calva

/ˈkaɫ.vɐ/

//ˈkaɫ.vɐ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“calva” is uncommon Portuguese (frequency #75,366 among 3,948 “C” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#75,366
frequency rank, Portuguese
3,948
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - porção do couro cabeludo onde os cabelos deixaram de crescer

Key facts for calva
PropertyValue
Headwordcalva
LanguagePortuguese
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkaɫ.vɐ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#75,366
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “calva” sits in Portuguese frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). calva lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

calva is uncommon Portuguese at frequency #75,366 among 3,948 “C” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈkaɫ.vɐ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for calva in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct Portuguese form is calva, spelled C-A-L-V-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    porção do couro cabeludo onde os cabelos deixaram de crescer
  2. 2
    porção de pele de animal ou de tecido da qual caíram os pelos ou fios que a cobriam
  3. 3
    parte de um terreno mais elevado e sem vegetação
  4. 4
    culpas, defeitos

Synonyms

careca

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Portuguese corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "calva"?
"calva" is spelled C-A-L-V-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkaɫ.vɐ/.
What does "calva" mean?
As a noun, "calva" means: porção do couro cabeludo onde os cabelos deixaram de crescer
How do you pronounce "calva"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "calva" is /ˈkaɫ.vɐ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "calva" come from?
"calva" is a Portuguese word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “calva”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Portuguese spelling is C-A-L-V-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkaɫ.vɐ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more Portuguese words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Portuguese words

Other uncommon Portuguese words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list