Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bufão | /buˈfɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /buˈfɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| palhaço | /paˈʎa.su/ (Brazil) /pɐˈʎa.su/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
A buffoon is someone who acts in a silly or ridiculous fashion. While bufão captures this in a more classical or literary sense, the term palhaço is used in everyday speech to call someone a clown or a fool.
What does it mean word for word?
The word palhaço literally means 'clown' (a circus performer), but when used to describe a person's character, it functions as an insult meaning 'buffoon'.
Which one should you use?
bufão refers to a buffoon in a more classical or literary sense, whereas palhaço is the common derogatory term used to call someone a clown or a fool in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the derogatory term for a person, palhaço changes to palhaça when referring to a woman. You can also use the noun palhaçada to describe the act of buffoonery or a ridiculous situation caused by someone acting like a palhaço.
How do you pronounce it?
/buˈfɐ̃w̃/
Did you know?
- The word palhaço is derived from palha, meaning 'straw'. This refers to the straw costumes worn by early comic actors to signal their low social status.
- The literary term bufão describes a buffoon whose historical role was often to use irony to tell the truth to those in power.
- While palhaço often describes a person, the noun palhaçada is frequently used to describe a farcical political situation or a chaotic public scandal.
Examples in context
- Luís agiu como um verdadeiro palhaço durante a reunião de negócios.Luís acted like a real buffoon during the business meeting.
- Joana mostrou-se uma imbecil ao fazer aquelas afirmações preconceituosas.Joan showed herself to be a buffoon by making those prejudiced statements.
- Aquele homem agiu como um bufão.That man acted like a buffoon.
- Não seja um bufão na frente dos convidados.Don't be a buffoon in front of the guests.
- Ele se tornou um bufão para ganhar atenção.He became a buffoon to get attention.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are watching a coworker act silly during a meeting.
- BeatrizOlha só para o Gabriel, ele está sendo um bufão!Just look at Gabriel, he is being a buffoon!
- GabrielEu não estou brincando, Beatriz.I am not joking, Beatriz.
- BeatrizParece que você quer ser o bufão do escritório.It seems like you want to be the office buffoon.
- GabrielEu só estou tentando animar a reunião.I am just trying to cheer up the meeting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buffoon” translations and entries bufão, palhaço, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bufão, palhaço, CC BY-SA 4.0.
