irmã

Irmã is the Portuguese noun for sister, the feminine form of irmão. It denotes a female sibling—someone who shares at least one parent with another person. The term can also be used in broader social contexts to refer to women who form strong, sibling-like bonds, such as close friends or colleagues in a fraternity or sorority.

In religious contexts, "irmã" is commonly used to address or refer to a nun or a religious sister in a convent or order, for example, "Irmã Maria." It is also used in phrases like "irmã de fé" or "irmã de leite" (foster or milk sister).

Common compound forms include:

- irmã mais velha (older sister)

- irmã caçula (youngest sister)

- irmã gêmea (twin sister)

The plural form is irmãs.

Etymology note: The word is native to Portuguese, forming the standard term for female sibling; it contrasts with "irmão" (brother) and with cognate terms in other Iberian languages.