bênção

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• benção

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese bẽeiçon, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin benedictiōnem, accusative singular of benedictiō (“blessing; benediction”), from benedictus, from Latin benedīcō. The plural in -ãos was formed by analogy with other paroxytones in -ão; the etymologically correct plural *bênções is considered incorrect. Compare also bendição, a later semi-learned borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈbẽ.sɐ̃w̃/ [ˈbẽ.sɐ̃ʊ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈbẽ.sɐ̃w̃/

common mispronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /bẽˈsɐ̃w̃/

• Hyphenation: bên‧ção

Noun

bênção f (plural bênçãos or (now proscribed) bênções)

1. benediction, blessing

   Synonym: bendição

   Antonym: maldição

2. grace

   Synonym: graça

Related terms

• abençoar
• bendição
• bendito
• bendizer
• beneficiar
• benefício
• bento
• benzer