grelhar
grelhar in 30 Sekunden
- Grelhar means to grill food over direct heat, a staple of Portuguese and Brazilian cooking culture.
- It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses for learners.
- Commonly used with fish, meat, and vegetables, especially in healthy or social contexts like barbecues.
- The word is distinct from 'assar' (roast/bake) and 'fritar' (fry), focusing specifically on the grill.
The Portuguese verb grelhar is a fundamental culinary term that every learner should master early on, especially given the central role of grilled food in Lusophone cultures. At its core, it means to cook food—usually meat, fish, or vegetables—on a grill (a grelha) over direct heat. This heat source can be charcoal (carvão), gas, or electricity. Unlike roasting in an oven (assar no forno), grelhar implies a more direct and intense application of heat that often results in characteristic char marks and a smoky flavor profile. In Portugal, the act of grelhar is almost a national pastime, particularly during the summer months and the famous Santos Populares festivals, where the smell of grilled sardines (sardinhas assadas/grelhadas) fills the narrow streets of Lisbon and Porto. While 'assar' is sometimes used interchangeably for grilling on charcoal in certain regions of Portugal, 'grelhar' specifically refers to the use of the grate or gridiron. In Brazil, while 'churrasco' is the dominant term for a barbecue event, the technical verb for the cooking process remains grelhar or assar na brasa. You will use this word when ordering at a restaurant, following a recipe, or discussing healthy cooking methods, as grilling is often viewed as a lighter alternative to frying (fritar).
- O Equipamento
- To grelhar, you need a grelha (grill/grate). This can be a simple metal rack placed over coals or a sophisticated electric appliance.
- O Alimento
- Common items to grelhar include peixe (fish), carne (meat), frango (chicken), and legumes (vegetables).
- O Local
- Grilling often happens at a churrasqueira (barbecue pit) or in the cozinha (kitchen) using a grill pan.
O cozinheiro está a grelhar o salmão para o jantar.
Beyond the kitchen, 'grelhar' can occasionally be heard in figurative contexts, though less frequently than in English. In some professional or academic settings, it might imply putting someone under pressure or 'grilling' them with difficult questions, although the verb interrogar or the phrase fazer um interrogatório is more common for this purpose. However, the culinary meaning is so dominant that when you hear the word, your first thought should always be of delicious, charred food. In terms of health and lifestyle, Portuguese doctors and nutritionists frequently recommend that patients grelhem their food instead of frying it to reduce fat intake. This makes the word a staple in health-conscious conversations. Furthermore, the cultural significance of the 'grelhado' cannot be overstated in Portugal; the simplicity of a grilled sea bass (robalo grelhado) seasoned only with sea salt and olive oil represents the pinnacle of Portuguese Atlantic gastronomy, emphasizing the freshness of the product over complex sauces.
Nós vamos grelhar umas sardinhas no jardim este sábado.
É melhor grelhar o frango do que fritá-lo.
Pode grelhar os legumes com um pouco de azeite?
Eles adoram grelhar carne na brasa durante o verão.
Using grelhar correctly involves understanding its conjugation as a regular '-ar' verb and its placement within different sentence structures. In its simplest form, it follows the pattern: Subject + (Auxiliary Verb) + Grelhar + Object. For example, 'Eu vou grelhar o bife' (I am going to grill the steak). Because it is a transitive verb, it almost always takes a direct object—the thing being cooked. You can also use it in the passive voice, though it's more common to use the past participle as an adjective: 'O peixe está grelhado' (The fish is grilled). When discussing preferences, you might say, 'Eu prefiro grelhar a carne do que cozê-la' (I prefer to grill the meat than to boil it). It is also important to note the adverbs often associated with this verb, such as 'lentamente' (slowly) or 'rapidamente' (quickly), which describe the technique used.
- Present Tense
- Eu grelho (I grill), Tu grelhas (You grill), Ele/Ela grelha (He/She grills), Nós grelhamos (We grill), Eles/Elas grelham (They grill).
- Imperative (Commands)
- Grelha o peixe! (Grill the fish! - informal), Grelhe os legumes! (Grill the vegetables! - formal).
- Past Participle
- Grelhado (Grilled). Used as an adjective: 'Frango grelhado'.
Se você grelhar o pimento, ele fica muito mais doce.
In more complex sentences, 'grelhar' can appear in the infinitive after modal verbs like 'querer' (to want), 'poder' (can/to be able to), or 'dever' (should). For instance, 'Tu deves grelhar a carne em lume brando' (You should grill the meat on low heat). This is common in instructional contexts like cookbooks or cooking shows. Another common structure involves the gerund (in Brazil) or the 'a + infinitive' construction (in Portugal) to describe an ongoing action: 'Estou a grelhar' vs 'Estou grelhando'. This is what you would say if someone called you while you were busy at the barbecue. Additionally, the verb is often paired with prepositional phrases that indicate the method: 'grelhar na chapa' (to grill on a flat top/griddle) or 'grelhar na brasa' (to grill over embers). Understanding these nuances allows you to be specific about the culinary results you desire.
Nós costumamos grelhar espetadas de fruta para a sobremesa.
Para esta receita, é necessário grelhar o queijo até derreter.
Ontem, eu decidi grelhar umas costeletas de borrego.
Será que podemos grelhar estes cogumelos na frigideira?
If you walk through any Portuguese town at lunchtime, the word grelhar is effectively 'in the air' via the scent of cooking. You will hear it most frequently in restaurants, particularly in 'churrasqueiras' (specialized grill houses) and 'restaurantes de peixe' (fish restaurants). A waiter might ask, 'Deseja o peixe cozido ou grelhado?' (Do you want the fish boiled or grilled?). In supermarkets, you'll see labels like 'pronto a grelhar' (ready to grill) on marinated meats. Television cooking shows are another prime location; chefs will constantly use the imperative 'grelhe' or the infinitive 'grelhar' when explaining how to achieve the perfect sear on a piece of 'picanha' or 'bacalhau'. Furthermore, during the summer holidays, the word becomes the center of social life. Friends will call each other saying, 'Vamos grelhar qualquer coisa lá em casa hoje?' (Shall we grill something at my place today?). This informal usage highlights the social, communal nature of grilling in Portuguese-speaking countries.
- No Restaurante
- Waiters often use it to clarify cooking preferences: 'Quer o bife bem grelhado?' (Do you want the steak well-grilled?).
- Em Programas de Culinária
- Chefs emphasize techniques: 'É importante não grelhar demais o atum' (It's important not to over-grill the tuna).
- Em Convívios Sociais
- The verb is used to organize gatherings: 'Quem vai ficar responsável por grelhar a carne?' (Who will be responsible for grilling the meat?).
Ouvi dizer que eles vão grelhar sardinhas na rua durante as festas.
In Brazil, the context shifts slightly toward the 'churrasco' culture. While 'churrasquear' is a slangier term for having a BBQ, 'grelhar' remains the technical term used in recipes and by professional 'churrasqueiros'. You'll hear it in the 'Rodízio' houses where servers describe how the meat was prepared. In the context of healthy living, Brazilian fitness influencers often use 'grelhar' when sharing meal-prep tips, emphasizing that 'frango grelhado com batata doce' (grilled chicken with sweet potato) is the ultimate athlete's meal. Even in news reports about rising food prices, you might hear about the cost of 'carne para grelhar'. Essentially, whether you are in a high-end eatery in São Paulo or a seaside shack in the Azores, 'grelhar' is the linguistic key to some of the most authentic and beloved food experiences in the Portuguese-speaking world. It's a word that evokes warmth, smoke, and the pleasure of eating fresh ingredients prepared simply.
O segredo é grelhar com sal grosso para realçar o sabor.
Gostaria de grelhar estes camarões com alho e limão.
Vamos grelhar o queijo coalho na praia?
Não te esqueças de grelhar as fatias de pão também.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with grelhar is confusing it with other cooking methods, particularly 'assar'. While in English we might use 'roast' and 'grill' somewhat loosely, in Portuguese, 'assar' usually refers to cooking in an oven (like a cake or a whole chicken) or, specifically in Portugal, roasting sardines on coals. If you tell someone you are going to 'grelhar um bolo' (grill a cake), they will look at you very strangely! Another common error is pronunciation; the 'lh' sound is a palatal lateral approximant, similar to the 'lli' in 'million'. Learners often mispronounce it as a simple 'l' or a 'y' sound. Practicing the 'lh' is crucial for being understood. Additionally, learners often forget that 'grelhar' is a transitive verb and requires an object, or they use the wrong preposition when describing the heat source.
- Grelhar vs. Assar
- Use 'grelhar' for the grill/grate and 'assar' for the oven or roasting over a spit. Avoid saying 'grelhar no forno'.
- Grelhar vs. Fritar
- 'Fritar' involves oil/fat submerged cooking. Don't say 'grelhar em muito óleo'.
- Gender Agreement
- When using the past participle as an adjective, it must match the noun: 'Peixe grelhado' (masculine) but 'Sardinha grelhada' (feminine).
Erro: Vou grelhar o pão no forno. (Correto: Vou torrar o pão no forno.)
Another nuance involves the difference between 'grelha' (the tool) and 'grelhado' (the result). Sometimes learners use the noun when they mean the verb. For example, saying 'Eu grelha o peixe' instead of 'Eu grelho o peixe'. Remember to conjugate! Furthermore, in Brazil, the term 'churrasco' is so popular that learners might try to use it as a verb ('churrascar'), which is very informal and slangy. In a standard or formal context, always stick to 'grelhar' or 'preparar no churrasco'. Lastly, be careful with the word 'grill'. While 'grill' is used in Portuguese to refer to the electric appliance, the action itself is still 'grelhar'. Don't try to 'aportuguesar' the English word into 'grilhar'—it doesn't exist! Stick to the authentic 'grelhar' to sound like a native.
Erro: Queres a carne grelhar? (Correto: Queres a carne grelhada?)
Cuidado: Não se diz grelhar sopa!
Erro: Ele grelhou a água. (Correto: Ele ferveu a água.)
Erro: Eu gosto de grelhar ovos. (Correto: Eu gosto de estrelar ou cozer ovos.)
Portuguese has a rich culinary vocabulary, so knowing the alternatives to grelhar will help you be more precise. The most common related word is assar. While 'assar' can mean to roast in an oven, in the context of a BBQ, 'assar na brasa' is practically synonymous with 'grelhar'. However, 'assar' implies a longer, slower process, whereas 'grelhar' often suggests a quicker sear. Another alternative is tostar, which means to toast (like bread) or to brown something slightly. If you are cooking something quickly in a pan with just a tiny bit of fat, you might use saltear (to sauté). For those who enjoy a more intense char, chamuscar means to singe or scorch. Understanding these differences allows you to follow complex recipes and communicate exactly how you want your food prepared.
- Assar
- To roast or bake. Used for ovens or whole animals on a spit. 'Assar um frango'.
- Tostar
- To toast. Used for bread or nuts. 'Tostar o pão'.
- Churrasquear
- Informal Brazilian term for having a barbecue. 'Vamos churrasquear no domingo!'.
Em vez de grelhar, podes assar o peixe no forno com batatas.
In a restaurant setting, you might also encounter brasear, which means to braise or to cook over embers (brasas). This is often seen as a more 'gourmet' term than the simple 'grelhar'. If you are looking for something very healthy, you might choose cozer a vapor (to steam). In some contexts, particularly in the North of Portugal, you might hear the term escalar, which refers to opening a fish flat before grilling it—a specific technique often paired with 'grelhar'. By expanding your vocabulary beyond just 'grelhar', you can navigate the diverse world of Lusophone cuisine with confidence, whether you're at a high-end 'gastropub' in Luanda or a traditional 'tasca' in Coimbra. Each of these words carries a different connotation of time, temperature, and texture.
Prefiro grelhar os vegetais para manter a sua textura crocante.
Podes grelhar o chouriço antes de o servires?
Eles decidiram grelhar a picanha inteira na churrasqueira.
Não precisas de grelhar o presunto, ele já está pronto.
How Formal Is It?
Wusstest du?
The Latin root 'craticula' is also the source of the English word 'griddle' and 'gridiron'. The same root also gave us 'grill' via French.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing 'lh' as a simple 'l'.
- Pronouncing 'lh' as 'y' (Spanish style).
- Stressing the first syllable instead of the last.
- Making the 'r' sound too much like an English 'r'.
- Confusing the 'e' sound with 'i'.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Easy to recognize in menus and recipes.
Requires remembering the 'lh' spelling.
The 'lh' sound and the final 'r' can be tricky for beginners.
Clear sound, but can be confused with 'gelar' if spoken fast.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Regular -ar verb conjugation in the present tense.
Eu grelho, Tu grelhas, Ele grelha...
Use of the past participle as an adjective.
O frango está grelhado.
The 'a + infinitive' construction for continuous actions.
Estou a grelhar (I am grilling).
Gender agreement for adjectives derived from verbs.
Carne grelhada (f), Peixe grelhado (m).
Imperative mood for recipes.
Grelhe por dez minutos.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Eu gosto de peixe grelhado.
I like grilled fish.
Grelhado is an adjective here, matching the masculine noun peixe.
Você quer grelhar a carne?
Do you want to grill the meat?
Grelhar is in the infinitive after the verb querer.
O frango grelhado é bom.
The grilled chicken is good.
Simple subject-adjective-verb structure.
Nós grelhamos no jardim.
We grill in the garden.
Present tense of a regular -ar verb.
Ela grelha os legumes.
She grills the vegetables.
Third person singular present tense.
Onde está a grelha?
Where is the grill?
Grelha is the noun related to the verb.
Eu não grelho carne hoje.
I am not grilling meat today.
Negative sentence in the present tense.
Eles grelham muito bem.
They grill very well.
Using an adverb to describe the action.
Pode grelhar o meu bife, por favor?
Can you grill my steak, please?
Polite request using 'Pode' + infinitive.
Eu prefiro grelhar o peixe com sal.
I prefer to grill the fish with salt.
Expressing preference with 'preferir'.
Vamos grelhar sardinhas este sábado.
We are going to grill sardines this Saturday.
Future intent using 'ir' + infinitive.
O cozinheiro está a grelhar a carne agora.
The cook is grilling the meat now.
Present continuous (European Portuguese style).
Grelha os pimentos até ficarem pretos.
Grill the peppers until they turn black.
Imperative form (informal 'tu').
É mais saudável grelhar do que fritar.
It is healthier to grill than to fry.
Comparative structure using 'do que'.
Ontem, eu grelhei um hambúrguer.
Yesterday, I grilled a hamburger.
Pretérito Perfeito (simple past).
Vocês grelham peixe muitas vezes?
Do you grill fish often?
Questioning frequency in the present tense.
Se o tempo estiver bom, vamos grelhar lá fora.
If the weather is good, we will grill outside.
Conditional sentence using the future subjunctive.
Eu já tinha grelhado tudo quando eles chegaram.
I had already grilled everything when they arrived.
Pretérito Mais-Que-Perfeito Composto (past perfect).
Disseram-me que grelhar na brasa é melhor.
They told me that grilling over coals is better.
Reported speech and prepositional phrase 'na brasa'.
Ela costumava grelhar espetadas todos os fins de semana.
She used to grill skewers every weekend.
Pretérito Imperfeito to describe a habit.
É necessário grelhar o queijo por apenas dois minutos.
It is necessary to grill the cheese for only two minutes.
Impersonal expression followed by the infinitive.
Espero que tu grelhes o frango corretamente.
I hope that you grill the chicken correctly.
Present subjunctive after a verb of wishing.
Ao grelhar o salmão, não retire a pele.
When grilling the salmon, do not remove the skin.
Temporal clause using 'Ao' + infinitive.
O segredo para grelhar bem é a temperatura.
The secret to grilling well is the temperature.
Using the infinitive as a noun/subject.
Embora goste de grelhar, prefiro comer fora.
Although I like to grill, I prefer to eat out.
Concessive clause using 'Embora' + subjunctive.
O peixe foi grelhado com perfeição pelo mestre.
The fish was grilled to perfection by the master.
Passive voice construction.
Caso decidas grelhar a carne, avisa-me primeiro.
In case you decide to grill the meat, let me know first.
Conditional using 'Caso' + subjunctive.
Grelhar exige paciência e atenção constante.
Grilling requires patience and constant attention.
Abstract discussion of the action.
Temos de evitar grelhar a carne até ficar queimada.
We must avoid grilling the meat until it gets burnt.
Modal verb 'ter de' + infinitive.
O aroma de grelhar sardinhas é típico de Lisboa.
The aroma of grilling sardines is typical of Lisbon.
Using the infinitive as part of a noun phrase.
Duvido que eles consigam grelhar tudo a tempo.
I doubt they can grill everything in time.
Subjunctive after a verb of doubt.
Grelhando os legumes, realçamos os seus açúcares naturais.
By grilling the vegetables, we enhance their natural sugars.
Gerund used to express means (common in Brazil).
A arte de grelhar reside no equilíbrio entre o fogo e o tempo.
The art of grilling lies in the balance between fire and time.
Sophisticated abstract subject.
Se tivéssemos grelhado o peixe mais cedo, estaria mais suculento.
If we had grilled the fish earlier, it would be juicier.
Conditional perfect (hypothetical past).
Não obstante a chuva, insistiram em grelhar o borrego.
Despite the rain, they insisted on grilling the lamb.
Formal concessive 'Não obstante'.
O método de grelhar varia consoante a região do país.
The method of grilling varies depending on the region of the country.
Formal verb 'variar' and preposition 'consoante'.
Atrevo-me a dizer que grelhar é a forma mais pura de cozinhar.
I dare say that grilling is the purest form of cooking.
Pronominal verb 'atrever-se' and philosophical tone.
A técnica de grelhar a alta temperatura sela os sucos da carne.
The technique of grilling at high temperature seals the juices of the meat.
Technical culinary description.
É pouco provável que a tradição de grelhar na rua desapareça.
It is unlikely that the tradition of grilling in the street will disappear.
Subjunctive after impersonal 'É pouco provável'.
Grelhar pressupõe um conhecimento profundo dos cortes de carne.
Grilling presupposes a deep knowledge of meat cuts.
Advanced verb 'pressupor'.
A efervescência social em torno do ato de grelhar é notável.
The social effervescence surrounding the act of grilling is remarkable.
High-level vocabulary like 'efervescência'.
Pudesse eu grelhar como o meu avô, seria um homem feliz.
Could I but grill like my grandfather, I would be a happy man.
Inverted subjunctive for poetic wishing.
O ato de grelhar transcende a mera preparação de sustento.
The act of grilling transcends the mere preparation of sustenance.
Philosophical and abstract language.
Haja o que houver, o português não abdica de grelhar a sua sardinha.
Whatever happens, the Portuguese person does not give up grilling their sardine.
Idiomatic 'Haja o que houver' and specific cultural reference.
A subtileza de grelhar um peixe de pele sensível requer mestria.
The subtlety of grilling a sensitive-skinned fish requires mastery.
Nuanced culinary observation.
Ao grelhar, operamos uma transformação alquímica nos ingredientes.
When grilling, we operate an alchemical transformation on the ingredients.
Metaphorical and elevated register.
Raras são as iguarias que superam um bom robale grelhado na brasa.
Rare are the delicacies that surpass a good sea bass grilled over coals.
Inverted sentence structure for emphasis.
A omnipresença do verbo grelhar no léxico culinário é inegável.
The omnipresence of the verb 'grelhar' in the culinary lexicon is undeniable.
Linguistic and academic observation.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— A popular dish featuring various grilled meats.
Pedimos um grelhado misto para partilhar.
— The specific smell of food cooking on a grill.
Sinto o cheiro a grelhar sardinhas.
— The traditional way to season grilled meat.
Sempre deves grelhar com sal grosso.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Gelar means to freeze or chill, which sounds slightly similar but is the opposite temperature.
Grelar (without the 'h') means to sprout or germinate, like a seed.
Gritar means to shout; don't confuse the 'e' and 'i'.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To be in a difficult or hot situation (less common than English equivalent).
Ele está na grelha com este novo projeto.
Informal— To interrogate or pressure someone with questions.
O chefe grelhou o funcionário sobre o erro.
Informal— To just finish being cooked; fresh.
As sardinhas acabaram de sair da grelha.
Neutral— Related to cooking; to let something develop slowly without much action.
O negócio ficou em lume brando.
Metaphorical— To reach the perfect level of grilling/cooking.
Ele sabe dar o ponto à carne.
Culinary— To grill so much that the grate gets excessively dirty or burnt.
Não queimes a grelha com esse lume!
Informal— To flip the grill rack (or metaphorically, to change the situation).
Está na hora de virar a grelha.
Neutral— To sunbathe intensely (like food on a grill).
Ela passou o dia a grelhar ao sol.
Slang— To smell something burning (often used when a situation feels suspicious).
Isto cheira-me a queimado.
Idiomatic— To go all in (similar to 'putting all eggs in one basket' but with grilling).
Ele pôs a carne toda no assador neste investimento.
InformalLeicht verwechselbar
Both involve heat and are used in BBQs.
Assar is usually slower, often in an oven or on a spit. Grelhar is on a grate.
Vou assar o bolo, mas grelhar o bife.
Both are ways to cook meat/fish.
Fritar uses oil and a pan; grelhar uses a grill and direct heat.
Não fritamos o peixe, vamos grelhar.
Both brown the surface of food.
Tostar is for bread/dry items; grelhar is for raw proteins/veg.
Tosta o pão enquanto eu grelho a carne.
General terms for cooking.
Cozer involves water/boiling; grelhar is dry heat.
Podes cozer as batatas e grelhar o peixe.
Cooking methods.
Estufar is stewing/braising in liquid; grelhar is dry.
Hoje não vou estufar a carne, vou grelhar.
Satzmuster
Eu [verb] [food].
Eu grelho peixe.
Eu vou [verb] [food].
Eu vou grelhar carne.
É melhor [verb] do que [verb].
É melhor grelhar do que fritar.
Se [subjunctive], nós [verb].
Se fizer sol, nós grelhamos.
O [noun] foi [past participle].
O bife foi grelhado.
Grelhando [noun], [result].
Grelhando o peixe, ele fica bom.
A técnica de [verb]...
A técnica de grelhar requer prática.
Pudesse eu [verb]...
Pudesse eu grelhar assim!
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
So verwendest du es
Very common in daily life and culinary contexts.
-
Eu grelo o peixe.
→
Eu grelho o peixe.
Missing the 'h' changes the meaning to 'sprouting' and ruins the pronunciation.
-
Vou grelhar um bolo no forno.
→
Vou assar um bolo no forno.
You cannot 'grelhar' in an oven or with a cake; use 'assar'.
-
O peixe está grelhar.
→
O peixe está a grelhar.
In European Portuguese, you need the 'a' before the infinitive for continuous actions.
-
Eu gosto de carne grelhado.
→
Eu gosto de carne grelhada.
The adjective must match the feminine noun 'carne'.
-
Vamos grilhar hoje?
→
Vamos grelhar hoje?
Don't use the English 'grill' as a base; the Portuguese word is 'grelhar'.
Tipps
Heat the grill first
Always heat the grelha before putting the food on to prevent sticking.
Watch the endings
Remember: Eu grelho, tu grelhas, ele grelha. It's perfectly regular!
The 'LH' trick
Press your tongue flat against your palate to get that perfect Portuguese 'lh' sound.
Summer Sardines
If you are in Portugal in June, 'grelhar sardinhas' is the most important phrase you'll need.
Grelha vs Chapa
Use 'na grelha' for the rack and 'na chapa' for the flat grill plate.
Specify your preference
Don't forget to say 'bem grelhado' or 'mal grelhado' when ordering steak.
Grilled Veggies
Grelhar is a great way to make vegetables taste sweet through caramelization.
Ready to grill
Look for 'preparado para grelhar' in the meat section of Portuguese supermarkets.
Grilling together
Grilling is often a group activity; offer to help by asking 'Posso ajudar a grelhar?'
Grilling someone
Use it carefully in a metaphorical sense; 'interrogar' is safer but 'grelhar' is more colorful.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of the 'lh' in greLHAR as the 'li' in 'brilliant'. You are making a brilliant meal on the grill!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a metal 'G' shaped like a grill rack with flames underneath it.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to describe your favorite grilled meal using 'grelhar' and three different ingredients in Portuguese.
Wortherkunft
From the noun 'grelha' (grill/grate), which comes from the Old French 'graille', ultimately from Latin 'craticula', the diminutive of 'cratis' (hurdle, wickerwork, grate).
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To cook on a small grate or gridiron.
RomanceKultureller Kontext
Be aware that in some regions, 'assar' is used for grilling sardines, but 'grelhar' is never wrong for using a grate.
While Americans 'barbecue' (often with sauce), Portuguese 'grelham' with simple salt and olive oil.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
At a Restaurant
- Queria o peixe grelhado.
- Pode grelhar mais um pouco?
- É grelhado na brasa?
- Qual é o grelhado do dia?
At Home
- Vou grelhar bifes.
- Onde guardaste a grelha?
- Ajuda-me a grelhar isto.
- Está na hora de grelhar.
At the Supermarket
- Esta carne é boa para grelhar?
- Procuro um grelhador elétrico.
- Têm sardinhas para grelhar?
- Quero algo fácil de grelhar.
Summer Party
- Quem vai grelhar hoje?
- Adoro o cheiro a grelhar.
- Vamos grelhar no jardim.
- Traz a carne para grelhar.
Health Talk
- Prefiro grelhar a fritar.
- Grelhar é mais saudável.
- Legumes grelhados são ótimos.
- Evita fritar, tenta grelhar.
Gesprächseinstiege
"O que é que gostas mais de grelhar no verão?"
"Preferes peixe grelhado ou carne grelhada?"
"Sabes grelhar sardinhas à moda portuguesa?"
"Qual é o segredo para grelhar um bife perfeito?"
"Costumas grelhar legumes na churrasqueira?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
Descreve o melhor churrasco em que já estiveste. O que é que estavam a grelhar?
Escreve uma receita simples que envolva grelhar o teu ingrediente favorito.
Por que achas que grelhar é uma atividade tão social em muitos países?
Preferes o sabor da comida grelhada na brasa ou na chapa? Explica porquê.
Imagina que és um chef. Como explicarias a um cliente a importância de grelhar corretamente?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, 'grelhar legumes' is very common and healthy. Peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms are popular choices.
Yes, it is the standard verb for grilling, though 'churrasco' is the name for the event and style.
'Grelha' is the metal rack itself. 'Grelhador' is the appliance (like an electric grill).
You say 'bem passado' or 'bem grelhado'.
Yes, it can mean to interrogate someone intensely, similar to 'grilling' in English.
Yes, it follows the standard conjugation for verbs ending in -ar.
You can say 'Queria o peixe grelhado, por favor'.
It is a mixed grill platter, usually containing several types of meat or fish.
Not necessarily; it can be done on an electric grill ('grelhador elétrico') or a gas grill.
Generally yes, as it uses less oil and allows fat to drip away from the food.
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
Write a sentence using 'grelhar' in the future tense.
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Translate: 'I like grilled vegetables.'
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Ask a waiter if the fish is grilled.
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Write a command to grill the steak.
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Describe why grilling is healthy in Portuguese.
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Use 'grelhar' and 'jardim' in a sentence.
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Translate: 'They grilled the sardines yesterday.'
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Write a sentence using the subjunctive of grelhar.
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Explain the difference between grelhar and fritar.
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Write a short dialogue about a barbecue.
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Use 'grelhar na brasa' in a sentence.
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Write a sentence about grilling fruit.
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Translate: 'The cook is grilling the chicken.'
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Write a sentence using 'grelhador'.
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Describe a summer day involving grilling.
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Use 'grelhar' in the conditional tense.
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Translate: 'Don't over-grill the tuna.'
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Write a sentence about 'grelhado misto'.
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Use 'grelhar' as a noun in a sentence.
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Translate: 'Grilled food has more flavor.'
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Say 'I like grilled fish' in Portuguese.
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Pronounce 'grelhar' correctly.
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Ask: 'Are you going to grill today?'
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Say: 'This steak is well grilled.'
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Tell someone to grill the vegetables.
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Explain that you prefer grilling to frying.
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Describe the smell of grilled sardines.
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Ask for a mixed grill in a restaurant.
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Say: 'We grilled meat in the garden.'
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Say: 'Grilling is very social.'
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Say: 'I need a new grill.'
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Say: 'The chicken is almost grilled.'
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Say: 'Don't burn the fish.'
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Say: 'Is it grilled on charcoal?'
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Say: 'I am grilling right now.'
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Say: 'Grilled pineapple is delicious.'
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Say: 'Who wants grilled cheese?'
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Say: 'I learned to grill with my father.'
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Say: 'The secret is the salt.'
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Say: 'Let's grill something tonight.'
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Listen and write: 'Vou grelhar o peixe.'
Listen and write: 'O bife está grelhado.'
Listen and write: 'Grelhamos no jardim.'
Listen and write: 'Gosto de legumes grelhados.'
Listen and write: 'Pode grelhar isto?'
Listen and write: 'Sardinhas grelhadas são boas.'
Listen and write: 'Não grelhes a carne demais.'
Listen and write: 'O grelhador está quente.'
Listen and write: 'Eles grelharam tudo ontem.'
Listen and write: 'É mais saudável grelhar.'
Listen and write: 'Grelhar na brasa é melhor.'
Listen and write: 'Quero um grelhado misto.'
Listen and write: 'Limpa a grelha, por favor.'
Listen and write: 'Estou a grelhar o jantar.'
Listen and write: 'O aroma de grelhar é bom.'
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'grelhar' is essential for navigating Portuguese dining and social life. Example: 'Vamos grelhar peixe fresco na brasa' (Let's grill fresh fish over the coals).
- Grelhar means to grill food over direct heat, a staple of Portuguese and Brazilian cooking culture.
- It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses for learners.
- Commonly used with fish, meat, and vegetables, especially in healthy or social contexts like barbecues.
- The word is distinct from 'assar' (roast/bake) and 'fritar' (fry), focusing specifically on the grill.
Heat the grill first
Always heat the grelha before putting the food on to prevent sticking.
Watch the endings
Remember: Eu grelho, tu grelhas, ele grelha. It's perfectly regular!
The 'LH' trick
Press your tongue flat against your palate to get that perfect Portuguese 'lh' sound.
Summer Sardines
If you are in Portugal in June, 'grelhar sardinhas' is the most important phrase you'll need.
Verwandte Inhalte
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr food Wörter
a conta
A1The bill or check (in a restaurant).
a gosto
A2Es bedeutet 'nach Geschmack' oder 'wie gewünscht'.
à la carte
A2Einzelne Gerichte von der Speisekarte bestellen, wobei jeder Artikel seinen eigenen Preis hat. Bietet Flexibilität bei der Wahl Ihrer Mahlzeit.
à mão
A2Handgemacht oder griffbereit. Dieser Ausdruck wird verwendet, um manuelle Arbeit oder die unmittelbare Nähe eines Gegenstandes zu beschreiben.
à mesa
A2Am Tisch sitzen, meistens um zu essen.
à parte
A2Separat serviert oder beiseite gelegt.
à pressa
A2Sehr schnell getan oder gehandelt, weil wenig Zeit bleibt.
à saúde
A2A toast, meaning 'to health' or 'cheers'.
a vapor
A2Gedämpft oder mit Dampf betrieben.
à vontade
A2Sich wie zu Hause fühlen.