batata
Potato, a starchy plant tuber eaten as a vegetable.
The potato is a fundamental, versatile vegetable used daily in Portuguese-speaking households.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A versatile starchy vegetable used in many global dishes.
- Commonly served fried, mashed, or baked in Brazil.
- Essential food staple for daily nutrition and culinary variety.
Summary
The potato is a fundamental, versatile vegetable used daily in Portuguese-speaking households.
- A versatile starchy vegetable used in many global dishes.
- Commonly served fried, mashed, or baked in Brazil.
- Essential food staple for daily nutrition and culinary variety.
Use with culinary adjectives
Learn to pair batata with adjectives like 'frita', 'cozida', or 'assada' to express how you like it prepared.
Avoid confusing with mandioca
Although both are tubers, 'mandioca' (cassava) is not the same as 'batata'. They have different textures and cooking times.
The potato in Brazilian culture
The 'batata frita' is a mandatory side dish for the traditional 'prato feito' (PF) in many regions of Brazil.
Examples
2 of 2Eu quero uma porção de batata frita.
I want a portion of french fries.
A batata é um alimento rico em carboidratos.
The potato is a carbohydrate-rich food.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a potato as a 'base' for a meal. Just like a potato has many 'eyes', you have many ways to cook it!
Visão Geral
A palavra 'batata' refere-se ao tubérculo da planta Solanum tuberosum. É um alimento básico mundial, essencial na dieta brasileira, sendo a base de pratos como purê, batata frita e salada de maionese. 2) Padrões de Uso: O termo é amplamente utilizado tanto em contextos culinários quanto em expressões idiomáticas. Pode ser usado no singular para descrever o vegetal em si ou no plural para referir-se a uma porção ou ao grupo de batatas. 3) Contextos Comuns: É onipresente em restaurantes, lanchonetes e lares. Encontramos 'batata inglesa' (a mais comum), 'batata-doce' (mais saudável e adocicada) e 'batata baroa' (ou mandioquinha). 4) Comparação com Palavras Semelhantes: Diferente da 'mandioca' (ou aipim), que possui uma textura mais fibrosa e é nativa das Américas, a batata inglesa tem uma textura mais macia e farinhenta quando cozida. Enquanto a batata é um tubérculo de clima temperado, a mandioca é uma raiz de clima tropical, o que define suas diferentes utilizações na cozinha regional brasileira.
Usage Notes
Batata is a neutral term used in all registers. It is highly versatile and appears in many idiomatic expressions. Be careful not to use it to describe other root vegetables.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often confuse 'batata' with 'mandioca'. Also, remember that 'batata' is feminine, so use articles like 'a' or 'as'.
Memory Tip
Think of a potato as a 'base' for a meal. Just like a potato has many 'eyes', you have many ways to cook it!
Word Origin
The word comes from the Taino language 'batata', which originally referred to the sweet potato. It was later adopted into Portuguese to describe the white potato brought from the Andes.
Cultural Context
The potato is a staple globally but its preparation varies wildly. In Brazil, it is a comfort food associated with family meals and fast food.
Examples
Eu quero uma porção de batata frita.
everydayI want a portion of french fries.
A batata é um alimento rico em carboidratos.
academicThe potato is a carbohydrate-rich food.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
batata quente
hot potato (idiom for a difficult situation)
estar com a batata assando
to be in a tight spot
Often Confused With
Mandioca is a distinct root vegetable native to South America, often called cassava or yuca in English. It is not a variety of potato.
Grammar Patterns
Use with culinary adjectives
Learn to pair batata with adjectives like 'frita', 'cozida', or 'assada' to express how you like it prepared.
Avoid confusing with mandioca
Although both are tubers, 'mandioca' (cassava) is not the same as 'batata'. They have different textures and cooking times.
The potato in Brazilian culture
The 'batata frita' is a mandatory side dish for the traditional 'prato feito' (PF) in many regions of Brazil.
Test Yourself
Complete a frase com a opção correta.
Eu adoro comer ___ com bife no almoço.
No contexto de uma refeição, usamos o plural para indicar uma porção.
Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsA batata inglesa é mais neutra e rica em amido, sendo ideal para frituras e purês. A batata-doce possui um sabor adocicado, é mais fibrosa e considerada uma opção de carboidrato de absorção mais lenta.
Dizemos 'batata frita'. É o acompanhamento mais popular em lanchonetes e restaurantes no Brasil.
A palavra é feminina. Dizemos 'a batata' ou 'as batatas'.
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
More food words
abacate
A2Avocado.
abacaxi
A2A large juicy tropical fruit consisting of fragrant yellow flesh.
abóbora
A2Pumpkin; squash, a large round orange-yellow fruit.
abobrinha
A2Zucchini (Brazilian Portuguese).
abre-latas
A2A tool for opening cans of food.
abridor
A2A tool for opening bottles or cans.
abridor de latas
A2A device for opening metal cans of food.
abundante
A2Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.
acabado
A2Finished, completed, or used up, e.g., 'the bread is finished'.
açafrão
A2A spice derived from the saffron crocus flower, used for coloring and flavoring.
