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A2 noun #7,000 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

enterro

Top 7,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces enterro en 30 secondes

Explication enterro in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'enterro' means 'funeral' or 'burial'. It is a masculine noun ('o enterro'). You might see it in basic stories or hear it when someone explains why they are sad or busy. At this stage, focus on the phrase 'ir ao enterro' (to go to the funeral). You don't need to worry about the complex cultural rituals yet, just recognize the word as a basic life event, similar to 'casamento' (wedding) or 'aniversário' (birthday), though much more somber. Remember that it comes from 'terra' (earth), which can help you remember the meaning: putting someone into the earth.

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At the A2 level, you should be able to use 'enterro' in simple past and future sentences. You should know that 'enterro' is the noun and 'enterrar' is the verb. You can describe when a funeral is happening: 'O enterro é amanhã' (The funeral is tomorrow). You should also understand the difference between 'o enterro' (the event) and 'eu enterro' (I bury). A2 learners should be comfortable with the masculine gender of the word and use the correct articles ('o', 'um'). You might also start to see it in news headlines about famous people.

At the B1 level, you can use 'enterro' to discuss social obligations and cultural traditions. You should understand the difference between 'velório' (wake) and 'enterro' (burial). You can use the word in more complex sentences with prepositions: 'Depois do enterro, todos foram para casa' (After the funeral, everyone went home). You should also be aware of the more formal synonym 'sepultamento' and when it might be used instead of 'enterro'. At this level, you can start using 'enterro' metaphorically to describe the end of a situation, like a project or a business deal.

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At the B2 level, you should be familiar with the idiomatic uses of 'enterro', such as 'enterro de anão' (something very rare or never seen). You can discuss the nuances of funeral rites in different Lusophone countries and use 'enterro' in formal writing, such as an essay about social customs. You should be able to distinguish between 'enterro', 'funeral', and 'exéquias' (religious rites) and choose the appropriate word based on the context's formality. Your pronunciation should be clear, paying attention to the open 'e' sound in the first syllable.

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At the C1 level, you should have a deep understanding of the word's etymology and its use in classical literature. You can analyze how authors use the 'enterro' as a symbol of social class or existential finality. You should be able to use the word in academic or professional settings, such as discussing the legal requirements for an 'enterro' in a specific jurisdiction. You are comfortable with all metaphorical uses and can use the word with subtle irony or poetic weight in your own writing and speech.

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At the C2 level, you use 'enterro' with the same precision as a native speaker, including in highly specialized contexts like law, theology, or history. You understand the historical evolution of the word from its Latin roots to its modern usage. You can participate in complex debates about the sociology of death and the role of the 'enterro' in communal identity. You are also familiar with obscure regional variations or archaic uses of the word found in ancient texts. Your use of 'enterro' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

enterro en 30 secondes

Enterro is a masculine noun meaning burial or funeral in Portuguese.
It comes from the verb 'enterrar' and is used in both formal and informal contexts.
Commonly paired with the verb 'ir' (to go) and the preposition 'ao'.
Culturally significant, often occurring quickly after death in Lusophone countries.

The Portuguese word enterro is a masculine noun that primarily refers to the act of burying a deceased person or the funeral ceremony itself. While the English word 'funeral' is a broad term covering the entire sequence of events, enterro specifically highlights the interment or the burial process, although in everyday conversation, it is frequently used to describe the whole event. Understanding this word is essential for navigating social obligations and understanding news or literature in Portuguese-speaking cultures, where rituals surrounding death are deeply ingrained in the social fabric.

Literal Meaning: At its core, enterro comes from the verb enterrar (to bury), which is derived from 'terra' (earth/ground). Thus, it literally means the 'putting into the earth.'
Cultural Nuance: In many Lusophone countries, particularly in rural areas or traditional families, the enterro is a significant communal event. It follows the velório (wake), where the body is viewed. When someone says 'Vou ao enterro,' they are usually referring to the final part of the ceremony at the cemetery.

Muitas pessoas compareceram ao enterro do poeta para prestar a última homenagem.

Translation: Many people attended the poet's funeral to pay their last respects.

The word is not limited to humans. One might speak of the enterro of a beloved pet or even metaphorically about burying an idea or a project. However, its primary weight remains solemn and respectful. In Brazil and Portugal, the timeline for an enterro is typically much faster than in the United States or the UK, often occurring within 24 to 48 hours of death due to legal and climatic factors, making the word one you might hear in urgent logistical discussions among family members.

O enterro está marcado para as dez horas da manhã.

Translation: The burial is scheduled for ten o'clock in the morning.

Register and Tone: The word is neutral to formal. While funeral sounds slightly more formal or institutional, enterro is the word most people use in daily life. Using sepultamento is the most formal, often found in official death notices or newspaper obituaries.

Depois do enterro, a família se reuniu em casa.

Translation: After the funeral, the family gathered at home.

In a metaphorical sense, enterro can describe the end of an era or the definitive closing of a business. For example, 'O enterro daquela empresa foi inevitável' (The burial/end of that company was inevitable). It conveys a sense of finality and mourning, even when not applied to a biological death.

A derrota no último minuto foi o enterro das nossas esperanças no campeonato.

Translation: The last-minute defeat was the burial of our hopes in the championship.

Não pude ir ao enterro porque estava viajando.

Translation: I couldn't go to the funeral because I was traveling.

In summary, enterro is a word that carries both the weight of grief and the necessity of ritual. It is a noun that every learner should know to navigate sensitive conversations and understand the cyclical nature of life and community in Portuguese culture.

Using enterro correctly involves understanding its role as a noun and its common prepositional pairings. It is almost always preceded by the definite article 'o' or an indefinite article like 'um'. The most common preposition used with enterro is 'ao' (to the) when indicating attendance, or 'do/da' (of the) when indicating whose funeral it is.

Indicating Attendance: To say 'to go to a funeral,' use the verb ir + ao. Example: 'Eu fui ao enterro dele.' (I went to his funeral).
Specifying Possession: To specify who died, use 'de' (of). Example: 'O enterro da minha avó foi muito emocionante.' (My grandmother's funeral was very emotional).

Eles enviaram flores para o enterro.

Translation: They sent flowers for the funeral.

When discussing the timing or location, enterro functions like any other event noun. You can use 'durante o enterro' (during the funeral) or 'no enterro' (at the funeral). It is important to remember that enterro is a countable noun, so you can have 'vários enterros' if discussing multiple events, though this is less common in singular personal contexts.

O silêncio durante o enterro foi interrompido pelo canto dos pássaros.

Translation: The silence during the burial was interrupted by the birds' singing.

In more complex sentences, enterro can be the subject or the object. As a subject: 'O enterro reuniu toda a vila' (The funeral brought the whole village together). As an object: 'A prefeitura organizou o enterro das vítimas' (The city hall organized the burial of the victims). You can also use it with adjectives to describe the nature of the event.

Common Adjectives

Simples: Enterro simples (Simple funeral)
Solene: Enterro solene (Solemn funeral)
Digno: Enterro digno (Dignified burial)

Foi um enterro muito discreto, apenas para a família próxima.

Translation: It was a very discreet funeral, only for the close family.

Finally, consider the idiomatic use in expressions like 'enterro de anão' (dwarf's funeral), a Brazilian expression referring to something that is rumored to exist but that nobody ever actually sees. While humorous, it shows how the word enterro permeates even the lighter sides of the language through idioms.

Conseguir uma vaga naquele estacionamento é mais difícil que ver enterro de anão.

Translation: Getting a spot in that parking lot is harder than seeing a dwarf's funeral (something impossible/rare).

By practicing these structures, you will move from simply knowing the word to using it naturally in a variety of contexts, from the most tragic to the most colloquial.

The word enterro is omnipresent in Lusophone life, appearing in news broadcasts, literature, soap operas (telenovelas), and daily gossip. Because death is a communal event in many Portuguese-speaking cultures, the logistics of an enterro are frequently discussed in public and private spheres.

In the News: When a public figure dies, the media will provide detailed information about the 'velório' and the 'enterro'. You will hear phrases like: 'O corpo seguirá para o enterro às 16h'.
In Literature: Classical authors like Machado de Assis or Eça de Queirós often use the word enterro to describe the social rituals and the hypocrisy or genuine grief of society. It is a key word in the famous play 'Morte e Vida Severina' by João Cabral de Melo Neto.

O telejornal informou que o enterro do ex-presidente será em sua cidade natal.

Translation: The news reported that the former president's burial will be in his hometown.

In everyday life, you might hear a neighbor say, 'Não poderei trabalhar amanhã, tenho um enterro para ir.' This is a socially accepted and respected excuse for absence. In small towns, the church bell might toll in a specific way to announce an enterro, and people will ask, 'De quem é o enterro hoje?' (Whose funeral is it today?).

Ouvi dizer que o enterro foi muito triste, a família estava inconsolável.

Translation: I heard the funeral was very sad; the family was inconsolable.

You will also encounter the word in religious contexts. Priests and pastors will use enterro or encomendaçâo do corpo during the liturgy. In cemetery settings, signs will direct you to 'Área de Enterros' or 'Secretaria de Enterros'.

O padre fez uma oração linda antes do enterro.

Translation: The priest said a beautiful prayer before the burial.

Finally, in sports or politics, when a team or candidate is losing badly, commentators might say, 'Isso é o enterro definitivo da candidatura,' meaning the final nail in the coffin. Hearing enterro in these high-stakes environments emphasizes the dramatic and final nature of the failure.

O terceiro gol foi o enterro do time visitante.

Translation: The third goal was the burial (the end) of the visiting team.

Whether in the somber reality of a cemetery or the metaphorical drama of a football pitch, enterro is a word that resonates with the finality of an ending.

Learners of Portuguese often stumble when using enterro due to its similarity to other words or its specific grammatical requirements. Avoiding these pitfalls will help you sound more natural and respectful.

Confusion with 'Enterrar' (Verb): As mentioned before, 'eu enterro' is 'I bury.' Some learners mistakenly use 'enterro' as a verb in other persons, like 'ele enterro' (incorrect) instead of 'ele enterra' or 'ele enterrou'. Remember: 'o enterro' is the noun.
Gender Errors: Because 'morte' (death) is feminine, some learners assume enterro is also feminine. It is always masculine: o enterro.

Errado: Eu fui na enterro.
Certo: Eu fui ao enterro.

Note: Use the masculine contraction 'ao' (a + o).

Another common mistake is confusing enterro with velório. The velório is the wake (the time spent with the body before burial), while the enterro is the act of burial itself. If you say you are going to the enterro but arrive at the funeral home for the viewing, you are technically using the wrong word, although people will understand.

O velório acontece na capela, mas o enterro será no cemitério.

Translation: The wake takes place in the chapel, but the burial will be at the cemetery.

Spanish speakers often make the mistake of saying 'entierro' (the Spanish word) instead of enterro. The difference is just one 'i', but it's a clear marker of a non-native speaker. Ensure you drop that 'i'!

Não diga entierro. Em português, dizemos enterro.

Lastly, be careful with the phrase 'fazer o enterro'. While it means 'to perform the burial', it can also be used in a very informal, almost slang-like way to mean 'to finish someone off' or 'to ruin someone's chances'. Use it carefully in serious contexts to avoid sounding accidentally callous.

Aquele erro no relatório fez o enterro da minha promoção.

Translation: That error in the report killed (buried) my promotion.

By keeping these distinctions in mind—gender, verb vs. noun, and the difference between wake and burial—you will use enterro with the precision and sensitivity the word demands.

While enterro is the most common term, Portuguese offers several synonyms and related words that vary in formality and specific meaning. Knowing these will help you choose the right word for the right occasion.

Funeral vs. Enterro: Funeral is a broad term for the entire ceremony. Enterro is specifically the burial. However, they are used interchangeably in 90% of cases. Funeral sounds slightly more formal or 'high society'.
Sepultamento: This is the most formal synonym. You will see this in newspapers or official documents. It comes from 'sepulcro' (tomb). 'O sepultamento ocorrerá no Cemitério Municipal'.
Exéquias: A very formal, liturgical term, usually referring to the religious funeral rites. You might hear this in a church setting or in very formal literature.

O sepultamento foi realizado com honras militares.

Translation: The burial was performed with military honors.

When the body is not buried but burned, the word is cremação. It is important not to use enterro if you know the person is being cremated, although 'funeral' would still apply as a general term for the service.

A família optou pela cremação em vez do enterro.

Translation: The family opted for cremation instead of burial.

Another related term is inumaçâo, which is a technical, legal, or medical term for burying a body. You will almost never hear this in conversation, but you might see it on a death certificate or in a forensic report.

Summary Table

Word	Register	Context
Enterro	Common	Everyday use
Funeral	Neutral/Formal	The whole ceremony
Sepultamento	Formal	Official notices
Exéquias	Very Formal	Religious rites

Understanding these alternatives allows you to adjust your speech based on who you are talking to. If you are talking to a grieving friend, enterro or funeral is perfect. If you are writing a formal letter or an article, sepultamento might be more appropriate.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'enterro' has the same root as 'territory' and 'extraterrestrial'. They all trace back to the Latin 'terra'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ẽˈtɛ.ʁu/

US /enˈte.ʁu/

The stress is on the second syllable: en-TER-ro.

Rime avec

ferro (iron) berro (shout) aterro (landfill) desterro (exile) erro (error - though the 'e' is closed here, some rhymes are approximate) encerro (I close) emperro (I jam) perro (stubborn)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'rr' as an English 'r' (it should be guttural).
Forgetting the nasalization of the first 'e' (it's not 'en' as in 'pen', but nasalized).
Using a closed 'e' sound in the stressed syllable (it should be open /ɛ/).
Pronouncing the final 'o' as a strong 'o' instead of a soft 'u'.
Adding an 'i' before the 'e' like in Spanish (entierro).

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its distinct spelling and frequency.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering the double 'rr' and the masculine gender.

Expression orale 3/5

The nasal 'en' and guttural 'rr' can be tricky for English speakers.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation usually makes it easy to pick out in speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

terra morte triste ir cemitério

Apprends ensuite

velório luto saudade falecer cremação

Avancé

exéquias inumação jazigo epitáfio necrotério

Grammaire à connaître

Masculine Nouns ending in -o

O enterro, o carro, o livro.

Contraction of 'a' + 'o'

Vou ao enterro (a + o).

Double 'rr' pronunciation

Enterro, carro, terra.

Nasal vowels (en-)

Enterro, entender, entrar.

Possessive 'do/da'

O enterro do homem (de + o).

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Exemples par niveau

O enterro é hoje.

The funeral is today.

Simple subject-verb-complement structure.

Eu vou ao enterro.

I am going to the funeral.

Use of 'ao' (a + o).

O enterro é triste.

The funeral is sad.

Adjective agreement with masculine noun.

Não gosto de enterro.

I don't like funerals.

Use of 'de' after 'gostar'.

Onde é o enterro?

Where is the funeral?

Interrogative sentence.

Um enterro simples.

A simple funeral.

Indefinite article 'um'.

O enterro do gato.

The cat's burial.

Possessive 'do' (de + o).

Muitas flores no enterro.

Many flowers at the funeral.

Preposition 'no' (em + o).

Eles foram ao enterro do vizinho.

They went to the neighbor's funeral.

Past tense 'foram'.

O enterro será amanhã de manhã.

The funeral will be tomorrow morning.

Future tense 'será'.

Ninguém queria ir ao enterro.

Nobody wanted to go to the funeral.

Imperfect past 'queria'.

O enterro aconteceu no sábado.

The burial happened on Saturday.

Preterite 'aconteceu'.

Vimos muitas pessoas no enterro.

We saw many people at the funeral.

Verb 'ver' in the past.

O enterro foi muito rápido.

The burial was very quick.

Adverb 'muito' modifying 'rápido'.

Preciso comprar flores para o enterro.

I need to buy flowers for the funeral.

Infinitive 'comprar' after 'preciso'.

O enterro dele foi em São Paulo.

His funeral was in São Paulo.

Possessive pronoun 'dele'.

O enterro foi marcado para as duas horas.

The funeral was scheduled for two o'clock.

Passive voice 'foi marcado'.

A família decidiu fazer um enterro discreto.

The family decided to have a discreet funeral.

Verb 'decidir' followed by infinitive.

A chuva atrapalhou a cerimônia do enterro.

The rain disrupted the burial ceremony.

Subject-verb-object with 'atrapalhou'.

Fiquei sabendo do enterro pelo jornal.

I found out about the funeral through the newspaper.

Expression 'ficar sabendo'.

O enterro foi o momento mais difícil para ela.

The burial was the hardest moment for her.

Superlative 'mais difícil'.

Eles não chegaram a tempo do enterro.

They didn't arrive in time for the burial.

Phrase 'a tempo de'.

O enterro simbolizou o fim de uma era.

The funeral symbolized the end of an era.

Metaphorical use of 'enterro'.

Houve muita comoção durante o enterro.

There was much emotion during the funeral.

Use of 'houve' (there was).

O enterro de anão é algo que ninguém vê por aqui.

A dwarf's funeral is something nobody sees around here.

Idiomatic expression.

A prefeitura custeou o enterro das vítimas do desastre.

The city hall paid for the burial of the disaster victims.

Formal verb 'custear'.

O enterro foi precedido por um longo velório na igreja.

The burial was preceded by a long wake in the church.

Passive construction with 'precedido por'.

Apesar da dor, o enterro foi conduzido com serenidade.

Despite the pain, the funeral was conducted with serenity.

Concessive conjunction 'apesar de'.

O enterro do projeto foi anunciado pelo diretor ontem.

The 'burial' of the project was announced by the director yesterday.

Metaphorical noun use.

As tradições locais exigem um enterro antes do pôr do sol.

Local traditions require a burial before sunset.

Verb 'exigir' in the present.

O enterro foi transmitido ao vivo pela televisão.

The funeral was broadcast live on television.

Passive voice with 'transmitido'.

O enterro reuniu personalidades de todo o país.

The funeral brought together personalities from all over the country.

Collective subject effect.

O enterro solene refletia a magnitude da perda para a nação.

The solemn funeral reflected the magnitude of the loss for the nation.

High-level vocabulary like 'magnitude'.

A crônica descreve o enterro como um ritual de hipocrisia social.

The chronicle describes the funeral as a ritual of social hypocrisy.

Literary analysis context.

O enterro foi o desfecho melancólico de uma vida de lutas.

The burial was the melancholy conclusion of a life of struggles.

Poetic and descriptive language.

Houve uma disputa familiar sobre o local do enterro.

There was a family dispute over the location of the burial.

Noun 'disputa' with 'sobre'.

O enterro ocorreu sob um sol escaldante, aumentando o sofrimento.

The burial took place under a scorching sun, increasing the suffering.

Participle 'aumentando' as a gerund.

A simplicidade do enterro contrastava com a riqueza do falecido.

The simplicity of the funeral contrasted with the wealth of the deceased.

Verb 'contrastar' with 'com'.

O enterro foi adiado devido a trâmites burocráticos.

The burial was postponed due to bureaucratic procedures.

Formal phrase 'devido a'.

O enterro seguiu o rito tradicional daquela comunidade remota.

The burial followed the traditional rite of that remote community.

Use of 'rito' and 'remota'.

O enterro, em sua essência, é a derradeira tentativa de conferir ordem ao caos da morte.

The burial, in its essence, is the final attempt to bestow order upon the chaos of death.

Philosophical and complex sentence structure.

A narrativa machadiana subverte a solenidade do enterro com uma ironia mordaz.

Machado's narrative subverts the solemnity of the funeral with a biting irony.

Literary criticism terminology.

O enterro foi o catalisador para uma reestruturação profunda na dinâmica familiar.

The funeral was the catalyst for a profound restructuring in the family dynamic.

Scientific metaphor 'catalisador'.

A suntuosidade do enterro era inversamente proporcional ao afeto que o morto despertava.

The sumptuosity of the funeral was inversely proportional to the affection the deceased inspired.

Mathematical phrasing 'inversamente proporcional'.

O enterro marcou a obliteração final de qualquer vestígio de sua influência política.

The burial marked the final obliteration of any trace of his political influence.

High-register word 'obliteração'.

As minúcias do enterro foram planejadas com uma precisão quase cirúrgica.

The details of the funeral were planned with almost surgical precision.

Adverbial phrase 'com uma precisão'.

O enterro serviu como pano de fundo para a reconciliação inesperada dos irmãos.

The funeral served as a backdrop for the unexpected reconciliation of the brothers.

Idiomatic 'pano de fundo'.

O enterro foi a materialização do luto coletivo que assolava a pequena vila.

The funeral was the materialization of the collective mourning that plagued the small village.

Abstract noun 'materialização'.

Collocations courantes

ir ao enterro

marcar o enterro

enterro digno

durante o enterro

despesas de enterro

local do enterro

enterro simbólico

enterro de luxo

comparecer ao enterro

enterro gratuito

Phrases Courantes

De quem é o enterro?

— Who is being buried? / Who died?

Vi muita gente no cemitério e perguntei: de quem é o enterro?

Fazer o enterro de algo

— To finish something completely or ruin it.

Aquele comentário fez o enterro do nosso contrato.

Enterro com honras

— A funeral with official honors (military/state).

O herói teve um enterro com honras militares.

Acompanhar o enterro

— To follow the funeral procession.

A cidade inteira acompanhou o enterro do prefeito.

Enterro de primeira classe

— An expensive, high-quality funeral.

O barão teve um enterro de primeira classe.

Hora do enterro

— The scheduled time for the burial.

A hora do enterro está chegando.

Enterro em cova rasa

— Burial in a shallow grave (often implies lack of respect or haste).

O criminoso foi encontrado em um enterro em cova rasa.

O enterro da sardinha

— A traditional festival in Portugal/Spain marking the end of Carnival.

O enterro da sardinha é uma festa muito engraçada.

Anunciar o enterro

— To announce the details of the funeral.

A rádio anunciou o enterro para as 17h.

Enterro particular

— A private funeral service.

A família pediu um enterro particular, sem imprensa.

Souvent confondu avec

enterro vs entierro

This is Spanish. In Portuguese, it is 'enterro' (no 'i').

enterro vs velório

Velório is the wake/viewing; enterro is the burial.

enterro vs aterro

Aterro is a landfill or embankment, not a funeral.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Enterro de anão"

— Something that is said to exist but is never seen; a mystery.

Dinheiro sobrando na minha conta é igual a enterro de anão.

Informal/Humorous

"Cavar o próprio enterro"

— To do something that will lead to one's own downfall.

Ao mentir para o chefe, ele cavou o próprio enterro.

Metaphorical

"Cara de enterro"

— To have a very sad or somber expression.

Por que você está com essa cara de enterro?

Informal

"Estar para o enterro"

— To be in a very bad state, near death or failure.

Aquele carro velho já está para o enterro.

Slang

"Não ter dinheiro nem para o enterro"

— To be extremely poor.

Ele gastou tudo e agora não tem dinheiro nem para o enterro.

Colloquial

"Fazer um enterro de luxo"

— To spend a lot of money on something that is failing anyway.

Investir naquela loja foi fazer um enterro de luxo.

Metaphorical

"Enterro de ossos"

— Eating the leftovers from a big party the next day (usually after Christmas/New Year).

Hoje é dia de enterro de ossos com o que sobrou da ceia.

Regional (Brazil)

"Mais triste que enterro de pobre"

— Very sad or pathetic.

A festa estava mais triste que enterro de pobre.

Informal/Offensive to some

"Levar alguém para o enterro"

— To lead someone to failure.

As más companhias o levaram para o enterro.

Metaphorical

"O enterro do ano"

— A very large or significant funeral that everyone is talking about.

O enterro do cantor foi o enterro do ano.

Journalistic

Facile à confondre

enterro vs enterrar

Verb form.

Enterrar is the action (to bury); enterro is the event (the burial).

Eles vão enterrar o corpo após o enterro.

enterro vs funeral

Synonym.

Funeral is the whole process; enterro is specifically the burial.

O funeral inclui o velório e o enterro.

enterro vs sepultamento

Synonym.

Sepultamento is more formal and used in official contexts.

O jornal anunciou o sepultamento.

enterro vs desterro

Similar spelling.

Desterro means exile or banishment, not a funeral.

O poeta viveu anos no desterro.

enterro vs erro

Contained within the word.

Erro means mistake. Enterro contains the 'rr' sound.

Foi um erro não ir ao enterro.

Structures de phrases

O enterro é [adjetivo].

O enterro é triste.

Eu vou ao enterro de [pessoa].

Eu vou ao enterro de Maria.

O enterro foi marcado para [tempo].

O enterro foi marcado para as 14h.

Depois do enterro, nós [verbo].

Depois do enterro, nós comemos.

Foi um enterro [adjetivo] e [adjetivo].

Foi um enterro solene e emocionante.

Apesar de [condição], o enterro ocorreu.

Apesar da chuva, o enterro ocorreu.

O enterro simboliza [conceito].

O enterro simboliza a despedida final.

O enterro serviu como [metáfora].

O enterro serviu como o último prego no caixão.

Famille de mots

Noms

enterrador (gravedigger)

aterro (landfill)

desterro (exile)

soterramento (burial by landslide)

Verbes

enterrar (to bury)

desenterrar (to dig up)

soterrar (to bury under earth/rubble)

Adjectifs

enterrado (buried)

desterrado (exiled)

Apparenté

cemitério (cemetery)

túmulo (tomb)

caixão (coffin)

defunto (deceased)

luto (mourning)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very common in daily life and news.

Erreurs courantes

A enterro → O enterro
Enterro is a masculine noun.
Entierro → Enterro
Don't use the Spanish spelling with an 'i'.
Eu fui na enterro → Eu fui ao enterro
Use 'ao' (a + o) for masculine destinations.
O enterro do cachorro foi ontem (when it was a cremation) → A cremação do cachorro foi ontem
Be precise if it's not a burial.
Ele enterro o corpo → Ele enterrou o corpo
Don't confuse the noun with the past tense verb.

Astuces

The Stressed E

Make sure the 'e' in 'ter' is open like in 'bet'. Practice saying 'terra' first.

Masculine Agreement

Always use masculine adjectives: 'enterro triste', 'enterro longo'.

Wake vs. Burial

Remember: Velório = Wake, Enterro = Burial. They usually happen on the same day.

Speed of Events

In Brazil/Portugal, the enterro happens very fast (within 24 hours). Be ready!

Root Word

Connect it to 'terra' (ground) to never forget it means burial.

Appropriate Use

It's a serious word. Use it respectfully when talking to grieving people.

Double R

Always use two 'r's. One 'r' would change the pronunciation and meaning.

Nasal Start

The 'en-' is nasal. If you don't nasalize it, it won't sound native.

Metaphorical Use

Use it to describe the end of a project to sound more advanced (C1 level).

Interchangeability

Feel free to use 'funeral' if you're unsure; it's always safe.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'IN-TERRA'. You are putting someone 'IN' the 'TERRA' (earth). Enterro = In-terra-o.

Association visuelle

Imagine a shovel putting earth (terra) into a grave. The shape of the shovel handle looks like the 'E' in enterro.

Word Web

morte cemitério caixão flores luto tristeza família adeus

Défi

Try to use 'enterro' in a sentence describing a historical event and then in a sentence about a fictional character's end.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Portuguese verb 'enterrar', which comes from the Vulgar Latin '*interrare'. This is formed by the prefix 'in-' (into) and 'terra' (earth/ground).

Sens originel : To put into the earth.

Romance (Latin-based).

Contexte culturel

Always use 'enterro' with a somber tone. Avoid using the slang or metaphorical meanings in the presence of someone who is actually grieving.

In the US/UK, 'burial' is the specific act, while 'funeral' is the ceremony. 'Enterro' covers both but leans toward the act of burial.

Machado de Assis' 'Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas' starts with the protagonist's death and funeral. The song 'Funeral de um Lavrador' by Chico Buarque (lyrics by João Cabral de Melo Neto). The traditional 'Enterro da Sardinha' festival in Portugal.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Family/Personal

Sinto muito pelo enterro.
Vou ao enterro da minha tia.
O enterro foi simples.
A família está no enterro.

News/Media

O enterro será transmitido.
Milhares foram ao enterro.
O enterro está marcado.
O corpo segue para o enterro.

Professional/Work

Preciso de folga para um enterro.
Licença-enterro.
Não pude vir devido a um enterro.
Vou ao enterro de um colega.

Metaphorical/Business

O enterro do projeto.
Isso é o enterro da empresa.
Cavar o próprio enterro.
Cara de enterro na reunião.

Historical/Literary

O enterro do herói.
Ritos de enterro.
O enterro na obra de Machado.
Tradições de enterro.

Amorces de conversation

"Você já foi a um enterro em outro país?"

"Como são as tradições de enterro na sua cultura?"

"O que você acha que não pode faltar em um enterro?"

"Você prefere um enterro simples ou algo mais solene?"

"Qual é a diferença entre enterro e funeral para você?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva como foi o enterro mais emocionante que você já presenciou.

Escreva sobre a importância dos rituais de enterro para a sociedade.

Como você imagina que seria o enterro de um personagem famoso da história?

Reflita sobre a expressão 'cavar o próprio enterro' em sua vida pessoal.

Compare as palavras 'enterro' e 'nascimento' em um pequeno texto reflexivo.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, it can be used for animals (o enterro do cachorro) or metaphorically for things (o enterro do projeto).

They are often used as synonyms, but 'enterro' specifically means the burial, while 'funeral' is the whole ceremony.

You say 'ir ao enterro' or 'ir a um enterro'.

It is always masculine: o enterro.

Yes, 'eu enterro' is 'I bury', but as a noun, it means the event.

Yes, it is common in all Portuguese-speaking countries.

It's an idiom for something that exists but is never seen.

Only if you want to be very formal. In daily conversation, 'enterro' is perfectly fine.

Simply add an 's': enterros.

You can say 'Meus pêsames' (My condolences) or 'Sinto muito' (I'm very sorry).

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