP), [koˈʀɛtu] (BP) |
| 197 | near | perto, próximo | [ˈpɛɾtu] |
| 198 | far | longe | [ˈlõʒɨ] |
| 199 | right | direita | [diˈɾejtɐ] |
| 200 | left | esquerda | [ɨʃˈkeɾdɐ] |
| 201 | at | a, em | [a], [ɐ̃j] |
| 202 | in | em | [ɐ̃j] |
| 203 | with | com | [kõ] |
| 204 | and | e | [i] |
| 205 | if | se | [sɨ] |
| 206 | because | porque | [ˈpuɾkɨ] |
| 207 | name | nome | [ˈnɔmɨ] |
- Orthography :
When the words have various forms (verbs conjugation, gender and number agreement, declensions), the orthography is the following :
- verbs : infinitive
- other words : masculine or neutral, singular, nominative (subject)
For specific cases (no infinitive, feminine name, plural name for instance), the simplest form is used.
- Pronunciation :
The showed pronunciation is the pronunciation generally used in Portugal (EP) and/or in Brazil (BP). Depending on the speakers and the area, the actual pronunciation may differ, more or less significantly, from the showed pronunciation.
Bibliography[]
- Dictionnaire de poche français-portugais / portugais-français, Hachette & Verbo, Paris 2005 - ISBN 2-01-280574-4
- Les langages de l'humanité (Michel Malherbe), Robert Laffont, Paris 1995 - ISBN 2-221-05947-6
External links[]
- Portuguese dictionaries (Lexilogos)
- Wiktionary : Swadesh lists for further Romance languages
- Wikcionário (Portuguese Wiktionary)