Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fera | /ˈfɛ.ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈfɛ.ɾɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| besta | /ˈbes.tɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈbeʃ.tɐ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
feminine |
Both terms refer to a non-human animal, but they are used in different contexts. Fera is typically used for wild, predatory or powerful animals. It can also be used as informal slang to describe someone who is exceptionally skilled or a 'pro' at something. Besta is a more generic term for a creature or brute, often used in a derogatory sense. In a religious context, Besta refers specifically to the figure in the Book of Revelation.
Which one should you use?
Use fera when you are talking about a wild or predatory animal. Use besta when referring to a creature in a more generic, mythological or derogatory sense.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the behavior of a fera, you can use the related adjective feroz, which means ferocious.
How do you pronounce it?
The word fera is pronounced /ˈfɛ.ɾɐ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word besta has a surprising historical connection to weaponry. It is a doublet of the word for a crossbow, stemming from the same Latin root as 'ballista'.
- While fera denotes a wild animal, it is also used in Portuguese to describe someone who is extremely angry, similar to the English phrase 'beast mode'.
- In some Portuguese dialects, besta is used as a mild insult meaning 'stupid' or 'naive' rather than just 'brute'.
Examples in context
- O urso é uma fera amigável comparado ao tigre.A bear is a friendly beast compared to a tiger.This sentence compares the temperament of a bear to a tiger using fera.Tatoeba #12553482 by laetitiamg, translation #36938 by mailohilohi
- Uma besta grande correu, matou e comeu uma besta pequena.A big beast ran, killed and ate a small beast.This sentence illustrates the use of besta to describe a creature.Tatoeba #10104182 by carlosalberto, translation #10104183 by carlosalberto
- O número da besta no Livro do Apocalipse é 666 ou 616?Is the number of the beast in the Book of Revelation 666 or 616?This sentence shows the specific religious usage of besta regarding the Book of Revelation.Tatoeba #13840662 by carlosalberto, translation #13840682 by carlosalberto
- A fera selvagem rugiu alto na floresta.The wild beast roared loudly in the forest.
- O dragão era um monstro terrível com garras afiadas.The dragon was a terrible beast with sharp claws.
- O tigre é um bicho muito perigoso.The tiger is a very dangerous beast.
- Aquele homem agiu como uma besta selvagem!That man acted like a wild beast!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are visiting a wildlife sanctuary.
- GabrielOlha aquela fera magnífica ali!Look at that magnificent beast over there!
- CamilaEla parece ser muito forte.It seems to be very strong.
- GabrielSim, é uma fera impressionante.Yes, it is an impressive beast.
- CamilaVamos manter a distância, Gabriel.Let's keep our distance, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beast” translations and entries fera, besta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries besta, fera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
