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A2 noun 8 min de lecture

grãos

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces grãos en 30 secondes

Explication grãos in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'grãos' is most commonly encountered when talking about basic food. You will see it in the context of 'arroz e feijão' (rice and beans), which is the staple diet in most Portuguese-speaking countries. At this stage, you should focus on the plural form 'grãos' and how it relates to common items in a grocery store. You might learn it alongside colors and sizes, such as 'grãos pequenos' (small grains) or 'grãos brancos' (white grains). It is a masculine noun, so you use 'o' or 'os'. A1 learners should focus on simple sentences like 'Eu como grãos' (I eat grains) or 'O arroz tem muitos grãos' (The rice has many grains). It's also helpful to recognize it on menus, especially in descriptions of healthy or traditional dishes. Remember that the pronunciation involves a nasal sound at the end, which is a key feature of Portuguese phonetics that you will start practicing at this level. You don't need to know the technical agricultural meanings yet, just that 'grãos' are small food seeds like rice, corn, and beans.

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At the A2 level, you begin to use 'grãos' in more specific contexts, such as 'grãos de café' (coffee beans) and 'grãos integrais' (whole grains). You are expected to handle basic shopping tasks, so knowing how to ask for 'café em grãos' versus 'café moído' is very useful. You will also encounter the word in simple recipes and health discussions. A2 learners should be able to describe their diet using the word, for example: 'Eu gosto de comer grãos integrais no café da manhã' (I like to eat whole grains for breakfast). You will also learn the common compound word 'grão-de-bico' (chickpea), which is a popular ingredient. At this level, you should also be aware of the difference between 'grãos' and 'graus' (degrees), as confusing them is a common beginner mistake. You might start seeing the word in short news headlines about the weather affecting the 'safra' (harvest), though you don't need to master the economic details yet. The focus is on expanding your culinary and daily life vocabulary.

At the B1 level, your understanding of 'grãos' expands to include more abstract and professional contexts. You can discuss the benefits of different types of grains for health, using more complex sentence structures. For example, you might explain why you prefer 'grãos ancestrais' like quinoa or amaranth. You will also start to encounter idiomatic expressions such as 'de grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo', which means that small, consistent efforts lead to big results. B1 learners should be comfortable using 'grãos' in the context of environmental issues, such as how climate change affects grain production. You will also see it in more technical cooking contexts, like discussing the 'textura dos grãos' or how to 'deixar os grãos de molho' (soak the grains). Your vocabulary should now include terms like 'moer' (to grind) and 'colher' (to harvest). You can participate in conversations about agriculture or healthy living with more confidence, using 'grãos' as a central term for sustainability and nutrition.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to understand 'grãos' within the context of the global economy and large-scale agriculture. Brazil is a major exporter of 'grãos', so you will see this word frequently in news articles about trade, the 'balança comercial' (trade balance), and 'commodities'. You should be able to discuss the impact of 'monoculturas de grãos' (grain monocultures) on biodiversity or the economic implications of a 'quebra de safra' (crop failure). Your use of the word becomes more precise; you can distinguish between 'cereais', 'leguminosas', and 'oleaginosas'. You will also encounter 'grãos' in more sophisticated literary contexts or high-level journalism, where it might be used metaphorically to describe data points or small increments of progress. You can debate the pros and cons of 'grãos transgênicos' (GMO grains) and understand the nuances of 'grãos orgânicos'. At this stage, you should have a firm grasp of all common idioms and be able to use the word in varied registers, from casual kitchen talk to formal business presentations.

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At the C1 level, your mastery of 'grãos' includes a deep understanding of its etymological roots and its role in Portuguese literature and high-level discourse. You can appreciate the stylistic choice of using 'grãos' versus more technical terms like 'cariopses' in botanical texts. You understand the subtle connotations the word carries in different Portuguese-speaking regions. For example, how 'grãos' might be emphasized differently in a Portuguese versus a Brazilian culinary context. You can use the word in complex metaphorical constructions, perhaps in a poem or a philosophical essay, to represent the atomization of society or the passage of time ('grãos de areia na ampulheta'). Your understanding of the 'Bolsa de Mercadorias e Futuros' and how 'grãos' are traded as futures is complete. You can also navigate very specific technical fields, such as the 'granulometria' (grain size analysis) in geology or civil engineering. At this level, 'grãos' is not just a word for food, but a versatile tool for precise expression across numerous academic and professional disciplines.

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At the C2 level, you possess a near-native or native-like command of 'grãos'. You can identify and use archaic or highly specialized variations of the word. You understand the historical evolution of grain production in the Lusophone world and its impact on culture and language. You can interpret and produce complex texts where 'grãos' might be used in highly nuanced ways, such as in legal documents regarding agricultural standards or in advanced scientific research papers on genetics. You are aware of the most obscure idioms and regionalisms related to 'grãos' across all CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) nations. Your ability to switch registers is seamless, allowing you to discuss 'o preço do grão' with a farmer in the interior of Alentejo or 'a exportação de grãos' in a boardroom in São Paulo with equal ease. You can also analyze the phonological nuances of the word in different dialects. For a C2 learner, 'grãos' is a word with infinite layers of meaning, reflecting the complex relationship between humans, the land, and the economy in the Portuguese-speaking world.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

grãos en 30 secondes

Small seeds of food plants like rice and corn.
Plural of 'grão', masculine noun.
Key agricultural commodity in Portuguese-speaking countries.
Used for coffee beans, sand, and healthy whole grains.

The Portuguese word grãos is the plural form of grão, primarily referring to the small, hard seeds of food plants such as wheat, corn, rice, or barley. Beyond basic agriculture, it encompasses a wide variety of contexts including culinary staples, botanical descriptions, and metaphorical expressions regarding small quantities. In a country like Brazil, which is a global powerhouse in agribusiness, the word grãos carries significant economic weight, often appearing in news reports regarding export volumes of soy, maize, and coffee.

Botanical Context: In biology, it refers to the caryopsis, a type of fruit where the seed coat is fused with the fruit wall. This includes cereals like rye, oats, and millet.
Culinary Context: In the kitchen, it refers to legumes and pulses. You will often hear 'grão-de-bico' (chickpeas) or 'grãos integrais' (whole grains) when discussing healthy diets.
Industrial Context: It describes the texture or size of particles, such as 'grãos de areia' (grains of sand) or 'grãos de café' (coffee beans) before they are ground.

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de grãos, especialmente soja e milho.

Translation: Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of grains, especially soy and corn.

When people use this word, they are often referring to the foundational elements of a meal or an economy. For instance, a nutritionist might advise you to consume more grãos integrais to increase fiber intake. In a more poetic or philosophical sense, grãos can represent the smallest building blocks of something larger, much like the famous idiom about the hen filling its crop one grain at a time. The word is versatile, shifting from the micro (a single grain of sand) to the macro (millions of tons of harvest).

Eu prefiro comprar café em grãos para moer em casa na hora do preparo.

Translation: I prefer to buy coffee beans to grind at home at the time of preparation.

Texture and Appearance: Grãos can also describe the 'grain' of wood or the 'graininess' of a photograph, though 'granulação' is more technical for photography.

Esta receita pede uma mistura de diversos grãos como lentilha e quinoa.

Translation: This recipe calls for a mix of various grains such as lentils and quinoa.

Understanding 'grãos' is essential for anyone navigating a Brazilian supermarket or restaurant. Whether you are looking for 'arroz em grãos longos' (long-grain rice) or discussing the latest 'safra de grãos' (grain harvest), the word is a cornerstone of the Portuguese vocabulary related to sustenance and nature.

Using grãos correctly requires understanding its role as a masculine plural noun. It usually follows an adjective or is followed by a prepositional phrase to specify the type of grain. In Portuguese, the distinction between different types of 'seeds' and 'grains' is often made by adding 'de' plus the source plant. For example, grãos de milho (corn kernels) or grãos de mostarda (mustard seeds).

With Quantifiers: When quantifying, use 'muitos', 'poucos', or specific weights. Example: 'Comprei dois quilos de grãos'.
As a Subject: 'Os grãos estão secos' (The grains are dry). Notice the plural agreement with the verb 'estão' and the adjective 'secos'.

Adicione os grãos de bico à salada para aumentar a proteína.

A common grammatical pattern involves the use of 'em' to describe the state of a product. 'Café em grãos' (coffee in beans/whole bean coffee) is a standard phrase found on packaging. Similarly, 'pimenta em grãos' refers to whole peppercorns. This contrast with 'moído' (ground) is vital for shoppers.

Os grãos integrais são fundamentais para uma dieta equilibrada.

In agricultural reports, you will see 'safra de grãos' (grain harvest). This is a collective term for the production of soy, corn, wheat, etc. The word functions as a mass noun in these contexts, representing the total output of a region. It is also common to see it in the context of 'preço dos grãos' (grain prices) in economic news.

Metaphorical Use: 'Grãos de sabedoria' (grains of wisdom). It implies small but valuable pieces of information.

Contamos cada um dos grãos de areia na praia.

You will encounter grãos in various daily environments in Portuguese-speaking countries. The most common place is the supermarket (supermercado). In the cereal aisle, you will see labels like 'Mix de Grãos' or 'Grãos Selecionados'. If you visit a local market (feira), vendors might shout about the quality of their 'grãos novos' (newly harvested grains/beans).

Moça, esses grãos de feijão cozinham rápido?

Common question at a market: 'Miss, do these beans cook fast?'

In a coffee shop (cafeteria), the word is ubiquitous. Baristas talk about the origin of the grãos and how the roast (torra) affects the flavor. If you are a coffee enthusiast, you might ask: 'Vocês vendem o café em grãos ou apenas moído?' (Do you sell the coffee in beans or only ground?).

Television and News: Financial news segments frequently discuss the 'Bolsa de Grãos' (Grain Exchange) and the export impact on the GDP.
Cooking Shows: Chefs emphasize soaking 'grãos duros' (hard grains/beans) overnight to soften them before cooking.

A colheita de grãos este ano bateu recordes históricos.

Furthermore, in scientific or environmental discussions, you'll hear about 'grãos de pólen' (pollen grains). If you're at the beach, you'll hear children talking about 'grãos de areia' while building sandcastles. The word is deeply embedded in the physical reality of everyday life, from the food we eat to the ground we walk on.

Não deixe cair grãos de açúcar no chão para não atrair formigas.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is confusing grãos with graus. While they look similar, graus means 'degrees' (temperature or angles), whereas grãos means 'grains'. Saying 'Estão vinte grãos lá fora' would mean 'It's twenty grains outside', which makes no sense!

Phonetic Confusion: The nasal '~' in 'grãos' is crucial. Without it, the word sounds completely different and might be misunderstood.
Pluralization of Compound Words: In 'grão-de-bico', only the first word pluralizes: 'grãos-de-bico'. Beginners often try to pluralize 'bico' as well.

Errado: Eu quero dois graus de café. (Incorrect: I want two degrees of coffee.)

Correto: Eu quero dois grãos de café. (Correct: I want two coffee beans.)

Another mistake is the misuse of 'grãos' versus 'sementes'. While all grains are seeds, not all seeds are called grains in a culinary or commercial context. You wouldn't usually call sunflower seeds 'grãos de girassol' in a casual conversation; 'sementes de girassol' is the standard term. 'Grãos' implies a certain texture and use (usually for human or animal consumption in bulk).

Cuidado: Não confunda grãos com 'vagens'. Vagens are the pods (like green beans), while grãos are the seeds inside.

Lastly, remember the gender. It is 'os grãos' (masculine), never 'as grãos'. Using the feminine article is a common error for learners accustomed to other Romance languages where similar words might have different genders.

While grãos is a broad term, several other words can be more precise depending on the context. Understanding these nuances will make your Portuguese sound more natural and sophisticated.

Sementes (Seeds): Refers to anything you plant. 'Sementes de tomate' (tomato seeds) vs. 'Grãos de milho' (corn kernels).
Cereais (Cereals): Often used for the plants themselves or breakfast products. 'O trigo é um cereal'.
Bagos (Berries/Grapes): Specifically used for grapes or small round fruits. 'Um bago de uva' is a single grape.
Caroços (Pits/Stones): The hard center of fruits like peaches or avocados. 'O caroço da manga'.

Enquanto os grãos de arroz são pequenos, o caroço do abacate é enorme.

In a technical agricultural sense, you might hear the term 'oleaginosas' for oil-producing grains like soy. If you are talking about texture, 'partículas' or 'granulações' might be more appropriate. For example, 'a areia tem uma granulação fina'.

A mistura de grãos e sementes é ótima para o café da manhã.

Choosing the right word shows you understand the physical properties of what you're describing. Using 'grãos' for beans is standard, but calling a peach pit a 'grão' would be a noticeable error.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'granite' comes from the same root because of its grainy appearance. The Portuguese word 'grão' also gave rise to 'granel' (bulk), which is why we buy things 'a granel'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɡɾɐ̃ʊ̯̃s/

US /ɡɾaʊns/

The stress is on the single syllable 'grãos'.

Rime avec

mãos vãos cães (approximate nasal) pães (approximate nasal) irmãos cristãos ãos chãos

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it like 'graus' (rhymes with 'house' without nasalization).
Forgetting the nasal 'tilde' sound.
Pronouncing the 'r' too strongly like an English 'r'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize due to English similarity, but watch for context.

Écriture 3/5

The tilde (~) and pluralization rules can be tricky for beginners.

Expression orale 4/5

Nasal pronunciation is often the hardest part for English speakers.

Écoute 3/5

Can be confused with 'graus' if not listening carefully for the nasal tone.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

comida arroz feijão pequeno muito

Apprends ensuite

colheita safra moer integral semente

Avancé

agronegócio commodities granulometria cariopse

Grammaire à connaître

Nasal Vowels

The '~' in grãos indicates a nasal sound.

Plural of words ending in 'ão'

Grão becomes grãos (not grões or grães).

Masculine Noun Agreement

Os grãos pequenos (both article and adjective are masculine plural).

Compound Noun Plurals

Grão-de-bico -> Grãos-de-bico.

Preposition 'de' for specification

Grãos de café, grãos de milho.

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Exemples par niveau

Eu gosto de comer grãos de milho.

I like to eat corn kernels.

'Grãos' is the object of the verb 'comer'.

O arroz tem grãos brancos.

The rice has white grains.

'Brancos' agrees in gender and number with 'grãos'.

Onde estão os grãos?

Where are the grains?

Uses the plural definite article 'os'.

Eu compro grãos no mercado.

I buy grains at the market.

Standard SVO sentence structure.

Os grãos são pequenos.

The grains are small.

Adjective 'pequenos' agrees with 'grãos'.

Você quer grãos de feijão?

Do you want beans?

Question using 'quer' (want).

Há muitos grãos no saco.

There are many grains in the bag.

'Há' means 'there is/are'.

Estes grãos são bons.

These grains are good.

'Estes' is a plural demonstrative pronoun.

Eu prefiro café em grãos.

I prefer coffee beans.

'Em grãos' describes the state of the coffee.

O grão-de-bico é muito saudável.

Chickpea is very healthy.

Singular form used in a compound noun.

Nós cozinhamos os grãos ontem.

We cooked the grains yesterday.

Preterite tense of 'cozinhar'.

Ela adicionou grãos de mostarda na carne.

She added mustard seeds to the meat.

'De mostarda' specifies the type of grain.

Você pode moer estes grãos?

Can you grind these grains?

Use of the modal verb 'pode'.

Os grãos integrais têm mais fibra.

Whole grains have more fiber.

'Integrais' is a plural adjective.

Não confunda grãos com graus.

Don't confuse grains with degrees.

Imperative 'não confunda'.

A receita pede dois tipos de grãos.

The recipe calls for two types of grains.

'Pede' in the sense of 'requires'.

De grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo.

Grain by grain, the hen fills her crop (Step by step, one gets there).

Classic Portuguese idiom.

É importante deixar os grãos de molho antes de cozinhar.

It is important to soak the grains before cooking.

'Deixar de molho' is a common culinary expression.

O nutricionista recomendou uma dieta rica em grãos.

The nutritionist recommended a diet rich in grains.

'Rica em' requires the preposition 'em'.

A textura dos grãos mudou após o cozimento.

The texture of the grains changed after cooking.

'Mudou' is the past tense of 'mudar'.

Eles exportam toneladas de grãos todos os anos.

They export tons of grains every year.

'Toneladas de' indicates a large quantity.

O café moído na hora preserva o aroma dos grãos.

Freshly ground coffee preserves the aroma of the beans.

'Moído na hora' means freshly ground.

Existem diversos grãos ancestrais que são nutritivos.

There are several ancient grains that are nutritious.

'Existem' is used for existence in the plural.

A colheita de grãos foi prejudicada pela seca.

The grain harvest was harmed by the drought.

Passive voice 'foi prejudicada'.

O Brasil lidera a produção mundial de grãos de soja.

Brazil leads the world production of soybeans.

'Lidera' shows a high level of proficiency in economic context.

A volatilidade no preço dos grãos preocupa os produtores.

Volatility in grain prices worries producers.

Abstract noun 'volatilidade'.

A monocultura de grãos pode causar danos ao solo.

Grain monoculture can cause damage to the soil.

Scientific/Environmental vocabulary.

Os grãos transgênicos são alvo de muitos debates éticos.

GMO grains are the target of many ethical debates.

'Alvo de' is a sophisticated way to say 'the subject of'.

A safra de grãos deste ano superou as expectativas.

This year's grain harvest exceeded expectations.

'Superou as expectativas' is a common formal idiom.

A indústria de processamento de grãos gera muitos empregos.

The grain processing industry generates many jobs.

Compound subject 'indústria de processamento de grãos'.

É necessário analisar a granulometria dos grãos de areia.

It is necessary to analyze the grain size of the sand grains.

Technical term 'granulometria'.

O armazenamento correto dos grãos evita o desperdício.

Correct storage of grains prevents waste.

'Evita' is a precise verb for prevention.

A narrativa se desfaz como grãos de areia entre os dedos.

The narrative falls apart like grains of sand between the fingers.

Poetic simile using 'como'.

A análise isotópica dos grãos revelou sua origem milenar.

Isotopic analysis of the grains revealed their ancient origin.

High-level scientific terminology.

Cada grão de verdade naquelas palavras era precioso.

Every grain of truth in those words was precious.

Metaphorical use of 'grão'.

O mercado de futuros de grãos é extremamente complexo.

The grain futures market is extremely complex.

Economic specialization.

A sustentabilidade da produção de grãos é um imperativo global.

The sustainability of grain production is a global imperative.

Formal academic tone.

Os grãos de pólen flutuavam suavemente na brisa da manhã.

Pollen grains floated gently in the morning breeze.

Descriptive literary style.

A divergência entre as safras de grãos afetou o PIB nacional.

The divergence between grain harvests affected the national GDP.

Use of 'divergência' and 'afetou'.

A granulosa textura dos grãos de madeira conferia um ar rústico.

The grainy texture of the wood grains gave a rustic air.

'Granulosa' as a specific adjective for texture.

A ontologia do ser pode ser comparada à multiplicidade dos grãos.

The ontology of being can be compared to the multiplicity of grains.

Highly abstract philosophical context.

O regime pluviométrico incidiu diretamente na maturação dos grãos.

The rainfall pattern directly affected the maturation of the grains.

Technical agricultural/climatological vocabulary.

A decifração dos grãos de escrita cuneiforme exigiu anos de estudo.

The deciphering of the grains of cuneiform writing required years of study.

Metaphorical use in archaeology.

A hegemonia dos grãos na pauta de exportações é incontestável.

The hegemony of grains in the export agenda is unquestionable.

Sophisticated political/economic vocabulary.

A sutil granulação dos grãos de prata na película fotográfica.

The subtle granulation of silver grains in the photographic film.

Technical chemical/artistic context.

O escoamento da produção de grãos enfrenta gargalos logísticos.

The outflow of grain production faces logistical bottlenecks.

Advanced business/logistics terminology.

A resiliência genética dos grãos ancestrais é objeto de pesquisa.

The genetic resilience of ancient grains is the object of research.

Advanced biological research context.

A volatilidade intrínseca ao mercado de grãos exige cautela.

The intrinsic volatility of the grain market demands caution.

Formal financial advice tone.

Collocations courantes

grãos integrais

grãos de café

safra de grãos

grãos de areia

grãos de bico

moer grãos

produção de grãos

mix de grãos

preço dos grãos

grãos selecionados

Phrases Courantes

café em grãos

— Whole bean coffee, not yet ground.

Eu prefiro comprar café em grãos.

pimenta em grãos

— Whole peppercorns.

Use pimenta em grãos para mais sabor.

arroz de grãos longos

— Long-grain rice.

O arroz de grãos longos fica bem soltinho.

estoque de grãos

— Grain reserves or stock.

O governo mantém um estoque de grãos.

variedade de grãos

— A variety of different grains.

A loja oferece uma grande variedade de grãos.

saco de grãos

— A sack or bag of grains.

Carregamos o saco de grãos para o caminhão.

grãos de pólen

— Pollen grains.

As abelhas transportam grãos de pólen.

grãos de sal

— Grains of salt (literal).

Vi alguns grãos de sal na mesa.

moedor de grãos

— Grain or coffee grinder.

Comprei um novo moedor de grãos.

campo de grãos

— A field where grains are grown.

O campo de grãos estava dourado ao sol.

Souvent confondu avec

grãos vs graus

Means degrees (temperature/angles).

grãos vs gralhas

Means crows or mistakes (completely different sound).

grãos vs gros

Does not exist in Portuguese, but sounds like 'gross' in English.

Expressions idiomatiques

"de grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo"

— Small, steady efforts lead to great achievements over time.

Não desista de estudar; de grão em grão, a galinha enche o papo.

popular/informal

"não vale um grão de sal"

— Something or someone that has no value or is not worth attention.

Essa promessa dele não vale um grão de sal.

informal

"contar os grãos"

— To be extremely stingy or overly meticulous with small things.

Ele é tão pão-duro que fica contando os grãos.

informal

"um grão de areia no deserto"

— Something insignificant or tiny compared to the whole.

Meu problema é apenas um grão de areia no deserto.

poetic

"grão de sabedoria"

— A small piece of useful advice or truth.

Ele compartilhou um grão de sabedoria conosco.

literary

"separar o joio do trigo"

— To separate the bad from the good (biblical origin, involves grains).

Precisamos separar o joio do trigo nesta empresa.

neutral

"ter um grão na asa"

— To be slightly tipsy or drunk (Portuguese regionalism).

Depois de duas taças, ele já estava com um grão na asa.

informal/regional

"moer o grão"

— To work hard or to process something thoroughly.

Vamos moer o grão até terminar o projeto.

metaphorical

"grão-mestre"

— Grand Master (used in orders or martial arts, unrelated to seeds but uses the root).

O grão-mestre iniciou a cerimônia.

formal

"grão-duque"

— Grand Duke (noble title).

O grão-duque visitou a província.

historical

Facile à confondre

grãos vs graus

Visual and phonetic similarity.

Graus refers to measurements; grãos refers to seeds/particles.

A temperatura subiu dez graus; eu comprei dez grãos de café.

grãos vs sementes

Both are seeds.

Sementes is for planting; grãos is for eating or bulk trade.

Plantei as sementes; comi os grãos.

grãos vs cereais

Overlapping meaning.

Cereais are specific grass seeds; grãos includes legumes and particles.

O trigo é um cereal; o café é um grão.

grãos vs bagos

Both are small and round.

Bagos is for grapes/fruits; grãos is for dry seeds.

Um bago de uva; um grão de arroz.

grãos vs caroços

Both are hard parts of plants.

Caroços are the large pits inside fruit; grãos are small seeds.

O caroço da manga; o grão de milho.

Structures de phrases

Eu como [grãos].

Eu como grãos.

Eu gosto de [grãos] de [tipo].

Eu gosto de grãos de milho.

É importante [verbo] os grãos.

É importante lavar os grãos.

De [grão] em [grão]...

De grão em grão a galinha enche o papo.

A produção de [grãos] [verbo].

A produção de grãos aumentou.

[Grãos] são [adjetivo] para [contexto].

Grãos são essenciais para a economia.

Como [grãos] de [substantivo]...

Como grãos de areia ao vento.

A volatilidade dos [grãos] [verbo].

A volatilidade dos grãos impacta o mercado.

Famille de mots

Noms

grão

grânulo

granulação

granulado

granel

Verbes

granular

granear

esgrudar (distantly related)

Adjectifs

grânulo

granuloso

granítico (distantly related)

grão

Apparenté

cereal

semente

safra

colheita

moenda

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in daily life and news.

Erreurs courantes

Eu quero vinte graus de café. → Eu quero vinte grãos de café.
'Graus' means degrees; 'grãos' means grains.
As grãos são boas. → Os grãos são bons.
'Grãos' is a masculine noun.
Grãos de bicos. → Grãos-de-bico.
In this compound noun, only the first part pluralizes.
Eu comprei sementes de café. → Eu comprei grãos de café.
While technically seeds, coffee is always referred to as 'grãos'.
O arroz tem muitos grães. → O arroz tem muitos grãos.
The plural of 'grão' is 'grãos', not 'grães'.

Astuces

Nasal Mastery

Practice the nasal 'ão' by saying 'morning' but stopping before the 'n' and pushing the sound up.

Shopping Tip

Look for 'a granel' in markets to buy grains by weight without packaging.

Brazilian Staple

Remember that beans (feijão) are always considered 'grãos' in Brazil.

Plural Rule

Most words ending in 'ão' change to 'ões', but 'grão' is an exception that just adds 's'.

Cooking Tip

'Deixar de molho' (soaking) is essential for most 'grãos' like beans and chickpeas.

Economic Fact

Brazil is the world's top producer of several types of 'grãos'.

Seeds vs Grains

Use 'sementes' if you are gardening, 'grãos' if you are eating.

Small but Mighty

Use 'grãos' to describe small bits of truth or wisdom.

Fiber Focus

Search for 'grãos integrais' to find high-fiber food options.

Coffee Labels

'Café em grãos' = Whole beans; 'Café moído' = Ground coffee.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Grains' and 'Ground'. You 'Grind' 'Grãos' on the 'Ground'. The 'ã' looks like a little grain sitting on the 'a'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant coffee bean (grão) wearing a crown (grão sounds a bit like crown). Or a hen filling her belly with golden grains.

Word Web

Arroz Feijão Milho Café Areia Semente Cereal Safra

Défi

Try to name five different types of 'grãos' you have in your kitchen right now in Portuguese.

Origine du mot

From the Latin 'granum', meaning a seed, grain, or small particle.

Sens originel : A seed of corn or a small particle of something.

Romance (Indo-European).

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities, but be aware that in agricultural debates, 'grãos' can be a politically charged word regarding land use and indigenous rights.

In English, 'grains' often refers to cereals, while in Portuguese, 'grãos' is more commonly used for beans as well.

The idiom 'De grão em grão a galinha enche o papo' is one of the most famous proverbs in the Portuguese language. The movie 'O Ciclo dos Grãos' (fictional example) or documentaries about Brazilian agribusiness.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At the Supermarket

Onde fica o corredor de grãos?
Quero café em grãos.
Este feijão tem grãos graúdos.

In the Kitchen

Deixe os grãos de molho.
Cozinhe os grãos por 20 minutos.
Misture os grãos na salada.

At the Beach

A areia tem grãos bem finos.
Cuidado com os grãos de areia nos olhos.
Quantos grãos de areia existem?

Economic News

A safra de grãos foi excelente.
O preço dos grãos subiu.
O país exporta muitos grãos.

Health/Nutrition

Grãos integrais são melhores.
Uma dieta rica em grãos é saudável.
Quais grãos têm mais proteína?

Amorces de conversation

"Você prefere café em grãos ou moído?"

"Qual é o seu grão favorito para cozinhar?"

"Você sabia que o Brasil é um grande produtor de grãos?"

"Você costuma comer grãos integrais todos os dias?"

"O que você acha do preço dos grãos no mercado hoje?"

Sujets d'écriture

Escreva sobre a importância dos grãos na sua alimentação diária.

Descreva a sensação de caminhar sobre os grãos de areia em uma praia.

Imagine que você é um agricultor; como seria o seu dia na colheita de grãos?

Reflita sobre o ditado 'de grão em grão a galinha enche o papo'.

Quais grãos você gostaria de aprender a cozinhar?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, the singular is 'grão'. However, we usually talk about them in plural because they are small and numerous.

It is the Portuguese word for chickpea. It literally means 'beak-grain' because of its shape.

It's a nasal diphthong. Imagine saying 'ow' while letting air escape through your nose.

It's better to use 'sementes de girassol', but 'grãos' might be understood in a commercial context.

'Cereais' is a botanical category (wheat, rice), while 'grãos' is a more general term for the seeds themselves.

Yes, in Portuguese we say 'grão de café' for the coffee bean.

It's part of a proverb meaning that small steps lead to big results.

It is masculine: 'o grão' (singular), 'os grãos' (plural).

You say 'grãos integrais'.

Yes, 'grãos de areia' is the standard way to say it.

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