Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| chato | /ˈʃa.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈʃa.tu/ (Portugal) |
| entediante | /ẽ.te.d͡ʒiˈɐ̃.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ẽ.teˈd͡ʒjɐ̃.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) |
| enfadonho | /ẽ.faˈdõ.ɲu/ (Brazil) /ĩ.faˈdõ.ɲu/ (Brazil) |
| maçante | /maˈsɐ̃.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /mɐˈsɐ̃.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
Portuguese has several ways to express that something is causing boredom or tiredness. You can use chato to describe both inanimate objects, such as a boring book and people. If you want to express that something is extremely boring, you can use the informal expression chato pra caramba.
Which one should you use?
entediante is a more formal and direct translation of boring. If you are describing something that is specifically repetitive or tedious, the formal option monótono is also available.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, chato must change to chata to agree with a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈʃa.tu/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using chato, be aware that it is also frequently used to mean 'annoying' or 'irritating' in a person's character. English speakers might be surprised when a person called chato is being criticized for their personality rather than just being uninteresting.
Did you know?
- Because chato comes from a word meaning 'flattened', it is still used literally in Portuguese to describe a flat nose.
- The word chato originally meant 'flat' or 'level', coming from the Latin word for 'flattened'.
- Portuguese speakers use chato to describe people who are stubborn or clingy, not just those who are uninteresting.
Examples in context
- O Tom é chato.Tom is boring.This sentence uses chato to describe a person.Tatoeba #2440965 by bufo, translation #2202622 by CK
- Isso não é chato?Isn't it boring?This sentence uses chato to ask a question about something being boring.Tatoeba #418670 by brauliobezerra, translation #3738046 by CK
- Esse jogo é chato.This game is boring.This sentence uses chato to describe a game.Tatoeba #5969573 by Ricardo14, translation #5965262 by Hybrid
- A palestra foi bastante entediante.The lecture was quite boring.
- O trabalho se tornou monótono depois de algumas semanas.The job became boring after a few weeks.
- A reunião foi realmente chata.The meeting was really boring.
- O filme foi chato pra caramba.The movie was really boring.
- 70 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mariana and Gabriel are at the cinema.
- MarianaO que você achou do filme, Gabriel?What did you think of the movie, Gabriel?
- GabrielAchei muito chato, Mariana.I found it very boring, Mariana.
- MarianaEu também achei chato.I thought it was boring too.
- GabrielVamos sair daqui então.Let's get out of here then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boring” translations and entries chato, entediante, enfadonho, maçante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chato, enfadonho, maçante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
