How to Say “Boy” in Portuguese

Ways to say it

Which one should you use?

While both menino and garoto mean boy, menino is the more standard and common term used across the Portuguese-speaking world. In contrast, garoto is very common specifically in Brazil.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For a polite way to address a young male, often used by older people or in service contexts, use moço. If you are in Brazil, avoid the term puto as it is a profanity. However, in some regions of Portugal, it is used as a colloquial term for a boy. To describe a mischievous child or teenager in an informal way, you might use moleque.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Portugal, miúdo is a common term for a child or boy. In certain regions of Portugal, puto is used as a colloquial term for a boy. In Angola, the dated term mancebo can be used. In Brazil, the term moleque is an informal way to refer to a boy and is often associated with a mischievous child or teenager.

Related words

Surprise or pleasure (intj): puxa.

How does it change in a sentence?

The masculine forms menino and garoto have feminine counterparts: menina for a girl and garota for a girl.

How do you pronounce it?

The pronunciation of menino is /miˈnĩ.nu/. It has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable.