garota bonita
/ɡaˈɾo.tɐ buˈni.tɐ/word by word
The English phrase "cute girl" is translated into Portuguese as garota bonita.
The phrase is used to describe a girl who is physically attractive or pretty.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Menina Bonita is an informal way to say "pretty girl", and mina bonita uses slang for "pretty girl". For a highly affectionate term meaning "little cutie", you can use Xuxuzinha.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase Menina Bonita is widely used in both Portugal and Brazil. In many parts of Brazil, mina is a common slang term for a girl or woman, making mina bonita a local way to say "pretty girl".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase garota bonita, the adjective bonita must agree in gender with the noun garota.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɡaˈɾo.tɐ buˈni.tɐ/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portugal, the word rapariga is the standard way to say 'girl', whereas in Brazil, it can be a highly offensive term for a prostitute.
- If you call a girl Xuxuzinha, you are using a diminutive based on 'xuxu', which is a type of chayote squash, used here as an endearment like 'sweetie'.
- While garota means 'girl', it was famously used in the lyrics of the 1960s bossa nova hit 'The Girl from Ipanema', known in Portuguese as Garota de Ipanema.
Examples in context
- Ela é uma garota bonita.She is a cute girl.
- Vi uma garota bonita no parque.I saw a cute girl in the park.
- Aquela garota bonita é sua irmã?Is that cute girl your sister?
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are walking through a shopping mall.
- RodrigoOlhe aquela garota bonita ali.Look at that cute girl over there.
- BeatrizEla é muito estilosa, Rodrigo.She is very stylish, Rodrigo.
- RodrigoVocê acha que ela é uma garota bonita?Do you think she is a cute girl?
- BeatrizSim, ela é muito charmosa.Yes, she is very charming.
