Skip to main content
Portuguese (Brazilian) Level 2 noun

carrinho

/kaˈʁĩɲu/

Definition

A small cart or trolley used to carry things, such as groceries in a supermarket.

Example

Ela encheu o carrinho de frutas e legumes frescos.

Show translation

She filled the cart with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Etymology

Diminutive of *carro* ("car, cart"), from Latin *carrus* ("four-wheeled wagon"), itself borrowed from Gaulish *karros*. The diminutive suffix *-inho* is extremely productive in Brazilian Portuguese and softens or downsizes the base noun — so *carrinho* is literally "little car/cart."

Cultural note

In Brazil, *carrinho* is the standard word for a supermarket shopping cart (called *carrito* in Spanish or *caddie/chariot* in French). It also commonly refers to a baby stroller (short for *carrinho de bebê*) and toy cars children play with — context usually makes the meaning clear. Don't confuse it with *carro* (a real car) or *carroça* (a horse-drawn cart).

Browse all Portuguese (Brazilian) words →