Quando chegou, todos comentaram que a borboleta era deslumbrante.
When she arrived, everyone remarked that the attractive person was stunning.
Sua reputação de borboleta o precede nas discussões.
His reputation as a fickle person precedes him in discussions.
Ele descreveu a atriz como uma borboleta de elegância.
He described the actress as a beautiful person of elegance.
A presença de borboletas indica um ecossistema saudável.
The presence of butterflies indicates a healthy ecosystem.
A borboleta do grupo de amigos era a mais carismática.
The attractive person in the friend group was the most charismatic.
Similar words
cativante
linda
graciosa
asas
mariposa
voadora
inconstante
volúvel
encantadora
lepidóptero
Meanings
Butterfly (insect)
noun
biology
neutral
A flying insect with large, often colorful wings and a slender body.
Usage
Use borboleta for the insect with bright wings that flutters among flowers.
Examples
A borboleta azul deslizou sobre a flor.
The butterfly blue glided over the flower.
Vi uma borboleta rara no jardim ontem.
I saw a rare butterfly in the garden yesterday.
As borboletas migraram para o sul neste inverno.
The butterflies migrated south this winter.
A borboleta pousou na minha mão e eu a segurei delicadamente.
The butterfly landed on my hand and I held it gently.
Durante a primavera, as borboletas enfeitam os campos com suas cores.
During spring, the butterflies adorn the fields with their colors.
Ele coleciona borboletas de papel para decorar a sala.
He collects paper butterflies to decorate the room.
A presença de borboletas indica um ecossistema saudável.
The presence of butterflies indicates a healthy ecosystem.
Common mistakes
Gender article errors and meaning confusion are common.
Incorrect
Correct
O borboleta pousou na flor.
A borboleta pousou na flor.
Ele é uma borboleta.
Ele é muito bonito.
As borboletas são insetos que voam à noite.
As borboletas são insetos que voam de dia.
Similar words
mariposa
papilionídeo
lepidóptero
inseto
voadora
colorida
asas
Attractive person
noun
everyday
informal
A person, usually a woman, who is considered very beautiful or charming.
Usage
Use borboleta to compliment a very beautiful or charming person, typically a woman.
Examples
Ela é uma borboleta, sempre chama a atenção.
She is a beautiful person, always drawing attention.
Quando chegou, todos comentaram que a borboleta era deslumbrante.
When she arrived, everyone remarked that the attractive person was stunning.
A borboleta do desfile de moda brilhou sob as luzes.
The beautiful person at the fashion show shone under the lights.
Ele descreveu a atriz como uma borboleta de elegância.
He described the actress as a beautiful person of elegance.
A borboleta da festa tinha um perfume encantador.
The attractive person at the party had an enchanting perfume.
Na entrevista, a borboleta respondeu com graça.
In the interview, the beautiful person answered gracefully.
A borboleta do grupo de amigos era a mais carismática.
The attractive person in the friend group was the most charismatic.
Common mistakes
Confusing the insect sense and using the term for men are frequent errors.
Incorrect
Correct
Ele é uma borboleta.
Ele é muito bonito.
A borboleta entrou na sala.
A pessoa entrou na sala.
A borboleta tem asas grandes.
A pessoa tem um sorriso grande.
Similar words
linda
bela
encantadora
formosa
deslumbrante
graciosa
cativante
Fickle person
noun
everyday
informal
A person who changes opinions or loyalties frequently, often used to describe someone who is indecisive or unsteady.
Usage
Use borboleta to describe someone who changes opinions or loyalties often, usually in a teasing way.
Examples
Ele é conhecido como borboleta, nunca mantém uma opinião fixa.
He is known as a fickle person, never keeping a fixed opinion.
A borboleta do escritório muda de projeto a cada semana.
The fickle person in the office changes projects every week.
Não confie na borboleta, ela pode mudar de lado a qualquer momento.
Don't trust the fickle person, they may switch sides at any moment.
A borboleta da política costuma apoiar partidos diferentes.
The fickle person in politics often supports different parties.
Sua reputação de borboleta o precede nas discussões.
His reputation as a fickle person precedes him in discussions.
A borboleta do grupo sempre tem uma nova ideia.
The fickle person in the group always has a new idea.
Mesmo depois de prometer, a borboleta voltou atrás.
Even after promising, the fickle person backed out.
Common mistakes
The term is often misapplied to stable people and gender agreement errors appear.
Incorrect
Correct
Ele é uma borboleta, nunca muda de ideia.
Ele é indeciso.
A borboleta sempre apoia o mesmo time.
A pessoa sempre apoia o mesmo time.
A borboleta mudou de opinião ontem.
A pessoa mudou de opinião ontem.
Similar words
volúvel
inconstante
mutável
cambiante
instável
caprichosa
versátil
Usage
Use borboleta for the insect, for a very attractive person, and less often for a fickle individual.
Common mistakes
The gender article is often wrong, using o instead of a for borboleta, and the term is sometimes applied to the wrong meaning, such as calling a loyal friend a borboleta.
Etymology
FAQ
What does borboleta mean in Portuguese?
borboleta can refer to a butterfly, a very beautiful person, or, less commonly, a fickle individual.
How is borboleta used to describe a person?
It is a compliment for someone who is strikingly attractive, often a woman.
Can borboleta refer to a fickle person?
Yes, it can describe someone who changes opinions or loyalties frequently.
What is the plural form of borboleta?
The plural is borboletas.
What is the gender of borboleta?
borboleta is a feminine noun.
Is borboleta used in idioms?
It appears in expressions about beauty and, informally, about fickleness.
How do you pronounce borboleta?
It is pronounced bor-bo-LE-ta, with the stress on the third syllable.
What are common synonyms for borboleta?
For the insect sense: mariposa, papilionídeo; for the attractive person sense: linda, bela; for the fickle sense: volúvel, inconstante.
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