What’s up, everyone? How are you doing? Exercising your Portuguese skills? At Rio & Learn, we have prepared a special treat for you all. Today you’ll learn how to say the names of sports in Portuguese. Take a look below:
Sports are very significant in Brazilian culture, with various disciplines enjoying widespread popularity and participation. Here are some key points about the major sports in Brazil:
Football (Soccer)
- National Passion: Football is Brazil’s most popular and passionately followed sport. The country has a rich football history, having won the FIFA World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002).
- Legendary Players: Brazil has produced numerous football legends, including Pelé, Zico, Romário, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar.
- Domestic Competitions: The Brazilian domestic league system includes Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (the top tier), along with state championships like Campeonato Paulista and Campeonato Carioca.
Volleyball
- Success on the International Stage: Brazil is a dominant force in both men’s and women’s volleyball, consistently ranking high in international competitions.
- Beach Volleyball: Brazil is also a powerhouse in beach volleyball, with many Olympic and World Championship titles.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
- Prominent Fighters: Brazil has produced many top MMA fighters, such as Anderson Silva, José Aldo, and Amanda Nunes.
- Popularity: MMA enjoys substantial popularity in Brazil, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events drawing large audiences.
Basketball
- Historical Success: Brazil has a respectable history in basketball, with the men’s team winning the FIBA World Championships in 1959 and 1963.
- Notable Players: Oscar Schmidt, known as “Mão Santa” (Holy Hand), is one of the greatest Brazilian basketball players.
Motorsports
- Formula 1: Brazil has a strong tradition in Formula 1, with legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, and Emerson Fittipaldi.
- Other Motorsports: Stock car racing and motocross are also popular in Brazil.
Athletics
- Track and Field: Brazilian athletes have achieved success in various track and field events, with notable performances in the long jump, pole vault, and marathons.
- Olympic Medals: Brazil has won numerous medals in athletics at the Olympic Games.
Judo
- Martial Arts Tradition: Judo is a widely practiced martial art in Brazil, and Brazilian judokas have won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.
- Famous Judokas: Names like Aurélio Miguel and Rafaela Silva are well-known in the judo community.
Surfing
- Popular Coastal Activity: With its extensive coastline, Brazil is a hub for surfing. The country has produced world-champion surfers like Gabriel Medina and Ítalo Ferreira.
Capoeira
- Cultural Sport: Capoeira is a unique Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. It is both a sport and a cultural practice.
Futsal
- Indoor Football: Futsal, a variant of football played indoors, is extremely popular in Brazil. Many football stars, including Ronaldinho, started their careers in futsal.
Handball
- Growing Popularity: Handball is gaining popularity, especially among school and college students. The Brazilian women’s handball team won the World Championship in 2013.
Rugby
- Emerging Sport: Rugby is an emerging sport in Brazil, with both rugby union and rugby sevens gaining traction. The country hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009.
Tennis
- Notable Players: Gustavo Kuerten, also known as “Guga,” is Brazil’s most famous tennis player, having won three French Open titles.
Other Sports
- Swimming: Brazil has a strong swimming tradition, with swimmers like César Cielo winning Olympic and World Championship medals.
- Gymnastics: Artistic gymnastics has seen a rise in popularity, with gymnasts like Arthur Zanetti winning Olympic gold medals.
Overall, sports play a vital role in Brazilian society, bringing people together and fostering a sense of national pride and unity.
Vocabulary for Sports in Portuguese
We will learn the names of most of the sports that exist in Portuguese. What is your favorite one? Which one you love to cheer for during the Olympics? – You can also see the vocabulary for the Olympics.
Sports in the Water
| O nado sincronizado | Artistic Swimming |
| A natação | Swimming |
| O polo aquático | Water Polo |
| O remo | Rowing |
| O salto ornamental | Diving |
| O surfe | Surf |
| A vela | Sailing |
Group Sports
| O futebol | Soccer |
| O futsal | Indoor Football |
| O voleibol | Volleyball |
| O vôlei de praia | Beach volleyball |
| O basquetebol | Basketball |
| O handebol | Handball |
| O rugby | Rugby |
| O beisebol | Baseball |
| O badminton | Badminton |
| O futebol americano | Football |
| O críquete | Cricket |
| O Basquete | Basketball |
| O Ciclismo | Cycling |
Individual Sports
| O atletismo | Track and field |
| O boxe | Boxing |
| O ciclismo | Cycling |
| A esgrima | Fencing |
| A ginástica artística | Artistic gymnastics |
| A ginástica rítmica | Rhythmic gymnastics |
| O hipismo | Horseback riding |
| O levantamento de peso | Weightlifting |
| O tênis | Tennis |
| O tênis de mesa | Table tennis |
| O tiro com arco | Archery |
| O skate | Skateboarding |
| O frescobol | Frescobol |
Martial Arts
| As artes marciais mistas (MMA) | Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) |
| A capoeira | Capoeira |
| O caratê | Karate |
| O judô | Judo |
| O jiu-jitsu | Jiu-jitsu |
| O muay-thai | Muay-thai |
Winter Sports
| O esqui | Ski |
| O hóquei no gelo | Ice Hockey |
| A patinação artística | Figure Skating |
| O snowboard | Snowboard |
Exercises for Sports in Portuguese
Match the English word with its Portuguese equivalent.
- Football – __________
- Volleyball – __________
- Surfing – ___________
- Basketball – ____________
- Judo – ____________
a. Voleibol
b. Basquete
c. Judô
d. Futebol
e. Surfe
Fill in the blanks with the correct sports vocabulary.
- ______ é o esporte mais popular no Brasil. (______ is the most popular sport in Brazil.)
- O ______ é jogado em quadras de areia. (______ is played on sand courts.)
- No ______, os atletas realizam manobras nas ondas. (In ______, athletes perform maneuvers on waves.)
- ______ é um esporte de equipe jogado com uma bola e uma cesta. (______ is a team sport played with a ball and a hoop.)
- O ______ é uma arte marcial japonesa. (______ is a Japanese martial art.)
Translate the following sentences from English to Portuguese.
- Brazil has won the World Cup five times.
- Volleyball is a very popular sport in Brazil.
- Many Brazilians enjoy surfing.
- Basketball is growing in popularity in Brazil.
- Judo is a martial art practiced in Brazil.
Read the statements and decide if they are true (verdadeiro) or false (falso).
- Futebol é o esporte mais popular no Brasil. (Football is the most popular sport in Brazil.)
- O Brasil nunca ganhou uma medalha olímpica em judô. (Brazil has never won an Olympic medal in judo.)
- O surfe é popular nas praias brasileiras. (Surfing is popular on Brazilian beaches.)
- Basquete não é jogado no Brasil. (Basketball is not played in Brazil.)
- Voleibol de praia é uma modalidade olímpica. (Beach volleyball is an Olympic sport.)
Form simple sentences using the given words.
- Futebol / Neymar / jogar
- Guga / Tênis / ícone
- Popular / Voleibol / Brasil
- Surfe / praias / brasileiro
- Judo / medalha / olímpica
Answers:
Match the English:
1 – d. Futebol
2 – a. Voleibol
3 – e. Surfe
4 – b. Basquete
5 – c. Judô
Fill in the blanks:
- Futebol
- Voleibol de Praia
- Surfe
- Basquete
- Judô
Translate the following:
- O Brasil ganhou a Copa do Mundo cinco vezes.
- O voleibol é um esporte muito popular no Brasil.
- Muitos brasileiros gostam de surfar.
- O basquete está crescendo em popularidade no Brasil.
- O judô é uma arte marcial praticada no Brasil.
Read the statements:
- Verdadeiro
- Falso
- Verdadeiro
- Falso
- Verdadeiro
Form simple sentences:
- Neymar joga futebol. (Neymar plays football.)
- Guga é um ícone do tênis. (Guga is a tennis icon.)
- O voleibol é popular no Brasil. (Volleyball is popular in Brazil.)
- O surfe é popular nas praias brasileiras. (Surfing is popular on Brazilian beaches.)
- O judô é uma modalidade olímpica. (Judo is an Olympic sport.)
All good guys? So, what is your favorite sport? Do you practice any of these? Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and we will see you on our next Dica.
Bye bye!
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Best Moments in the Olympics
Football Vocabulary in Portuguese
Beach Vocabulary in Portuguese
Frescobol in Brazil
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes