Portly Meaning in English

word

US

ˈpɔɹtɫi

PORT-lee

UK

pˈɔːtli

PAWT-lee

Definition

Describes someone, especially a man, who is slightly or somewhat fat in a dignified or respectable way.

Usage & Nuances

Portly is somewhat formal and old-fashioned, mainly used to describe men. It suggests a bit of weight but not extreme obesity, and often implies dignity or importance. Not commonly used in casual conversations.

• Spanish: corpulento - robusto
• Portuguese (BR): corpulento - robusto
• Portuguese (PT): corpulento - robusto
• Chinese (Simplified): 肥胖的 - 丰满的
• Chinese (Traditional): 肥胖的 - 豐滿的
• Hindi: गठीला - मोटा (सम्मानजनक ढंग से)
• Arabic: بدين - ممتلئ الجسم
• Bengali: স্থূলস্থুলে - সম্মানজনকভাবে মোটা
• Russian: полноватый - тучный (уважительно)
• Japanese: ふくよかな - 恰幅のいい
• Vietnamese: đẫy đà - to béo (một cách lịch sự)
• Korean: 풍채 좋은 - 체격이 좋은
• Turkish: iriş - göbekli (saygı uyandıran şekilde)
• Urdu: فربہ - معزز انداز میں موٹا
• Indonesian: berisi - bertubuh besar (dengan wibawa)

Example Sentences

The portly man wore a suit and tie.

basic

A portly gentleman opened the door.

basic

The portly mayor smiled at everyone.

basic

He was a portly fellow with a warm laugh.

natural

My uncle’s become quite portly in recent years.

natural

"The new boss is rather portly but very energetic," she whispered.

natural