rato
rato en 30 secondes
- Rato means mouse (animal) or computer mouse (in Portugal).
- It is a masculine noun: o rato, os ratos.
- Common idioms include 'rato de biblioteca' (bookworm).
- Be careful with the feminine 'rata', which can be vulgar slang.
The word rato is one of the most fundamental nouns in the Portuguese language, though it occasionally functions with adjectival nuances in idiomatic expressions. Primarily, it refers to a small mammal of the order Rodentia, specifically the mouse. In a biological context, Portuguese speakers distinguish between the smaller rato (often specifically the camundongo) and the larger ratazana (rat). However, in everyday speech, rato is the umbrella term for these rodents. Beyond biology, the word has seamlessly transitioned into the digital age, serving as the standard term for a computer mouse in Portugal, whereas in Brazil, the English loanword 'mouse' is more prevalent, though 'rato' remains understood.
- Biological Classification
- Refers to various species of the genus Mus, known for their pointed snouts and long tails.
- Technological Context
- The peripheral device used to interact with a computer GUI (Graphic User Interface).
- Figurative Adjective
- In informal contexts, it describes someone who is shrewd, experienced, or spends an excessive amount of time in a specific place.
"O rato roeu a rolha da garrafa do rei de Roma."
Historically, the word derives from the Vulgar Latin rattus. Its evolution in the Iberian Peninsula has maintained a consistent phonetic profile. When used as an adjective (though less common than its noun form), it implies a sense of being 'crafty' or 'worn out'. For instance, a 'homem rato' might be a man who is exceptionally cunning or elusive. In European Portuguese, calling someone 'um bocado rato' can imply they are a bit strange or peculiar, though this usage is fading into archaism.
Ele é um rato de biblioteca; sabe onde está cada livro raro.
O gato finalmente apanhou o rato que vivia no sótão.
Preciso de um rato sem fios para o meu novo computador.
- Symbolism
- Often associated with poverty, filth, or stealth in literature, but also with intelligence and survival.
- Pop Culture
- Mickey Mouse is known as 'Rato Mickey' in Portugal and 'Mickey Mouse' (or simply Mickey) in Brazil.
Using the word rato effectively requires understanding the distinction between its literal, technological, and metaphorical applications. In its most basic form, it is a countable noun. You can have um rato, dois ratos, or a rataria (an infestation or group of rats/mice). When discussing household pests, rato is the default term. If you are in a hardware store in Lisbon, you would ask for a rato for your PC. If you are in São Paulo, you would likely use the English word, though the shopkeeper would understand rato as a literal translation.
Aquele político é um rato sujo; não se pode confiar nele.
Metaphorically, rato is used to describe human behavior. The expression rato de biblioteca (library mouse) is the direct equivalent of the English 'bookworm'. It describes someone who spends all their time studying or reading. Similarly, rato de academia refers to a 'gym rat', someone obsessed with working out. In these cases, the word functions almost like an adjective describing the person's character or habits. In some older Portuguese literature, rato can mean 'eccentric' or 'whimsical'. If someone says 'Que ideia rata!', they mean 'What a strange/peculiar idea!', though this is quite rare today.
- Compound Usage
- Rato-do-campo (field mouse), Rato-cego (mole-rat), Rato-almiscarado (muskrat).
- Verbal Derivatives
- Ratoeira (mousetrap), Ratear (to divide/share - though etymologically distinct, it's often associated by learners), Arratar (to drag like a rat).
In terms of grammar, rato follows standard masculine noun patterns. Adjectives modifying it must agree in gender and number: ratos cinzentos (grey mice), uma armadilha para ratos (a mousetrap). When used as a modifier itself in expressions like 'rato de...', it remains masculine regardless of the subject's gender: 'Ela é um rato de biblioteca' (She is a bookworm).
You will encounter rato in a variety of settings, from the mundane to the professional. In a domestic setting, it's often associated with hygiene or unwanted guests. If someone screams 'Um rato!', they've likely spotted a rodent. In professional IT environments in Portugal, the word is ubiquitous. You'll hear 'O meu rato deixou de funcionar' (My mouse stopped working) or 'Precisas de um tapete para o rato?' (Do you need a mousepad?).
"Mickey, o Rato mais famoso do mundo, celebra hoje o seu aniversário."
In the streets of Porto or Lisbon, you might hear older generations use rato to describe a cunning person, often with a wink. 'Ele é um rato, sabe sempre como poupar uns trocos' (He's a shrewd one, he always knows how to save a few cents). In Brazilian favelas or urban centers, rato can be slang for a petty thief or someone who 'scavenges' opportunities. In literature, particularly in fables like those of La Fontaine (translated into Portuguese), the rato often represents the underdog who wins through wit rather than strength.
- In the Kitchen
- Usually a bad sign! 'Cuidado com os ratos na despensa.'
- In the Office
- Referring to computer peripherals or the 'office rat' who never leaves.
- In Sports
- 'Rato de balneário' - someone who is a veteran and knows all the locker room secrets.
The most frequent mistake for English speakers is the confusion between rato and ratazana. While English often uses 'rat' and 'mouse' interchangeably in casual conversation, Portuguese speakers are generally more specific when they see a large, sewer-dwelling rodent (ratazana) versus a small house mouse (rato). Calling a large rat a 'rato' makes you sound like you're underestimating the problem!
Errado: Eu vi uma rata no jardim. (Unless you specifically mean a female mouse, and even then, be careful!)
Correto: Eu vi um rato no jardim.
Another significant pitfall is the gender of the word. As mentioned, rata is the feminine form, but it carries a strong double entendre in many Lusophone cultures. Unless you are a biologist or a veterinarian, it is almost always safer to use 'o rato' or 'o rato fêmea'. In Brazil, using 'rata' can lead to immediate embarrassment in social situations. Furthermore, learners often confuse rato with rápido (fast) due to the 'ra-' beginning, or with raso (shallow).
- The 'Mouse' vs 'Rato' Trap
- In Brazil, saying 'Meu rato quebrou' for a computer mouse sounds archaic or overly literal. Use 'mouse'. In Portugal, saying 'O meu mouse partiu' sounds like you're trying too hard to speak English. Use 'rato'.
- False Cognates
- Don't confuse 'rato' with 'ratify' (ratificar). They share no semantic link.
To truly master the semantic field of rato, one must understand its neighbors. The most common synonym in a biological sense is camundongo, which specifically refers to the small house mouse (Mus musculus). In Brazil, camundongo is very common for the animal, while rato is used for slightly larger ones or as a general term. Then there is the ratazana, the larger, often scarier brown or black rat (Rattus norvegicus).
- Camundongo
- Small, cute, often the 'pet' or 'cartoon' version of a mouse.
- Ratazana
- Large, associated with sewers and plague.
- Esquilo
- Squirrel. Often confused by beginners because both are rodents.
- Hamster
- Used as a loanword in Portuguese for the pet rodent.
In a figurative sense, synonyms for a 'rato' (shrewd person) include esperto (smart/clever), astuto (astute), or malandro (rogue/street-smart). If you are referring to a 'rato de biblioteca', you could also use estudioso (studious) or leitor ávido (avid reader). In the technological realm, there are no real synonyms for rato in Portugal, but in Brazil, mouse is the only synonym you'll need.
Não é um rato comum, é uma ratazana de esgoto enorme!
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Exemples par niveau
O rato come queijo.
The mouse eats cheese.
Subject + Verb + Object.
Eu tenho um rato de estimação.
I have a pet mouse.
Verb 'ter' (to have) in the first person.
O rato é muito pequeno.
The mouse is very small.
Adjective agreement (masculine).
O gato corre atrás do rato.
The cat runs after the mouse.
Prepositional phrase 'atrás do'.
Onde está o rato?
Where is the mouse?
Interrogative sentence.
O rato vive no buraco.
The mouse lives in the hole.
Preposition 'no' (em + o).
Vi um rato no jardim.
I saw a mouse in the garden.
Past tense 'vi' (ver).
O rato tem orelhas grandes.
The mouse has big ears.
Plural adjective 'grandes'.
O meu rato do computador partiu-se.
My computer mouse broke.
Reflexive verb 'partir-se'.
Preciso de comprar um rato novo.
I need to buy a new mouse.
Infinitive after 'preciso de'.
O rato sem fios é mais prático.
The wireless mouse is more practical.
Compound noun 'sem fios'.
Não consigo clicar com este rato.
I can't click with this mouse.
Modal verb 'consigo' (conseguir).
Pus uma ratoeira na cozinha.
I put a mousetrap in the kitchen.
Noun 'ratoeira' derived from 'rato'.
O rato fugiu quando acendi a luz.
The mouse ran away when I turned on the light.
Conjunction 'quando'.
Há um rato no sótão.
There is a mouse in the attic.
Impersonal verb 'há' (there is).
O rato Mickey é famoso.
Mickey Mouse is famous.
Proper noun usage.
Ela é um verdadeiro rato de biblioteca.
She is a true bookworm.
Idiomatic expression.
O rato roeu a corda toda.
The mouse gnawed the whole rope.
Verb 'roer' (to gnaw).
Dizem que ele é um rato, muito esperto nos negócios.
They say he is a 'mouse', very smart in business.
Figurative use.
A casa velha estava cheia de ratos.
The old house was full of mice.
Adjective 'cheia de'.
O gato e o rato são inimigos naturais.
The cat and the mouse are natural enemies.
Plural subject.
Não deixes comida fora, senão vêm os ratos.
Don't leave food out, otherwise the mice will come.
Conditional 'senão'.
O rato de campo é diferente do rato doméstico.
The field mouse is different from the house mouse.
Comparison.
Ele move o rato com muita rapidez.
He moves the mouse with great speed.
Adverbial phrase 'com muita rapidez'.
O político agiu como um rato, fugindo às responsabilidades.
The politician acted like a rat, fleeing responsibilities.
Simile with 'como'.
Aquele bairro tem um problema grave de ratos e ratazanas.
That neighborhood has a serious problem with mice and rats.
Distinction between 'ratos' and 'ratazanas'.
Ela é uma rata de academia, treina cinco horas por dia.
She is a gym rat, she trains five hours a day.
Slang 'rata de academia'.
O sistema tem um 'rato' que permite entrar sem senha.
The system has a 'bug/hole' that allows entry without a password.
Metaphorical use in IT.
O rato conseguiu escapar da armadilha por pouco.
The mouse managed to escape the trap by a hair.
Expression 'por pouco'.
Ele conhece os cantos da casa como um rato.
He knows the corners of the house like a mouse.
Idiom for knowing a place well.
A experiência científica utilizou ratos de laboratório.
The scientific experiment used laboratory mice.
Compound 'ratos de laboratório'.
Não sejas rato, partilha o lanche com o teu irmão!
Don't be stingy/shrewd, share the snack with your brother!
Imperative 'não sejas'.
A ratice dele não conhece limites quando se trata de dinheiro.
His sneakiness knows no limits when it comes to money.
Abstract noun 'ratice'.
O autor descreve a personagem como um rato de esgoto, vil e desprezível.
The author describes the character as a sewer rat, vile and despicable.
Literary description.
A investigação revelou um rato no departamento financeiro.
The investigation revealed a 'rat' (informer/thief) in the finance department.
Metaphor for a traitor or thief.
O som do rato a roer a madeira era enervante.
The sound of the mouse gnawing the wood was irritating.
Gerund 'a roer'.
Ele é um rato velho nestas andanças da política.
He is an 'old rat' (veteran) in these political circles.
Idiom 'rato velho'.
A precariedade da habitação atraía todo o tipo de rataria.
The precariousness of the housing attracted all sorts of vermin.
Collective noun 'rataria'.
O rato, na fábula, simboliza a astúcia dos oprimidos.
The mouse, in the fable, symbolizes the cunning of the oppressed.
Symbolism.
Foi uma jogada rata, mas eficaz para vencer o torneio.
It was a shrewd/sneaky move, but effective to win the tournament.
Adjective 'rata' (shrewd).
A ontologia do termo 'rato' remete para a pequenez e a sobrevivência.
The ontology of the term 'mouse' refers to smallness and survival.
Academic register.
A proliferação de ratos nas metrópoles é um desafio de saúde pública.
The proliferation of rats in metropolises is a public health challenge.
Formal vocabulary 'proliferação'.
O texto arcaico referia-se ao 'homem rato' como um eremita excêntrico.
The archaic text referred to the 'mouse man' as an eccentric hermit.
Historical linguistics.
A subtileza com que o rato se move é comparável à furtividade de um espião.
The subtlety with which the mouse moves is comparable to the stealth of a spy.
Complex comparison.
Houve uma rateação dos bens, embora alguns criticassem a 'ratice' do processo.
There was an apportionment of assets, though some criticized the 'shrewdness' of the process.
Wordplay between 'rateação' and 'ratice'.
O rato, enquanto arquétipo, permeia o imaginário coletivo europeu.
The mouse, as an archetype, permeates the European collective imaginary.
Archetypal analysis.
A mutação genética nos ratos de laboratório abriu portas à cura da doença.
The genetic mutation in lab mice opened doors to the cure of the disease.
Scientific context.
A sua conduta foi de uma baixeza tal que nem um rato a subscreveria.
His conduct was of such lowliness that not even a rat would subscribe to it.
Hyperbolic metaphor.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Parece um rato.
Fugir como um rato.
Um rato de cada vez.
O rato e o gato.
Rato de esgoto.
Comer como um rato.
Silencioso como um rato.
Pobre como um rato.
Molhado como um rato.
Esperto como um rato.
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
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Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Portugal uses 'rato' for computer mouse; Brazil uses 'mouse'.
The feminine 'rata' is risky.
- Using 'rata' to mean a female mouse in casual conversation.
- Using 'rato' for a computer mouse in Brazil.
- Confusing 'rato' with 'ratazana' (rat).
- Pronouncing the 'R' like a Spanish 'R' (tapped) instead of the Portuguese 'R' (guttural/aspirated).
- Thinking 'rato de biblioteca' is a negative insult (it's usually neutral or positive).
Astuces
Size Matters
Use 'rato' for small ones and 'ratazana' for big ones.
Tech Talk
In Lisbon, ask for a 'rato'. In Rio, ask for a 'mouse'.
Gender Safety
Stick to 'o rato' to avoid accidental vulgarity with 'a rata'.
Study Hard
Call your studious friend a 'rato de biblioteca'.
Roll the R
The 'R' in 'rato' is strong and starts at the back of the throat.
Be Shrewd
A 'rato velho' is someone you can't easily fool.
Fables
Mice are great subjects for practicing descriptive Portuguese.
Context Clues
If you hear 'rato' in an office, it's probably the computer tool.
Pests
If you have a 'rataria', you need an exterminator (desratização).
Gaming
Gamers often discuss 'DPI do rato' in Portugal.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Contexte culturel
Mice often appear in fables as clever survivors.
Unlike some cultures, mice are never eaten in Lusophone countries and are strictly considered pests.
In some rural areas, seeing a mouse can be an omen of change.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Já viste o novo rato sem fios?"
"És um rato de biblioteca ou preferes ver filmes?"
"Como é que se diz 'mouse' no teu país?"
"Tens medo de ratos?"
"O que achas do Rato Mickey?"
Sujets d'écriture
Descreve uma vez que viste um rato.
És um rato de academia? Porquê?
Quais são as vantagens de ser um rato de biblioteca?
Escreve uma pequena fábula sobre um rato e um gato.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, as a general noun for the species. 'Rata' exists but is often avoided due to slang meanings.
You should say 'mouse' (pronounced like the English word).
It is a person who spends a lot of time reading or studying in a library.
It can be. It can mean someone is sneaky or a thief, but also that they are clever.
The word is 'ratoeira'.
'Rato' is a mouse; 'ratazana' is a larger rat, usually found in sewers.
Yes, informally it means shrewd or, in older usage, strange.
Yes, but they are usually called 'ratinhos de estimação'.
It means something is suspicious or 'smells fishy'.
No, he is just called 'Mickey' or 'Mickey Mouse'.
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Summary
The word 'rato' is versatile, covering biology, technology, and human personality traits. Understanding the regional difference (Portugal vs. Brazil) for the computer mouse is crucial for natural communication.
- Rato means mouse (animal) or computer mouse (in Portugal).
- It is a masculine noun: o rato, os ratos.
- Common idioms include 'rato de biblioteca' (bookworm).
- Be careful with the feminine 'rata', which can be vulgar slang.
Size Matters
Use 'rato' for small ones and 'ratazana' for big ones.
Tech Talk
In Lisbon, ask for a 'rato'. In Rio, ask for a 'mouse'.
Gender Safety
Stick to 'o rato' to avoid accidental vulgarity with 'a rata'.
Study Hard
Call your studious friend a 'rato de biblioteca'.
Exemple
In context, `rato` expresses: mouse.
Contenu associé
Apprendre en contexte
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
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