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Portuguese nouns used in the plural

Have you ever tried to talk about a single thing, only to realize the Portuguese word for it is plural? Some Portuguese nouns are conventionally used in the plural, even when they refer to a single concept or object. They require plural articles, plural adjectives, and plural verbs.

Sometimes, this rule makes sense to English speakers because the words refer to items with two parts, just like in English. However, other words on this list describe concepts that are completely singular in English, which can easily cause confusion.

Word list
calçasfA1 pants calças = pants / trousers costasfA1 back costas = the back (body part) fériasfA1 vacation férias = vacation óculosmA1 glasses óculos = a pair of glasses cereaismA2 cereal cereais = breakfast cereal correiosmA2 post office correios = the post office óculos de solmA2 sunglasses óculos de sol = sunglasses óculos escurosmA2 sunglasses óculos escuros = sunglasses parabénsA2 congratulations parabéns = congratulations parabénsA2 happy birthday parabéns = happy birthday calças de gangafB1 jeans calças de ganga = jeans calções de banhomB1 swimming trunks calções de banho = swimming trunks cereais matinaismB1 cereal cereais matinais = breakfast cereal óculos de nataçãomB1 swimming goggles óculos de natação = swimming goggles palavras cruzadasfB1 crossword palavras cruzadas = crossword pertencesmB1 belongings pertences = belongings tempos livresmB1 free time tempos livres = free time (European) arredoresmB2 surroundings arredores = surroundings binóculosmB2 binoculars binóculos = binoculars bodasfB2 wedding anniversary bodas = wedding anniversary brócolismB2 broccoli brócolis = broccoli (Brazilian) brócolosmB2 broccoli brócolos = broccoli (European) cócegasfB2 tickle cócegas = tickle economiasfB2 savings economias = savings finançasfB2 finance finanças = finance / finances Jogos OlímpicosmB2 Olympics Jogos Olímpicos = Olympic Games OlimpíadasfB2 Olympics Olimpíadas = Olympics pipocasB2 popcorn pipocas = popcorn (European) primeiros socorrosmB2 first aid primeiros socorros = first aid redondezasfB2 surroundings redondezas = surroundings algemasfC1 handcuffs algemas = handcuffs (a pair) cercaniasfC1 surroundings cercanias = surroundings collantsmC1 pantyhose collants = pantyhose / tights direitos autoraismC1 copyright direitos autorais = copyright (Brazilian) direitos de autormC1 copyright direitos de autor = copyright (European) escondidasfC1 hide and seek escondidas = hide and seek lides domésticasfC1 housework lides domésticas = housework
Mismatches with English

The biggest trap for English speakers is when a singular English word translates to a plural Portuguese word. The most common examples are férias (vacation) and costas (back). Even though you are talking about one vacation or one body part, the Portuguese sentence must use plural grammar.

As minhas férias foram excelentes.
(My vacation was excellent.)
Ele tem dores nas costas.
(He has pain in his back.)

Another very common mismatch is the word parabéns, which translates to happy birthday or congratulations.

Muitos parabéns pelo teu novo trabalho!
(Many congratulations on your new job!)
Things with two parts

Just like English uses plural forms for things with two legs or two lenses, Portuguese does the same. For eyewear, you will use words like óculos (glasses), óculos de sol or óculos escuros (sunglasses), óculos de natação (swimming goggles), and binóculos (binoculars).

Onde estão os meus óculos?
(Where are my glasses?)

Clothing that covers the legs follows this pattern too. You will use the plural for calças (pants or trousers), calças de ganga (jeans), calções de banho (swimming trunks), and collants (tights).

Ela comprou umas calças pretas.
(She bought a pair of black pants.)
Places, games, and concepts

Many abstract ideas and specific locations are conventionally plural. To describe the area around a town, you can use arredores, cercanias, or redondezas. If you need to mail a letter, you go to the correios (post office).

Eles moram nos arredores da cidade.
(They live in the surroundings of the city.)

Several games and events take the plural, such as escondidas (hide and seek), palavras cruzadas (crosswords), bodas (wedding anniversary), and the Olimpíadas or Jogos Olímpicos.

As crianças estão a brincar às escondidas.
(The children are playing hide and seek.)

Other useful plurals include economias (savings), finanças (finance), pertences (belongings), primeiros socorros (first aid), the physical sensation of cócegas (tickle), and even food like brócolis or brócolos (broccoli).

Watch out

Grammatical agreement is the most common place where learners make mistakes. Always double check that you are using plural articles (like os or as) and plural verbs when these nouns are the subject of your sentence.

Keep in mind that some of these words might technically have a singular form in the dictionary, but they are conventionally plural when used in the meanings discussed above.

Summary

Some Portuguese words are conventionally plural and require plural articles, adjectives, and verbs, even when translating a singular English concept like vacation or back. Always memorize these nouns with their matching plural articles to avoid agreement mistakes.