talhar

Talhar is a Portuguese verb meaning to cut, carve, sculpt, or engrave, especially by removing material to form a shape. It covers activities in woodworking, stone carving, metal engraving, and decorative inscription, as well as shaping in ceramics and other crafts. In general, talhar implies precision and craftsmanship in shaping a material through controlled cutting or chiseling.

The term derives from talha, carving or cut, with related forms such as talhado (carved piece), talhador (carver), and entalhar (to engrave). It is a regular -ar verb used in European and Brazilian Portuguese, with the same core meaning across dialects.

Usage examples include talhar madeira (to carve wood), talhar pedra (to sculpt stone), talhar metal (to engrave or cut metal), and talhar barro (to sculpt clay). A practitioner is a talhador, a craftsman who carves or engraves; entalhador is also used for someone who engraves.

In cultural and artisanal contexts, talhar is common in crafts, architecture, and jewelry making, where designers shape materials through carving or engraving. The noun talha denotes the carving itself, while entalhe refers to an engraved pattern or incision.

See also: talha, entalhe, talhador, entalhamento.