# Portuguese — Real Estate Sub-Lexicon

Auto-generated from translation experience. Maps Portuguese real estate legal terms to their
correct English equivalents.

## Core Real Estate Terms

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| imóvel / propriedade imobiliária | real property / real estate |
| prédio | property / building |
| prédio urbano | urban property |
| prédio rústico | rural property |
| prédio misto | mixed-use property |
| fração autónoma | unit (condominium unit) |
| propriedade horizontal | condominium / horizontal property regime |
| partes comuns | common areas / common parts |
| terreno | plot of land / parcel |
| lote | lot / building plot |
| registo predial | land register / property register |
| certidão do registo predial | land registry certificate |
| inscrição | registration / entry |
| caderneta predial | property tax certificate |
| matriz predial | property tax records (at the tax office) |
| escritura pública | public deed / notarial deed |
| contrato-promessa | preliminary agreement / promise to purchase |
| sinal | earnest money / deposit |
| sinal e princípio de pagamento | deposit as part-payment |
| tradição / entrega | delivery / transfer of possession |
| transmissão de propriedade | transfer of title / transfer of ownership |
| título de propriedade | title deed |
| registo de aquisição | registration of acquisition |
| imposto municipal sobre as transmissões onerosas de imóveis (IMT) | property transfer tax (IMT) |
| imposto do selo | stamp duty |
| imposto municipal sobre imóveis (IMI) | municipal property tax (IMI) |
| mais-valias imobiliárias | capital gains (on real estate) |

## Purchase and Sale Terms

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| contrato de compra e venda de imóvel | real estate purchase agreement |
| vendedor / alienante | seller / vendor |
| comprador / adquirente | buyer / purchaser |
| preço de compra | purchase price |
| pagamento do preço | payment of the purchase price |
| conta-escrow / conta-caução | escrow account |
| escritura de compra e venda | deed of sale |
| outorga da escritura | execution of the deed |
| cartório notarial | notary's office |
| notário | notary |
| livre de ónus e encargos | free of encumbrances / free and clear |
| área bruta / área útil | gross area / usable area |
| certificado energético | energy performance certificate |
| licença de utilização | use permit / occupancy permit |
| alvará de construção | building permit |
| vício / defeito | defect |
| vício oculto | latent defect |
| exclusão de garantia | exclusion of warranty |
| due diligence imobiliária | real estate due diligence |

## Encumbrances and Security Terms

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| hipoteca | mortgage |
| hipoteca voluntária | voluntary mortgage |
| hipoteca judicial | judicial mortgage |
| registo de hipoteca | registration of mortgage |
| cancelamento de hipoteca | release of mortgage / discharge of mortgage |
| penhor de imóveis (direito de retenção) | lien on real property |
| direito de retenção | right of retention / lien |
| servidão | easement / servitude |
| servidão de passagem | right of way |
| servidão predial | easement appurtenant |
| usufruto | usufruct |
| uso e habitação | right of use and habitation |
| direito de superfície | right of superficies / building right |
| penhora (sobre imóvel) | attachment / seizure (of real property) |
| ónus / encargo | encumbrance / charge |
| cláusula de inalienabilidade | restraint on transfer |

## Lease and Tenancy Terms

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| contrato de arrendamento | lease / tenancy agreement |
| arrendamento comercial | commercial lease |
| arrendamento habitacional | residential tenancy |
| senhorio | landlord / lessor |
| inquilino / arrendatário | tenant / lessee |
| renda | rent |
| renda fixa | fixed rent |
| renda variável / renda indexada | variable rent / index-linked rent |
| atualização de renda | rent review / rent adjustment |
| caução / depósito | security deposit |
| fiador (arrendamento) | guarantor (lease) |
| prazo do arrendamento | lease term |
| renovação automática | automatic renewal |
| denúncia do arrendamento | notice of termination (of lease) |
| despejo | eviction |
| ação de despejo | eviction proceedings |
| trespasse | transfer of commercial lease / business transfer |
| obras de conservação | maintenance works |
| obras de beneficiação | improvement works |
| benfeitorias | improvements / betterments |

## Planning and Zoning Terms

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| plano diretor municipal (PDM) | municipal master plan |
| plano de urbanização | urbanisation (UK) / urbanization (US) plan |
| plano de pormenor | detailed plan |
| uso do solo | land use |
| classificação do solo | land classification |
| solo urbano | urban land |
| solo rústico | rural land |
| licença de construção | building permit |
| comunicação prévia | prior notice (simplified building approval) |
| licença de loteamento | subdivision permit |
| alvará de loteamento | subdivision license |
| RJUE (Regime Jurídico da Urbanização e Edificação) | Legal Framework for Urbanization and Building (RJUE) |
| património classificado / imóvel classificado | listed building / protected heritage |

## Section Headings

| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| OBJETO | SUBJECT MATTER |
| PREÇO E PAGAMENTO | PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT |
| TRANSMISSÃO DE PROPRIEDADE E POSSE | TRANSFER OF TITLE AND POSSESSION |
| ÓNUS E ENCARGOS | ENCUMBRANCES |
| GARANTIAS | WARRANTIES |
| CONDIÇÕES DO ARRENDAMENTO | LEASE TERMS |
| RENDA E ENCARGOS | RENT AND CHARGES |
| DISPOSIÇÕES GERAIS | MISCELLANEOUS |

## Notes

- **"Escritura pública"**: Until 2008, most real estate transfers in Portugal required a
  notarial deed (escritura pública). Since DL 116/2008, a simpler procedure at the land
  registry (Documento Particular Autenticado — DPA) is an alternative. Both are valid.
  Translate as "public deed" or "notarial deed" for escritura; "authenticated private
  document" for DPA.
- **"Contrato-promessa"**: The preliminary agreement (promise to purchase/sell) is a
  binding contract under Portuguese law (Art. 410 CC). A deposit (sinal) of twice the
  amount may be forfeited or required to be returned doubled if either party defaults
  (Art. 442 CC). Translate as "preliminary agreement" with note.
- **"Propriedade horizontal"**: The Portuguese condominium regime (Arts. 1414-1438-A CC).
  Each unit (fração autónoma) is independently owned while common areas are jointly owned.
  Translate as "condominium" or "horizontal property regime".
- **"Direito de superfície"**: A right to build on or maintain a structure on another's
  land (Arts. 1524-1542 CC). Similar to a long leasehold in common law. Translate as
  "right of superficies" or "building right".
- **IMT and IMI**: IMT is the one-off transfer tax; IMI is the annual municipal property
  tax. Both are calculated on the "valor patrimonial tributário" (tax-assessed value).
  Keep Portuguese abbreviations and translate on first mention.
- **"Trespasse"**: The transfer of a commercial establishment including its lease — a
  specifically Portuguese concept (Art. 1112 CC). The tenant can transfer the lease
  together with the business without the landlord's consent. Translate as "business
  transfer" or "transfer of commercial lease" with explanation.
