originais

Originais is the plural form of original in Portuguese. It functions as an adjective describing something that is not derived from something else, emphasizing authenticity, novelty, or sourcehood. When used as a noun phrase, originais can refer to original works or documents, distinguished from copies, reproductions, or facsimiles.

Etymology and grammar: originais derives from the Latin originalis, passing into Portuguese through historical linguistic development. The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; originais serves as the masculine and feminine plural form (singular forms are original). Thus, one speaks of uma obra original (a single original work) and várias obras originais (several original works).

Contexts and usage: In arts and culture, originais often denotes works created by the author or artist rather than reproductions—por exemplo, pinturas originais or filmes originais. In archives, libraries, and legal contexts, documentos originais refer to the primary versions or source documents, as opposed to copies. In commerce and collecting, autenticação de peças originais signals genuineness and provenance, important for valuation and authenticity. The term also appears in phrases like originalidade, which refers to originality as a quality or concept.

Related terms: originalidade (originality), original (the adjective and noun in its base form), and originação (origin or origin process, in some uses). The concept is widely used in Brazilian and European Portuguese, with identical plural form originais.

See also: Original (linguistic and artistic term), Originalidade, Obras originais.