menina

See also: meniña

Portuguese

Uma menina

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese menynna, from menynno.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /meˈnĩ.nɐ/, /miˈnĩ.nɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /meˈnĩ.nɐ/, /miˈnĩ.nɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /meˈni.na/, /miˈni.na/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /mɨˈni.nɐ/

• Hyphenation: me‧ni‧na

Noun

menina f (plural meninas)

1. girl (female child)

   Doutor, é menino ou menina?

   Doctor, is it a boy or a girl?

   Synonyms: garota, (Portugal) rapariga, moça, miúda, cachopa, guria

2. young lady, miss (a title of respect for an unmarried young woman)

   Pode sentar-se aqui, menina.

   You may sit here, miss.

3. (derogatory) an effeminate boy
4. (Portugal, euphemistic, usually in the plural) prostitute

   Ele tornou-se frequentador assíduo de casas de meninas.

   He became a regular frequenter of houses of girls [brothels].

   Synonyms: prostituta, (Brazil) rapariga

Descendants

• Spanish: menina

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Spanish

Etymology

From Portuguese menina (“girl”), from Old Galician-Portuguese menynna, from menynno (“boy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /meˈnina/ [meˈni.na]

Noun

menina f (plural meninas)

1. a court maid of honour

Usage notes

• Do not confuse with niña (“girl”).