menores

[mɛˈnoɾɛs]
adjective/nounmasculine/femininepl: menores
minors, smaller, lesser
1. plural of menor; individuals who have not reached the age of legal majority
The law protects menores from exploitation.
A lei protege os menores de exploração.
2. smaller in size, amount, or importance
These are menores concerns compared to the main issue.
Estas são preocupações menores comparadas à questão principal.
3. comparative form of pequeno; lesser in degree or value
He chose the path of menor resistance.
Ele escolheu o caminho de menor resistência.
In Brazil, 'menores' is widely used in legal, social, and educational contexts to refer to children and adolescents under 18 years old. The term also carries social connotations when referring to 'menores infratores' (juvenile offenders) or 'menores em situação de rua' (street children), reflecting discussions about youth welfare and social issues in Brazilian society.
NYC Slang
minors, youngsters
Synonyms / Sinônimos
pequenosinferioressecundáriosjovens
Antonyms / Antônimos
maioressuperioresprincipaisadultos

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
menores
Standard usage for minors (children/adolescents under legal age) and comparative adjective
Rio de Janeiro
menores
Common reference to street children or youth in vulnerable situations
São Paulo
menores
Standard legal and social usage without significant regional variation
Portugal
menores
Less commonly used; prefer 'miúdos' or 'crianças' for children in casual speech

Related Words

menormaioridademinoridadeadolescentescrianças

Related Idioms & Phrases

em menor escala - on a smaller scale
sem a menor dúvida - without the slightest doubt
de menor importância - of lesser importance
a menor provocação - at the slightest provocation
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