This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Portuguese
Vocabulary
cortar às rodelas

A2 verb #9,000 most common 14 min read

cortar às rodelas

Top 9,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips cortar às rodelas in 30 Seconds

Explanation cortar às rodelas in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are learning basic verbs for daily life. 'Cortar' means 'to cut'. You might already know foods like 'tomate' (tomato) or 'banana'. The phrase 'cortar às rodelas' is a very useful addition to your vocabulary because it helps you describe how you prepare these foods. Imagine you are in a kitchen and someone asks you to help. If they say 'Corta o tomate às rodelas,' they want you to make round slices. This is much better than just saying 'cut the tomato.' It shows you understand the shape. At this level, don't worry too much about the 'às' part; just remember that 'rodelas' means 'rounds' or 'circles' of food. You can use it for many simple snacks and meals. For example, 'Eu corto a banana às rodelas' is a perfect sentence for an A1 learner. It uses a subject, a verb, an object, and a description of the action. This helps you build more descriptive sentences early on in your learning journey.

At the A2 level, you should start using more specific vocabulary like 'cortar às rodelas' comfortably. This is the level where you begin to follow simple recipes or describe your cooking habits. You should understand that 'às' is a contraction (a + as) and that 'rodelas' is the plural of 'rodela' (a small wheel). You can now distinguish between 'cortar às rodelas' and 'cortar em cubos' (to cut into cubes). This distinction is important for following instructions correctly. You might also use adjectives to describe the slices, such as 'rodelas finas' (thin rounds) or 'rodelas grossas' (thick rounds). When you go to a restaurant or a supermarket, you can use this phrase to be more specific about what you want. For example, at the deli counter, you could say 'Quero o chouriço cortado às rodelas, por favor.' This level is about moving from general terms to more precise ones that make your Portuguese sound more natural and practical for everyday situations in Portugal.

For B1 learners, 'cortar às rodelas' becomes part of a broader set of culinary and descriptive tools. You should be able to use this phrase in various tenses, including the past ('Eu cortei...') and the future ('Eu vou cortar...'). You should also be comfortable with the passive voice, which is common in menus: 'O prato é servido com batatas cortadas às rodelas.' At this level, you can explain *why* something is cut this way. For example, 'Cortamos a cenoura às rodelas para que coza mais depressa' (We cut the carrot into rounds so it cooks faster). You can also start to use the term in more complex sentences with conjunctions. You will notice that 'às rodelas' is an adverbial phrase of manner. You should also be aware of regional differences, noting that while 'às rodelas' is standard in Portugal, 'em rodelas' is common in Brazil. This level of understanding helps you navigate different varieties of the Portuguese language while maintaining a high standard of European Portuguese if that is your focus.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'cortar às rodelas' with total spontaneity in both formal and informal contexts. You should understand the nuance between this and other verbs like 'laminar' or 'fatiar'. You might use it in metaphorical contexts or in complex culinary discussions. For instance, you could discuss the aesthetic value of 'rodelas' in food presentation or the technical difficulty of cutting certain items like 'polvo' (octopus) perfectly into rounds. Your grammar should be flawless, correctly applying the 'crase' (accent) in 'às' and ensuring agreement between nouns and participles ('as rodelas cortadas'). You can also handle complex instructions that involve multiple steps: 'Depois de ter cortado a beringela às rodelas, deixe-a repousar com sal.' At this stage, the phrase is a natural part of your lexicon, and you don't have to think about the translation; you simply associate the action with the specific Portuguese term. You might also notice how this phrase appears in literature or more descriptive writing about Portuguese culture and traditions.

C1 learners should have a deep appreciation for the idiomatic nature of 'cortar às rodelas'. You understand that 'às' functions to indicate a pattern or style, similar to 'à moda de'. You can use the phrase in professional culinary environments or in high-level descriptive writing. You might analyze the etymology—how 'rodela' comes from 'roda' (wheel) and how the diminutive suffix '-ela' adds a sense of precision. You are also capable of discussing the historical evolution of Portuguese cuisine and how certain cuts like 'às rodelas' have remained constant over centuries in dishes like 'Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá'. Your ability to use synonyms like 'circularmente' or 'em discos' allows you to avoid repetition in long texts, though you recognize that 'às rodelas' remains the most authentic and common choice. You can also pick up on subtle puns or wordplay involving the word 'rodela' in jokes or advertisements, demonstrating a high level of cultural and linguistic integration.

At the C2 level, 'cortar às rodelas' is a phrase you could explain to others with all its grammatical and cultural nuances. You are aware of its use in archaic texts or very specific regional dialects where it might be replaced by even more obscure terms. You can use it in highly technical culinary writing, perhaps discussing the surface area of a 'rodela' and its impact on the Maillard reaction during frying. You can effortlessly switch between 'cortar às rodelas', 'partir às rodelas', and 'fatiar em rodelas' depending on the desired tone or the specific variety of Portuguese you wish to emulate. Your mastery extends to the most subtle aspects of prosody—knowing exactly how to stress the phrase within a long, complex sentence for maximum impact. You understand the phrase not just as a linguistic unit, but as a small piece of the vast mosaic of Portuguese identity, linked to the traditions of the land, the sea, and the kitchen.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

cortar às rodelas in 30 Seconds

A culinary phrase meaning to slice food into rounds or 'little wheels.'
Essential for following Portuguese recipes and preparing vegetables or sausages.
Combines the verb 'cortar' with the specific adverbial phrase 'às rodelas.'
Commonly used for cylindrical items like carrots, onions, and traditional sausages.

The Portuguese verbal expression cortar às rodelas is a staple in the culinary vocabulary of any Portuguese speaker. At its core, it translates to 'to slice into rounds' or 'to cut into circular slices.' While the verb cortar simply means 'to cut,' the addition of the prepositional phrase às rodelas specifies the geometric shape of the resulting piece. A rodela is essentially a small wheel or a disk, derived from the word roda (wheel). This expression is used almost exclusively in the context of food preparation, specifically for ingredients that have a cylindrical or spherical shape, such as carrots, cucumbers, sausages, or citrus fruits.

Culinary Precision: In Portuguese recipes, instructions are often very specific about the shape of the cut because it affects cooking time and presentation. Using 'às rodelas' tells the cook to maintain the natural circumference of the ingredient.

Para fazer um bom refogado, comece por cortar às rodelas duas cebolas médias e um dente de alho.

The cultural importance of this term cannot be overstated in a country where 'chouriço' (traditional sausage) and 'bacalhau' (codfish) dishes often require vegetables to be prepared in this specific manner. For instance, in a 'Salada de Tomate,' the tomatoes are almost always cortados às rodelas rather than diced. This provides a specific texture and aesthetic that is central to the dining experience. When you are at a 'talho' (butcher shop) or a 'charcutaria' (deli), you might ask the vendor to cut your 'salpicão' or 'presunto' in a certain way, though for thinner meats, 'fatias' is more common, 'rodelas' remains the king for sausages.

O cozinheiro decidiu cortar às rodelas o pepino para decorar o prato de peixe grelhado.

Visualizing the Shape: Think of 'rodelas' as 'little wheels.' If the food looks like a wheel after the cut, you have successfully performed the action of cutting 'às rodelas.'

Beyond the kitchen, while rare, the term can be used metaphorically to describe something being sliced into segments, but its primary home is the cutting board. If you are learning Portuguese for travel or living in Portugal, mastering these specific culinary verbs will make reading menus and following recipes significantly easier. It shows a level of fluency that goes beyond basic 'cutting' and enters the realm of descriptive, native-like speech. Whether you are preparing a 'Caldo Verde' and need to slice the 'chouriço' or making a simple fruit salad with bananas, you will find yourself using this expression repeatedly.

Podes cortar às rodelas a banana para a minha taça de cereais, por favor?

Não te esqueças de cortar às rodelas o limão para acompanhar o chá gelado no verão.

Common Pairings: Commonly used with: cenoura (carrot), cebola (onion), chouriço (sausage), pepino (cucumber), batata (potato), and tomate (tomato).

Ao cortar às rodelas a beringela, polvilhe com sal para retirar o amargor antes de grelhar.

Using the phrase cortar às rodelas involves conjugating the verb cortar while keeping the phrase às rodelas static. Because it is a transitive verb phrase in this context, it usually takes a direct object—the food item being sliced. For example, 'Eu corto a cenoura' (I cut the carrot) becomes 'Eu corto a cenoura às rodelas' (I slice the carrot into rounds). The position of 'às rodelas' typically follows the object, but it can also follow the verb directly if the object is long or if you want to emphasize the method of cutting.

Imperative Usage: In recipes, you will most often see the imperative form: 'Corte às rodelas...' (Formal/Instructional) or 'Corta às rodelas...' (Informal). This is the standard way to give kitchen directions.

Se queres fazer uma salada russa, deves primeiro cortar às rodelas as batatas cozidas.

When talking about past actions, the verb cortar conjugates normally. 'Ontem, eu cortei o chouriço às rodelas para o caldo verde.' Note that the phrase às rodelas does not change regardless of the tense or the gender/number of the subject. It is an adverbial phrase of manner. However, the object being cut must agree with its own articles and adjectives. You can also modify the 'rodelas' with adjectives like 'finas' (thin) or 'grossas' (thick) to provide more detail: 'Corta o tomate às rodelas fininhas' (Slice the tomato into very thin rounds).

A minha avó sempre preferiu cortar às rodelas a fruta para que as crianças pudessem comer melhor.

Passive Voice: You might also see the passive form in menus: 'Polvo cortado às rodelas' (Octopus sliced into rounds). Here, 'cortado' acts as an adjective modifying 'polvo'.

In more advanced usage, you can combine this with other verbs of preparation. For example, 'Depois de lavar e descascar, comece a cortar às rodelas.' This flow is very natural in Portuguese culinary discourse. It is also worth noting that in Brazilian Portuguese, while the phrase is understood, you might also hear 'cortar em rodelas' (using 'em' instead of 'às'). In European Portuguese, 'às rodelas' is the standard, idiomatic way to express this action. Using 'às' implies a specific style or manner that is deeply ingrained in the linguistic habits of Portugal.

Para esta receita de bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, as batatas devem ser cortadas às rodelas e depois cozidas.

O chef ensinou os alunos a cortar às rodelas o alho-francês com rapidez e segurança.

Common Verbs used with Rodelas: While 'cortar' is the most common, you may also see 'partir às rodelas' (to break/cut into rounds) or 'fatiar às rodelas' (to slice into rounds).

Se cortares às rodelas a courgette, ela vai cozinhar muito mais depressa no forno.

You will hear cortar às rodelas in a variety of real-world Portuguese settings, primarily centered around food and hospitality. The most obvious place is in a kitchen, whether at home or in a professional restaurant environment. If you are watching a Portuguese cooking show like 'MasterChef Portugal' or following a YouTube chef like Filipa Gomes, this phrase will appear in almost every episode. It is a fundamental instruction that underpins the preparation of many iconic dishes. For instance, when making 'Bacalhau à Brás,' while the potatoes are usually 'em palitos' (matchsticks), the onions might be cortadas às rodelas in other variations of codfish dishes.

In the Supermarket: At the 'charcutaria' counter, you might ask: 'Pode cortar o salame às rodelas um pouco mais grossas?' (Can you cut the salami into slightly thicker rounds?).

Na televisão, o cozinheiro explicava que cortar às rodelas a cebola ajuda a libertar mais sabor no refogado.

Another common location is the dinner table. You might hear a parent telling a child, 'Vou cortar a banana às rodelas para ti.' It is also found in written form on almost every restaurant menu that describes its dishes in detail. Look for descriptions of 'saladas' or 'entradas' (appetizers). A 'Tábua de Enchidos' (a platter of cured meats) will feature various meats that have been cortados às rodelas. In more formal settings, a waiter might describe a dish by saying, 'Este prato é acompanhado por batatas cortadas às rodelas e assadas no forno.'

Li no livro de receitas que devia cortar às rodelas o chouriço antes de o colocar na sopa.

Social Gatherings: At a 'churrasco' (barbecue), someone might shout, 'Quem é que pode cortar às rodelas o pão e o chouriço?' It is a communal action often shared among friends.

Furthermore, in health and nutrition contexts, a nutritionist might advise you to 'cortar às rodelas' various fruits to make them more appealing as snacks. Even in school settings, during 'Aulas de Culinária' or health education, children are taught how to safely cortar às rodelas vegetables like carrots. The ubiquity of the phrase stems from the fact that it describes one of the most basic and frequent actions in the Portuguese lifestyle—preparing and sharing food. If you spend time in Portugal, you will hear it at the 'feira' (market), in the 'restaurante de bairro' (neighborhood restaurant), and in every household kitchen.

No mercado, a senhora perguntou se eu queria que ela ajudasse a cortar às rodelas a abóbora.

O empregado de mesa sugeriu cortar às rodelas o queijo para acompanhar o vinho tinto.

Professional Settings: In catering, consistency is key, so a head chef might demand that all carrots be 'cortadas às rodelas' with exactly the same thickness.

Durante o workshop de cozinha, aprendemos a cortar às rodelas frutos tropicais para sobremesas exóticas.

One of the most common mistakes English speakers make when trying to say cortar às rodelas is using the wrong preposition. Many learners instinctively say 'cortar em rodelas' because 'in' is the direct translation of 'em'. While 'em rodelas' is used in Brazil and is generally understood in Portugal, the most idiomatic European Portuguese version uses 'às'. Using 'em' isn't necessarily 'wrong' in a way that prevents communication, but it marks the speaker as a non-native or as someone using Brazilian influence. Another error is forgetting the 's' at the end of 'rodelas'. Since you are usually cutting an item into multiple rounds, the word must be plural.

Confusion with Fatias: Learners often confuse 'rodelas' with 'fatias'. While 'fatias' means 'slices', it usually refers to flat slices of bread, cake, or large pieces of meat. 'Rodelas' specifically refers to circular, disk-like slices.

Erro comum: 'Eu cortei o pão às rodelas.' Correção: Use 'fatias' para pão, a menos que seja um pão muito pequeno e redondo como um chouriço.

Another frequent mistake is the misapplication of the phrase to items that cannot be cut into rounds. You cannot cortar às rodelas a steak or a square block of cheese (unless it's a cylindrical goat cheese). Attempting to use this phrase for non-cylindrical items sounds very strange to a native speaker. Additionally, watch out for the 'crase' (the accent in 'às'). Many students forget that 'às' is a contraction of 'a + as'. Writing 'as rodelas' without the accent changes the grammatical function and can make the sentence confusing, as it would imply you are cutting the rounds themselves rather than cutting something *into* rounds.

Não digas 'cortar em círculos'; embora esteja correto geometricamente, soa pouco natural. Diz antes cortar às rodelas.

Gender Agreement Errors: When using the participle 'cortado', learners often forget to change it to 'cortada' for feminine nouns. Example: 'A batata está cortada às rodelas' (Correct) vs 'A batata está cortado às rodelas' (Incorrect).

Finally, some learners confuse 'rodelas' with 'cubos' (cubes) or 'tiras' (strips). If a recipe calls for 'cebola picada' (minced onion), cortar às rodelas will result in a completely different texture and cooking outcome. It is vital to distinguish between these different cutting techniques to ensure culinary success. In summary, pay attention to: 1) The preposition 'às', 2) The plural 'rodelas', 3) The specific circular shape, and 4) The agreement of the participle 'cortado/a/os/as' when used as an adjective.

Cuidado para não confundir: cortar às rodelas (rounds) é diferente de cortar em gomos (wedges, like an orange).

Evite dizer 'cortar em rodas'; a palavra correta para fatias circulares de comida é sempre rodelas.

Contextual Errors: Using this phrase for things like hair or paper is incorrect. It is strictly for objects that can physically form disks when sliced.

Um erro de tradução seria 'cut in circles'. Em português, dizemos cortar às rodelas.

While cortar às rodelas is very specific, there are several related terms that describe different ways of cutting food. Understanding these will help you navigate a Portuguese kitchen with confidence. The most general alternative is 'fatiar' (to slice). You can 'fatiar' bread, meat, or cake. However, 'fatiar' doesn't specify the shape. If you want to be precise about circular slices, 'cortar às rodelas' is superior. Another similar term is 'laminar', which means to slice very thinly, often into translucent pieces, like garlic or mushrooms. While 'laminar' can result in rounds, it emphasizes the thinness rather than the shape.

Rodelas vs. Cubos: 'Cortar em cubos' means to dice. This is common for potatoes in stews or vegetables in a stir-fry. It is the opposite of 'às rodelas' in terms of geometry.

Se a receita pede para picar a cebola, não deves cortar às rodelas, pois a textura final será diferente.

Then there is 'cortar em gomos'. This is used for citrus fruits like oranges or lemons when you want wedges rather than rounds. If you 'cortas às rodelas' a lemon, you get flat disks for a drink; if you 'cortas em gomos', you get thick wedges for squeezing. Another important one is 'cortar em palitos' (to cut into sticks/matchsticks), which is how French fries (batatas fritas) are typically prepared. For leafy greens like kale (couve), the term is 'cortar em juliana' or 'cortar muito fino', which results in long, thin strips—essential for the famous 'Caldo Verde' soup.

Para o caril, prefiro cortar às rodelas a malagueta para que as sementes se espalhem bem.

Comparison: Rodelas vs. Fatias: Use 'rodelas' for: carrots, sausages, cucumbers, bananas. Use 'fatias' for: bread, cheese blocks, roast beef, cake.

In some regional dialects, you might hear 'cortar às talhadas', though this is more common for large fruits like melon or watermelon where you cut large, thick slices. Another verb is 'partir', which in Portugal is often used interchangeably with 'cortar' in informal speech ('Vou partir o chouriço às rodelas'). However, 'cortar' remains the more precise and standard term for using a knife. Understanding these nuances allows you to follow any Portuguese recipe book, from the traditional 'Tesouro das Cozinhas' to modern culinary blogs, without getting confused by the terminology.

Em vez de cortar às rodelas, podes ralar a cenoura se quiseres uma textura mais suave.

O cozinheiro explicou que cortar às rodelas o polvo é a forma tradicional de o servir 'à galega'.

Summary of Shapes: Rodelas: Rounds. Cubos: Cubes. Palitos: Sticks. Gomos: Wedges. Picado: Minced.

Se cortares às rodelas a maçã, podes usá-la para decorar o topo da tarte.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The suffix '-ela' in 'rodela' is a common diminutive in Portuguese, making a 'rodela' literally a 'little wheel.' This is why the term is so visually descriptive of the resulting food shape.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kuɾˈtaɾ as ʁuˈðɛlɐʃ/

US /koʊrˈtɑr æz roʊˈdɛləz/

The primary stress in 'cortar' is on the last syllable '-tar'. In 'rodelas', the stress is on the second syllable '-de-'.

Rhymes With

olhardes cantares bela amarela janela vela tabela passarela

Common Errors

Pronouncing the starting 'R' in 'rodelas' like the English 'R' in 'red'. It should be more like the 'H' in 'house' but stronger.
Ignoring the 's' at the end of 'rodelas'.
Using a closed 'a' sound for 'às' instead of the open 'a' indicated by the accent.
Pronouncing 'cortar' with an American 'r' sound.
Stress placement on the first syllable of 'rodelas' (RO-de-las) instead of the second.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in recipes once the word 'rodela' is known.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'às' contraction with the accent.

Speaking 4/5

The strong 'R' in 'rodelas' and the 'às' liaison can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 3/5

Commonly heard in fast-paced cooking shows.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

cortar roda faca legumes fatia

Learn Next

picar refogar grelhar cozer temperar

Advanced

laminar em juliana em gomos picadinho estufar

Grammar to Know

Contraction of 'a' + 'as'

Vou cortar a carne à (a+a) maneira dele, mas o chouriço às (a+as) rodelas.

Placement of Adverbial Phrases

Corta [o tomate] [às rodelas]. The phrase follows the object.

Agreement of Past Participle

A cenoura está cortada (feminine) às rodelas; o chouriço está cortado (masculine) às rodelas.

Imperative Mood for Instructions

Corte (formal) ou Corta (informal) às rodelas.

Use of 'às' for manner

Cortar às rodelas, às tiras, aos cubos (note: aos for masculine cubos).

Examples by Level

Eu corto o tomate às rodelas.

I cut the tomato into rounds.

Simple present tense with a direct object.

Corta a banana às rodelas, por favor.

Cut the banana into rounds, please.

Imperative form used for a request.

Ela gosta de comer pepino cortado às rodelas.

She likes to eat cucumber cut into rounds.

Use of the past participle 'cortado' as an adjective.

Nós cortamos a cenoura às rodelas.

We cut the carrot into rounds.

First person plural in the present tense.

O limão está cortado às rodelas.

The lemon is cut into rounds.

Passive state with the verb 'estar'.

Podes cortar o chouriço às rodelas?

Can you cut the sausage into rounds?

Interrogative sentence with a modal verb.

Eu não corto a cebola às rodelas.

I don't cut the onion into rounds.

Negative sentence in the present tense.

O menino corta a maçã às rodelas.

The boy cuts the apple into rounds.

Third person singular subject.

Para a salada, deves cortar o tomate às rodelas finas.

For the salad, you should cut the tomato into thin rounds.

Use of the auxiliary verb 'dever' plus infinitive.

Ontem, eu cortei o salame às rodelas para o lanche.

Yesterday, I cut the salami into rounds for the snack.

Preterite tense indicating a completed action.

A minha mãe sempre corta a batata às rodelas para fritar.

My mother always cuts the potato into rounds to fry.

Adverb of frequency 'sempre' used with the present tense.

Precisas de uma faca afiada para cortar às rodelas o pimento.

You need a sharp knife to slice the bell pepper into rounds.

Infinitive phrase acting as a purpose clause.

Ela estava a cortar às rodelas a beringela quando o telefone tocou.

She was slicing the eggplant into rounds when the phone rang.

Past continuous tense (imperfeito composto).

Corta o queijo às rodelas e coloca-o no prato.

Cut the cheese into rounds and put it on the plate.

Imperative followed by a clitic pronoun 'o'.

Não é difícil cortar às rodelas uma abobrinha.

It is not difficult to cut a zucchini into rounds.

Impersonal expression 'não é difícil'.

Queremos o polvo cortado às rodelas meias-luas.

We want the octopus cut into half-moon rounds.

Complex object description with 'meias-luas'.

Se tivesses cortado às rodelas a cebola, o refogado estaria melhor.

If you had cut the onion into rounds, the sauté would be better.

Conditional sentence with past subjunctive.

Costumo cortar às rodelas o alho-francês para a sopa de legumes.

I usually slice the leek into rounds for the vegetable soup.

Verb 'costumar' indicating a habit.

O chef recomendou cortar às rodelas a carne depois de assada.

The chef recommended slicing the meat into rounds after it's roasted.

Indirect speech with the verb 'recomendar'.

É importante que cortes às rodelas os rabanetes para a decoração.

It is important that you slice the radishes into rounds for decoration.

Present subjunctive triggered by 'é importante que'.

Enquanto eu lavo a loiça, tu podes ir cortando às rodelas a fruta.

While I wash the dishes, you can start slicing the fruit into rounds.

Gerund 'cortando' expressing an ongoing action.

As batatas foram cortadas às rodelas pelo ajudante de cozinha.

The potatoes were cut into rounds by the kitchen assistant.

Passive voice with the agent of the action.

Sempre que faço esta receita, corto às rodelas o gengibre fresco.

Whenever I make this recipe, I slice the fresh ginger into rounds.

Temporal clause 'sempre que' with present tense.

Antes de servir, deve-se cortar às rodelas o rolo de carne.

Before serving, one should slice the meatloaf into rounds.

Impersonal 'se' with the verb 'dever'.

A técnica de cortar às rodelas exige precisão para manter a mesma espessura.

The technique of slicing into rounds requires precision to maintain the same thickness.

Abstract noun 'técnica' as the subject.

Caso decidas cortar às rodelas o chouriço, certifica-te de que a faca está bem afiada.

In case you decide to slice the sausage into rounds, make sure the knife is very sharp.

Subjunctive mood in a conditional clause 'caso decidas'.

O segredo para um bom 'carpaccio' é cortar às rodelas quase transparentes.

The secret to a good 'carpaccio' is to slice into almost transparent rounds.

Descriptive phrase with 'quase transparentes'.

Embora prefira cubos, acabei por cortar às rodelas as batatas para variar.

Although I prefer cubes, I ended up slicing the potatoes into rounds for a change.

Concessive clause with 'embora' and the phrasal verb 'acabar por'.

Ao cortar às rodelas o kiwi, notamos a beleza natural das suas sementes.

Upon slicing the kiwi into rounds, we notice the natural beauty of its seeds.

Prepositional infinitive 'ao cortar' indicating time.

Duvido que ele consiga cortar às rodelas o tomate sem o esmagar.

I doubt that he can slice the tomato into rounds without crushing it.

Subjunctive triggered by a verb of doubt 'duvidar'.

Tinha a intenção de cortar às rodelas a laranja, mas mudei de ideia.

I had the intention of slicing the orange into rounds, but I changed my mind.

Past perfect (mais-que-perfeito composto) and a change of plan.

A beringela deve ser cortada às rodelas e grelhada com um fio de azeite.

The eggplant should be sliced into rounds and grilled with a drizzle of olive oil.

Passive construction with 'ser' and multiple past participles.

A mestria com que o sushiman corta às rodelas o pepino é verdadeiramente hipnotizante.

The mastery with which the sushi chef slices the cucumber into rounds is truly mesmerizing.

Relative clause introduced by 'com que'.

Não obstante a simplicidade do gesto, cortar às rodelas requer uma postura correta.

Notwithstanding the simplicity of the gesture, slicing into rounds requires correct posture.

Formal connector 'não obstante'.

A receita tradicional preconiza que se deve cortar às rodelas a cebola para o escabeche.

The traditional recipe advocates that the onion should be sliced into rounds for the 'escabeche'.

High-level vocabulary like 'preconiza'.

Fiquei admirado por ela conseguir cortar às rodelas o pão tão finamente sem o desfazer.

I was amazed that she could slice the bread into rounds so thinly without crumbling it.

Causal clause 'por ela conseguir' with infinitive.

A disposição dos ingredientes, todos cortados às rodelas, conferia ao prato um ar geométrico.

The arrangement of the ingredients, all sliced into rounds, gave the dish a geometric look.

Appositive phrase providing descriptive detail.

Se porventura fores cortar às rodelas o ananás, retira primeiro a casca rugosa.

If by any chance you are going to slice the pineapple into rounds, remove the rough skin first.

Use of the future subjunctive with the literary 'porventura'.

O autor descreve minuciosamente o ato de cortar às rodelas o enchido durante a ceia camponesa.

The author minutely describes the act of slicing the cured meat into rounds during the peasant supper.

Adverb 'minuciosamente' modifying a literary description.

Pudesse eu cortar às rodelas o tempo e reviver cada momento com a mesma intensidade.

If only I could slice time into rounds and relive each moment with the same intensity.

Optative use of the imperfect subjunctive for a poetic wish.

A pulverização dialetal do termo 'rodela' não ofusca a hegemonia de 'cortar às rodelas' no território luso.

The dialectal scattering of the term 'rodela' does not overshadow the hegemony of 'slicing into rounds' in Portuguese territory.

Academic register with complex noun phrases.

Haveria que ponderar se o ato de cortar às rodelas influencia a taxa de oxidação do fruto em questão.

One would have to consider whether the act of slicing into rounds influences the oxidation rate of the fruit in question.

Future conditional 'haveria que' and scientific inquiry.

A semântica de 'rodela' transcende o mero objeto circular, imiscuindo-se na própria coreografia do cortar às rodelas.

The semantics of 'rodela' transcends the mere circular object, intermingling with the choreography of slicing itself.

Highly sophisticated vocabulary like 'imiscuindo-se'.

Sob o prisma da gastronomia molecular, cortar às rodelas é apenas o prelúdio para a desconstrução da textura.

From the perspective of molecular gastronomy, slicing into rounds is just the prelude to the deconstruction of texture.

Metaphorical and technical language.

É imperativo que a espessura ao cortar às rodelas seja milimetricamente idêntica para garantir a cocção uniforme.

It is imperative that the thickness when slicing into rounds be millimetrically identical to ensure uniform cooking.

Subjunctive mood with emphasis on precision.

Raras são as obras que captam a essência rústica de cortar às rodelas o pão de centeio à lareira.

Rare are the works that capture the rustic essence of slicing rye bread into rounds by the fireplace.

Inverted sentence structure for stylistic effect.

A descontextualização do ato de cortar às rodelas em instalações artísticas contemporâneas provoca reflexão.

The decontextualization of the act of slicing into rounds in contemporary art installations provokes reflection.

Abstract conceptual vocabulary.

Ao perscrutar a história da culinária, vemos que cortar às rodelas é uma técnica que resiste à erosão do tempo.

Upon scrutinizing culinary history, we see that slicing into rounds is a technique that resists the erosion of time.

Archaic/formal verb 'perscrutar' and metaphorical 'erosão do tempo'.

Common Collocations

cortar às rodelas finas

cortar às rodelas grossas

cortar o chouriço às rodelas

cortar a cebola às rodelas

cortar a batata às rodelas

cortar o limão às rodelas

cortar a banana às rodelas

cortar o pepino às rodelas

cortar o alho-francês às rodelas

cortar a beringela às rodelas

Common Phrases

Corta às rodelas!

— A direct command to slice something into rounds.

Corta às rodelas a cenoura, por favor!

Cortado às rodelas

— Describing something that has already been sliced into rounds.

O queijo já vem cortado às rodelas.

Às rodelas meias-luas

— Slicing into half-rounds (cutting the item in half first).

Corta a cebola às rodelas meias-luas.

Rodelas fininhas

— Very thin circular slices.

Gosto de chouriço cortado às rodelas fininhas.

Rodelas perfeitas

— Slices that are uniform and neatly circular.

Tenta fazer rodelas perfeitas com o tomate.

Em rodelas

— The Brazilian variation of the phrase.

No Brasil, dizem 'cortar em rodelas'.

Uma rodela de...

— A single circular slice of something.

Queres uma rodela de limão no teu chá?

Várias rodelas

— Multiple circular slices.

Coloca várias rodelas de pepino nos olhos.

Sem rodelas

— Without slices (rare, but used in preferences).

Prefiro a sopa sem rodelas de chouriço.

Tamanho das rodelas

— The size or diameter of the slices.

O tamanho das rodelas depende do legume.

Often Confused With

cortar às rodelas vs cortar em fatias

Fatias are general slices (like bread), whereas rodelas are specifically circular (rounds).

cortar às rodelas vs cortar em gomos

Gomos are wedges (like orange segments), not flat rounds.

cortar às rodelas vs cortar em cubos

Cubos are squares/dices, which is a completely different geometry.

Idioms & Expressions

"cortar às rodelas"

— Literally to slice into rounds; no common figurative idioms exist for this specific phrase.

Corta o tomate às rodelas.

culinary

"ficar às rodelas"

— To be confused or dizzy (informal/slang in some regions).

Depois daquela notícia, fiquei às rodelas.

informal

"ver rodelas"

— To see spots or circles, usually when dizzy.

Estou tão cansado que até vejo rodelas.

informal

"rodela de gente"

— A small group of people gathered in a circle.

Havia uma rodela de gente a ver o espetáculo.

informal

"não vale uma rodela de cebola"

— Something that is worthless (similar to 'not worth a fig').

Aquele carro velho não vale uma rodela de cebola.

slang

"cortar cerce"

— To cut something at the root or very close (related to cutting).

O problema foi cortado cerce.

literary

"cortar o mal pela raiz"

— To nip something in the bud (general 'cortar' idiom).

Temos de cortar o mal pela raiz.

neutral

"cortar as pernas"

— To discourage someone or prevent them from acting.

A falta de dinheiro cortou-lhe as pernas.

informal

"cortar-se"

— To back out of a commitment (slang).

Ele disse que vinha, mas depois cortou-se.

slang

"cortar a direito"

— To speak frankly or take the shortest path.

Vamos cortar a direito e resolver isto.

informal

Easily Confused

cortar às rodelas vs rodela

Sounds like 'roda'.

Rodela is a slice/round; roda is the whole wheel. You cut food into rodelas, not rodas.

A rodela de limão caiu da roda do carro.

cortar às rodelas vs fatia

Both mean slice.

Fatia is for bread, cake, or large meat. Rodela is for cylindrical items like carrots.

Uma fatia de bolo e uma rodela de laranja.

cortar às rodelas vs picado

Both are ways to cut.

Picado is minced/chopped small. Rodelas are whole circular slices.

Queres a cebola picada ou às rodelas?

cortar às rodelas vs gomos

Used for fruit.

Gomos are wedges. Rodelas are disks.

Corta o limão às rodelas, não em gomos.

cortar às rodelas vs tiras

Another shape.

Tiras are long strips. Rodelas are circles.

Corta o pimento às tiras e o pepino às rodelas.

Sentence Patterns

Eu corto [food] às rodelas.

Eu corto a banana às rodelas.

Podes cortar [food] às rodelas?

Podes cortar o tomate às rodelas?

É preciso cortar [food] às rodelas antes de [action].

É preciso cortar a cenoura às rodelas antes de cozer.

Se tivesses cortado [food] às rodelas...

Se tivesses cortado o chouriço às rodelas...

A forma como ele corta [food] às rodelas é...

A forma como ele corta o pepino às rodelas é impressionante.

A técnica de cortar às rodelas pressupõe...

A técnica de cortar às rodelas pressupõe uma faca bem equilibrada.

Corta o [food] às rodelas [adjective].

Corta o limão às rodelas finas.

[Food] cortado às rodelas acompanhado de...

Polvo cortado às rodelas acompanhado de batatas.

Word Family

Nouns

rodela (round/slice)

corte (cut)

cortador (cutter)

rodagem (filming/running-in)

Verbs

cortar (to cut)

fatiar (to slice)

rodar (to rotate/spin)

Adjectives

cortado (cut)

cortante (sharp)

redondo (round)

roda (wheel)

rodízio (rotation/buffet style)

rodinha (small wheel)

fatia (slice)

cubo (cube)

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in culinary contexts and daily kitchen talk.

Common Mistakes

Cortar em rodas → Cortar às rodelas
'Rodas' are big wheels (car wheels). 'Rodelas' are the small slices used in food.
Cortar as rodelas → Cortar às rodelas
Without the accent, you are saying 'cut the rounds' instead of 'cut into rounds'.
Cortar o pão às rodelas → Cortar o pão em fatias
Bread is sliced into 'fatias', not 'rodelas', unless it's a very specific round shape.
Cortar em círculos → Cortar às rodelas
While 'circles' is geometrically correct, it sounds unnatural in a culinary context.
Cenoura cortado às rodelas → Cenoura cortada às rodelas
The participle must agree with the feminine noun 'cenoura'.

Tips

The Accent Matters

Always include the grave accent on 'às'. It shows it's an adverbial phrase of manner.

Shape Specificity

Use 'rodelas' for anything that looks like a coin or a wheel once cut.

Caldo Verde Rule

If you are making Caldo Verde, the chouriço must be 'cortado às rodelas'. No exceptions!

Strong R

The 'R' in 'rodelas' is strong and guttural. Practice it by clearing your throat slightly.

Recipe Reading

When you see 'Corte às rodelas', look for a cylindrical ingredient in the list.

Rodelas vs. Fatias

Carrot = rodela. Bread = fatia. Remembering this pair helps clarify both.

Road-elas

Think of 'rodelas' as tiny wheels for a tiny 'road'.

Agreement

Check if your noun is feminine (cenoura) or masculine (chouriço) to use 'cortada' or 'cortado'.

Suffix Focus

The '-ela' suffix is key. It makes the 'roda' (wheel) small and culinary.

Kitchen Help

Asking 'Queres que corte às rodelas?' is a great way to offer help in a Portuguese home.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'ROD' (like a carrot or sausage) being cut into 'ROD-elas' (little wheels). The 'R' in Rodela looks like a wheel rolling away.

Visual Association

Imagine a line of small bicycle wheels made of carrot slices on a cutting board. This visual link between 'roda' (wheel) and 'rodela' (slice) is very strong.

Word Web

Cozinha Faca Cenoura Chouriço Círculo Roda Rodela Fatia

Challenge

Go to your kitchen, pick up a cylindrical fruit or vegetable, and say 'Vou cortar esta banana às rodelas' as you slice it.

Word Origin

From the verb 'cortar' and the noun 'rodela'. 'Cortar' comes from the Latin 'curtare', meaning to shorten or diminish. 'Rodela' is the diminutive form of 'roda', which comes from the Latin 'rota', meaning wheel.

Original meaning: To make small wheels by shortening an object.

Romance (Latin origin).

Cultural Context

None. This is a neutral culinary term.

In English, we usually just say 'slice it' or 'cut it into rounds.' The Portuguese term is more specific and consistently used across all recipes.

Traditional recipes in 'O Livro de Pantagruel' Cooking segments on RTP1 (Portuguese public television) The poem 'O Sentimento dum Ocidental' by Cesário Verde (mentions of urban life and food)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Preparing a salad

Corta o tomate às rodelas.
Faz rodelas de pepino.
Não cortes as rodelas muito grossas.
Mistura as rodelas na taça.

At the butcher/deli

Pode cortar o salame às rodelas?
Queria o chouriço cortado às rodelas.
Rodelas finas, por favor.
Quantas rodelas quer?

Cooking a soup

Corta a cenoura às rodelas.
Adiciona o chouriço às rodelas.
O alho-francês deve ser cortado às rodelas.
Deixa cozer as rodelas.

Making a snack

Vou cortar a banana às rodelas.
Queres rodelas de maçã?
Corta o queijo às rodelas.
Põe as rodelas no pão.

Restaurant service

O prato vem com batatas às rodelas.
Polvo cortado às rodelas.
Decorado com rodelas de limão.
Peça o queijo cortado às rodelas.

Conversation Starters

"Como preferes o chouriço: cortado às rodelas finas ou grossas?"

"Sabes qual é a melhor técnica para cortar às rodelas uma cebola sem chorar?"

"Costumas cortar às rodelas a fruta para as crianças ou dás a peça inteira?"

"Para uma salada de tomate perfeita, achas melhor cortar às rodelas ou em gomos?"

"Podes ajudar-me a cortar às rodelas estas cenouras para a sopa?"

Journal Prompts

Descreve o teu processo de preparar uma salada mista, mencionando o que cortas às rodelas.

Qual é a importância da apresentação da comida? Achas que cortar às rodelas torna o prato mais bonito?

Escreve sobre uma memória de infância na cozinha onde alguém estivesse a cortar às rodelas algum ingrediente.

Se fosses ensinar alguém a cozinhar, como explicarias a diferença entre fatiar e cortar às rodelas?

Faz uma lista de cinco alimentos que ficam melhor quando são cortados às rodelas.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, especially in Brazil. In Portugal, 'às rodelas' is more common and idiomatic, but both are understood.

Primarily, yes. It refers to small disks. In engineering, a 'rodela' can also mean a washer, but in daily life, it's 99% culinary.

'Anéis' (rings) is used when the center is empty, like onion rings or calamari. 'Rodelas' are solid disks.

You say 'rodelas finas' or 'rodelas fininhas'.

Yes, because you are cutting the object into multiple slices. It is a fixed adverbial phrase.

Yes, in Portugal 'partir às rodelas' is very common in informal speech, though 'cortar' is more precise.

No, the phrase 'às rodelas' is fixed. However, the adjective 'cortado' must agree with the noun (e.g., 'cenoura cortada').

Not a single word. 'Fatiar' is close, but 'cortar às rodelas' is the specific way to say 'slice into rounds'.

Leafy greens like lettuce, or flat meats like steak. It's only for cylindrical/spherical items.

It is always 'às' (with the accent) when describing the manner of cutting.