Sinal vs. pinta vs. verruga
In Portuguese, translating mole depends on the shape, texture, and context of the skin spot. While English often groups these terms under one umbrella, Portuguese distinguishes between a general birthmark or flat mole (sinal), a small colloquial speck or beauty mark (pinta), and a raised bump or wart (verruga).
Sinal
A2This is the most neutral and standard term for a mole or birthmark. Sinal literally means sign or signal. It is used in both medical and daily contexts to describe a pigmented spot on the skin, regardless of whether it was present at birth or appeared later. It usually refers to flat or slightly raised spots.
Tenho um sinal no rosto desde que nasci.
(I have had a mole on my face since I was born.)
O médico disse que preciso monitorar este sinal.
(The doctor said I need to monitor this mole.)
Aquele sinal perto da boca dela é muito bonito.
(That beauty mark near her mouth is very beautiful.)
Ele foi remover um sinal nas costas por questões estéticas.
(He went to remove a mole on his back for aesthetic reasons.)
Pinta
B1This word is informal and colloquial, translating literally to spot or speck. Pinta is very common in Brazil to describe small, flat, dark spots like freckles or small beauty marks. It sounds lighter and sometimes cuter than using the more formal term.
Depois do verão, fiquei cheia de pintas no ombro.
(After the summer, I got full of spots on my shoulder.)
O bebê tem uma pinta charmosinha no nariz.
(The baby has a charming little spot on his nose.)
Minha avó tem muitas pintas nos braços.
(My grandmother has many spots on her arms.)
Não gosto dessa pinta na minha perna.
(I do not like this spot on my leg.)
Verruga
B2Technically, this translates to wart (caused by a virus). However, in common conversation, people often use verruga to describe any mole that is raised, fleshy, and has volume or texture, even if it is not medically a wart. If it sticks out from the skin, people are likely to call it this.
A bruxa do desenho tinha uma verruga no nariz.
(The cartoon witch had a wart on her nose.)
Ele cortou a verruga enquanto fazia a barba.
(He cut the raised mole while shaving.)
Vou ao dermatologista para queimar essa verruga no dedo.
(I am going to the dermatologist to burn off this wart on my finger.)
Aquela verruga no pescoço me incomoda.
(That raised mole on my neck bothers me.)
Summary
Use sinal as the safest, general term for any mole or birthmark. Use pinta for small, flat spots or beauty marks in incredible informal contexts. Use verruga strictly for warts or casually for moles that are raised and bumpy.