This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 noun #6,000 most common 10 min read

sogro

Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips sogro in 30 Seconds

Explanation sogro in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'sogro' means 'father-in-law'. You should be able to identify him in a family photo and use simple possessives like 'meu sogro' (my father-in-law) or 'seu sogro' (your father-in-law). At this stage, you focus on basic identification: 'Este é o meu sogro' (This is my father-in-law). You might also learn that the plural 'sogros' refers to both the father and mother-in-law. The goal is to recognize the word when someone introduces a family member. You don't need to worry about complex grammar, just the basic noun and its gender (masculine). It is one of the essential family vocabulary words alongside 'pai', 'mãe', 'filho', and 'irmão'. You should practice saying the word clearly, focusing on the 'o' sound at the end which is often soft. Remembering that 'sogro' is for a man and 'sogra' is for a woman is the most important distinction at this level.

At the A2 level, you start using 'sogro' in more descriptive sentences. You can talk about where he lives, what he does, or his personality. For example, 'Meu sogro é muito simpático' (My father-in-law is very nice). You also begin to use common verbs with the word, such as 'visitar' (to visit) or 'conhecer' (to meet/know). 'Eu vou visitar meu sogro no domingo' (I am going to visit my father-in-law on Sunday). You should be comfortable with the contraction 'ao' when saying you are talking to him: 'Eu falo ao meu sogro sobre o trabalho'. At this level, you understand that family is a common topic of conversation in Portuguese and being able to talk about your spouse's father is a standard social skill. you might also learn how to ask questions about someone else's father-in-law: 'Como é o seu sogro?' (What is your father-in-law like?).

At the B1 level, you can use 'sogro' to discuss more complex situations, such as family traditions or shared responsibilities. You can explain the relationship: 'Eu me dou muito bem com o meu sogro' (I get along very well with my father-in-law). You start using past tenses to describe events: 'O meu sogro viajou para Portugal no ano passado' (My father-in-law traveled to Portugal last year). You also begin to understand cultural nuances, such as the expectation of attending family events hosted by your 'sogro'. You can use the word in the context of giving advice or expressing opinions about family dynamics. At this stage, your vocabulary expands to include 'consogro' (the relationship between your parents and him). You are able to handle longer conversations where the 'sogro' might be a central figure in a story or a plan.

At the B2 level, you are comfortable using 'sogro' in a variety of registers, from very informal slang-inflected talk to formal business or legal contexts. You understand idiomatic expressions that might involve in-laws and can navigate the social subtleties of addressing him. You can describe complex emotions or conflicts involving your 'sogro' using a wide range of adjectives and connectors. For example, 'Apesar de o meu sogro ser um pouco conservador, nós conseguimos ter conversas profundas sobre política'. You understand the legal implications of being a 'genro' or 'nora' in relation to a 'sogro' regarding inheritance or family law in Lusophone countries. You can also compare family structures across cultures, explaining how the role of the 'sogro' in your culture might differ from that in a Portuguese-speaking country.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the word 'sogro' and its place in literature, film, and social theory. You can analyze the portrayal of the 'sogro' figure in classic Portuguese or Brazilian novels, discussing themes of patriarchy, tradition, and change. Your use of the word is flawless, and you can employ it in sophisticated rhetorical structures. You might use it in legal or academic writing when discussing 'parentesco por afinidade' (kinship by affinity). You are aware of regional variations in how the word is used and the different social expectations associated with it in Lisbon versus São Paulo or Luanda. You can participate in debates about the evolving nature of the family unit and how the role of the father-in-law is changing in the 21st century.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of the word 'sogro' and all its connotations. You can detect subtle ironies or hidden meanings in conversations about in-laws. You are familiar with archaic or rare terms related to the word and can use it in creative writing or poetry to evoke specific cultural settings. You understand the historical evolution of the term from Latin and its linguistic relatives in other Romance languages. You can effortlessly switch between different regional accents and registers when talking about or to a 'sogro'. Your understanding is not just linguistic but deeply cultural; you know the unwritten rules of behavior and the historical weight that the 'sogro' carries as a figure of authority or a symbol of the extended family's continuity.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

sogro in 30 Seconds

Sogro means father-in-law in Portuguese. It is a masculine noun used to identify the father of your husband or wife.
The feminine version is sogra, and the plural sogros can mean both parents-in-law or multiple fathers-in-law.
It is a core family word in Portuguese-speaking cultures, where in-laws are often treated as close immediate family members.
Commonly used with possessive pronouns like 'meu' or 'seu', and frequently heard in family gatherings like Sunday lunches.

The Portuguese word sogro refers to a father-in-law, which is the father of one's spouse. In Lusophone cultures, family ties are often the bedrock of social life, and the relationship with one's sogro is treated with a specific blend of respect, formality, and eventually, familial warmth. Unlike some English-speaking contexts where in-laws might be viewed with a sense of distance, Portuguese-speaking families—whether in Brazil, Portugal, Angola, or Mozambique—tend to integrate the sogro into the immediate family circle. You will use this word whenever you are identifying your husband's or wife's father in a social, legal, or casual setting.

Formal Context: In formal situations, such as a wedding or a legal document, the term sogro is used to define the specific kinship. It is common to see 'o senhor meu sogro' as a sign of deep respect.

Meu sogro é um homem muito trabalhador e sempre nos ajuda com conselhos sábios sobre a vida e as finanças.

The term is strictly masculine. If you are referring to the mother-in-law, you use sogra. However, in the plural form, os sogros, it refers to both the father-in-law and mother-in-law together, or multiple fathers-in-law. This follow the standard Portuguese grammatical rule where the masculine plural encompasses the feminine. Understanding this word is crucial for anyone navigating the complex and beautiful landscape of Portuguese family dynamics. You will hear it during Sunday lunches, which are a staple of Portuguese and Brazilian life, where the sogro often occupies a seat of honor at the head of the table.

Plural Usage: When you say 'meus sogros', you are usually referring to the couple. If you want to specify only the fathers, you must provide more context, though the word remains the same.

Eu vou visitar o meu sogro no hospital amanhã de manhã para ver como ele está se recuperando da cirurgia.

Language learners often find that using 'sogro' correctly helps build bridges with their partner's family. It shows an understanding of the relationship's importance. In many regions, the relationship between a man and his sogro is one of mutual support in labor and home maintenance, while a woman and her sogro might share a relationship characterized by protective affection. It is a word that carries the weight of history and the warmth of a shared future through the union of two people.

O meu sogro gosta de contar histórias sobre a sua juventude durante o jantar de domingo em família.

Etymological Root: Derived from the Latin 'socer', the word has remained remarkably stable over centuries, reflecting the enduring nature of the family unit in Mediterranean-influenced cultures.

Amanhã é o aniversário do meu sogro e nós compramos um presente muito especial para ele.

O seu sogro é uma pessoa muito gentil e sempre nos recebe com um grande sorriso e um abraço.

Using sogro effectively involves understanding its role as a noun in various grammatical structures. It usually follows a possessive pronoun because the relationship is inherently relative—one is only a sogro in relation to someone else. For example, 'meu sogro' (my father-in-law), 'seu sogro' (your father-in-law), or 'o sogro de Maria' (Maria's father-in-law). Because it is a masculine singular noun, it must agree with its modifiers in gender and number. If you have two fathers-in-law (for instance, in a marriage involving two people who each have a father), you would use 'os meus sogros'.

Direct Object: When the father-in-law receives the action: 'Eu vi o meu sogro no mercado'. Here, 'o meu sogro' is the object of the verb 'ver'.

Eu perguntei ao meu sogro se ele precisava de ajuda para consertar o carro dele no final de semana.

In Portuguese, the preposition 'a' (to) is often used with 'sogro' when giving or speaking to him. 'Eu dei um relógio ao meu sogro' (I gave a watch to my father-in-law). Note the contraction 'ao' (a + o). In Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear 'para o meu sogro' more frequently in colloquial speech. Another common pattern is the use of 'sogro' in comparisons: 'Ele é tão teimoso quanto o sogro dele' (He is as stubborn as his father-in-law). This highlights how the word is used to draw parallels within family lines.

Subject of the Sentence: When the father-in-law performs the action: 'O meu sogro viaja muito'. Here, 'o meu sogro' is the subject performing the verb 'viajar'.

O meu sogro mora em uma fazenda no interior, onde ele cria cavalos e cultiva diversas frutas.

Furthermore, when speaking about the parents of your child's spouse, you use the term consogro. This is a specific kinship term that English lacks (usually translated as 'co-father-in-law'). Understanding the difference between sogro and consogro is a sign of advanced fluency. In daily conversation, 'sogro' is also used vocatively. If you are calling out to him, you might say, 'Sogro, você pode vir aqui um minuto?'. This is common in Brazil, whereas in Portugal, the use of the first name or 'Sr. [Nome]' might be preferred depending on the family's level of formality.

Nós convidamos o meu sogro para jantar conosco na próxima sexta-feira para comemorar nossa promoção.

Possessive Agreement: Always use 'meu', 'teu', 'seu', 'nosso' before 'sogro'. Never 'minha' or 'nossa' unless you are changing the noun to 'sogra'.

O meu sogro é o melhor avô que meus filhos poderiam ter; ele é extremamente carinhoso com eles.

A casa do meu sogro fica muito perto da praia, então nós passamos quase todos os verões lá.

The word sogro is ubiquitous in Lusophone life because of the centrality of the family unit. You will hear it most frequently in private homes, especially during the 'almoço de domingo' (Sunday lunch). This is a sacred time in many Portuguese-speaking countries where extended families gather. You'll hear phrases like 'O sogro chegou!' (The father-in-law has arrived!) or 'O que o sogro quer beber?' (What does the father-in-law want to drink?). It is a word that signals connection and respect within the household hierarchy.

In the professional world, you might hear it when colleagues discuss their personal lives. It's common for a co-worker to say, 'Vou chegar mais tarde amanhã porque preciso levar meu sogro ao médico' (I'll arrive later tomorrow because I need to take my father-in-law to the doctor). This reflects the social expectation that one cares for their in-laws as if they were their own parents. In legal contexts, such as inheritance disputes or marriage contracts, 'sogro' appears as a technical term of affinity. A lawyer might refer to 'os bens do sogro' (the father-in-law's assets).

Entertainment and media also frequently use the term. In Brazilian 'telenovelas', the relationship between a character and their sogro is a classic source of drama or comedy. Sometimes the sogro is the stern patriarch who doesn't approve of the protagonist, or the wise mentor who provides guidance. Comedians often use the sogro as a foil, though the 'sogra' (mother-in-law) is a much more common target for jokes. Hearing 'sogro' in a joke often implies a dynamic of power or a clash of generations.

In public spaces like parks or shopping malls, you might hear someone calling out 'Sogro!' to catch the attention of their father-in-law. This informal use is very common in Brazil. It indicates a level of intimacy where the kinship title has replaced the person's name. In contrast, in more traditional Portuguese settings, you might hear 'o meu sogro' spoken with a slightly more formal cadence. Regardless of the location, the word carries a sense of permanence and belonging. It is not just a label; it is a role that comes with specific cultural expectations of loyalty and presence.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is trying to translate 'father-in-law' literally as 'pai-em-lei'. This is completely incorrect in Portuguese and will likely confuse native speakers. Portuguese uses unique words for in-law relationships that are not derived from the words for 'father' or 'mother'. Another common error is gender confusion. Because 'sogro' ends in 'o', it is masculine. Beginners often forget to change the ending to 'a' when referring to a mother-in-law, resulting in 'o meu sogro' when they mean 'a minha sogra'.

Pluralization is another pitfall. In English, you say 'fathers-in-law' if you are referring to two men, or 'parents-in-law' for the couple. In Portuguese, 'os sogros' covers both. However, a common mistake is saying 'os sogros' and then using a feminine adjective if the speaker is thinking mostly about the mother-in-law. For example, 'Meus sogros são simpáticas' is wrong; it must be 'Meus sogros são simpáticos'. The masculine plural always takes the masculine adjective form.

Confusion with the word genro (son-in-law) is also common. Since both words relate to the same relationship but from opposite perspectives, learners sometimes swap them. Remember: sogro is the older person (the parent), while genro is the younger person (the husband of the child). Similarly, don't confuse sogro with padrasto (stepfather). A sogro is the father of your spouse, while a padrasto is the husband of your mother who is not your biological father.

Lastly, pay attention to the pronunciation of the 'o' in the first syllable. In European Portuguese, the 'o' in 'sogro' is often more closed, while in some Brazilian dialects, it can be more open. However, the most common mistake is over-enunciating the final 'o'. In natural speech, it should be very soft, almost like a 'u'. Saying 'sô-GRÔ' with a strong 'o' at the end can sound unnatural or overly emphatic.

While sogro is the standard term, there are several related words that provide nuance to family relationships. Understanding these helps in building a more sophisticated vocabulary. The most obvious counterpart is sogra (mother-in-law). Together, they are os sogros. If you want to be very specific about the relationship between the two sets of parents (your parents and your spouse's parents), you use consogro and consogra.

Sogro vs. Padrasto: Sogro: Father of your spouse. Padrasto: The man married to your mother who is not your father.

Sogro vs. Genro: Sogro: The spouse's father. Genro: The daughter's husband. They are reciprocal terms.

In terms of register, you might use pai (father) if you have an extremely close, almost biological-like bond with your father-in-law. Many people in Brazil call their father-in-law 'pai' or 'painho' as a sign of affection. Conversely, in very formal or distant relationships, one might avoid the word 'sogro' in direct address and use 'O Senhor' followed by his name. Another related term is afim (relative by marriage), used in legal contexts to describe 'parentesco por afinidade' (kinship by affinity), which includes the sogro.

There are no direct synonyms for 'sogro' because it describes a specific biological/legal fact. However, understanding the 'family tree' vocabulary in Portuguese is essential. Words like cunhado (brother-in-law) and nora (daughter-in-law) often appear in the same sentences as sogro. For example: 'O meu sogro e o meu cunhado foram pescar' (My father-in-law and my brother-in-law went fishing). Mastering these clusters of words allows you to describe family gatherings accurately.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root is shared with the Spanish 'suegro' and Italian 'suocero'. It is one of the oldest stable kinship terms in the Romance languages.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈso.ɡɾu/

US /ˈsoʊ.ɡroʊ/

The stress is on the first syllable: SO-gro.

Rhymes With

logro dogro (rare) ogro dobro (slant) sopro (slant) pobro (archaic) morno (slant) corno (slant)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'r' like the English 'r' (it should be a tap).
Making the final 'o' too strong and long.
Stressing the second syllable (so-GRO).
Pronouncing the 'g' like a 'j' (so-jro).
Nasalizing the first 'o' unnecessarily.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text due to its distinct shape.

Writing 2/5

Easy, but don't forget it's masculine (o/meu).

Speaking 2/5

The 'r' tap and final 'o' reduction require a little practice.

Listening 2/5

Can be confused with 'sogra' if the final vowel is not heard clearly.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Pai Mãe Marido Esposa Família

Learn Next

Sogra Genro Nora Cunhado Cunhada

Advanced

Consogro Afinidade Parentesco Linhagem Patriarcado

Grammar to Know

Masculine Gender Agreement

O meu sogro é **simpático** (not simpática).

Possessive Pronouns

**Meu** sogro, **seu** sogro, **nosso** sogro.

Contractions with 'a'

Eu dei um presente **ao** (a+o) meu sogro.

Pluralization

Um sogro, dois **sogros**.

Vocative Case

**Sogro**, você pode me ajudar?

Examples by Level

O meu sogro é Pedro.

My father-in-law is Pedro.

Simple subject-verb-complement structure.

Eu tenho um sogro.

I have a father-in-law.

Use of the verb 'ter' (to have).

O sogro dela é alto.

Her father-in-law is tall.

Possessive 'dela' (hers).

Onde está o seu sogro?

Where is your father-in-law?

Interrogative sentence with 'onde'.

Meu sogro gosta de café.

My father-in-law likes coffee.

Verb 'gostar' followed by 'de'.

Os meus sogros são de Braga.

My parents-in-law are from Braga.

Masculine plural used for the couple.

O sogro é o pai do marido.

The father-in-law is the husband's father.

Defining the relationship.

Oi, sogro! Tudo bem?

Hi, father-in-law! How are you?

Vocative use of the word.

Eu vou visitar o meu sogro no sábado.

I am going to visit my father-in-law on Saturday.

Future with 'vou' + infinitive.

O meu sogro trabalha em um banco.

My father-in-law works in a bank.

Present tense 'trabalha'.

Nós jantamos com o meu sogro ontem.

We had dinner with my father-in-law yesterday.

Preterite tense 'jantamos'.

O sogro dele mora no Rio de Janeiro.

His father-in-law lives in Rio de Janeiro.

Possessive 'dele' (his).

Eu preciso ligar para o meu sogro.

I need to call my father-in-law.

Verb 'precisar' + 'de' (often omitted in speech) + infinitive.

O meu sogro é muito engraçado.

My father-in-law is very funny.

Adjective agreement.

Você conhece o meu sogro?

Do you know my father-in-law?

Interrogative with 'conhecer'.

O presente é para o meu sogro.

The gift is for my father-in-law.

Preposition 'para'.

O meu sogro sempre me dá bons conselhos.

My father-in-law always gives me good advice.

Use of the indirect object pronoun 'me'.

Quando eu conheci o meu sogro, fiquei nervoso.

When I met my father-in-law, I was nervous.

Temporal clause with 'quando'.

O meu sogro se aposentou no ano passado.

My father-in-law retired last year.

Reflexive verb 'aposentar-se'.

Eu ajudei o meu sogro a pintar a casa dele.

I helped my father-in-law paint his house.

Verb 'ajudar' + object + 'a' + infinitive.

O meu sogro gosta de pescar no rio.

My father-in-law likes to fish in the river.

Verb 'gostar' followed by 'de'.

Espero que o meu sogro goste do jantar.

I hope my father-in-law likes the dinner.

Present subjunctive 'goste' after 'espero que'.

O meu sogro é o avô favorito dos meus filhos.

My father-in-law is my children's favorite grandfather.

Superlative construction.

Nós viajamos com o meu sogro para a praia.

We traveled with my father-in-law to the beach.

Preposition 'com'.

O meu sogro faz questão de que todos se reúnam no Natal.

My father-in-law insists that everyone gathers at Christmas.

Idiom 'fazer questão de' followed by subjunctive.

Embora o meu sogro seja rigoroso, ele tem um bom coração.

Although my father-in-law is strict, he has a good heart.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + subjunctive.

O meu sogro herdou a fazenda de sua família.

My father-in-law inherited the farm from his family.

Verb 'herdar' (to inherit).

Eu admiro a paciência que o meu sogro tem com os netos.

I admire the patience that my father-in-law has with the grandchildren.

Relative clause with 'que'.

O meu sogro costuma caminhar todas as manhãs no parque.

My father-in-law usually walks every morning in the park.

Verb 'costumar' + infinitive.

Se o meu sogro estivesse aqui, ele saberia o que fazer.

If my father-in-law were here, he would know what to do.

Conditional sentence with imperfect subjunctive.

O meu sogro é uma autoridade em história local.

My father-in-law is an authority on local history.

Use of 'autoridade' in a figurative sense.

O meu sogro não se importa em emprestar o carro dele.

My father-in-law doesn't mind lending his car.

Verb 'importar-se' + 'em'.

A relação com o meu sogro amadureceu ao longo dos anos.

The relationship with my father-in-law has matured over the years.

Abstract subject 'A relação'.

O meu sogro é o pilar que sustenta a união desta família.

My father-in-law is the pillar that sustains this family's unity.

Metaphorical use of 'pilar'.

Dada a experiência do meu sogro, resolvemos consultá-lo.

Given my father-in-law's experience, we decided to consult him.

Participial construction 'Dada a...'.

O meu sogro sempre prezou pela honestidade acima de tudo.

My father-in-law has always valued honesty above all else.

Verb 'prezar' followed by 'pela'.

Foi o meu sogro quem financiou o início do nosso negócio.

It was my father-in-law who financed the start of our business.

Cleft sentence for emphasis.

O meu sogro é avesso a tecnologias modernas e prefere o rádio.

My father-in-law is averse to modern technologies and prefers the radio.

Adjective 'avesso' + 'a'.

A influência do meu sogro na educação dos meus filhos é notável.

The influence of my father-in-law on my children's education is notable.

Noun phrase with multiple modifiers.

Meu sogro, conquanto reservado, é extremamente generoso.

My father-in-law, although reserved, is extremely generous.

Conjunction 'conquanto' (formal).

A figura do sogro na literatura lusófona frequentemente evoca o patriarcado.

The figure of the father-in-law in Lusophone literature often evokes patriarchy.

Academic register.

Meu sogro personifica a resiliência de uma geração que enfrentou grandes crises.

My father-in-law personifies the resilience of a generation that faced great crises.

Verb 'personificar'.

A morte do meu sogro deixou um vácuo imensurável na dinâmica familiar.

My father-in-law's death left an immeasurable vacuum in the family dynamic.

Sophisticated vocabulary ('vácuo imensurável').

O legado do meu sogro transcende os bens materiais que ele deixou.

My father-in-law's legacy transcends the material assets he left behind.

Verb 'transcender'.

É imperativo considerar os desejos do meu sogro quanto à partilha de bens.

It is imperative to consider my father-in-law's wishes regarding the division of assets.

Impersonal expression 'É imperativo'.

Meu sogro, em sua infinita sabedoria, optou pelo silêncio benevolente.

My father-in-law, in his infinite wisdom, opted for benevolent silence.

Literary style.

A relação outrora conflituosa com o meu sogro transformou-se em mútua admiração.

The once-conflictual relationship with my father-in-law transformed into mutual admiration.

Adverb 'outrora'.

O meu sogro é o guardião das tradições orais da nossa linhagem.

My father-in-law is the guardian of the oral traditions of our lineage.

High-level metaphorical language.

Common Collocations

Meu sogro

Casa do sogro

Conhecer o sogro

Ajudar o sogro

Respeitar o sogro

Aniversário do sogro

Saúde do sogro

Conselho do sogro

Presente para o sogro

Visitar o sogro

Common Phrases

Como vai o sogro?

— A polite way to ask how your friend's father-in-law is doing.

Oi João, como vai o sogro?

Mandar um abraço para o sogro

— Sending regards to the father-in-law.

Mande um abraço para o seu sogro por mim.

O sogro tá de olho

— A humorous way to say the father-in-law is watching or supervising.

Cuidado, o sogro tá de olho em você!

Falar com o sogro

— To have a conversation with him, often implying a serious talk.

Preciso falar com o meu sogro sobre o carro.

O sogro é fera

— Slang meaning the father-in-law is very good at something or very cool.

Meu sogro é fera no churrasco.

Sogro é pai

— A saying expressing that a father-in-law should be treated with the same love as a father.

Para mim, sogro é pai.

Puxar o saco do sogro

— To suck up to the father-in-law.

Ele está sempre puxando o saco do sogro.

O sogro deu a bênção

— The father-in-law gave his approval for something, usually marriage.

Finalmente o sogro deu a bênção para o noivado.

Lugar de sogro

— Referring to his specific place or role in the family hierarchy.

Ele sabe o seu lugar de sogro.

Herança do sogro

— Referring to assets passed down from him.

Eles vivem da herança do sogro.

Often Confused With

sogro vs Sogra

Mother-in-law. Easy to confuse because only the last letter changes.

sogro vs Genro

Son-in-law. The opposite side of the relationship.

sogro vs Padrasto

Stepfather. A different type of non-biological father figure.

Idioms & Expressions

"Cair nas graças do sogro"

— To become liked or favored by the father-in-law.

Ele finalmente caiu nas graças do sogro após anos.

Informal

"Sogro de ouro"

— An exceptionally good or kind father-in-law.

Eu tirei a sorte grande, tenho um sogro de ouro.

Informal

"Cara de sogro"

— A stern or judgmental expression, often associated with a protective father.

Ele me olhou com aquela cara de sogro.

Slang

"Pedir a mão ao sogro"

— The traditional act of asking the father for his daughter's hand in marriage.

Ele foi pedir a mão ao sogro à moda antiga.

Traditional

"Sogro não é parente"

— A cynical humorous saying implying that in-laws aren't 'real' family (rarely taken seriously).

Dizem que sogro não é parente, mas eu discordo.

Colloquial

"O sogro é quem manda"

— Implying that the father-in-law has the final say in family matters.

Naquela casa, o sogro é quem manda.

Informal

"Vida de sogro"

— Referring to a relaxed, retired lifestyle often attributed to older men.

Ele agora só quer saber de vida de sogro.

Informal

"Presente de sogro"

— Sometimes used to describe a very expensive or high-quality gift.

Isso sim é um presente de sogro!

Informal

"Sogro coruja"

— A father-in-law who is very proud and protective of his 'children' (in-laws included).

Ele é um sogro coruja, sempre elogiando o genro.

Informal

"Bater um papo com o sogro"

— To have a long, friendly chat with him.

Vou bater um papo com o sogro enquanto a carne assa.

Informal

Easily Confused

sogro vs Sogra

Gender similarity.

Sogro is masculine (father-in-law), Sogra is feminine (mother-in-law).

Meu sogro é homem, minha sogra é mulher.

sogro vs Genro

Role confusion.

Sogro is the parent, Genro is the husband of the child.

Eu sou o genro, ele é o meu sogro.

sogro vs Consogro

Specific kinship.

Sogro is your spouse's father; Consogro is your parent's relationship to him.

Meu pai e meu sogro são consogros.

sogro vs Padrasto

Translation from 'step'.

Sogro is by marriage to a child; Padrasto is by marriage to a parent.

O marido da minha mãe é meu padrasto.

sogro vs Tio

General older male relative.

Sogro is specifically the father of your spouse.

Ele não é meu tio, é meu sogro.

Sentence Patterns

O meu sogro é [adjective].

O meu sogro é bom.

Eu vou [verb] o meu sogro.

Eu vou ver o meu sogro.

O meu sogro gosta de [verb/noun].

O meu sogro gosta de viajar.

Se o meu sogro [subjunctive]...

Se o meu sogro vier, vamos sair.

Apesar do meu sogro [verb]...

Apesar do meu sogro ser velho, ele corre.

É provável que o meu sogro [subjunctive]...

É provável que o meu sogro tenha chegado.

Mixed

O sogro de [name] é [adjective].

O sogro de Maria é rico.

Mixed

Para o meu sogro, [opinion].

Para o meu sogro, a família é tudo.

Word Family

Nouns

Sogra (mother-in-law)

Sogros (parents-in-law)

Consogro (co-father-in-law)

Consogra (co-mother-in-law)

Verbs

Sograr (rare/slang: to act like a father-in-law)

Adjectives

Sogral (relating to a father-in-law - rare)

Genro (son-in-law)

Nora (daughter-in-law)

Cunhado (brother-in-law)

Padrasto (stepfather)

Pai (father)

How to Use It

frequency

Very frequent in daily life and family discussions.

Common Mistakes

Meu sogro é muito simpática. → Meu sogro é muito simpático.
The adjective must agree with the masculine gender of 'sogro'.
Eu amo meu pai-em-lei. → Eu amo meu sogro.
Literal translations from English 'father-in-law' do not work in Portuguese.
Os meus sogras são legais. → Os meus sogros são legais.
When referring to both parents-in-law, use the masculine plural 'sogros'.
Vou visitar a sogro. → Vou visitar o sogro.
Incorrect article usage; 'sogro' is masculine.
Ele é meu sogro de minha esposa. → Ele é o sogro da minha esposa (or just 'meu sogro').
Redundant and grammatically awkward construction.

Tips

Gender Agreement

Always ensure that adjectives like 'simpático' or 'querido' end in 'o' when describing your sogro.

Sunday Lunch

If your sogro invites you for Sunday lunch, always go. It's a key part of family bonding in Lusophone cultures.

The Soft R

Practice the 'r' as a single tap of the tongue. It's not a rolled 'r' like in Spanish 'perro'.

Family Tree

Learn 'sogro' alongside 'sogra', 'genro', and 'nora' to master the in-law family cluster.

First Meetings

When meeting your sogro for the first time, a firm handshake and a polite 'Muito prazer' are essential.

Messaging

In WhatsApp groups, it's common to refer to him as 'o sogro' or even use a 'grandfather' emoji if he has grandkids.

Affinities

Remember that in Portuguese law, your sogro is considered a relative 'por afinidade', which has specific legal rights.

Sogrão

Using 'sogrão' can be a great way to show you are relaxed and comfortable with him, but wait for him to be informal first.

Vowel Endings

Train your ear to catch the very short 'u' sound at the end of 'sogro' in fast Brazilian speech.

The 'O' Rule

SogrO = Male (Father). SogrA = Female (Mother). Simple and effective.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'SO-GRO'. He is the 'SO' (significant other's) 'GRO' (grown-up/dad).

Visual Association

Imagine a man at the head of a long dinner table (the 'sogro' in Lusophone culture).

Word Web

Família Casamento Esposa Marido Sogra Genro Nora Almoço

Challenge

Try to describe your father-in-law (real or imaginary) using three adjectives in Portuguese today.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'socer' (accusative 'socerum'), which has been the word for father-in-law for over two millennia.

Original meaning: Father of the spouse.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Galician-Portuguese > Portuguese.

Cultural Context

Always use 'Sr. [Nome]' if you are unsure of the level of intimacy allowed by your father-in-law.

In the US/UK, 'father-in-law' can sometimes feel formal or distant. In Brazil/Portugal, 'sogro' is often used as an intimate title.

'O Sogro' (various comedy sketches in Brazil) 'A Sogra' (movie, but often mentions the sogro) Traditional Fado songs mentioning family ties.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Family Dinners

O sogro senta aqui.
O sogro quer mais vinho?
O sogro cozinha muito bem.
Obrigado pelo jantar, sogro.

Weddings

O sogro da noiva.
O sogro fez um discurso.
O sogro está muito elegante.
Conheci meu futuro sogro.

Medical situations

Levar o sogro ao médico.
A saúde do meu sogro.
O sogro está no hospital.
O sogro precisa descansar.

Legal matters

A herança do sogro.
O sogro é testemunha.
Bens do meu sogro.
Parentesco com o sogro.

Travel

Viajar com o sogro.
A casa de praia do sogro.
O sogro conhece este lugar.
O sogro reservou o hotel.

Conversation Starters

"Como é a sua relação com o seu sogro?"

"O seu sogro mora perto ou longe de você?"

"Qual é a coisa mais engraçada que seu sogro já disse?"

"Você costuma pedir conselhos ao seu sogro?"

"O que o seu sogro gosta de fazer no tempo livre?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva a primeira vez que você conheceu o seu sogro (ou o seu futuro sogro).

Escreva sobre uma tradição que o seu sogro mantém na família.

Como a presença do seu sogro influencia a vida dos seus filhos (ou futuros filhos)?

Quais são as principais diferenças entre o seu pai e o seu sogro?

Imagine que você é um sogro. Que tipo de sogro você gostaria de ser?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, especially in Brazil. It is a common and affectionate way to address him. In Portugal, it depends on the family's formality, but 'o sogro' is often used in the third person even when he is present.

The plural is 'sogros'. It can refer to multiple fathers-in-law or, more commonly, to the father-in-law and mother-in-law as a couple.

It is a neutral, standard word. It is not overly formal like 'progenitor', nor is it slang. It's the standard term used in all levels of society.

You say 'ex-sogro'. This is used if you are divorced but still referring to your former spouse's father.

The word is the same, but the pronunciation of the 'r' and the final 'o' differs slightly. Also, Brazilians use 'sogro' as a nickname more frequently.

No. Stepfather is 'padrasto'. 'Sogro' is strictly the father of your spouse.

You can say: 'Este é o meu sogro, [Nome].' (This is my father-in-law, [Name].)

It refers to the relationship between your father and your father-in-law. They are 'consogros' to each other.

Yes, but less common than 'sogra'. Jokes about 'sogros' usually involve them being overprotective or very strict about their children.

Always use 'o' (o sogro) because it is a masculine noun.