In Cabo Verde, tubarão azul is usually said as “tubarão azul” in Portuguese, and in Cape Verdean Creole you may also see “tubarón azúl” or “tubarões azuis” when people are referring to the national football nickname. The phrase is widely associated with Cabo Verde’s team nickname, “the Blue Sharks”.

Quick form

  • Portuguese: tubarão azul.
  • Cape Verdean Creole spellings vary, but you may see tubarón azúl.
  • Plural/nickname form: tubarões azuis.

Pronunciation hint

  • tu-ba-RAO ah-ZOOL for Portuguese.
  • In casual local usage, the ending may sound a bit different depending on island dialect and spelling conventions.

Context

People use this phrase both literally, for a blue shark, and figuratively for Cabo Verde’s football identity. That nickname appears often in songs, chants, and social posts about the national team.

TL;DR: Say “tubarão azul” in Portuguese; for the Cabo Verde football nickname, “Tubarões Azuis” is the common form.