estreito

Estreito is a word in Portuguese with multiple related meanings. As an adjective, it means narrow, tight, or close in dimension or relation. It can describe physical spaces, distances, or figurative closeness, as in um corredor estreito (a narrow corridor) or relações estreitas (close relationships). The feminine form is estreita and the plural forms are estreitos (masculine) and estreitas (feminine).

As a noun, o estreito refers to a narrow waterway or passage between two bodies of land, i.e., a strait. In this sense it is used in geographic names, such as Estreito de Gibraltar or Estreito de Magalhães, and more generally to denote any narrow channel.

Estreito also appears in toponymy and geographic descriptions beyond waterways, indicating narrow passages within archipelagos or coastlines. In figurative usage, the term describes closeness or tightness in non-physical senses, for example in relações estreitas (close relations) or critérios estreitos (narrow criteria).

Etymology and language notes: estreito derives from the verb estreitar (to narrow), itself linked to Latin roots relating to tightness. The word has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Spanish estrecho. It is used in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese with largely similar meaning and pronunciation, though regional preferences may affect common collocations and examples.