Calçado vs. sapato
In Portuguese, while both calçado and sapato refer to things worn on the feet, they are not interchangeable. Calçado is a broad, general category, while sapato refers to a specific type within that category.
Calçado
B1Calçado is the general, umbrella term for any and all types of footwear you wear on your feet. It encompasses everything from shoes and boots to sandals and slippers.
Esta loja tem uma secção de calçado infantil.
(This store has a children's footwear section.)
Preciso de um calçado apropriado para a caminhada na montanha.
(I need appropriate footwear for the mountain hike.)
A indústria de calçado no Brasil exporta para vários países.
(The footwear industry in Brazil exports to several countries.)
Por favor, tire o calçado antes de entrar em casa.
(Please, take off your footwear before entering the house.)
Chanclas, botas e sapatilhas são tipos de calçado.
(Sandals, boots, and sneakers are types of footwear.)
Sapato
A1Sapato refers to a specific type of shoe. It typically describes a more classic, formal, or semi-formal closed-toe shoe, such as a dress shoe, an oxford, or a loafer.
Ele teve que comprar um sapato novo para a entrevista de emprego.
(He had to buy a new shoe for the job interview.)
O meu sapato de couro está muito apertado.
(My leather shoe is very tight.)
Ela prefere usar um sapato de salto alto em festas.
(She prefers to wear a high-heeled shoe to parties.)
Para o casamento, o noivo usava um sapato preto brilhante.
(For the wedding, the groom wore a shiny black shoe.)
Vou usar ténis para correr, não um sapato.
(I will wear sneakers to run, not a shoe.)
Summary
The key difference is one of category versus specific item. Calçado is the broad category for all footwear. Sapato is a specific item within that category, typically referring to a formal or classic shoe. To put it simply: every sapato is a type of calçado, but not every calçado is a sapato.