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A2 noun 7 min read

cédula

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips cédula in 30 Seconds

Explanation cédula in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 'cédula' as a word for money. You might not use it yourself yet, as 'dinheiro' or 'nota' are easier, but you will see it on signs in banks or at currency exchange offices (casas de câmbio). It is a feminine noun, so you say 'uma cédula'. Think of it as the formal name for the paper money you use to buy things. In very basic terms, if you see this word, it means someone is talking about physical cash, specifically the paper kind, not coins. You might see it in a simple sentence like 'Eu tenho uma cédula de dez reais'. Learning this word early helps you understand that Portuguese has different levels of formality even for basic objects like money. It is also important to know that it is pronounced with a clear 'é' sound at the beginning, almost like the 'e' in 'egg'.

At the A2 level, you are expected to understand the difference between 'cédula' and 'nota'. You should be able to use 'cédula' in slightly more formal contexts, such as when you are talking to a bank employee or reading a simple news headline about money. You will learn that 'cédula' is used for specific denominations: 'cédula de cinco', 'cédula de vinte'. You also start to see it in compound terms like 'Cédula de Identidade', which is the formal name for an ID card in Brazil. This is a key part of daily life. If a policeman asks for your 'cédula de identidade', he is asking for your ID. You should also be aware of basic collocations like 'cédula falsa' (fake bill) to protect yourself during transactions. Practicing the plural form 'cédulas' and ensuring adjective agreement (e.g., 'cédulas novas') is a core goal at this level.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the institutional use of 'cédula'. You can understand more complex sentences regarding the economy, such as 'O Banco Central emitiu novas cédulas para circular no mercado'. You understand that 'cédula' is the standard term in legal and financial documents. You might also encounter the term 'cédula eleitoral' when discussing politics or history, referring to paper ballots. Your vocabulary is expanding to include technical descriptions: 'a textura da cédula', 'os elementos de segurança da cédula'. You can explain to someone the difference between 'moeda' (coin) and 'cédula' (banknote) using appropriate Portuguese. You are also becoming aware of regional differences; for instance, while 'cédula' is understood everywhere, its frequency in spoken language might be higher in formal Brazilian contexts than in casual European Portuguese.

At the B2 level, you use 'cédula' with precision in professional and academic discussions. You can participate in a debate about the 'fim das cédulas físicas' (the end of physical banknotes) due to digital payments like PIX or credit cards. You understand more specialized terms like 'cédula de crédito bancário' (a type of bank loan document) and can read financial contracts where 'cédula' appears frequently. You are also aware of the historical context of 'cédulas' in Brazil, including the various currency changes (from Cruzeiro to Real) and how 'cédulas' were overprinted or replaced during periods of hyperinflation. Your pronunciation is near-native, correctly placing the stress on the first syllable and handling the 'd' and 'l' sounds smoothly. You can write formal letters or reports where 'cédula' is used to maintain a professional tone.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the nuances and etymology of 'cédula'. You can analyze the iconography of 'cédulas' as a reflection of national identity, discussing why certain historical figures or animals are chosen to appear on them. You understand the word's role in literature and high-level journalism, where it might be used metaphorically or in very specific legal arguments. You are familiar with the 'Cédula de Produto Rural' (CPR) and other complex financial instruments. You can distinguish between the 'valor de face' (face value) of a 'cédula' and its 'valor numismático' (collector's value). Your usage is effortless, and you can switch between 'nota' and 'cédula' perfectly depending on the audience and the medium of communication. You might even explore the word's Latin roots to explain its usage in other Romance languages.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'cédula' is complete. You can engage in high-level economic analysis or legal drafting where the term is used with absolute technical accuracy. You might write a thesis on the 'evolução das cédulas no Brasil Império' or the 'segurança cibernética vs. a segurança das cédulas físicas'. You understand the most obscure uses of the word, including its historical application to small certificates or scholarly notes. You can appreciate the word's appearance in classical Portuguese literature, where it might have had slightly different connotations. For you, 'cédula' is not just a word for money; it is a versatile linguistic tool that connects history, law, economy, and culture. You can use it in creative writing to evoke a specific atmosphere of formality or antiquity, and you can explain its most subtle nuances to other learners.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

cédula in 30 Seconds

Cédula is the formal Portuguese term for a banknote or paper money, primarily used in banking, legal, and official administrative contexts.
It is a feminine noun (a cédula) and must be distinguished from the more common, informal word 'nota' used in daily life.
Beyond money, it appears in 'Cédula de Identidade' (ID card) and 'Cédula Eleitoral' (voting ballot), showing its roots in document terminology.
Learning this word helps students transition from basic conversational Portuguese to professional-level fluency in financial and governmental topics.

The Portuguese word cédula primarily refers to a banknote or a piece of paper money. While the word nota is the most common way to refer to paper money in everyday conversation, cédula is the formal, technical, and institutional term used by banks, the government, and in official documentation. Understanding this word is essential for anyone navigating the financial or legal systems in a Portuguese-speaking country, particularly Brazil. The term originates from the Latin 'schedula', meaning a small leaf of paper, which explains its application to various official documents beyond just currency.

Financial Context: In economic reports, you will frequently see mentions of the 'volume de cédulas em circulação' (volume of banknotes in circulation). This refers to the total physical cash moving through the economy.
Legal and Civic Context: A 'cédula eleitoral' is a voting ballot. Although many Portuguese-speaking countries, like Brazil, use electronic voting, the term remains relevant in legal discussions and historical contexts.
Identification: The 'Cédula de Identidade' is the formal name for the national identity card in Brazil, commonly referred to as the RG (Registro Geral).

O Banco Central do Brasil anunciou a substituição das cédulas danificadas por novas notas de polímero.

Por favor, verifique se a cédula possui a marca-d'água de segurança.

Counterfeiting: The term 'cédula falsa' is used by police and banks to describe counterfeit money. Learning to identify a 'cédula verdadeira' (genuine banknote) is a practical skill for any traveler.

A cédula de cem reais é a mais valiosa em circulação regular.

Physical Properties: Cédulas are made of special cotton fiber paper or polymer. They are designed to be durable and resistant to wear and tear over thousands of transactions.

O caixa eletrônico não aceitou a cédula porque ela estava muito amassada.

O colecionador guardou uma cédula rara de mil cruzeiros em seu álbum.

Using cédula correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical gender (feminine) and its formal register. Since it is a noun, it is almost always preceded by an article like 'a', 'uma', 'estas', or 'algumas'. In sentences, it often functions as the direct object of verbs related to handling money, such as contar (to count), emitir (to issue), trocar (to exchange), or falsificar (to counterfeit).

Verb Agreement: Because 'cédula' is feminine, all accompanying adjectives must also be feminine. For example: 'cédula nova' (new banknote), 'cédula rasgada' (torn banknote), or 'cédula manchada' (stained banknote).

Eu encontrei uma cédula de vinte reais no bolso da minha calça antiga.

Prepositional Use: We use 'de' to specify the value. 'Cédula de cinco euros', 'cédula de dez dólares', 'cédula de cinquenta reais'. This structure is rigid and essential for clarity.

O governo decidiu imprimir mais cédulas para combater a falta de troco no comércio.

Sempre confira a textura da cédula ao receber um pagamento em espécie.

Compound Structures: In legal terms, you might hear 'cédula de crédito', which is a promissory note or a document representing a debt. This shifts the meaning from physical money to a financial instrument.

A cédula de identidade é um documento obrigatório para todos os cidadãos brasileiros.

O historiador examinou a cédula antiga para entender a iconografia da época.

Muitos caixas eletrônicos estão programados para não dispensar cédulas de baixo valor durante a noite.

While you might spend months in Brazil without hearing a friend say cédula at a bar, you will encounter it daily in other spheres. It is the language of authority and precision. You will hear it on the news (Jornal Nacional), in banks (Itaú, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil), and in government announcements.

News and Media: Journalists use 'cédula' when reporting on inflation, the printing of new money, or the discovery of counterfeit rings. It provides a level of professional distance and accuracy.
Banking and Finance: Bank tellers and automated systems use this term. When an ATM has a problem, the screen might display 'Erro na leitura da cédula' (Error reading the banknote).
Elections: During election cycles, even with electronic voting, political analysts discuss the 'cédula de papel' as a point of comparison or in historical contexts regarding electoral fraud.

O apresentador explicou que a nova cédula de duzentos reais entraria em circulação amanhã.

A polícia apreendeu milhares de cédulas falsificadas em um galpão clandestino.

Retail Formalities: Large department stores or supermarkets might have signs that say 'Não aceitamos cédulas rasgadas ou danificadas' (We do not accept torn or damaged banknotes).

O cliente pediu para trocar uma cédula de cinquenta por cinco de dez.

Ao abrir o caixa, o gerente contou cada cédula meticulosamente.

A cédula de plástico é mais comum em países como a Austrália e o Canadá.

The most frequent mistake learners make with cédula is using it in informal settings where it sounds overly stiff. If you are buying a hot dog on the street and say 'Aqui está a minha cédula de dez reais', the vendor will understand you, but it will sound like you are reading from a textbook. Use 'nota' instead. Another common error is confusing 'cédula' with 'celular' (mobile phone) due to the similar starting sounds, or with 'célula' (biological cell).

Gender Confusion: Mistaking 'cédula' for a masculine noun is common because many financial terms like 'dinheiro' and 'investimento' are masculine. Remember: 'A cédula'.
False Friends: In English, 'schedule' sounds like 'cédula', but they are completely unrelated. 'Schedule' in Portuguese is 'cronograma' or 'agenda'.

Errado: O cédula está na mesa. Correto: A cédula está na mesa.

Pronunciation Pitfall: Ensure you emphasize the first syllable: CÉ-du-la. If you put the stress elsewhere, it becomes unrecognizable to native speakers.

Cuidado: Não confunda cédula (banknote) com célula (cell). A pronúncia é idêntica para o 'e' aberto, mas o 'd' faz a diferença.

Muitos alunos esquecem o acento agudo no 'é'. Sem o acento, a palavra perde sua identidade visual correta em português.

Evite usar cédula quando quiser dizer 'bilhete' (ticket). São contextos diferentes.

To enrich your vocabulary, it is vital to know the synonyms and related terms for cédula. While they all relate to money, their nuances vary significantly.

Nota: The most common alternative. Used in 99% of daily transactions. 'Uma nota de dez'.
Papel-moeda: A highly technical term used in economics and history to describe the concept of paper currency as opposed to metallic or digital money.
Dinheiro vivo / Espécie: These terms refer to cash in general (both coins and banknotes). 'Pagamento em espécie' means paying with physical money.

Ao contrário da cédula, a moeda é feita de metal e geralmente tem menor valor unitário.

Bilhete: In older Portuguese or specific regional dialects, 'bilhete' was sometimes used for banknotes, but today it almost exclusively means a ticket (bus, cinema) or a short note/letter.

O sistema bancário moderno está reduzindo a dependência de cédulas físicas através do PIX.

Uma cédula de crédito bancário é um título executivo extrajudicial.

A numismática estuda tanto moedas quanto cédulas de diferentes épocas e países.

Sempre que viajo, guardo uma cédula local como lembrança da viagem.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word 'cédula' originally had nothing to do with money. It was simply a way to describe a small piece of writing. It only became associated with banknotes when paper money was first introduced as 'notes' or 'certificates' of value.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈsɛ.du.lɐ/

US /ˈsɛ.du.lə/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: CÉ-du-la. This is indicated by the acute accent on the 'e'.

Rhymes With

célula médula pédula crédula invédula védula nédula rédula

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'ce-DU-la' (stressing the second syllable).
Confusing it with 'célula' (biological cell), which has an 'l' instead of a 'd'.
Pronouncing the 'c' as a hard 'k' like in 'cat'.
Making the 'e' sound closed (like 'ay' in 'say') instead of open (like 'e' in 'met').
Forgetting the 'u' sound entirely and saying 'ced-la'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in context.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the accent on the 'é'.

Speaking 3/5

Stress on the first syllable is key.

Listening 2/5

Distinctive sound, hard to miss.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

dinheiro papel banco pagar comprar

Learn Next

moeda câmbio inflação investimento extrato

Advanced

numismática fiduciário lastro liquidez monetário

Grammar to Know

Feminine Noun Agreement

A cédula nova.

Pluralization of Nouns ending in 'a'

Cédulas.

Acute Accent on Proparoxytone Words

Cédula (all proparoxytones are accented in Portuguese).

Preposition 'de' for Denomination

Cédula de dez.

Definite Article Usage

A cédula caiu.

Examples by Level

Eu tenho uma cédula de dez reais.

I have a ten-real banknote.

Uses 'uma' because 'cédula' is feminine.

A cédula é azul.

The banknote is blue.

Simple subject-adjective agreement.

Onde está a cédula?

Where is the banknote?

Definite article 'a' used.

Esta cédula é de cinco euros.

This banknote is five euros.

Demonstrative pronoun 'esta' matches feminine noun.

Eu preciso de uma cédula nova.

I need a new banknote.

Adjective 'nova' follows the noun.

A cédula caiu no chão.

The banknote fell on the floor.

Preterite tense of 'cair'.

Você tem uma cédula?

Do you have a banknote?

Direct question structure.

A cédula de um real não existe mais.

The one-real banknote no longer exists.

Negative construction 'não existe mais'.

Minha cédula de identidade está na bolsa.

My ID card is in my bag.

Common usage for ID cards.

O caixa eletrônico não tem cédulas de vinte.

The ATM has no twenty-real bills.

Plural 'cédulas'.

Eu recebi três cédulas de cinquenta reais.

I received three fifty-real banknotes.

Number agreement with plural noun.

Cuidado com a cédula falsa!

Watch out for the fake banknote!

Imperative-like warning.

A cédula está muito velha e rasgada.

The banknote is very old and torn.

Compound adjectives 'velha e rasgada'.

Vou trocar esta cédula no banco.

I will exchange this banknote at the bank.

Future with 'vou + infinitive'.

A cédula de dois reais tem uma tartaruga.

The two-real banknote has a turtle.

Describing the design.

Ele guardou as cédulas na carteira.

He kept the banknotes in his wallet.

Definite plural article 'as'.

O Banco Central emitiu uma nova série de cédulas.

The Central Bank issued a new series of banknotes.

Formal verb 'emitir'.

A cédula eleitoral era usada antes das urnas eletrônicas.

The paper ballot was used before electronic voting machines.

Imperfect tense 'era'.

É difícil identificar uma cédula bem falsificada.

It is difficult to identify a well-counterfeited banknote.

Adverbial phrase 'bem falsificada'.

As cédulas de polímero duram mais que as de papel.

Polymer banknotes last longer than paper ones.

Comparative 'duram mais que'.

O museu possui uma coleção de cédulas imperiais.

The museum has a collection of imperial banknotes.

Genitive 'de cédulas'.

O valor da cédula depende da economia nacional.

The value of the banknote depends on the national economy.

Verb 'depender' requires 'de'.

Sempre verifique os itens de segurança da cédula.

Always check the security features of the banknote.

Imperative 'verifique'.

A cédula de duzentos reais é a maior do Brasil.

The two-hundred-real banknote is the largest in Brazil.

Superlative 'a maior'.

A circulação de cédulas diminuiu com o uso do PIX.

The circulation of banknotes decreased with the use of PIX.

Abstract noun 'circulação'.

A cédula de crédito bancário funciona como um título de dívida.

The bank credit note works as a debt instrument.

Simile 'funciona como'.

O governo recolheu as cédulas antigas para destruição.

The government collected the old banknotes for destruction.

Purpose clause 'para destruição'.

A falsificação de cédulas é um crime federal grave.

Counterfeiting banknotes is a serious federal crime.

Subject is the gerund-like noun 'falsificação'.

Cada cédula possui um número de série único.

Each banknote has a unique serial number.

Adjective 'único' emphasizing individuality.

O design da cédula reflete a cultura do país.

The design of the banknote reflects the country's culture.

Metaphorical use of 'reflete'.

A inflação obrigou a impressão de cédulas de maior valor.

Inflation forced the printing of higher-value banknotes.

Causative verb 'obrigou'.

O colecionador pagou caro por aquela cédula rara.

The collector paid a lot for that rare banknote.

Adverbial use of 'caro'.

A iconografia das cédulas brasileiras exalta a biodiversidade.

The iconography of Brazilian banknotes exalts biodiversity.

Formal verb 'exalta'.

A Cédula de Produto Rural facilita o financiamento agrícola.

The Rural Product Note facilitates agricultural financing.

Technical legal term.

O Banco Central monitora o desgaste físico das cédulas.

The Central Bank monitors the physical wear and tear of banknotes.

Technical noun 'desgaste'.

Houve uma polêmica sobre o tamanho das novas cédulas.

There was a controversy about the size of the new banknotes.

Existential 'houve'.

A transição para a cédula de polímero foi um marco tecnológico.

The transition to the polymer banknote was a technological milestone.

Noun phrase 'marco tecnológico'.

O perito analisou as fibras da cédula sob o microscópio.

The expert analyzed the banknote fibers under the microscope.

Scientific context.

A desmonetização de certas cédulas pode causar pânico.

The demonetization of certain banknotes can cause panic.

Complex noun 'desmonetização'.

A cédula tornou-se um objeto de estudo para a sociologia.

The banknote has become an object of study for sociology.

Pronominal verb 'tornou-se'.

A onipresença da cédula física está sendo desafiada pela economia digital.

The omnipresence of the physical banknote is being challenged by the digital economy.

Passive voice 'está sendo desafiada'.

A cédula, enquanto símbolo de soberania, possui peso político.

The banknote, as a symbol of sovereignty, carries political weight.

Conjunction 'enquanto' meaning 'as'.

Analisa-se a cédula não apenas como moeda, mas como artefato.

The banknote is analyzed not just as currency, but as an artifact.

Synthetic passive 'Analisa-se'.

O fetiche pela cédula nova é um fenômeno psicológico curioso.

The fetish for new banknotes is a curious psychological phenomenon.

Complex psychological context.

A erradicação das cédulas de pequeno valor visa reduzir custos.

The eradication of low-value banknotes aims to reduce costs.

Verb 'visar' meaning 'to aim'.

A cédula hipotecária é um instrumento de captação de recursos.

The mortgage note is an instrument for raising resources.

Highly technical financial term.

A estética das cédulas evoluiu para padrões de alta segurança.

The aesthetics of banknotes have evolved toward high-security standards.

Abstract subject 'A estética'.

A raridade de certas cédulas advém de erros de impressão.

The rarity of certain banknotes stems from printing errors.

Verb 'advir' meaning 'to stem from'.

Common Collocations

Cédula de identidade

Cédula falsa

Cédula de real

Emitir cédulas

Contar cédulas

Cédula eleitoral

Cédula de crédito

Cédula manchada

Cédula de polímero

Maço de cédulas

Common Phrases

Trocar uma cédula

— To break a bill into smaller denominations.

Pode trocar esta cédula de 100 para mim?

Verificar a cédula

— To check if a banknote is real.

Sempre verifique a cédula antes de sair do caixa.

Cédula em circulação

— Money currently being used in the economy.

Existem milhões de cédulas em circulação.

Cédula fora de linha

— A banknote that is no longer legal tender.

Essa cédula antiga está fora de linha.

Recolher cédulas

— When the government takes money out of use.

O banco vai recolher as cédulas rasgadas.

Cédula de valor alto

— High-denomination bills (e.g., 100 or 200).

Evite carregar muitas cédulas de valor alto.

Cédula de valor baixo

— Low-denomination bills (e.g., 2 or 5).

Preciso de cédulas de valor baixo para o ônibus.

Cédula danificada

— A bill that is torn, burnt, or stained.

O banco troca cédulas danificadas por novas.

Cédula de estrangeiro

— A specific ID for non-citizens (older term).

Ele mostrou sua cédula de estrangeiro.

Portar cédulas

— To carry banknotes on one's person.

É perigoso portar muitas cédulas à noite.

Often Confused With

cédula vs Célula

Means 'cell' (biological or organizational). Only one letter difference!

cédula vs Celular

Means 'mobile phone'. Similar sound at the start.

cédula vs Cedular

This is the adjective form, meaning 'related to a cédula'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Valer a cédula"

— To be worth the paper it's printed on (often used negatively).

Com esta inflação, o dinheiro mal vale a cédula.

Metaphorical

"Cédula marcada"

— Something that is predetermined or rigged (often in elections).

Aquela votação foi uma cédula marcada.

Political/Informal

"Rasgar cédula"

— To waste money recklessly.

Comprar aquele carro foi como rasgar cédula.

Informal

"Cédula de um milhão"

— Something impossible or extremely rare.

Achar um apartamento barato aqui é como achar uma cédula de um milhão.

Informal

"Lavar cédula"

— To engage in money laundering (more formally 'lavagem de dinheiro').

Eles tentaram lavar as cédulas roubadas.

Formal/Legal

"Cédula na mão"

— Having cash ready to pay immediately.

Com a cédula na mão, consegui um desconto.

Informal

"Cédula de confiança"

— A metaphorical note of trust given to someone.

Dou a ele uma cédula de confiança.

Literary

"Cheirar a cédula nova"

— To be brand new or very recent.

O projeto ainda cheira a cédula nova.

Colloquial

"Cédula podre"

— A worthless or highly suspicious financial document.

O investidor caiu no golpe da cédula podre.

Financial Slang

"Trocar em cédulas"

— To explain something very simply (similar to 'trocar em miúdos').

Vou trocar em cédulas para você entender.

Informal

Easily Confused

cédula vs Nota

Both mean banknote.

'Nota' is common/casual; 'Cédula' is formal/official.

Paguei com uma nota de 20. O banco emitiu a cédula.

cédula vs Bilhete

In some languages (like Spanish), 'billete' means banknote.

In Portuguese, 'bilhete' usually means a ticket (cinema, bus).

Comprei o bilhete do cinema com uma cédula de 50.

cédula vs Moeda

Both are money.

'Moeda' is a metal coin; 'Cédula' is paper money.

Tenho uma moeda de 1 real e uma cédula de 2.

cédula vs Título

Both can be financial documents.

'Título' is a broader term for any bond or deed; 'Cédula' is specifically a banknote or identity doc.

Ele investiu em títulos do tesouro usando cédulas.

cédula vs Documento

A cédula is a type of document.

'Documento' is generic; 'Cédula' is specific.

A cédula de identidade é um documento importante.

Sentence Patterns

Eu tenho uma cédula de [Valor].

Eu tenho uma cédula de dez reais.

Onde está minha cédula de [Tipo]?

Onde está minha cédula de identidade?

O banco emitiu novas cédulas de [Valor].

O banco emitiu novas cédulas de duzentos.

A circulação de cédulas de [Valor] aumentou.

A circulação de cédulas de cinquenta aumentou.

A autenticidade da cédula foi [Verbo].

A autenticidade da cédula foi questionada.

A obsolescência da cédula física é [Adjetivo].

A obsolescência da cédula física é inevitável.

Neutral

Por favor, troque esta cédula.

Por favor, troque esta cédula de cem.

Formal

Solicita-se a apresentação da cédula.

Solicita-se a apresentação da cédula de identidade.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High in formal/written contexts; Medium in spoken language.

Common Mistakes

O cédula → A cédula
Cédula is feminine.
Cedula (without accent) → Cédula
All proparoxytones need an accent.
Using 'cédula' for a bus ticket. → Bilhete or Passagem
Cédula is for money or ID, not travel tickets.
Uma cédula de um centavo. → Uma moeda de um centavo.
Small values are coins, not banknotes.
Confusing cédula with célula. → Cédula (money) / Célula (biology)
The 'd' vs 'l' changes the meaning entirely.

Tips

Upgrade your Portuguese

Use 'cédula' when writing a formal email to a bank or a landlord.

The 'É' sound

Make sure the 'é' is open like 'bed', not closed like 'bake'.

Fauna on Bills

Memorize the animals on Brazilian cédulas to start conversations: 2 (turtle), 5 (heron), 10 (macaw), 20 (lion tamarin), 50 (jaguar), 100 (grouper fish), 200 (wolf).

Gender Agreement

Always pair it with 'a' or 'uma'. Never 'o' or 'um'.

Counterfeit Check

If someone gives you a 'cédula suspeita', take it to a bank.

Currency Exchange

At a 'casa de câmbio', you will see the word 'cédulas' on the exchange rate boards.

Old Money

If you find an old 'cédula' from the 80s, it might have many zeros but is worth nothing today!

CELPE-Bras

In the Brazilian proficiency exam, knowing formal words like 'cédula' earns you higher marks.

Accent Mark

Don't forget the '´' on the 'é'. It's non-negotiable.

Root Word

Link 'cédula' to 'cede' (to yield/give)—it's paper that represents value given.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'SCHEDULE' (cédula) printed on a 'BILL'. While they mean different things, the 'ced' start and the 'paper' connection can help you remember it's a paper document.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant 'C' shape made out of paper money (banknotes). The 'C' stands for Cédula.

Word Web

Dinheiro Banco Papel Identidade Voto Nota Real Falsificação

Challenge

Try to find 5 different 'cédulas' from different countries online and name their colors in Portuguese.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'schedula', which is a diminutive of 'scheda', meaning a leaf of paper or a strip of papyrus.

Original meaning: A small sheet of paper or a brief note.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing 'cédulas falsas' in a bank; it can trigger security protocols.

English speakers often just use 'bill' or 'note'. In Portuguese, 'cédula' is much more formal than 'bill'.

The 200 Real banknote featuring the Lobo-guará (Maned Wolf). The historical 'Contos de Réis' banknotes. Cédula de Identidade (RG) as the primary document in Brazil.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Bank

Quero sacar cédulas de pequeno valor.
Esta cédula está rasgada.
O caixa eletrônico engoliu a cédula.
Pode conferir esta cédula?

Police Station

Perdi minha cédula de identidade.
Encontrei uma cédula falsa.
Roubaram todas as minhas cédulas.
Preciso renovar minha cédula.

Voting

Onde deposito a cédula?
A cédula deve ser dobrada.
Não rasure a cédula eleitoral.
A cédula é secreta.

Shopping

Você aceita esta cédula?
Não tenho cédulas menores.
A cédula está manchada.
Pode trocar esta cédula?

History Class

As cédulas antigas eram grandes.
Esta cédula é do tempo do Império.
A iconografia da cédula mudou.
O valor da cédula caiu.

Conversation Starters

"Você prefere usar cédulas ou cartão de crédito?"

"Qual é o animal que aparece na cédula de vinte reais?"

"Você já viu uma cédula de duzentos reais de perto?"

"O que você faz quando recebe uma cédula rasgada?"

"Você acha que as cédulas físicas vão desaparecer no futuro?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva a última vez que você usou uma cédula para pagar algo importante.

Como seria o design da sua própria cédula se você fosse o presidente do Banco Central?

Escreva sobre a importância de ter uma cédula de identidade sempre à mão.

Você acha que o cheiro de uma cédula nova é bom ou ruim? Por quê?

Imagine um mundo sem cédulas de papel. Como as pessoas fariam pequenas compras?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

'Cédula' is formal and technical, used by banks and governments. 'Nota' is informal and used in daily life. Most people say 'uma nota de dez' instead of 'uma cédula de dez'.

Yes, in Brazil, the official name for the ID card is 'Cédula de Identidade'. However, people usually call it 'RG'.

It is a feminine noun: 'a cédula', 'uma cédula'.

You say 'cédula falsa' or 'nota falsa'.

It is a paper voting ballot. Although Brazil uses electronic machines, the term is still used in law.

No, the 1-real banknote was discontinued and replaced entirely by the 1-real coin, though some collectors still have them.

Yes, it is understood, but 'nota' is even more dominant in Portugal for daily use.

Because it is a proparoxytone word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable). In Portuguese, all such words must have an accent.

No, never. It only refers to physical paper/polymer documents or money.

It is a formal legal document representing a promise to pay a bank debt.