At the A1 level, you should learn 'passador' as a basic household object. Think of it as part of your 'home' vocabulary. You use it to make your clothes look nice. It is a masculine noun: 'o passador'. You might say 'Eu tenho um passador' (I have an iron) or 'O passador é azul' (The iron is blue). Focus on connecting the word to the action of 'passar roupa' (ironing clothes). It is a simple tool found in the laundry room or bedroom. Don't worry about complex types yet; just remember it is the thing that gets hot to fix your shirts.
At the A2 level, you can start using 'passador' in daily routines and descriptions. You should be able to say 'Eu preciso passar minha camisa com o passador' (I need to iron my shirt with the iron). You also learn related items like 'tábua de passar' (ironing board). At this stage, you might describe the appliance: 'O passador está quente' (The iron is hot) or 'O passador está desligado' (The iron is turned off). You are beginning to understand that 'passador' comes from the verb 'passar', which means 'to pass' or 'to iron'.
At the B1 level, you can discuss preferences and give instructions using 'passador'. You might compare different models: 'Este passador a vapor é melhor que o antigo' (This steam iron is better than the old one). You can handle situations like staying in a hotel and asking for one: 'Poderia me enviar um passador e uma tábua?' (Could you send me an iron and a board?). You also understand that 'passador' has other meanings, like a kitchen strainer, and you can use context to distinguish them. You can talk about household chores in more detail, explaining why you need to use the passador for certain fabrics.
At the B2 level, you use 'passador' in technical or more formal contexts. You might read a product review about the efficiency of a specific 'passador' or discuss the professional role of a 'passadeira'. You understand the nuances of regional variations, knowing when to use 'ferro de engomar' versus 'passador'. You can explain the process of ironing complex garments: 'É difícil usar o passador em pregas e colarinhos' (It is difficult to use the iron on pleats and collars). Your vocabulary includes terms like 'reservatório de água' and 'base antiaderente'.
At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the word 'passador' and its place in Lusophone culture. You can discuss the social implications of 'estar bem passado' (being well-pressed) and how it relates to professional success in Portuguese-speaking societies. You can use the word in metaphors or idiomatic expressions if they arise. You are comfortable with the industrial uses of the term, such as in textile manufacturing or large-scale laundry operations. You can also analyze the etymology of the word and its relationship to other words in the 'passar' family.
At the C2 level, you master the word 'passador' in all its forms, including obscure technical meanings or rare regionalisms. You can write instructions for using complex industrial ironing equipment or engage in high-level debates about domestic labor history in Brazil or Portugal, where the 'passador' is a central tool. You understand the subtle shift in meaning when 'passador' is used in different industries (like jewelry or mechanics) and can navigate these contexts with native-like precision. You can also appreciate literary references where the act of ironing or the tool itself is used as a symbol.

passador 30초 만에

  • A passador is a Portuguese term for an electric iron used for pressing clothes.
  • It comes from the verb 'passar', meaning to pass or to iron.
  • Commonly used in Brazil and technical manuals as a synonym for 'ferro de passar'.
  • It can also mean a strainer or colander depending on the context.

The Portuguese word passador is a multifaceted noun that, in the context of domestic chores and textile maintenance, refers to the electrical appliance used to remove wrinkles from fabric through heat and pressure. While many learners are first introduced to the term ferro de passar, the word passador functions as a more direct nominalization of the action passar (to iron). In the Lusophone world, particularly in various regional dialects of Brazil and specific technical registers in Portugal, this term identifies the tool that ensures a crisp, professional appearance for garments ranging from cotton shirts to delicate linen trousers.

Domestic Utility
The passador is an indispensable tool in the Brazilian household, where the cultural standard for clothing maintenance is exceptionally high. Unlike some cultures where a 'rumpled' look might be acceptable, Portuguese-speaking societies often view well-pressed clothing as a sign of hygiene, organization, and social respectability.

O meu passador novo tem uma base de cerâmica que não gruda nas camisas de seda.

Translation: My new iron has a ceramic base that does not stick to silk shirts.

Understanding the use of passador requires an appreciation for the verb passar. In Portuguese, you don't 'iron' clothes using a word related to the metal 'iron' (ferro) as often as you 'pass' them. Therefore, the passador is literally 'the passer'—the device that passes over the fabric to smooth it. This distinction is crucial for English speakers who are used to the noun being tied to the material of the object. Modern versions of the passador include steam functions (passador a vapor) and vertical options for suits and dresses.

Social Context
When you visit a laundry service (lavanderia) in a Portuguese-speaking country, you might see signs for 'passadoria,' which is the dedicated section for ironing. The person operating the passador is often called a 'passadeira' (female) or 'passador' (male), showing how the word expands from the object to the professional role.

Esqueci o passador ligado e quase queimei a tábua de passar.

Translation: I left the iron on and almost burned the ironing board.

Technologically, the passador has evolved from heavy charcoal-filled boxes to lightweight, ergonomic devices. In a contemporary setting, discussing a passador often involves features like 'anti-calcário' (anti-limescale), 'jato de vapor' (steam jet), and 'desligamento automático' (automatic shut-off). For a learner, mastering this word opens up conversations about daily routines, household management, and even fashion care.

Regional Variation
While 'ferro' is the most common term in Lisbon or Rio de Janeiro, 'passador' is frequently encountered in technical manuals, appliance stores, and northern regional dialects, emphasizing the mechanical function of the device.

Comprei um passador de viagem que cabe perfeitamente na mala.

Translation: I bought a travel iron that fits perfectly in the suitcase.

O passador industrial da fábrica parou de funcionar ontem.

Translation: The factory's industrial iron stopped working yesterday.

Using the word passador correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a masculine noun and its common associations with verbs of action and state. In most contexts, it is the subject or object of sentences involving domestic maintenance. Because it is a concrete noun, it is almost always preceded by an article (o, um) or a possessive pronoun (meu, seu).

Direct Object Usage
When you are performing the action or buying the item, 'passador' serves as the recipient of the verb. For example: 'Eu vou comprar um passador' (I am going to buy an iron).

Podes me emprestar o teu passador? O meu estragou-se.

Translation: Can you lend me your iron? Mine broke down.

A key aspect of using passador is combining it with adjectives to specify the type of appliance. Since technology has advanced, simply saying 'passador' might be too vague in a store. You would use 'passador a seco' (dry iron) or 'passador a vapor' (steam iron). Note that the preposition 'a' is used here to denote the method of operation.

Subject of the Sentence
When describing the attributes or the status of the device, it takes the subject position. For example: 'O passador está muito quente' (The iron is very hot).

Aquele passador antigo era feito de ferro fundido e pesava muito.

Translation: That old iron was made of cast iron and weighed a lot.

In more complex sentence structures, you might use passador in prepositional phrases to describe location or purpose. 'A base do passador' (the base of the iron) or 'água para o passador' (water for the iron). This is common when troubleshooting or giving instructions to someone else.

Professional and Industrial Use
In a commercial laundry, 'passador' might refer to the large rotary machines. 'O passador de rolos' refers to a mangle or a rotary ironer used for sheets and tablecloths.

Preciso limpar o reservatório de água do passador para evitar manchas.

Translation: I need to clean the iron's water tank to avoid stains.

O passador sem fio oferece muito mais liberdade de movimento.

Translation: The cordless iron offers much more freedom of movement.

While the word passador is common, its frequency varies depending on the specific setting. You are most likely to hear it in environments where domestic work is the primary focus, such as in hardware stores, appliance retailers, and within the context of professional laundry services. However, it also appears in everyday household conversations between family members or roommates.

In the Appliance Store (Loja de Eletrodomésticos)
Salespeople will use 'passador' to describe the technical specifications of their products. You might hear: 'Este passador tem uma potência de dois mil watts e desligamento de segurança'.

Qual é o passador mais vendido nesta seção?

Translation: Which is the best-selling iron in this section?

In a domestic setting, the term is used when organizing chores. A mother might tell her child: 'Tira o passador da mesa, por favor' (Take the iron off the table, please). It is also frequently heard in the context of safety warnings, as the passador is a common cause of minor burns or domestic fires if left unattended.

Professional Laundry Services (Lavandarias)
When dropping off clothes, you might ask about the 'serviço de passadoria'. The staff will use 'passador' to refer to both the heavy-duty irons and sometimes the specialized staff who handle the finishing of the garments.

O passador a vapor vertical é ideal para cortinas e fatos.

Translation: The vertical steam iron is ideal for curtains and suits.

Furthermore, in technical manuals or assembly instructions for ironing boards (tábuas de passar), the word passador is the standard term. You will see diagrams showing where to place the 'passador' when it is hot. Online shopping filters also use this term to categorize small home appliances.

At Home with Family
Conversations about 'quem vai usar o passador hoje?' (who is going to use the iron today?) are common on Sunday evenings as people prepare their clothes for the work week ahead.

Não toques no passador, ainda está a arrefecer.

Translation: Don't touch the iron; it's still cooling down.

Este passador de viagem é bivolt, o que é ótimo para a Europa.

Translation: This travel iron is dual voltage, which is great for Europe.

Learning to use passador involves navigating potential pitfalls related to its multiple meanings and its relationship with synonyms. The most common mistake for English speakers is assuming that because 'iron' (the metal) is 'ferro', the appliance must *always* be called 'ferro'. While 'ferro de passar' is very common, failing to recognize 'passador' can lead to confusion in technical or regional contexts.

Confusion with 'Passadeira'
A frequent error is mixing up 'passador' (the object) with 'passadeira' (the person who irons or a hallway rug). If you say 'Eu comprei uma passadeira', people might think you bought a carpet or hired a housekeeper, rather than an appliance.

Dica: Use passador para o objeto e passadeira para a profissional.

Translation: Tip: Use 'passador' for the object and 'passadeira' for the professional.

Another mistake involves the 'strainer' vs 'iron' ambiguity. In Portuguese, 'passador' is also the word for a colander or sieve used in the kitchen. Beginners often get confused when they see 'passador' in a kitchen setting and think it refers to an iron. Context is your best friend here: if it's near the sink, it's a strainer; if it's near the laundry, it's an iron.

Gender Mismatches
Because 'máquina' (machine) is feminine, students sometimes mistakenly treat 'passador' as feminine. Remember: 'O passador' (masculine), 'A máquina de passar' (feminine). Mixing these up can make your speech sound unnatural.

Errado: A passador está quente. Correto: O passador está quente.

Translation: Wrong: The iron is hot. Correct: The iron is hot.

Over-relying on the word 'passador' in regions where 'ferro' is the dominant term can also be a minor social faux pas, making you sound like a technical manual rather than a local. It is always good to listen to how the locals in your specific area (e.g., Lisbon vs. São Paulo vs. Luanda) refer to the object.

Misusing Prepositions
When describing the type of iron, students often use 'com' (with) instead of 'a' (by/using). It is 'passador a vapor' (steam iron), not 'passador com vapor', although the latter is occasionally heard, it is less standard in product descriptions.

Comprei um passador a vapor para facilitar o trabalho.

Translation: I bought a steam iron to make the work easier.

O passador de café é outra coisa totalmente diferente!

Translation: The coffee dripper/filter is something else entirely!

In Portuguese, as in English, there are several ways to refer to the act and tools of ironing. Understanding the nuances between passador and its alternatives will help you sound more natural and precise. The most significant alternative is ferro de passar, but there are others depending on the technology and context.

Ferro de Passar (ou Ferro de Engomar)
'Ferro de passar' is the most common term in Brazil, while 'ferro de engomar' is the standard in Portugal. Both refer to the same electrical appliance as 'passador'. 'Engomar' specifically refers to the traditional practice of using starch (goma) to stiffen collars and cuffs.

Em Portugal, dizemos ferro de engomar, mas no Brasil é comum ouvir passador ou ferro de passar.

Translation: In Portugal, we say 'ferro de engomar', but in Brazil, it's common to hear 'passador' or 'ferro de passar'.

When dealing with modern technology, you might encounter the term vaporizador de roupas. This is specifically the handheld steamer that doesn't necessarily have a flat heated plate but uses steam to release wrinkles while the garment hangs. While a passador a vapor usually has a plate, a vaporizador might not.

Calandra
This is a technical term for a large industrial ironer or mangle. If you are in a professional textile setting, 'calandra' is the word for the machine that irons large bolts of fabric or hotel linens, whereas 'passador' remains the word for smaller, manual devices.

O passador doméstico não é suficiente para passar lençóis de um hotel; eles usam uma calandra.

Translation: A domestic iron is not enough to iron hotel sheets; they use a mangle.

Another related word is alisador. While 'alisador' usually refers to a hair straightener (chapinha), in some poetic or very descriptive contexts, it could describe anything that smooths a surface. However, stick to passador or ferro for clothes to avoid being misunderstood as talking about hair care.

Summary Table of Tools
  • Passador: General term for the appliance (Brazil/Technical).
  • Ferro de passar: Most common everyday term (Brazil).
  • Ferro de engomar: Most common everyday term (Portugal).
  • Vaporizador: Garment steamer.
  • Prensa: Heat press (for T-shirts or industrial use).

Prefiro usar o passador tradicional do que o vaporizador para camisas sociais.

Translation: I prefer using a traditional iron over a steamer for dress shirts.

O passador de viagem é essencial para quem viaja a negócios.

Translation: A travel iron is essential for those who travel for business.

수준별 예문

1

O passador é novo.

The iron is new.

Masculine singular noun with the article 'o'.

2

Eu tenho um passador.

I have an iron.

Use of the indefinite article 'um'.

3

O passador está frio.

The iron is cold.

The verb 'estar' indicates a temporary state.

4

Onde está o passador?

Where is the iron?

Interrogative sentence.

5

O passador é pequeno.

The iron is small.

Adjective agreement with the masculine noun.

6

Eu gosto do passador.

I like the iron.

Contraction of 'de' + 'o' = 'do'.

7

O passador é branco.

The iron is white.

Color adjective agreement.

8

Use o passador aqui.

Use the iron here.

Imperative mood.

1

Eu uso o passador para as camisas.

I use the iron for the shirts.

Preposition 'para' indicating purpose.

2

O passador está muito quente agora.

The iron is very hot now.

Adverb 'muito' modifying the adjective 'quente'.

3

Preciso de um passador a vapor.

I need a steam iron.

The verb 'precisar' requires the preposition 'de'.

4

Não toque no passador quente.

Don't touch the hot iron.

Negative imperative.

5

O passador caiu no chão.

The iron fell on the floor.

Past tense 'caiu' (pretérito perfeito).

6

Ela comprou um passador barato.

She bought a cheap iron.

Adjective 'barato' following the noun.

7

O passador está na lavandaria.

The iron is in the laundry room.

Preposition 'em' + 'a' = 'na'.

8

O fio do passador é curto.

The iron's cord is short.

Possessive structure using 'do'.

1

Se o passador não aquecer, verifique a ficha.

If the iron doesn't heat up, check the plug.

Conditional 'se' with present subjunctive/indicative.

2

Este passador é mais eficiente que o meu.

This iron is more efficient than mine.

Comparative of superiority 'mais ... que'.

3

O passador automático desliga-se sozinho.

The automatic iron turns itself off.

Reflexive verb 'desligar-se'.

4

Queria um passador que não queimasse a seda.

I wanted an iron that wouldn't burn silk.

Imperfect subjunctive 'queimasse' after 'queria'.

5

O passador está a deitar água.

The iron is leaking water.

Present continuous (PT-PT style) 'está a deitar'.

6

Limpa a base do passador com cuidado.

Clean the iron's base carefully.

Adverbial phrase 'com cuidado'.

7

O passador é essencial para um aspeto profissional.

The iron is essential for a professional look.

Adjective 'essencial' followed by 'para'.

8

Podes guardar o passador quando arrefecer.

You can put the iron away when it cools down.

Future subjunctive 'arrefecer' after 'quando'.

1

O passador de rolos é usado para lençóis grandes.

The rotary ironer is used for large sheets.

Passive voice 'é usado'.

2

A tecnologia deste passador evita o calcário.

This iron's technology prevents limescale.

Noun 'calcário' as the object.

3

Apesar de caro, o passador vale o investimento.

Despite being expensive, the iron is worth the investment.

Concessive conjunction 'apesar de'.

4

O passador deve ser mantido fora do alcance das crianças.

The iron must be kept out of children's reach.

Modal verb 'deve' + passive 'ser mantido'.

5

A base de cerâmica do passador desliza suavemente.

The iron's ceramic base glides smoothly.

Adverb 'suavemente' derived from 'suave'.

6

Sempre que usares o passador, esvazia o depósito.

Whenever you use the iron, empty the tank.

Conjunction 'sempre que' with future subjunctive.

7

O passador vertical é prático para retoques rápidos.

The vertical iron is practical for quick touch-ups.

Adjective 'prático' modifying 'passador'.

8

O consumo de energia do passador é significativo.

The iron's energy consumption is significant.

Abstract noun 'consumo' as the subject.

1

A evolução do passador reflete a história doméstica.

The evolution of the iron reflects domestic history.

Abstract concept as subject.

2

O passador tornou-se um símbolo de labor feminino.

The iron became a symbol of female labor.

Pronominal verb 'tornar-se'.

3

É imperativo que o passador possua termostato regulável.

It is imperative that the iron has an adjustable thermostat.

Subjunctive 'possua' after 'é imperativo que'.

4

O passador a seco está a cair em desuso.

The dry iron is falling into disuse.

Idiomatic expression 'cair em desuso'.

5

A ergonomia do passador minimiza o esforço físico.

The iron's ergonomics minimize physical effort.

Technical noun 'ergonomia'.

6

O passador, conquanto antigo, funciona perfeitamente.

The iron, although old, works perfectly.

Concessive conjunction 'conquanto'.

7

A manutenção do passador prolonga a sua vida útil.

Maintenance of the iron extends its useful life.

Possessive 'sua' referring to the object.

8

O vapor do passador penetra nas fibras do tecido.

The iron's steam penetrates the fabric fibers.

Verb 'penetrar' with preposition 'em'.

1

O passador transcende a sua função utilitária na arte.

The iron transcends its utilitarian function in art.

High-level vocabulary 'transcende' and 'utilitária'.

2

A obsolescência programada afeta até o mais robusto passador.

Planned obsolescence affects even the sturdiest iron.

Complex social concept 'obsolescência programada'.

3

A precisão térmica do passador é vital para a alta-costura.

The iron's thermal precision is vital for haute couture.

Technical compound noun 'alta-costura'.

4

Houve quem visse no passador um instrumento de opressão.

There were those who saw in the iron an instrument of oppression.

Relative clause with 'quem'.

5

O passador pneumático agiliza a produção em massa.

The pneumatic ironer speeds up mass production.

Technical adjective 'pneumático'.

6

A pátina no passador antigo conta histórias de gerações.

The patina on the old iron tells stories of generations.

Metaphorical use of 'conta histórias'.

7

Sob o efeito do passador, o linho recupera a sua nobreza.

Under the effect of the iron, linen recovers its nobility.

Poetic phrasing 'recupera a sua nobreza'.

8

O passador é, por excelência, o guardião da elegância.

The iron is, par excellence, the guardian of elegance.

Set phrase 'por excelência'.

자주 쓰는 조합

passador a vapor
passador de viagem
base do passador
fio do passador
passador automático
limpar o passador
ligar o passador
desligar o passador
reservatório do passador
passador industrial

자주 쓰는 구문

Passar a ferro

— The act of ironing clothes using an iron.

Vou passar as camisas a ferro.

Tábua de passar

— The board used to support clothes while ironing.

A tábua de passar está na sala.

Água destilada para passador

— Water used to prevent limescale in steam irons.

Sempre use água destilada no passador.

Passador de roupa

— A more descriptive way to say clothes iron.

O passador de roupa está quente.

Serviço de passadoria

— A professional ironing service.

Deixei as roupas na passadoria.

Passador sem fio

— A cordless iron.

O pas

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