Do Brazilians wear their wedding bands on their right or left hand? Does it differ for men and women? I just got these great questions from N da Silva, a member of the Street Smart Brazil Facebook community.
A wedding band is an “aliança”. The ring finger is the same as it is in the US.
When Brazilians get engaged, both man and woman wear their aliança on the ring finger of the right hand. When they get married, the aliança is transferred to the left hand. Usually the couple has a matching set of alianças.
Before the engagement, the man may give an “anel de compromisso” to his girlfriend. This ring indicates commitment, but does not mean they are engaged. Usually only the woman wears the anel de compromisso on her right hand ring finger. This commitment ring usually has precious stones.
Engagement Vocabulary:
| Portuguese | English |
| Noivar | To get engaged |
| Ficar noivo/a | To get engaged |
| O noivado | The engament |
| O noivo | Fiance; groom |
| A noiva | Fiancée; bride |
| O vestido de noiva | The wedding gown |
| O anel de compromisso; a aliança de comprossimo |
Commitment ring |
| Casar-se | To get married |
| Casado/a | Married |
| O casamento | Wedding; marriage |
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The US and Canada wear our engagement rings and wedding bands on our left. Because of the old tradition that the right ring finger has a vein leading straight to the heart.
I did not know about the vein on the right hand finger. Interesting!
Does the Brazilian man give his woman a ring when he asks her to marry her? Is there an engagement ring?
Yes, the man gives the woman a ring when he proposes. The engagement ring is the same as the wedding ring. Both man and woman wear their rings on the right hand when they are engaged and on the left hand when they are married.
This information is wrong! Both man and woman wear their commitment ring on their right hand on the ring finger, usually is not in gold material, most times are in silver. Later when the couple decide to go to the next level (engagement) then these rings are exchange for gold rings, so they take the silver ring and replace for the gold on on the ring finger in the right hand. Once they get married that same ring moves to the left hand as husband and wife. 😉 #iambrazilian