valentão
/va.lẽˈtɐ̃w̃/masculine
The English word 'bully' can be translated into Portuguese as valentão. Wiktionary also lists rufia.
Meaning: a person who is intentionally cruel to others (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| valentão | /va.lẽˈtɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /vɐ.lẽˈtɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| rufia | masculine |
The term is used to describe a person who is intentionally cruel to others. You may also use related verbs such as atormentar, aterrorizar or maltratar to describe the action of acting aggressively towards someone.
Which one should you use?
While valentão (bully) and the adjective valente (brave) share a similar linguistic root, they are not synonyms. A valentão is someone who uses their strength to intimidate others, whereas valente implies a person possesses courage.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a female bully, you can change the masculine form valentão to the feminine form valentona.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /va.lẽˈtɐ̃w̃/.
Did you know?
- The term rufia has evolved from meaning a 'swaggering bully' to also being used in some contexts to describe a pimp.
- While valentão describes a physical or aggressive bully, you might use the verb fazer bullying in modern Brazilian Portuguese. This is a direct loan from English used to discuss the specific social phenomenon of schoolyard bullying.
- The word valentão uses the suffix -ão, which is an augmentative used to make something bigger or more intense. In this case, it turns 'brave' into a person with an exaggerated, intimidating presence.
Examples in context
- Vai e dá uma surra nesse valentão.Go and beat up that bully.This sentence shows how to use valentão when referring to a bully.Tatoeba #6216515 by weyung, translation #68738 by CK
- "O que é que tens a ver com isso?" perguntou o jovem sem rodeios, com os nervos um pouco alterados pelo que parecia ser uma obstrução impertinente por parte de um rufia arrogante.“What’s that to you?” bluntly demanded the young fellow, his temper a little ruffled by what appeared an impertinent obstruction on the part of some swaggering bully.This sentence uses rufia to describe a swaggering bully.Tatoeba #12117713 by Cangarejo, translation #12117712 by Cangarejo
- A escola precisa lidar com o problema dos valentões.The school needs to deal with the bully problem.
- Aquele valentão assustou o menino no recreio.That bully scared the boy during recess.
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are talking about a classmate.
- CamilaO Rodrigo é um valentão com os menores.Rodrigo is a bully to the younger kids.
- RodrigoEu não sou assim, Camila!I'm not like that, Camila!
- CamilaVocê sempre tenta mandar em todo mundo.You always try to boss everyone around.
- RodrigoIsso não me torna um valentão.That doesn't make me a bully.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bully” translations and entries valentão, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries valentão, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
