English Reference

Word

porto

Phoneticspor·to

/ˈpɔɹtoʊ/

Definitions

01the city

B1

n. a large city in northern Portugal known for its history and wine.

n. a major coastal city and municipality in northwest Portugal, serving as the capital of the Porto District.

“We spent three days walking through the narrow, colorful streets of Porto.”

“The historic centre of Porto was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its urban fabric and numerous monumental buildings.”

Synonyms

Oporto

02the wine

B2 · Cooking

n. a sweet, strong wine from Portugal, often served at the end of a meal.

n. a fortified wine produced with distilled grape spirits in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal.

“After dinner, the host offered everyone a small glass of Porto.”

“The sommelier recommended a vintage Porto to accompany the selection of strong blue cheeses and dark chocolate.”

Synonyms

portport wine

03fortified wine style

C1 · Cooking

n. a wine made in the same style as traditional Portuguese port.

n. a genericized term for fortified wines produced outside of Portugal that mimic the characteristics of authentic Porto.

“The label said it was a Porto-style wine made in California.”

“International trade agreements often restrict the use of the name Porto to ensure consumers can distinguish authentic Portuguese exports from domestic imitations.”

Technical

Usage

In many regions, 'Porto' is a protected name that can only be used for wine from Portugal.

Teaching tip

In the European Union, the name 'Porto' is legally protected; learners should use 'fortified wine' for similar drinks made elsewhere.

Synonyms

fortified wine

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese Porto. * (wine): the name of the city whence it was exported.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/porto

English Reference