Table tennis in Portuguese: terms for traveling players
In Brazilian Portuguese, table tennis is "tênis de mesa" (official) or "pingue-pongue" (casual). The paddle is "raquete", the serve is "saque", a game is "set" and spin is "efeito". Many English terms, like forehand, backhand, topspin and let, are used as-is in Brazilian clubs.
In this article
Brazil has a lively table tennis scene, from neighborhood clubs to the country's star, Hugo Calderano. If you are traveling, living there or just want to follow Brazilian broadcasts, a few dozen words go a long way. The good news: Brazilian players borrow a lot of English, so forehand, backhand, topspin and let sound the same. Other terms are completely different.
Here are the essential table tennis terms in Brazilian Portuguese, with a rough pronunciation and phrases you can use at the table.
How do you say table tennis in Portuguese?
The official name is tênis de mesa (roughly "TEH-nees jee MEH-zah"). It is what the Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation (CBTM) and the media use.
The casual name is pingue-pongue, also written "ping pong". You will hear it for the backyard game. Club players say "tênis de mesa", and a player is a mesatenista. The history of the two names is in table tennis vs ping pong.
Equipment in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Paddle, bat, racket | raquete |
| Blade | madeira (literally "wood") |
| Rubber | borracha |
| Sponge | esponja |
| Inverted rubber | borracha lisa |
| Pips (short / long) | pino (curto / longo) |
| Pre-made / custom paddle | raquete pronta / raquete montada |
| Ball | bola, bolinha |
| Glue | cola |
The table in Portuguese
- Table: mesa. Net: rede. Net post: poste da rede.
- End line: linha de fundo. Sideline: linha lateral. Center line: linha central.
- Edge: quina. An edge ball is a bola na quina (good). A side ball is na lateral (out).
Scoring and rules in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Point | ponto |
| Game | set (sometimes "game") |
| Match | partida, jogo |
| Best of five | melhor de cinco |
| Serve | saque |
| Server / receiver | sacador / recebedor |
| Let | let |
| Fault | falta |
| Deuce, 10-10 | dez a dez, "empate" |
| Time-out | tempo técnico |
| Umpire | árbitro |
| Singles / doubles | simples / duplas |
| Mixed doubles | duplas mistas |
| Ranking | ranking |
Watch out for set: in Brazil, each 11-point game is called a "set", like in volleyball and tennis. "Ganhei o primeiro set" means "I won the first game". Scores are read with "a": "seis a quatro" is 6-4.
Strokes and spin in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Loop, topspin | topspin |
| Push | corte |
| Block | bloqueio |
| Smash | smash, cortada |
| Chop | chop, defesa cortada |
| Lob | balão |
| Flick | flick |
| Spin | efeito |
| Backspin | backspin, "bola cortada" |
| Sidespin | efeito lateral, sidespin |
| No-spin | bola sem efeito, "bola morta" |
| Shakehand grip | classineta |
| Penhold grip | caneta |
| Footwork | jogo de pernas |
Two classic traps: corte (literally "cut") is a push, not a smash; and classineta is the shakehand grip, a word you will only hear in Brazilian table tennis. Brazilians say "topspin" where English speakers often say "loop".
Useful phrases at a club
- "Vamos bater bola?" (VAH-moos bah-TEHR BOH-lah): want to rally?
- "Seu saque." / "Meu saque.": your serve / my serve.
- "Vamos jogar uma partida, melhor de cinco?": shall we play a match, best of five?
- "Foi let.": that was a let.
- "Entrou?" / "Foi fora.": was it in? / it was out.
- "Pegou na quina!": it hit the edge!
- "Desculpa!": sorry, the traditional apology after a lucky net or edge ball.
- "Bom jogo.": good game, said after the match.
- "Quanto custa a hora da mesa?": how much is table time per hour?
Finding a game in Brazil
Brazil's governing body is the CBTM, and each state has a federation (federação) that lists its clubs. Many Brazilian clubs are social clubs with a table tennis department, and some cities have public concrete tables in parks. Ask for a "clube de tênis de mesa" or an "escolinha" (coaching school). More on the scene in table tennis in Brazil, and general tips in where to play table tennis.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say table tennis in Portuguese?
"Tênis de mesa" is the official name. The casual name is "pingue-pongue", also written "ping pong".
How do you say paddle in Portuguese?
"Raquete". The blade alone is "madeira" and the rubber is "borracha".
What does "corte" mean in table tennis?
It is a push, the short stroke that returns the ball with backspin. A backspin ball is called "bola cortada".
What is "classineta" in table tennis?
The Brazilian word for the shakehand grip. The penhold grip is called "caneta" (pen).
Do Brazilians use English table tennis terms?
Yes, many. Forehand, backhand, topspin, flick, smash and let are used as-is in Brazilian clubs.