quilos

Quilos is the common Portuguese term for kilograms, the standard unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). The singular form, quilo, refers to one kilogram, while quilos are used when speaking about more than one kilogram. In everyday language people say “2 quilos de carne” or “um quilo de arroz.”

One quilo equals one kilogram, which is defined as 1000 grams. The kilogram is the SI base unit of mass. Since 2019 the definition of the kilogram has been fixed by assigning a exact numerical value to the Planck constant, and realizations use precision instruments such as Kibble balances. The practical effect is that the kilogram is defined independent of a physical object, though historical references relied on the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK).

Usage and context: quilos are widely used in commerce, cooking, and everyday life in Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Portugal. In formal scientific and technical contexts, quilograma or kilogram (kg) is preferred, but quilo remains common in ordinary speech and labeling.

Conversions and related units: 1 quilo equals 1 quilograma, or 1000 grams. A kilogram is about 2.2046 pounds (avoirdupois). Larger mass units include the metric tonne, which equals 1000 kilograms.

Etymology: quilo is a shortened form of quilograma, from quil(o)- (kilogram) and grama (gram). The term reflects the broader adaption of the metric system in Portuguese-speaking regions.