salário
salário en 30 secondes
- Fixed regular payment for work.
- Usually paid monthly in Portugal/Brazil.
- Can be 'bruto' (gross) or 'líquido' (net).
- Core vocabulary for jobs and economics.
- Salário Bruto
- This is the gross salary, the total amount earned before any deductions for taxes or social security are made.
- Salário Líquido
- This is the net salary, the actual amount deposited into the employee's bank account after all legal deductions.
- Salário Mínimo
- The legally mandated minimum wage that an employer must pay an employee, which is updated annually by the government.
O meu salário bruto é de dois mil euros, mas o líquido é muito menor.
O governo anunciou um aumento do salário mínimo nacional para o próximo ano.
Ela conseguiu um emprego com um excelente salário e muitos benefícios.
Nesta empresa, o salário é pago no último dia útil de cada mês.
Muitos trabalhadores estão insatisfeitos com o seu salário atual devido à inflação.
- Ganhar um salário
- To earn a salary. This focuses on the act of working to acquire the money.
- Receber o salário
- To receive the salary. This focuses on the transaction of the money entering your account.
- Pedir um aumento de salário
- To ask for a salary increase or a raise. A common phrase in professional contexts.
Ele vai pedir um aumento de salário ao chefe amanhã.
A empresa atrasou o pagamento do salário este mês.
É difícil viver com um salário tão baixo na capital.
O salário médio em Portugal tem vindo a subir lentamente.
Eles descontam muito dinheiro do meu salário para os impostos.
- News and Media
- Economic reports constantly discuss the 'salário médio' (average wage) and the 'salário mínimo' (minimum wage) as key indicators of the country's economic health.
- Politics
- Politicians frequently debate policies related to 'aumentos salariais' (salary increases) to appeal to the working class and address inflation.
- Everyday Conversation
- Friends and family might discuss how far their 'salário' goes at the supermarket, especially during times of high inflation.
O telejornal de hoje destacou a estagnação do salário real dos trabalhadores.
Durante a entrevista, perguntaram-me qual era a minha expectativa de salário.
Os sindicatos estão a organizar uma greve para exigir um salário mais digno.
Com este salário, é impossível arrendar uma casa no centro da cidade.
O salário emocional, como a flexibilidade de horário, também é muito importante hoje em dia.
- Salário vs. Mesada
- 'Salário' is for work. 'Mesada' is an allowance given to children or dependents by parents.
- Salário vs. Honorários
- 'Honorários' are fees paid to independent professionals like lawyers or doctors, not a regular 'salário'.
- Preposition Errors
- Saying 'trabalhar por um salário' is correct, but 'trabalhar para um salário' is an anglicism (working for a salary).
Incorreto: Eu faço um bom salário. | Correto: Eu ganho um bom salário.
Incorreto: O advogado recebeu o seu salário. | Correto: O advogado recebeu os seus honorários.
Incorreto: Ele deu um salário ao filho. | Correto: Ele deu uma mesada ao filho.
Incorreto: O meu salário é de 10 euros por hora. | Correto: O meu vencimento/pagamento é de 10 euros por hora. (Salário usually implies a monthly fixed amount).
Incorreto: Eu trabalho para um salário. | Correto: Eu trabalho por um salário.
- Ordenado
- Very common in Portugal, almost perfectly synonymous with 'salário', but historically associated with white-collar or administrative jobs.
- Remuneração
- A broader, more formal term that encompasses the base salary plus all other benefits, bonuses, and allowances.
- Vencimento
- Often used in formal contracts and by the public administration to refer to the base pay before deductions.
O meu salário base é bom, mas a remuneração total é excelente devido aos bónus.
Em Portugal, muitas pessoas usam a palavra ordenado em vez de salário.
O vencimento mensal dos funcionários públicos foi atualizado este ano, refletindo no salário final.
Os honorários do advogado foram mais altos do que o meu salário de um mês inteiro.
Ele recebe uma comissão por cada venda, o que complementa o seu salário fixo.
How Formal Is It?
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Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Exemples par niveau
O salário é bom.
The salary is good.
Uses the verb 'ser' (to be) in the present tense.
Eu tenho um salário.
I have a salary.
Uses the verb 'ter' (to have).
O meu salário é pequeno.
My salary is small.
Adjective 'pequeno' agrees with the masculine noun 'salário'.
Ele gosta do salário.
He likes the salary.
Uses 'gostar de' + 'o' = 'do'.
O salário é em euros.
The salary is in euros.
Basic preposition 'em' for currency.
Ela recebe o salário.
She receives the salary.
Present tense of 'receber'.
O salário está na conta.
The salary is in the account.
Uses 'estar' for location.
É um salário normal.
It is a normal salary.
Simple descriptive sentence.
Eu ganho um bom salário no meu trabalho.
I earn a good salary at my job.
Uses 'ganhar' (to earn).
O salário mínimo aumentou este ano.
The minimum wage increased this year.
Introduces 'salário mínimo'.
Eles pagam o salário no fim do mês.
They pay the salary at the end of the month.
Uses 'pagar' and time expression.
Qual é o teu salário base?
What is your base salary?
Question formation with 'Qual é'.
Eu preciso de um salário maior para viver aqui.
I need a higher salary to live here.
Uses 'precisar de' and comparative 'maior'.
O salário dela é melhor do que o meu.
Her salary is better than mine.
Comparative structure 'melhor do que'.
Nós recebemos o salário ontem.
We received the salary yesterday.
Past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) of 'receber'.
O salário não chega para todas as despesas.
The salary is not enough for all expenses.
Uses 'chegar' in the sense of 'to be enough'.
Vou pedir um aumento de salário ao meu chefe amanhã.
I am going to ask my boss for a salary increase tomorrow.
Future with 'ir' + infinitive; 'aumento de salário'.
A diferença entre o salário bruto e o líquido é grande.
The difference between the gross and net salary is big.
Contrasting 'bruto' and 'líquido'.
Muitos jovens emigram à procura de salários mais altos.
Many young people emigrate looking for higher salaries.
Plural form 'salários' and complex preposition 'à procura de'.
O governo prometeu atualizar os salários da função pública.
The government promised to update the salaries of the civil service.
Past tense 'prometeu' and formal vocabulary 'função pública'.
Se eu tivesse um salário melhor, compraria um carro novo.
If I had a better salary, I would buy a new car.
Imperfect subjunctive (tivesse) + conditional (compraria).
Os impostos levam uma grande parte do nosso salário.
Taxes take a large part of our salary.
Vocabulary 'impostos' (taxes).
É importante negociar o salário durante a entrevista de emprego.
It is important to negotiate the salary during the job interview.
Infinitive phrase as subject 'É importante negociar'.
O salário médio no país não acompanhou a inflação.
The average salary in the country did not keep up with inflation.
Vocabulary 'salário médio' and 'inflação'.
A disparidade salarial entre homens e mulheres continua a ser um problema grave.
The gender pay gap continues to be a serious problem.
Advanced vocabulary 'disparidade salarial'.
A empresa oferece um pacote de benefícios que complementa o salário base.
The company offers a benefits package that complements the base salary.
Corporate vocabulary 'pacote de benefícios'.
As negociações salariais entre o sindicato e a administração falharam.
The salary negotiations between the union and management failed.
Adjective form 'salariais' and vocabulary 'sindicato'.
O congelamento dos salários gerou uma onda de protestos a nível nacional.
The freezing of salaries generated a wave of protests nationwide.
Noun phrase 'congelamento dos salários'.
Embora o salário seja atrativo, as condições de trabalho são péssimas.
Although the salary is attractive, the working conditions are terrible.
Conjunction 'Embora' requiring the subjunctive 'seja'.
A indexação dos salários à taxa de inflação é uma exigência dos trabalhadores.
The indexation of salaries to the inflation rate is a demand of the workers.
Economic terminology 'indexação'.
O recibo de vencimento detalha todas as retenções feitas ao salário.
The payslip details all the withholdings made to the salary.
Vocabulary 'recibo de vencimento' and 'retenções'.
Para reter talentos, as empresas precisam de oferecer salários competitivos.
To retain talent, companies need to offer competitive salaries.
Infinitive clause of purpose 'Para reter'.
A estagnação da massa salarial tem repercussões profundas no consumo interno.
The stagnation of the wage bill has profound repercussions on domestic consumption.
Macroeconomic terms 'massa salarial' and 'consumo interno'.
O debate sobre a flexibilização salarial divide economistas e sociólogos.
The debate on wage flexibility divides economists and sociologists.
Abstract noun 'flexibilização'.
A componente variável do salário está frequentemente indexada a métricas de desempenho rigorosas.
The variable component of the salary is frequently indexed to rigorous performance metrics.
Corporate jargon 'componente variável' and 'métricas de desempenho'.
A desvalorização cambial corroeu o poder de compra dos salários reais.
Currency devaluation eroded the purchasing power of real wages.
Advanced economic concepts 'desvalorização cambial' and 'salários reais'.
O acordo coletivo de trabalho estabelece as grelhas salariais para cada categoria profissional.
The collective labor agreement establishes the salary grids for each professional category.
Legal/HR terms 'acordo coletivo' and 'grelhas salariais'.
É imperativo mitigar a assimetria salarial que penaliza as minorias no mercado de trabalho.
It is imperative to mitigate the wage asymmetry that penalizes minorities in the labor market.
Formal phrasing 'É imperativo mitigar' and 'assimetria salarial'.
A tributação progressiva sobre os salários visa promover uma maior equidade fiscal.
Progressive taxation on salaries aims to promote greater fiscal equity.
Tax terminology 'tributação progressiva'.
A estrutura salarial da organização foi alvo de uma auditoria externa exaustiva.
The organization's salary structure was the subject of an exhaustive external audit.
Corporate governance vocabulary 'estrutura salarial' and 'auditoria externa'.
A rigidez nominal dos salários impede um ajustamento rápido do mercado laboral em cenários de recessão.
The nominal rigidity of wages prevents a rapid adjustment of the labor market in recession scenarios.
Highly specialized economic theory 'rigidez nominal'.
A jurisprudência tem reiterado que a penhorabilidade do salário está sujeita a limites estritos para garantir o mínimo de subsistência.
Jurisprudence has reiterated that the garnishability of a salary is subject to strict limits to guarantee a minimum of subsistence.
Legal terminology 'jurisprudência' and 'penhorabilidade'.
A espiral inflacionista foi exacerbada por reivindicações salariais desfasadas dos ganhos de produtividade.
The inflationary spiral was exacerbated by wage demands out of step with productivity gains.
Complex economic dynamics 'espiral inflacionista' and 'ganhos de produtividade'.
A opacidade em torno das políticas salariais das multinacionais fomenta a desconfiança institucional.
The opacity surrounding the salary policies of multinationals fosters institutional distrust.
Abstract nouns 'opacidade' and 'desconfiança institucional'.
O corolário da precarização laboral é a proliferação de salários aviltantes que roçam o limiar da pobreza.
The corollary of labor precarization is the proliferation of degrading salaries that border on the poverty line.
Literary/academic vocabulary 'corolário', 'aviltantes', 'limiar'.
A reestruturação corporativa culminou numa harmonização salarial que, paradoxalmente, desmotivou os quadros médios.
The corporate restructuring culminated in a salary harmonization that, paradoxically, demotivated middle management.
Corporate strategy terms 'harmonização salarial' and 'quadros médios'.
A doutrina diverge quanto à natureza jurídica dos prémios de assiduidade e a sua integração no conceito estrito de salário.
Doctrine diverges regarding the legal nature of attendance bonuses and their integration into the strict concept of salary.
Legal doctrine vocabulary 'natureza jurídica' and 'conceito estrito'.
A externalização de serviços visa, não raras vezes, contornar as tabelas salariais impostas pela contratação coletiva.
The outsourcing of services aims, not infrequently, to circumvent the salary scales imposed by collective bargaining.
Advanced syntax 'não raras vezes' and vocabulary 'externalização'.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
ganhar o salário mínimo
viver do seu salário
pedir um aumento de salário
o salário não chega até ao fim do mês
trabalhar por um salário
salário compatível com a função
expectativa de salário
recibo de salário
folha de salários
congelamento de salários
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
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Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
'Vencimento' or 'Remuneração' are preferred in legal contracts.
'Holerite' is used in Brazil for payslip; 'Recibo de vencimento' in Portugal.
In Portugal, 'ordenado' is very common colloquially.
- Saying 'fazer um salário' instead of 'ganhar um salário'.
- Forgetting the accent mark: writing 'salario' instead of 'salário'.
- Confusing 'salário bruto' (gross) with 'salário líquido' (net).
- Using 'salário' for an allowance given to a child (which should be 'mesada').
- Pronouncing the stress on the first syllable instead of the second.
Astuces
Verbs to Use
Always pair 'salário' with 'ganhar' (earn) or 'receber' (receive). Never use 'fazer' (make). This is a classic mistake English speakers make.
Bruto vs. Líquido
Memorize 'salário bruto' (gross) and 'salário líquido' (net). This distinction is vital for job interviews and reading contracts.
Stress the LÁ
The accent mark tells you where to put the stress. Say sa-LÁ-rio. An open, strong 'A' in the middle.
The 13th Month
Remember that in PT and BR, annual salaries are often divided by 14 or 13 months, not 12. Keep this in mind when calculating monthly pay from an annual offer.
Ordenado in Portugal
If you are in Portugal, get used to hearing 'ordenado' just as much as 'salário'. They mean the same thing in everyday life.
Don't Forget the Accent
Always write 'salário' with the acute accent on the first 'a'. Without it, the word is misspelled and the pronunciation rules would change.
Money Talks
Avoid asking direct questions about someone's salary. It's a private matter. Use general terms like 'salário médio' if discussing economics.
Pretensão Salarial
Learn the phrase 'pretensão salarial' (salary expectation) before any job interview in Portuguese. You will definitely be asked this.
News Context
When reading the news, look out for 'salário mínimo' (minimum wage). It's a frequent topic of political and economic debate.
Masculine Noun
'Salário' is masculine. Always use 'o salário', 'um salário', 'salário alto', 'salário baixo'. Ensure your adjectives agree.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a Roman soldier receiving a bag of SALT as his SALARY. Salário comes from salt!
Origine du mot
Latin
Contexte culturel
In Brazil, the document showing your salary details is commonly called a 'holerite' or 'contracheque'.
In Portugal, the term 'ordenado' is used just as frequently as 'salário' in everyday speech.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Achas que o salário mínimo em Portugal é suficiente para viver?"
"Como costumas negociar o teu salário numa entrevista?"
"Preferes um salário maior ou mais tempo livre?"
"O que achas da disparidade salarial entre homens e mulheres?"
"Já alguma vez pediste um aumento de salário?"
Sujets d'écriture
Escreve sobre o que farias se o teu salário duplicasse amanhã.
Descreve a importância do salário mínimo para a economia de um país.
Qual é a tua opinião sobre a transparência salarial nas empresas?
Conta uma experiência em que tiveste de negociar o teu salário.
Como geres o teu salário todos os meses?
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIn modern usage, especially in Portugal, they are virtually identical and used interchangeably. Historically, 'ordenado' was used for white-collar workers (office jobs), while 'salário' was for blue-collar or manual labor. Today, this distinction has mostly faded. You can use either in daily conversation. In Brazil, 'salário' is much more common than 'ordenado'.
Gross salary is 'salário bruto'. This is the total amount before any taxes or deductions. Net salary is 'salário líquido'. This is the final amount that actually goes into your bank account after all deductions. Always clarify which one is being discussed in a job interview.
No, that is a direct translation error and sounds very unnatural in Portuguese. You should use the verb 'ganhar' (to earn) or 'receber' (to receive). For example, say 'Eu ganho um bom salário' instead of 'Eu faço um bom salário'.
The 13th salary (décimo terceiro salário) is a mandatory year-end bonus paid to employees in Brazil and Portugal (where it's called subsídio de Natal). It is equivalent to one month's net pay. It was instituted to help workers with extra expenses during the holiday season. In Portugal, there is also a 14th month for summer holidays.
Generally, no. Just like in many Western cultures, asking 'Qual é o teu salário?' (What is your salary?) is considered intrusive and impolite unless you are very close friends or family. It is better to discuss salaries in general terms or averages.
'Pretensão salarial' translates to 'salary expectation'. You will frequently see this term in job applications or hear it during interviews. It is the amount of money you are asking the company to pay you for the role.
The plural is 'salários'. You simply add an 's' to the end of the word. For example, 'Os salários em Portugal são baixos' (Salaries in Portugal are low). The spelling and accent mark remain exactly the same.
You typically use 'de' to specify the amount: 'Um salário de 1000 euros'. You use 'por' to indicate working for a wage: 'Trabalhar por um salário'. You use 'com' to indicate living on a wage: 'Viver com um salário mínimo'.
Yes. In Portugal, the payslip is called 'recibo de vencimento'. In Brazil, it is commonly referred to as 'holerite' or 'contracheque'. All these terms refer to the document detailing your gross pay, deductions, and net pay.
The acute accent on the 'a' (á) indicates that this is the stressed syllable, and it has an open 'a' sound, like the 'a' in 'father'. The pronunciation is sa-LÁ-rio. Make sure not to stress the first or last syllable.
Teste-toi 200 questions
Write a short sentence saying you earn a good salary.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence asking for a salary increase.
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Explain the difference between salário bruto and líquido in one sentence.
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Write a sentence stating the minimum wage in your country.
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Write a sentence using 'salário médio'.
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Write a sentence about receiving your salary at the end of the month.
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Translate: 'My salary is not enough.'
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Translate: 'She negotiated her salary.'
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Write a sentence using 'pretensão salarial'.
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Write a sentence about the gender pay gap using 'disparidade salarial'.
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Translate: 'The company pays the salary on Friday.'
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Write a sentence using 'salário emocional'.
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Translate: 'Taxes take a lot of my salary.'
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Write a sentence using 'ordenado' instead of 'salário'.
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Translate: 'I work for a salary.'
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Write a sentence about a wage freeze (congelamento de salários).
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Translate: 'Base salary'.
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Write a sentence using 'recibo de vencimento'.
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Translate: 'Higher salary'.
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Write a sentence about saving part of your salary.
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What does the person earn?
What will happen to the minimum wage?
What is enormous?
What is the person going to ask for?
What is being asked?
When do they pay the salary?
What is the problem with the salary?
What is a problem?
What is the base salary?
What shows all the deductions?
What does the emotional salary include?
What happened in the civil service?
How is the average salary in Portugal described?
When did the person receive their salary?
What takes half of the salary?
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
'Salário' is the essential Portuguese word for salary or wage. Always remember to use the verbs 'ganhar' (to earn) or 'receber' (to receive) with it, rather than 'fazer' (to make). Example: 'Eu ganho um bom salário.'
- Fixed regular payment for work.
- Usually paid monthly in Portugal/Brazil.
- Can be 'bruto' (gross) or 'líquido' (net).
- Core vocabulary for jobs and economics.
Verbs to Use
Always pair 'salário' with 'ganhar' (earn) or 'receber' (receive). Never use 'fazer' (make). This is a classic mistake English speakers make.
Bruto vs. Líquido
Memorize 'salário bruto' (gross) and 'salário líquido' (net). This distinction is vital for job interviews and reading contracts.
Stress the LÁ
The accent mark tells you where to put the stress. Say sa-LÁ-rio. An open, strong 'A' in the middle.
The 13th Month
Remember that in PT and BR, annual salaries are often divided by 14 or 13 months, not 12. Keep this in mind when calculating monthly pay from an annual offer.
Exemple
Meu salário é pago no início do mês.
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Expressions liées
Plus de mots sur work
a curto prazo
A2Over a short period of time; short-term.
à exceção de
B1With the exception of; apart from.
a longo prazo
A2Over a long period of time; long-term.
a não ser que
A2Unless; except if; only if not.
a partir de
A2Starting from; from a certain point in time or place.
a prazo
A2For a period of time; on credit or payment terms.
a tempo inteiro
B1Full-time; working the full number of hours considered normal for a job.
a tempo parcial
B1Part-time; working less than full-time hours.
abdicar
A2To give up, to abdicate; to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, or claim.
acessível
B1Accessible, abordable. Facile à approcher, à comprendre ou à payer.