wallpaper

[/ˈwɔːlpeɪpər/]
noun, verbpl: wallpapers
papel de parede
1. A decorative paper or vinyl material applied to interior walls for aesthetic purposes
She chose a floral wallpaper for the living room.
Ela escolheu um papel de parede floral para a sala de estar.
2. A background image displayed on a computer or mobile device screen
I changed my desktop wallpaper to a mountain landscape.
Eu mudei o papel de parede do meu desktop para uma paisagem de montanha.
3. To cover walls with decorative paper or vinyl
They decided to wallpaper the bedroom this weekend.
Eles decidiram forrar o quarto com papel de parede neste fim de semana.
4. Something superficial or decorative that covers something fundamental
The new logo is just wallpaper on a fundamentally broken company.
O novo logotipo é apenas cosmética em uma empresa fundamentalmente quebrada.
In Brazil, decorating walls with 'papel de parede' is a popular home improvement choice, especially in urban apartments. In American culture, digital wallpapers for computers and phones have become more prevalent than physical wall coverings in recent decades. The term is also used metaphorically in business contexts to describe superficial changes that don't address underlying problems.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
wall coveringwall decorpaper hanginginterior covering
Antonyms / Antônimos
bare wallpaint

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
papel de parede
Most common term for wall decoration material
São Paulo
papel de parede
Standard usage; sometimes 'forração' for wall covering in general
Rio de Janeiro
papel de parede
Standard usage, same as general Brazilian Portuguese
Portugal
papel pintado or papel de parede
Both terms used; 'papel pintado' more common in European Portuguese

Related Words

wallpaperingpaintwall coveringdecorationinterior designdesktop background

Related Idioms & Phrases

wallpaper the walls
change one's wallpaper
stripped wallpaper
peeling wallpaper
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