bicos

Bicos is the plural form of the Portuguese noun bico. It is a common term in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, used across various contexts to refer to different kinds of pointed ends, tips, or protrusions, as well as to other related senses.

One of the primary meanings is anatomical: bico denotes the beak or bill of a bird, and by extension can refer to similar projections on animals or parts of the human face when used figuratively. The word also appears in technical and everyday language to describe the pointed end or tip of an object, such as the nozzle or spout on a device, a spray nozzle, a kettle’s spout, or the tip of a tool. In machinery, plumbing, and engineering contexts, expressions like bico de gás or bico de spray are common to designate specific nozzle types or outlet points.

In Brazilian Portuguese, bico also has a widely used figurative sense related to work: a bico is an informal or temporary job, a gig or side job done to earn extra money. The phrase fazer bico is commonly understood as taking on such an additional task.

Translations into English vary by sense: bico can be translated as beak, bill, nozzle, spout, tip, or gig, depending on context. The word forms part of many compound expressions that describe hardware components, anatomical analogies, or employment arrangements. When translating or interpreting, it is important to rely on the surrounding context to choose the appropriate sense.