parceira

Parceira is a feminine noun in Portuguese that designates a person who shares an activity, goal, or venture with another, i.e., a partner or collaborator. It is the feminine form of parceiro and is used in a variety of contexts to denote equal participation or companionship in a relationship or project.

In professional and commercial contexts, parceira commonly refers to a collaborator or co-owner, as in parcerias de negócios, parceira de projeto, or simplesmente parceira. It signals a working relationship based on mutual participation, trust, and shared responsibility. In social and personal contexts, the term can describe a close companion or ally, such as parceira de vida, parceira de dança, or uma boa parceira para uma atividade.

Usage notes: the word is gendered, with masculine form parceiro. In formal or neutral writing, especially when gender is unknown or not relevant, speakers may opt for alternatives like sócia or a construction that emphasizes the role (e.g., pessoa associada). Some writers experiment with gender-inclusive spellings (e.g., parceir@ or parceire) in informal or stylistic contexts, but these are not standard.

Etymology: parceira originates from the masculine parceiro, which in turn expresses participation in a partnership, combining the sense of sharing or pairing with the feminine gender form.

See also: parceiro, parceria, parceria de negócios.