livro vs obra
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to livro
Listen to obra
| livro | obra |
|---|---|
/LEE-vro/ noun | /OH-brah/ noun |
| book; a set of printed or written pages bound together | a written work, especially one considered as a literary or scholarly creation |
How they differ
"Obra" is broader and more abstract than "livro": it can refer to the work as a creation, not only to the physical book. It is especially common when speaking about literature, an author's production, or an important title.
When to use each
When to use livro: Use "livro" when you mean the physical book or a general reading item.
When to use obra: Use "obra" when you want to emphasize the work as an intellectual or literary creation rather than the object.
Side-by-side examples
- Este livro foi publicado em 2020.
(This book was published in 2020.) - Esta obra foi publicada em 2020.
(This work was published in 2020.)
Register & nuance: "Obra" is more literary and formal than "livro" and is common in criticism, publishing, and academic discussion.