brincadeira
/bɾĩ.kaˈde(j).ɾɐ/feminine
The English phrase 'banter' is translated into Portuguese as brincadeira.
brincadeira refers to good-humoured conversation or banter. It is a broad term that can also mean a single joke, a game or a playful act. To express the act of teasing someone mildly, you can use the verbs caçoar or bulir.
Meaning: good humoured conversation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While brincadeira can mean 'banter', it is a broader term that also covers a single joke, a game or a playful act.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, zoeira is a widely used term to refer to banter or playful teasing among friends and zoação is used interchangeably with it to denote playful banter.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
brincadeira is a feminine noun. Its plural form is brincadeiras.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɾĩ.kaˈde(j).ɾɐ/ (4 syllables. The 3rd syllable is stressed)
When do people say it?
The phrase é só brincadeira is commonly used to de-escalate a situation when someone's banter is taken too seriously.
Did you know?
- The term zoeira used for banter actually has its roots in the word zoada, which used to describe a loud, chaotic noise or a racket.
- While brincadeira means 'banter', it is also the standard word for a child's 'game' or 'playtime', meaning the same word describes both a witty adult conversation and a game of hide-and-seek.
- If you use the term zoeira in a professional setting in Brazil, it might be perceived as much more informal or even disrespectful compared to the neutral brincadeira.
Examples in context
- A brincadeira entre eles é muito saudável.The banter between them is very healthy.
Example conversation
Felipe and Juliana are chatting at a party.
- FelipeVocê gostou da brincadeira do grupo?Did you enjoy the group's banter?
- JulianaSim, eu achei muito divertido.Yes, I thought it was very funny.
- FelipeEles sempre fazem esse tipo de brincadeira.They always do that kind of banter.
- JulianaIsso torna a festa mais alegre.That makes the party more cheerful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banter” translations and entries brincadeira, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
