Are you ready to tackle the Portuguese language with some American football lingo? Whether you’re a fan of the Super Bowl or just love the thrill of the game, this Dica will get you speaking Portuguese like a pro while diving into one of the most exciting sports out there!
Key Vocabulary for American Football in Portuguese
Here are some essential terms to talk about American football in Portuguese:
General Terms
Every game starts with the basics! These general terms will help you set the foundation for talking about American football in Portuguese.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Futebol Americano | Football |
| Jogador | Player |
| Time | Team |
| Técnico | Coach |
| Jogo | Match |
| Estádio | Stadium |
| Árbitro | Referee |
| Torcida | Fans |
| Ataque | Offense |
| Defesa | Defense |
| Jarda | Yard |
| Bandeira / Bandeira de Penalidade | Flag / Penalty Flag |
| Zona de Pontuação | End Zone |
American Football Positions in Portuguese
Who’s who on the field? This table introduces the key positions so you can understand the roles of each player in Portuguese.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Quarterback (ou “lançador”) | Quarterback |
| Recebedor | Receiver |
| Running back (ou “corredor”) | Running back |
| Linha de defesa | Defensive Line |
| Linha de ataque | Offensive Line |
| Chutador | Kicker |
| Punter | Punter |
| Zagueiro / Defensor | Linebacker |
American Football Game Actions
From touchdowns to tackles, here are the action-packed terms you’ll need to describe the most exciting moments of the game in Portuguese.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Touchdown | Touchdown |
| Gol de campo / Field Goal | Field Goal |
| Passe | Pass |
| Tackle (ou “derrubada”) | Tackle |
| Recepção | Catch |
| Fumble (ou “erro ao segurar”) | Fumble |
| Intercepção | Interception |
| Huddle (ou “reunião”) | Huddle |
| Snap | Snap |
| Jogada | Play |
| Show do Intervalo | Halftime Show |
American Football Equipment in Portuguese
Suit up! These terms will get you ready to talk about the essential gear needed to play American football.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Capacete | Helmet |
| Protetores | Pads |
| Bola | Ball |
| Uniforme | Uniform |
| Chuteiras | Cleats |
Portuguese Language Verbs to Play American Football
Want to play like a pro? These verbs are your playbook for describing the key actions in American football.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Jogar | To play |
| Agarrar | To catch |
| Lançar | To throw |
| Correr | To run |
| Derrubar | To tackle |
| Pontuar / Marcar | To score |
| Bloquear | To block |
| Passar | To pass |
| Interceptar | To intercept |
Sentence Examples with American Football Vocabulary
Here are some sentences to help you understand and use the vocabulary:
- O jogador correu 20 jardas para marcar um touchdown!
The player ran 20 yards to score a touchdown! - O quarterback fez um passe perfeito para o recebedor.
The quarterback made a perfect pass to the receiver. - A defesa conseguiu uma intercepção impressionante.
The defense made an impressive interception. - Os jogadores formaram uma huddle para planejar a próxima jogada.
The players formed a huddle to plan the next play. - O técnico pediu ao time para bloquear o adversário.
The coach asked the team to block the opponent. - O chutador marcou um gol de campo nos últimos segundos.
The kicker scored a field goal in the last seconds. - O corredor tentou correr pela linha, mas sofreu um fumble.
The running back tried to run through the line but suffered a fumble. - O árbitro sinalizou falta com a bandeira no campo.
The referee signaled a foul with the flag on the field. - A torcida vibrou quando o time conseguiu derrubar o adversário na zona de pontuação.
The fans cheered when the team managed to tackle the opponent in the end zone. - O show do intervalo foi incrível durante o Super Bowl deste ano!
The halftime show was amazing during this year’s Super Bowl! - Antes do jogo, os jogadores colocaram seus capacetes, protetores e uniformes.
Before the game, the players put on their helmets, pads, and uniforms. - O técnico treinou o time para lançar e agarrar melhor a bola.
The coach trained the team to throw and catch the ball better.
Fun Facts: American Football in Brazil
Did you know that American football is growing in popularity in Brazil? Teams like the São Paulo Storm and the Recife Mariners are fighting to popularize the sport, and the Brazilian American Football League (Liga BFA) has passionate players.
In fact, you can even watch or play American football games on Rio’s beaches, such as Botafogo Beach! Have you ever played on the beach? The Rio Football Academy is a place where Brazilian learn to play this marvelous sport.
Many Brazilians enjoy the NFL and even organize watch parties for the Super Bowl every year. You might hear people shouting “Touchdown!” in both English and Portuguese accents!
Practice Your Portuguese with Football!
Here are some questions to practice:
- Como se diz “field goal” em português?
- Qual é o nome do jogador que corre com a bola?
- Como você descreveria uma jogada perfeita em português?
- Você já assistiu a um jogo de futebol americano? Como foi?
Try answering these questions out loud or write your answers to practice at the comments below!
Why Learn Portuguese with Sports?
We play beach volley and football (soccer) every month in Copacabana! Sports are a universal language, but learning how to talk about them in Portuguese connects you to Brazilian culture and makes your conversations more fun. Plus, who doesn’t want to sound cool explaining a touchdown in another language?
So, grab your capacete (helmet), prepare your protetores (pads), and let’s learn Portuguese while celebrating the thrill of football!
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Click on the links below to see more Dicas
Sports in Portuguese
Football in Portuguese
Boxing in Portuguese
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Graduated in English Language and Literature from Universidade Veiga de Almeida, with over 15 years of experience in language teaching. Currently works as a Portuguese teacher and Coordinator of RioLIVE! Activities at Rio & Learn, where he is recognized for his expertise in promoting cultural immersion and the linguistic development of his students. With a solid teaching career, Diogo is the longest-serving teacher at Rio & Learn, with more than nine years of contribution, standing out for his ability to adapt effective teaching methodologies to different student profiles, contributing to the school’s success and his students’ progress in their language goals.