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A2 noun #2,500 most common 7 min read

gordura

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips gordura in 30 Seconds
Explanation gordura in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'gordura' is introduced as a basic vocabulary word related to food and the body. Beginners learn that 'gordura' means 'fat'. They learn to identify it in simple contexts, such as describing food ('A carne tem gordura' - The meat has fat) or basic health concepts ('Gordura é ruim' - Fat is bad). The focus is on recognizing the word in its most literal sense and understanding its pronunciation. Students practice using it with basic adjectives like 'boa' (good) and 'ruim' (bad). It is often taught alongside other basic food categories like 'açúcar' (sugar) and 'sal' (salt). The goal is simple comprehension and the ability to express basic preferences, such as 'Eu não gosto de gordura' (I don't like fat).
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At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 'gordura' to include daily routines, shopping, and basic health discussions. They learn to read food labels and understand terms like 'gordura saturada' (saturated fat) and 'gordura trans' (trans fat). The vocabulary expands to include verbs commonly associated with the word, such as 'evitar' (to avoid), 'comer' (to eat), and 'limpar' (to clean). Students can describe their dietary habits in more detail, saying things like 'Eu evito comer muita gordura' (I avoid eating a lot of fat). They also learn its application in household chores, such as 'tirar a gordura da panela' (removing grease from the pan). The understanding deepens from a simple noun to a concept with practical daily applications.
At the B1 level, students can engage in more complex conversations about health, fitness, and cooking using 'gordura'. They learn to differentiate between types of fats and discuss their nutritional value, using phrases like 'gorduras saudáveis' (healthy fats) found in avocados or nuts. The vocabulary includes fitness terms like 'queimar gordura' (to burn fat) and 'percentual de gordura' (body fat percentage). They can also understand and give instructions in the kitchen, such as 'fritar em pouca gordura' (to fry in a little fat). At this stage, learners can express opinions on diets and lifestyle choices, making 'gordura' a key word for discussing modern wellness trends and traditional culinary practices.
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At the B2 level, the understanding of 'gordura' encompasses both its literal and metaphorical uses. Students can discuss scientific and medical aspects fluently, such as the role of lipids in the bloodstream or 'gordura no fígado' (fatty liver). Metaphorically, they learn to use 'gordura' to describe excess in non-physical contexts, such as 'cortar a gordura do orçamento' (cutting the fat from the budget) or removing unnecessary elements from a project. They can read and comprehend articles on nutrition, economics, and lifestyle that use the word in varied ways. The ability to use 'gordura' abstractly marks a significant step towards fluency and cultural integration.
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At the C1 level, learners manipulate the word 'gordura' with native-like precision across highly specialized and abstract contexts. They understand subtle cultural connotations, such as the historical perception of 'gordura' as a sign of wealth versus modern health paradigms. They can engage in debates about public health policies regarding trans fats or the economic implications of 'gordura' in corporate structures. The vocabulary includes advanced collocations and idiomatic expressions. They can write essays or give presentations where 'gordura' is used to symbolize inefficiency or excess in bureaucratic systems, demonstrating a deep, nuanced command of the language.
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At the C2 level, the mastery of 'gordura' is absolute. Learners can appreciate its use in literature, poetry, and complex rhetorical arguments. They understand regional variations, historical shifts in meaning, and highly technical jargon in fields like biochemistry or industrial chemistry. They can play with the word, creating their own metaphors or understanding obscure cultural references. At this level, 'gordura' is not just a vocabulary word, but a concept deeply embedded in the socio-linguistic fabric of the Portuguese language, and the learner can navigate its every shade of meaning effortlessly.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

gordura in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'fat' or 'grease'.
  • Feminine noun (a gordura).
  • Used in food, health, and cleaning.
  • Can metaphorically mean 'excess'.
The Portuguese word 'gordura' translates directly to 'fat' in English. It is a feminine noun used to describe both the macronutrient found in food and the tissue in human and animal bodies that stores energy. Understanding 'gordura' is essential for navigating daily life in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially when discussing diet, health, cooking, and biology. In a culinary context, 'gordura' refers to oils, butter, lard, and the natural fat found in meats.
Culinary Context
Used to describe the fats used for cooking or flavoring food.

Azeite é uma gordura saudável.

Biologically, it refers to adipose tissue. When people talk about weight loss or fitness, this word is central to the conversation.
Biological Context
Refers to body fat or lipids in the blood.

Ele quer perder gordura abdominal.

Furthermore, 'gordura' can be used metaphorically to describe excess or unnecessary elements in a system, budget, or text.
Metaphorical Context
Refers to financial or structural excess that needs to be trimmed.

Precisamos cortar a gordura do orçamento da empresa.

In household cleaning, it refers to grease.

Este sabão tira toda a gordura da panela.

O limpador dissolve a gordura rapidamente.

Understanding these nuances allows learners to use the word accurately across multiple domains, from the kitchen to the gym, and even in corporate boardrooms. The concept of fat is universal, but the specific collocations and cultural attitudes towards 'gordura' in Portuguese reflect a society that values both rich, traditional gastronomy and modern health and fitness trends. By mastering this word, you unlock a vast vocabulary related to nutrition, wellness, and everyday household chores, making it a cornerstone of A2-level Portuguese acquisition.
Using 'gordura' correctly involves understanding its collocations and grammatical behavior. As a feminine singular noun, it is preceded by 'a', 'uma', 'esta', 'essa', or 'aquela'. When describing types of fat, adjectives follow the noun.
Adjective Placement
Adjectives describing the type of fat usually come after the noun.

O abacate contém gordura boa.

Common adjectives include 'saturada' (saturated), 'insaturada' (unsaturated), 'trans' (trans), 'animal' (animal), and 'vegetal' (vegetable).
Dietary Terms
Specific scientific terms are used to classify fats in nutritional contexts.

Evite alimentos com gordura trans.

In fitness contexts, verbs like 'queimar' (to burn), 'perder' (to lose), and 'acumular' (to accumulate) are frequently paired with 'gordura'.
Fitness Verbs
Action verbs related to metabolism and exercise.

A corrida ajuda a queimar gordura.

In cooking, you might hear 'fritar em gordura' (to deep fry) or 'tirar a gordura' (to skim the fat).

Vou tirar a gordura da sopa.

A pia está cheia de gordura.

The plural form 'gorduras' is used when referring to different types of fats or multiple fat sources, such as 'gorduras saudáveis' (healthy fats). Mastering these combinations ensures that your Portuguese sounds natural and fluent, whether you are ordering food at a restaurant, discussing a new diet plan with friends, or buying cleaning supplies at the supermarket. The versatility of 'gordura' makes it a highly functional word in everyday conversation.
You will encounter the word 'gordura' in a wide variety of everyday situations in Portuguese-speaking environments. One of the most common places is the supermarket.
Supermarket Aisles
Found on nutritional labels and cleaning product descriptions.

Este iogurte tem zero gordura.

Another frequent context is the doctor's office or during health consultations.
Medical Settings
Used when discussing cholesterol, liver health, and body mass.

O exame mostrou gordura no fígado.

Gyms and fitness centers are also hotspots for this vocabulary.
Fitness Centers
Trainers and gym-goers use it to discuss body composition goals.

Meu percentual de gordura diminuiu.

In the kitchen or at restaurants, especially steakhouses (churrascarias), the word is ubiquitous.

A picanha tem uma capa de gordura deliciosa.

Prefiro carne sem gordura.

Finally, you will hear it in advertisements for dish soap and kitchen cleaners, promising to cut through tough grease. The word permeates daily life, reflecting the intersection of food culture, health consciousness, and domestic chores. By paying attention to these contexts, learners can quickly grasp the multifaceted nature of 'gordura' and apply it appropriately in their own conversations, enhancing their communicative competence in Portuguese.
Learners of Portuguese often make a few predictable mistakes when using the word 'gordura'. The most common error is confusing it with the adjective 'gordo' (fat/overweight).
Noun vs. Adjective
'Gordura' is the noun (the fat itself), while 'gordo/gorda' is the adjective describing a person or animal.

Ele tem muita gordura. (Correct) / Ele é muita gordura. (Incorrect)

Another mistake is using 'gordura' when referring to thick or heavy objects, where words like 'grosso' (thick) should be used instead.
Thickness vs. Fatness
Do not use 'gordura' to describe the thickness of a book or a wall.

O livro é grosso. (Correct) / O livro tem gordura. (Incorrect)

Learners also sometimes struggle with gender agreement, incorrectly saying 'o gordura' instead of 'a gordura'.
Gender Agreement
Always use feminine articles and adjectives with 'gordura'.

A gordura está quente.

Cuidado com a gordura saturada.

Finally, English speakers might try to translate 'fat chance' literally as 'chance de gordura', which makes no sense in Portuguese. The correct equivalent idiom would be 'sem chance' or 'muito difícil'.

Sem chance de isso acontecer. (Fat chance of that happening.)

Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.
Several words in Portuguese share semantic territory with 'gordura', and knowing when to use which is a sign of advancing proficiency. 'Banha' specifically refers to animal lard, usually pork fat used for cooking.
Banha
Lard or rendered animal fat, often used in traditional cooking or pejoratively for human belly fat.

Minha avó cozinhava com banha, não com gordura vegetal.

'Óleo' refers to liquid fats, usually of plant origin, like cooking oil or motor oil.
Óleo
Liquid oil, typically vegetable oil used for frying or dressing.

Comprei uma garrafa de óleo de soja.

'Graxa' is used for industrial grease or shoe polish, never for food.
Graxa
Industrial grease, lubricants, or shoe polish.

O mecânico estava com as mãos sujas de graxa.

'Sebo' refers to tallow (hard animal fat used for soap or candles) or, colloquially, to the natural oils produced by human skin or hair.

O cabelo dele está cheio de sebo.

Finally, 'lipídio' is the scientific term for lipid, used almost exclusively in biology, chemistry, and advanced nutritional contexts.

Os lipídios são essenciais para o corpo.

Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the exact right word for the context, whether you are cooking a traditional meal, fixing a car, or reading a scientific paper.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Feminine noun agreement (a gordura, muita gordura).

Use of prepositions with nouns (de gordura, com gordura, sem gordura).

Adjective placement (gordura saturada, gordura localizada).

Verbs of transformation (engordar, desengordurar).

Pluralization of nouns ending in -a (gorduras).

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Examples by Level

1

A carne tem gordura.

The meat has fat.

Basic subject-verb-object structure.

2

Eu não gosto de gordura.

I don't like fat.

Use of 'gostar de' with the noun.

3

A gordura é amarela.

The fat is yellow.

Feminine adjective agreement.

4

Tem muita gordura aqui.

There is a lot of fat here.

Use of 'ter' for existence.

5

Gordura faz mal.

Fat is bad for you.

Common phrase 'fazer mal'.

6

Eu limpo a gordura.

I clean the grease.

Present tense of 'limpar'.

7

O leite tem gordura.

The milk has fat.

Simple statement of fact.

8

Sem gordura, por favor.

Without fat, please.

Use of preposition 'sem'.

1

Eu evito comer muita gordura.

I avoid eating a lot of fat.

Verb + infinitive structure.

2

Este produto não tem gordura trans.

This product has no trans fat.

Specific vocabulary 'gordura trans'.

3

Preciso de um sabão para tirar a gordura.

I need a soap to remove the grease.

Infinitive of purpose 'para tirar'.

4

Azeite é uma gordura boa.

Olive oil is a good fat.

Adjective 'boa' modifying 'gordura'.

5

Ele quer perder gordura na barriga.

He wants to lose belly fat.

Collocation 'perder gordura'.

6

A sopa está com muita gordura.

The soup is very greasy.

Use of 'estar com' for temporary state.

7

Corte a gordura da carne antes de cozinhar.

Cut the fat off the meat before cooking.

Imperative 'corte'.

8

Gordura vegetal é usada em bolos.

Vegetable fat is used in cakes.

Passive voice 'é usada'.

1

Para emagrecer, é preciso queimar mais gordura do que se consome.

To lose weight, you need to burn more fat than you consume.

Comparative structure 'mais... do que'.

2

O médico disse que meu percentual de gordura está alto.

The doctor said my body fat percentage is high.

Indirect speech with 'disse que'.

3

Existem gorduras saudáveis que protegem o coração.

There are healthy fats that protect the heart.

Relative clause with 'que'.

4

O desengordurante dissolve a gordura incrustada no fogão.

The degreaser dissolves the encrusted grease on the stove.

Advanced vocabulary 'incrustada'.

5

A dieta cetogênica é baseada no alto consumo de gordura.

The ketogenic diet is based on high fat consumption.

Passive construction 'é baseada'.

6

O acúmulo de gordura no fígado pode ser perigoso.

The accumulation of fat in the liver can be dangerous.

Noun phrase 'acúmulo de gordura'.

7

Eles fritaram as batatas em gordura animal.

They fried the potatoes in animal fat.

Preterite tense 'fritaram'.

8

É importante separar o lixo e não jogar gordura na pia.

It's important to separate trash and not throw grease down the sink.

Infinitive phrases as subjects.

1

A empresa precisa cortar a gordura para sobreviver à crise.

The company needs to cut the fat to survive the crisis.

Metaphorical use of 'cortar a gordura'.

2

O tecido adiposo é responsável por armazenar gordura no corpo humano.

Adipose tissue is responsible for storing fat in the human body.

Scientific terminology 'tecido adiposo'.

3

Dietas ricas em gorduras saturadas estão ligadas a doenças cardiovasculares.

Diets rich in saturated fats are linked to cardiovascular diseases.

Complex subject 'Dietas ricas em...'.

4

A lipoaspiração é um procedimento cirúrgico para remover gordura localizada.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove localized fat.

Medical vocabulary 'lipoaspiração'.

5

O texto estava longo demais, precisava de uma edição para tirar a gordura.

The text was too long, it needed editing to trim the fat.

Metaphorical use in writing.

6

A gordura hidrogenada foi banida de muitos produtos industrializados.

Hydrogenated fat was banned from many processed products.

Passive voice 'foi banida'.

7

A digestão das gorduras ocorre principalmente no intestino delgado.

The digestion of fats occurs mainly in the small intestine.

Biological process description.

8

Ele usou um solvente químico para remover a gordura pesada das engrenagens.

He used a chemical solvent to remove the heavy grease from the gears.

Industrial context 'gordura pesada'.

1

A reestruturação corporativa visou eliminar as gorduras administrativas que engessavam a operação.

The corporate restructuring aimed to eliminate the administrative fat that paralyzed the operation.

Advanced metaphorical use with complex verbs.

2

A esteatose hepática, comumente conhecida como gordura no fígado, é uma epidemia silenciosa.

Hepatic steatosis, commonly known as fatty liver, is a silent epidemic.

Apposition explaining a medical term.

3

O chef utilizou a técnica de confit, cozinhando o pato lentamente em sua própria gordura.

The chef used the confit technique, cooking the duck slowly in its own fat.

Culinary terminology 'confit'.

4

A oxidação dos ácidos graxos é a principal via de degradação da gordura para obtenção de energia.

The oxidation of fatty acids is the main pathway of fat degradation for energy production.

Highly technical biochemical language.

5

O governo implementou impostos sobre alimentos ultraprocessados ricos em gorduras e açúcares.

The government implemented taxes on ultra-processed foods rich in fats and sugars.

Public policy terminology.

6

A narrativa do autor é enxuta, desprovida de qualquer gordura estilística.

The author's narrative is lean, devoid of any stylistic fat.

Literary critique metaphor.

7

A saponificação é o processo químico em que uma gordura reage com uma base para formar sabão.

Saponification is the chemical process in which a fat reacts with a base to form soap.

Chemical process description.

8

A camada de gordura subcutânea atua como um isolante térmico vital para mamíferos marinhos.

The subcutaneous fat layer acts as a vital thermal insulator for marine mammals.

Zoological and physiological context.

1

A prolixidade do discurso revelava uma retórica cheia de gorduras, carente de substância real.

The verbosity of the speech revealed a rhetoric full of fat, lacking real substance.

Highly abstract and critical metaphor.

2

O metabolismo lipídico orquestra a mobilização da gordura marrom para a termogênese adaptativa.

Lipid metabolism orchestrates the mobilization of brown fat for adaptive thermogenesis.

Advanced scientific jargon.

3

Na culinária ancestral, a gordura não era apenas sustento, mas o próprio vetor de conservação dos alimentos.

In ancestral culinary practices, fat was not merely sustenance, but the very vector of food preservation.

Historical and anthropological context.

4

A auditoria revelou que as 'gorduras' orçamentárias serviam para mascarar desvios de verba sistêmicos.

The audit revealed that the budgetary 'fat' served to mask systemic embezzlement.

Financial and legal terminology.

5

A lipofilia de certas toxinas faz com que se bioacumulem na gordura dos predadores de topo.

The lipophilicity of certain toxins causes them to bioaccumulate in the fat of apex predators.

Ecological and toxicological vocabulary.

6

Desvencilhar-se das gorduras burocráticas é o maior desafio do empreendedorismo moderno.

Disentangling oneself from bureaucratic fat is the greatest challenge of modern entrepreneurship.

Complex infinitive phrase 'Desvencilhar-se'.

7

A estética renascentista frequentemente celebrava a gordura como símbolo de opulência e fertilidade.

Renaissance aesthetics frequently celebrated fatness as a symbol of opulence and fertility.

Art history context.

8

A hidrogenação catalítica converte óleos líquidos em gorduras sólidas, alterando irreversivelmente sua estrutura molecular.

Catalytic hydrogenation converts liquid oils into solid fats, irreversibly altering their molecular structure.

Industrial chemistry terminology.

Common Collocations

gordura localizada
gordura saturada
gordura trans
gordura abdominal
gordura no fígado
queimar gordura
perder gordura
tirar a gordura
percentual de gordura
gordura vegetal

Common Phrases

livre de gordura
baixo teor de gordura
rico em gordura
cortar a gordura
acumular gordura
dissolver a gordura
capa de gordura
gordura corporal
gordura animal
gordura boa

Often Confused With

gordura vs gordo (adjective meaning fat)

gordura vs graxa (industrial grease)

gordura vs óleo (liquid oil)

Idioms & Expressions

"cortar a gordura (to cut the fat/excess)"
"falar com gordura (to speak boastfully - rare)"
"ter gordura para queimar (to have a buffer/margin of error)"
"gordura de sobra (plenty of excess)"
"fritar na própria gordura (to suffer the consequences of one's own actions)"
"limpar a gordura (to clean up a mess/excess)"
"gordura do estado (bureaucratic bloat)"
"sem um pingo de gordura (lean and efficient)"
"gordura financeira (financial cushion)"
"suar a gordura (to work hard/sweat it out)"

Easily Confused

gordura vs

gordura vs

gordura vs

gordura vs

gordura vs

Sentence Patterns

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How to Use It

note

While 'gordura' is the standard word, 'banha' is specifically for lard, and 'óleo' is for liquid oil. Don't use 'graxa' for food.

Common Mistakes
  • Saying 'ele é gordura' instead of 'ele é gordo'.
  • Using 'o gordura' instead of 'a gordura'.
  • Using 'graxa' to talk about food fat.
  • Saying 'gordura' to mean a thick book or object (use 'grosso').
  • Forgetting to make adjectives feminine (e.g., saying 'gordura bom' instead of 'gordura boa').

Tips

Gender Agreement

Always pair 'gordura' with feminine words. Example: 'gordura saturada', never 'saturado'.

Noun vs Adjective

Remember: 'Gordura' = Fat (Noun). 'Gordo' = Fat (Adjective).

Stress the 'du'

The stress falls on the penultimate syllable: gor-DU-ra.

Picanha Fat

In Brazil, the fat on a picanha steak is called 'capa de gordura' and is highly valued.

Medical Terms

Learn 'gordura no fígado' (fatty liver) as it's a very common health topic.

Kitchen Grease

Use 'gordura' when talking about dirty, greasy dishes. 'A panela tem gordura'.

Burning Fat

Use the verb 'queimar' (to burn) with 'gordura' when talking about exercise.

Metaphorical Use

Impress colleagues by using 'cortar a gordura' to mean reducing unnecessary expenses.

Reading Labels

Look for 'livre de gordura' (fat-free) or 'baixo teor de gordura' (low fat) on packaging.

Word Family

Learn 'engordar' (to get fat) and 'desengordurante' (degreaser) to expand your vocabulary quickly.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a GORGEOUS (gor) DURAble (dura) layer of FAT protecting a polar bear.

Visual Association

Picture a thick, yellow layer of butter or oil with the word 'GORDURA' written in it.

Word Origin

From Latin 'gurdus' (heavy, stupid), which evolved in Iberian Romance to mean thick or fat, plus the suffix '-ura' denoting state or quality.

Cultural Context

The 'capa de gordura' on a picanha steak is considered the most delicious part by many Brazilians.

Traditional Portuguese cooking heavily relies on olive oil (azeite), considered a 'gordura boa', but also uses pork fat (banha) in traditional sausages.

In business, 'cortar a gordura' is a very common phrase during economic downturns in both countries.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"Você tenta evitar gordura na sua dieta?"

"Qual é a melhor gordura para cozinhar?"

"Como você faz para limpar a gordura do fogão?"

"Você acha que a gordura da picanha faz mal?"

"Qual é o seu percentual de gordura corporal?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre a sua opinião sobre dietas sem gordura.

Descreva como você limpa a cozinha depois de fritar algo com muita gordura.

Como a percepção da gordura mudou na sociedade moderna?

Liste três alimentos com gordura boa e três com gordura ruim.

Escreva uma receita que usa uma gordura saudável.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is a feminine noun. You must say 'a gordura', 'uma gordura', 'muita gordura'.

No. 'Gordura' is the substance (fat). To describe a person, use the adjective 'gordo' or 'gorda'.

'Gordura' is the general term for fat, often solid at room temperature. 'Óleo' specifically refers to liquid oils, like vegetable oil.

The direct translation is 'queimar gordura'. It is very commonly used in fitness contexts.

It translates to 'fat in the liver' and is the common medical term for fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis).

Yes! 'Gordura' is the exact word used for the grease left on pans, stoves, and dishes after cooking.

It is a cleaning product specifically designed to remove grease (gordura). The prefix 'des-' means to remove.

It is a metaphor meaning to cut excess costs, fire unnecessary staff, or streamline operations to save money.

Yes, the English word 'trans' is adopted directly. It is called 'gordura trans'.

It refers to stubborn fat accumulated in specific areas of the body, like the belly or thighs, often targeted in cosmetic procedures.

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