trapaceiro
/tɾa.paˈse(j).ɾu/
The Portuguese word for "cheater" is trapaceiro. If unsure, use trapaceiro. Wiktionary also lists batoteiro.
Meaning: someone who cheats (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trapaceiro | /tɾa.paˈse(j).ɾu/ (Brazil) /tɾɐ.pɐˈsɐj.ɾu/ (Portugal) |
|
| batoteiro | masculine |
Which one should you use?
While trapaceiro is a general term for a deceiver or swindler, batoteiro is more specifically used for someone who cheats in games, sports or competitions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the term aldrabão can be used to refer to a cheater.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form trapaceiro changes to the feminine trapaceira to refer to a female cheater. To make the noun trapaceiro plural, add an -s to get trapaceiros.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾa.paˈse(j).ɾu/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- The suffix in trapaceiro, -eiro, is the same one used to name almost all traditional professions in Portuguese, such as 'baker' or 'engineer'.
- In Brazil, you might hear the word roubador used for a cheater, which literally translates to 'robber' in other contexts.
- The word trapaceiro can be used to describe a 'trickster' in folklore, not just a person breaking rules in a modern game.
Examples in context
- Senhor, por favor, não dê crédito a este trapaceiro, ou, com as palavras arteiras dele, ele fará com que você se apaixone tanto pela habilidade fingida dele, quanto pela bela Flávia.Sir, pray give no credit to this cheater, or with his words of art he'll make you doat as much on his feign'd skill, as on fair Flavia.This sentence shows how to use trapaceiro when describing a person who uses dishonest words or skills.Tatoeba #11759755 by Cangarejo, translation #11759753 by Cangarejo
- O empresário revelou-se um verdadeiro trapaceiro, enriquecendo às custas dos clientes ingênuos.The businessman proved to be a true cheater, getting rich at the expense of naive customers.
- Eu sempre soube que ele era um trambiqueiro.I always knew he was a cheater.
- Não és de confiar, és um verdadeiro aldrabão.You're not trustworthy, you are a real cheater.
- Ele é um trapaceiro no jogo de cartas.He is a cheater in the card game.
- Não confie nele, ele é um trapaceiro.Don't trust him, he is a cheater.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are playing a board game at home.
- CamilaGabriel, você está jogando de forma errada!Gabriel, you are playing incorrectly!
- GabrielEu não fiz nada de errado, Camila.I didn't do anything wrong, Camila.
- CamilaVocê é um trapaceiro!You are a cheater!
- GabrielCalma, eu só tive sorte hoje.Calm down, I just got lucky today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheater” translations and entries trapaceiro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
