Understanding financial terminology in both Portuguese and English is crucial for anyone dealing with international business, investing, or even personal finances in a globalized world. This guide highlights common financial terms, providing both the Portuguese term and its English equivalent, along with brief explanations to ensure clarity.
Key Financial Concepts:
Ativo (Asset): Anything a company or individual owns that has economic value. This includes cash, investments, property, and equipment. Understanding assets is key to assessing financial strength.
Passivo (Liability): What a company or individual owes to others. This can be loans, accounts payable, or deferred revenue. Liabilities represent obligations that need to be settled in the future.
Patrimônio Líquido (Equity/Net Worth): The residual value of assets after deducting liabilities. For a company, this represents shareholder’s equity. For an individual, it’s their net worth (assets minus liabilities).
Receita (Revenue/Income): The income generated from a company’s operations, typically from the sale of goods or services. It’s a top-line number indicating the company’s sales performance.
Despesa (Expense): Costs incurred in running a business, such as salaries, rent, utilities, and marketing expenses. Expenses are deducted from revenue to determine profit.
Lucro (Profit): The financial gain realized when revenue exceeds expenses. There are different types of profit, such as gross profit and net profit, each providing a different perspective on profitability.
Fluxo de Caixa (Cash Flow): The movement of cash both into and out of a business. Positive cash flow indicates more cash coming in than going out, which is crucial for solvency and growth.
Orçamento (Budget): A financial plan outlining expected income and expenses over a specific period. Budgets are essential for financial control and planning.
Investimento (Investment): The allocation of money with the expectation of generating future income or profits. This can include stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets.
Banking and Lending:
Banco (Bank): A financial institution that provides services such as accepting deposits, making loans, and processing transactions.
Empréstimo (Loan): An amount of money borrowed from a lender (usually a bank) that must be repaid with interest.
Taxa de Juros (Interest Rate): The percentage charged by a lender for the use of money.
Hipoteca (Mortgage): A loan secured by real estate, used to purchase property.
Cartão de Crédito (Credit Card): A plastic card that allows users to borrow funds to pay for goods and services.
Markets and Securities:
Bolsa de Valores (Stock Exchange): A marketplace where stocks and other securities are bought and sold.
Ação (Stock/Share): A unit of ownership in a corporation.
Obrigação (Bond): A debt security issued by a corporation or government to raise capital.
Fundo Mútuo (Mutual Fund): A portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets managed by a professional fund manager.
Accounting Terms:
Contabilidade (Accounting): The process of recording, classifying, and summarizing financial transactions to provide financial information.
Balanço Patrimonial (Balance Sheet): A financial statement that reports a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.
Demonstração do Resultado (Income Statement): A financial statement that reports a company’s revenues, expenses, and profit over a period of time.
Mastering these Portuguese and English financial terms will undoubtedly enhance your ability to navigate the financial world, whether you’re conducting international business, managing personal finances, or simply trying to understand financial news.