wagon

[/ˈwæɡən/]
nounmasculinepl: wagons
vagão; carrinho; carroça
1. A vehicle with four wheels drawn by horses or oxen, used for carrying heavy loads
The farmer loaded hay onto the wagon.
O fazendeiro carregou feno na carroça.
2. A railway car or compartment designed for transporting cargo or passengers
The train had several freight wagons attached.
O trem tinha vários vagões de carga acoplados.
3. A child's toy cart with four wheels and a handle for pulling
The child pulled her toy wagon down the sidewalk.
A criança puxava seu carrinho de brinquedo pela calçada.
In American English, 'wagon' traditionally refers to horse-drawn vehicles and is iconic in Western frontier imagery. In Brazil, 'carroça' evokes similar rural/traditional connotations, while 'vagão' is primarily used in railway contexts. The phrase 'on the wagon' is a common American idiom with no direct Portuguese equivalent but would be understood as 'deixar de beber' or 'parar de beber' in Portuguese-speaking contexts.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
cartcarriagevehicleconveyance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
carroça; vagão
Carroça is used for traditional horse-drawn vehicles; vagão for railway cars
Rio de Janeiro
carroça; vagão
Similar to general Brazilian usage
São Paulo
carroça; vagão
Similar to general Brazilian usage
Portugal
carro; vagão
Carro is more commonly used for general vehicles; vagão for trains

Related Words

wheelaxlecartcarriagecoachtransport

Related Idioms & Phrases

on the wagon (abstaining from alcohol)
fix one's wagon (cause trouble for someone)
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