Portuguese
10 Portuguese swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of Portuguese expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 Portuguese expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- caralho 4/5 · Strong
It means 'penis' but is often used as a strong exclamation or intensifier in conversation. It can express surprise, anger, or excitement.
Full entry → - foda-se 4/5 · Strong
It's a strong dismissal or exclamation, similar to saying 'fuck it.'
Full entry → - vai à merda 3/5 · Vulgar
It's an angry dismissal, similar to telling someone to go to hell or fuck off. Literally, it translates to 'go to shit.'
Full entry → - cu 3/5 · Vulgar
This is a crude term for 'anus' that often pops up in insults. It can also refer to someone's backside in a vulgar way.
Full entry → - merda 3/5 · Vulgar
It means 'shit' and can also refer to something of poor quality. It's a direct term for excrement.
Full entry → - babaca 2/5 · Coarse
It's an insult used to call someone an idiot or jerk. In Brazil, it's a common everyday term for someone acting foolishly.
Full entry → - bebum 2/5 · Coarse
It's a coarse term for someone who is a habitual or obvious drunk. It literally translates to 'drunk person.'
Full entry → - cacete 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “club”. This is a vulgar term for penis and can also be used as an emphatic exclamation. In some contexts, it can express surprise or frustration.
Full entry → - droga 1/5 · Mild
It's a mild exclamation similar to saying 'damn' or expressing frustration about something unfortunate. It literally means 'drug' but is used in a different context.
Full entry → - pica 3/5 · Vulgar
In Brazil, it refers to the penis in a vulgar, anatomical sense. It's informal slang that can come off as quite crude.
Full entry →