Which one should you use?
While garoto is a common way to say boy, menino is often used as a more standard or slightly more traditional term for a young boy. If you are looking for more formal alternatives, rapaz can refer to a young man or boy and mancebo is a formal term that traditionally refers to a young, unmarried man. In informal contexts, particularly in Brazil, moleque is often used for mischievous or playful boys.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern Brazil, the term guri is predominantly used to refer to a boy, similar to how one might use menino or moleque.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of garoto is garota. To make the word plural, change the final 'o' to 'os' to get garotos.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /ɡaˈɾo.tu/.
Did you know?
- In some regions of Brazil, the term garoto is used in the phrase garoto de programa to refer to a male escort.
- The word moleque, an informal alternative to garoto, historically referred to enslaved children in colonial Brazil before becoming a general term for a mischievous boy.
- While garoto is universal, the term guri used in southern Brazil is a loanword from the Tupi-Guarani indigenous languages.
Examples in context
- Esse moleque é muito esperto!This kid is very clever!
- Tu és um piá muito legal, sabias?You're a very cool boy, you know?
- Aquele garoto é muito inteligente.That boy is very intelligent.
- O garoto está jogando futebol.The boy is playing soccer.
- Eu vi um garoto no parque.I saw a boy in the park.
Example conversation
Camila and Gabriel are talking about a neighbor's son.
- CamilaVocê viu o filho da vizinha?Did you see the neighbor's son?
- GabrielSim, o garoto é muito educado.Yes, the boy is very polite.
- CamilaEle cresceu muito rápido!He grew up so fast!
- GabrielÉ verdade, ele não é mais um bebê.It's true, he is no longer a baby.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry garoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
