menina

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See also: meniña

Portuguese

uma menina

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese meninha, from meninho.

Pronunciation

 

  • 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
  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

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese menina (girl), from Old Galician-Portuguese meninha (girl), from meninho (boy).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /meˈnina/ [meˈni.na]
  • Rhymes: -ina
  • Syllabification: me‧ni‧na

Noun

menina f (plural meninas)

  1. a court maid of honour

Usage notes

  • Not to be confused with niña (girl).

Further reading