célula en 30 secondes
- Célula is the Portuguese word for 'cell', used in biology, technology, and social contexts.
- It is a feminine noun (a célula) and must always have an accent on the first 'e'.
- In biology, it refers to the basic unit of life; in tech, it can refer to battery or network units.
- It is distinct from 'cela', which refers specifically to a prison or monastery cell.
The word célula is a cornerstone of both biological science and organizational theory in the Portuguese language. At its most fundamental level, it refers to the microscopic building block of life. Every living thing, from the smallest bacteria to the largest blue whale, is composed of these units. In a broader sense, the term has evolved to describe the smallest functional unit of any complex system, whether that be a battery, a political organization, or a social structure.
- Biological Context
- A unidade básica, estrutural e funcional de todos os seres vivos conhecidos.
- Technological Context
- Um dispositivo que converte energia química em elétrica, como em uma bateria.
- Sociopolitical Context
- Um pequeno grupo de pessoas que faz parte de uma organização maior, muitas vezes operando de forma independente.
O corpo humano é composto por trilhões de células que trabalham em harmonia para manter a vida.
Understanding 'célula' requires recognizing its Latin root, 'cella', meaning a small room. This imagery is helpful: imagine a honeycomb where each individual compartment is a 'célula'. This spatial concept carries over into how we describe 'células de memória' in computers or 'células rítmicas' in music. It is always about the individual part that makes up the whole.
A célula fotoelétrica captou a luz do sol e a transformou em eletricidade.
Eles fazem parte de uma célula de resistência política na capital.
O câncer ocorre quando uma célula começa a se dividir sem controle.
A célula de combustível é uma alternativa promissora para carros elétricos.
- Célula-tronco
- Stem cell; a cell capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type.
- Célula nervosa
- Nerve cell or neuron.
Using célula correctly depends heavily on the field of study or the context of the conversation. In daily life, you are most likely to encounter it in health discussions or technology. For instance, when discussing health, you might talk about 'glóbulos brancos' (white blood cells) as 'células de defesa'. In technology, specifically regarding mobile phones, while the device is a 'celular', the network it operates on is a 'rede de células' (cellular network).
In organizational management, 'células de trabalho' refers to small, cross-functional teams that work autonomously. This is a popular term in agile methodologies and modern manufacturing (lean manufacturing). When you use the word in this way, you imply a sense of efficiency and modularity. You are not just describing a group; you are describing a vital, self-contained unit of a larger organism.
- Célula de carga
- A transducer that converts force into an electrical signal.
- Célula de crise
- A specialized group formed to handle an emergency or critical situation.
When writing scientifically, 'célula' is often followed by adjectives that specify its type: 'célula eucariótica' (eukaryotic), 'célula procariótica' (prokaryotic), or 'célula vegetal' (plant cell). In these cases, the word is strictly technical. However, in literature, 'célula' can be used metaphorically to describe the family as the 'célula mater da sociedade' (the mother cell/basic unit of society).
You will hear célula in various professional and academic environments. In a classroom setting, specifically biology class, it is perhaps the most frequently used noun. Teachers will discuss the 'núcleo da célula' (cell nucleus) and 'membrana celular' (cell membrane). In a hospital, doctors might discuss a 'biópsia de células' to check for abnormalities.
On the news, the term takes a more somber tone. Journalists often report on 'células terroristas' or 'células criminosas'. Here, the word describes a clandestine group that operates independently to avoid detection, mimicking the way biological cells can sometimes operate without central coordination. This usage highlights the 'unit' aspect of the word—small, discrete, and functional.
In the tech world, particularly in Brazil, you might hear engineers talk about 'células de bateria' when discussing the capacity of electric vehicles or laptops. Instead of saying the battery is dead, they might specify that a single 'célula' is damaged. This level of precision is common in technical Portuguese.
The most frequent mistake for English speakers is confusing célula with cela. While both translate to 'cell' in English, their usage in Portuguese is strictly divided. Use 'cela' only for a small room in a prison or a convent. If you say 'a célula da prisão', a native speaker will understand you, but it sounds like the prison is a biological organism. Use 'a cela da prisão' instead.
Another mistake is the confusion between 'celular' and 'célula'. 'Celular' is the adjective (cellular) and also the common noun for a mobile phone in Brazil. You cannot call a biological cell a 'celular'. Conversely, you don't call your phone a 'célula'. Remember: 'O celular usa uma rede de células'.
In the context of 'células-tronco' (stem cells), many learners forget to pluralize both parts or use the hyphen correctly. The plural is 'células-tronco'. Avoid saying 'células-troncos'. The second word acts as a modifier indicating the type, staying in the singular in some traditional interpretations, though 'células-tronco' is the standard accepted form.
Several words share semantic space with célula. The most obvious is unidade (unit). While 'unidade' is generic, 'célula' implies a biological or structural function. For example, you can have a 'unidade de medida' (unit of measurement), but never a 'célula de medida'.
Átomo (atom) is another related concept. While a 'célula' is the building block of life, an 'átomo' is the building block of matter. In metaphorical speech, people might use them interchangeably to mean 'the smallest part', but in science, the distinction is vital. A cell contains billions of atoms.
- Tecido
- Tissue; a group of cells working together.
- Organismo
- Organism; the whole being made of cells.
- Partícula
- Particle; often used in physics, smaller than a cell.
In the context of social groups, núcleo (nucleus/core) is a strong synonym. A 'núcleo familiar' is very similar to a 'célula familiar'. However, 'núcleo' suggests a central, guiding part, while 'célula' suggests a self-contained, replicating unit. Choosing between them depends on whether you want to emphasize the group's importance (núcleo) or its structure (célula).
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Proparoxítonas rules (accents)
Compound nouns with hyphens (célula-tronco)
Adjective agreement with feminine nouns
Prepositional phrases with 'de'
Pluralization of compound words
Exemples par niveau
A célula é muito pequena.
The cell is very small.
Feminine singular noun.
Eu vi uma célula no microscópio.
I saw a cell in the microscope.
Direct object.
O corpo tem muitas células.
The body has many cells.
Plural form: células.
A célula tem um núcleo.
The cell has a nucleus.
Simple subject-verb-object.
Esta é uma célula vegetal.
This is a plant cell.
Adjective agreement (vegetal).
A célula precisa de energia.
The cell needs energy.
Verb 'precisar' + 'de'.
Cada célula é importante.
Each cell is important.
'Cada' is invariable.
Onde está a célula?
Where is the cell?
Interrogative sentence.
A bateria tem seis células.
The battery has six cells.
Technical usage.
A família é a célula da sociedade.
The family is the cell of society.
Metaphorical usage.
Existem células boas e ruins.
There are good and bad cells.
Adjective placement.
O exame mostrou células anormais.
The exam showed abnormal cells.
Medical context.
A célula solar produz energia.
The solar cell produces energy.
Compound noun phrase.
As células da pele se renovam.
Skin cells renew themselves.
Reflexive verb 'se renovam'.
Ele estuda a célula animal.
He studies the animal cell.
Definite article 'a'.
A célula de combustível é nova.
The fuel cell is new.
Noun + 'de' + noun.
A célula-tronco pode curar doenças.
The stem cell can cure diseases.
Compound noun with hyphen.
Trabalhamos em uma célula de inovação.
We work in an innovation cell.
Organizational context.
A polícia desarticulou uma célula criminosa.
The police dismantled a criminal cell.
Abstract group usage.
A membrana protege a célula.
The membrane protects the cell.
Biological terminology.
Cada célula contém o DNA completo.
Each cell contains the complete DNA.
Scientific fact.
A célula de carga mede o peso.
The load cell measures the weight.
Engineering term.
Eles formaram uma célula de estudo bíblico.
They formed a Bible study cell.
Religious/Social context.
A divisão celular é um processo complexo.
Cell division is a complex process.
Noun + adjective phrase.
A terapia genética foca na célula doente.
Gene therapy focuses on the sick cell.
Preposition 'em' + 'a' = 'na'.
A célula terrorista operava em segredo.
The terrorist cell operated in secret.
Imperfect tense for ongoing action.
O câncer é causado por mutações na célula.
Cancer is caused by mutations in the cell.
Passive voice 'é causado'.
As células nervosas não se regeneram facilmente.
Nerve cells do not regenerate easily.
Negative reflexive construction.
A célula de crise foi acionada imediatamente.
The crisis cell was activated immediately.
Management terminology.
A eficiência da célula solar aumentou.
The solar cell's efficiency increased.
Possessive 'da' (de + a).
Pesquisadores isolaram a célula cancerígena.
Researchers isolated the carcinogenic cell.
Preterite tense.
A célula rítmica define o compasso da música.
The rhythmic cell defines the beat of the music.
Music theory context.
A célula é a unidade fundamental da vida biológica.
The cell is the fundamental unit of biological life.
Formal academic definition.
O governo teme a expansão de células anarquistas.
The government fears the expansion of anarchist cells.
Political nuance.
A diferenciação celular é essencial para o embrião.
Cell differentiation is essential for the embryo.
Advanced biological terminology.
A célula de memória do computador falhou.
The computer's memory cell failed.
Computing context.
O autor descreve a aldeia como uma célula isolada.
The author describes the village as an isolated cell.
Literary metaphor.
A bioética regula o uso de células-tronco embrionárias.
Bioethics regulates the use of embryonic stem cells.
Complex legal/ethical context.
A célula fotoelétrica é a base da tecnologia atual.
The photoelectric cell is the basis of current technology.
Scientific history.
O metabolismo ocorre dentro de cada célula.
Metabolism occurs inside each cell.
Prepositional phrase 'dentro de'.
A célula social, outrora coesa, parece estar se fragmentando.
The social cell, once cohesive, seems to be fragmenting.
Sophisticated syntax with apposition.
A apoptose é o processo de morte celular programada.
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death.
Highly technical terminology.
Subjacente a toda vida, reside a complexidade da célula.
Underlying all life lies the complexity of the cell.
Inverted sentence structure for emphasis.
A célula de convecção explica os padrões climáticos.
The convection cell explains weather patterns.
Specialized meteorological term.
O partido organizou-se em células clandestinas e resilientes.
The party organized itself into clandestine and resilient cells.
Pronominal verb 'organizar-se'.
A integridade da membrana celular é vital para a homeostase.
The integrity of the cell membrane is vital for homeostasis.
Advanced physiology.
O poema evoca a célula como um microcosmo do universo.
The poem evokes the cell as a microcosm of the universe.
Abstract literary analysis.
A nanotecnologia permite manipular a célula individualmente.
Nanotechnology allows for the manipulation of the cell individually.
Modern scientific discourse.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
A room for prisoners; 'célula' is biological/functional.
A saddle for a horse; sounds similar but spelled with 'S'.
The device (phone) or the adjective; 'célula' is the noun for the unit.
Means famous; shares the first three letters but unrelated.
Means speed; unrelated.
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Refers to a single unit in a battery or solar panel.
Strictly refers to biological units.
Refers to the smallest unit of a social structure.
- Writing 'celula' without the accent.
- Using 'célula' when you mean 'cela' (prison).
- Using 'célula' to refer to a mobile phone (use 'celular').
- Making 'célula' masculine (e.g., 'o célula').
- Confusing 'célula' with 'sela' (saddle).
Astuces
Accentuation
Always accent the 'é'. It's a rule for all proparoxítonas.
Célula vs Cela
Biology = Célula. Prison = Cela. Don't swap them!
Religious Context
In Brazil, if someone invites you to a 'célula', they mean a home prayer group.
Types of Cells
Learn 'animal' and 'vegetal' to describe the two main types.
Batteries
A 'célula' is one part of a multi-cell battery.
Hyphens
Use a hyphen for 'célula-tronco'.
Open E
The 'é' is open, like the sound in 'egg'.
Building Blocks
Think of 'célula' as the 'Lego' of life.
Business
Use 'célula de trabalho' for agile team descriptions.
Networks
Mobile networks are 'redes de células'.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Latin 'cellula', diminutive of 'cella' (small room).
Contexte culturel
Brazil is one of the world's largest markets for 'celulares' (cell phones).
Small group meetings in homes.
Resistance groups during the military dictatorship were often organized in cells.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Você já ouviu falar sobre pesquisas com células-tronco?"
"Como funciona uma célula de trabalho na sua empresa?"
"Você sabe a diferença entre uma célula animal e uma vegetal?"
"Sua igreja tem reuniões de célula?"
"Quantas células de bateria tem o seu notebook?"
Sujets d'écriture
Descreva como você imagina que seja uma célula vista por um microscópio.
Escreva sobre a importância da família como a célula da sociedade.
Se você pudesse criar uma célula de inovação, o que ela estudaria?
Reflita sobre como as células do seu corpo trabalham sem você perceber.
Discuta os prós e contras das células de trabalho em empresas.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, you should use 'cela'. 'Célula' is for biology or organizations.
It is feminine: 'a célula'.
It means 'stem cell', a cell that can become other types of cells.
Yes, because it is a proparoxítona word.
You say 'célula solar'.
No, 'celular' is a phone or an adjective; 'célula' is the unit.
It is a specialized team formed to handle an emergency.
The most common plural is 'células-tronco'.
Yes, like a 'célula terrorista' or a 'célula de estudo'.
Yes, a 'célula rítmica' is a small rhythmic pattern.
Teste-toi 180 questions
Which word has the stress on the first syllable?
Identify the word: /ˈsɛ.lu.lɐ/
Which word refers to a religious group?
Identify the technical term: /di.vi.ˈzɐ̃w se.lu.ˈlaɾ/
Identify the academic phrase: /ˌbi.o.ˈɛ.ti.kɐ das ˈsɛ.lu.lɐs ˈtɾõ.ku/
Identify the phrase: /oɾ.ɡɐ.ni.ˈza.sɐ̃w em ˈsɛ.lu.lɐs klɐ̃.des.ˈti.nɐs/
How many syllables in 'célula'?
Which word is feminine?
Listen and spell: C-É-L-U-L-A
Identify the adjective: celular
Identify: /se.lu.la.ɾi.za.ˈsɐ̃w/
Identify: /ɐ.pop.ˈtɔ.zi/
Does 'célula' have an 'L'?
Stress: CÉ-lu-la
Identify: /sɛ.lu.lɐ ˈtɾõ.ku/
Identify: /se.lu.laɾ/
Identify: /mi.ˈtɔ.zi/
Identify: /e.me.ɾi.ˈta.ɾi.ɐ/
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'célula' is versatile, moving from the microscopic world of biology to the macroscopic world of social organizations and technology, always representing a fundamental, self-contained unit.
- Célula is the Portuguese word for 'cell', used in biology, technology, and social contexts.
- It is a feminine noun (a célula) and must always have an accent on the first 'e'.
- In biology, it refers to the basic unit of life; in tech, it can refer to battery or network units.
- It is distinct from 'cela', which refers specifically to a prison or monastery cell.
Accentuation
Always accent the 'é'. It's a rule for all proparoxítonas.
Célula vs Cela
Biology = Célula. Prison = Cela. Don't swap them!
Religious Context
In Brazil, if someone invites you to a 'célula', they mean a home prayer group.
Types of Cells
Learn 'animal' and 'vegetal' to describe the two main types.
Exemple
O corpo humano é composto por milhões de células.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur science
Ciência
A2Science; the systematic study of the physical and natural world.
científico
A1Relatif à la science ou à ses méthodes. L'étude scientifique a prouvé l'efficacité du nouveau vaccin.
cientista
A1Un scientifique est une personne qui se consacre à l'étude d'une science.
comprimento
A1Le mot 'comprimento' signifie la longueur d'un objet d'un bout à l'autre.
energia
A1L'énergie est la capacité d'un système à produire un travail.
físico
A2Relatif au corps ou à la physique. Concerne la matière tangible.
fluido
B1Un fluide est une substance qui s'écoule, comme un liquide ou un gaz.
força
A1La force physique ou mentale.
laboratório
A1Un laboratoire est une pièce équipée pour la recherche scientifique. Le scientifique travaille dans le laboratoire pour découvrir de nouveaux médicaments.
medida
A1Une quantité qui indique la taille ou le poids de quelque chose.
