quém

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• quem
• qüem (pre-1990 spelling, Brazil)

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈkwẽj̃/ [ˈkwẽɪ̯̃]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈkwɐ̃j̃/

• Rhymes: (Brazil) -ẽj̃, (Portugal) -ɐ̃j̃

Interjection

quém

1. (onomatopoeia) quack (imitative of the sound of a duck)

   Synonyms: quá, quac, qué

   • 1961, Jayme Silva, Neuza Teixeira (lyrics and music), “O Pato”, performed by João Gilberto:

     O pato vinha cantando alegremente, quém, quém

     The duck came singing happily, quack, quack

Usage notes

• This onomatopoeia is usually spelled quém in order to distinguish from the pronoun quem, although the spelling quem does exist.
• Like many onomatopoeias, quém can be used repeatedly, such as in quém quém.