Photo: NASA

With Frankenstorm barreling toward the East Coast of the United States, it’s useful to know words related to natural disasters in Portuguese. While Brazil has very few natural disasters compared to other regions–heavy rain, mudslides, and not much else–it’s good to know these words so you can chat with your Brazilian friends about what’s happening in other parts of the world.

natural disaster – desastre natural

hurricane – furacão

flood – inundação

tornado – tornado

earthquake – terremoto / sismo

mudslide – deslizamento de terra

volcanic eruption – erupção vulcânica

tropical cyclone – ciclone tropical

forest fire – incêndio florestal

sandstorm – tempestade de areia

hailstorm – tempestade de granizo

tsunami – tsunami

typhoon – tufão