livro vs tomo
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to livro
Listen to tomo
| livro | tomo |
|---|---|
/LEE-vro/ noun | /TOH-moo/ noun |
| book; a set of printed or written pages bound together | a bound book, usually one of several volumes in a set |
How they differ
"Tomo" is more specific than "livro" and usually implies a substantial book or one part of a multi-volume set. It sounds old-fashioned or specialized in everyday conversation.
When to use each
When to use livro: Use "livro" for the normal, everyday word for book.
When to use tomo: Use "tomo" when referring to a large, serious book or to one volume within a set.
Side-by-side examples
- Ele pegou um livro da estante.
(He took a book from the shelf.) - Ele pegou um tomo da estante.
(He took a tome from the shelf.)
Register & nuance: "Tomo" is more literary and less common in everyday speech than "livro".