Which one should you use?
While ganancioso refers to the desire for wealth or power, the word guloso is used specifically for someone who is greedy for food. Additionally, the word avarento focuses more on stinginess or a reluctance to share rather than ambitious greed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, there are several colloquial expressions used to describe someone who is stingy or hesitant to spend money. You may hear mão de vaca (literally 'cow's hand'), pão-duro or mão fechada depending on the region.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective ganancioso must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use gananciosa for a feminine noun, gananciosos for a masculine or mixed-gender plural group and gananciosas for a feminine plural group.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɡa.nɐ̃.siˈo.zu/. The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word fominha comes from the word for 'hunger' and is used playfully to describe someone greedy for attention or information.
- The term pão-duro, used for someone stingy or greedy with their money, literally translates to 'hard bread'.
- The term comilão is used as a more derogatory version of guloso to describe someone greedy for food.
Examples in context
- Eu não sou ganancioso.I'm not greedy.This sentence is useful for stating that you are not a greedy person.Tatoeba #4761860 by Ricardo14, translation #3267389 by Ricardo14
- Não seja tão ganancioso.Don't be so greedy.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to be so greedy.Tatoeba #913036 by alexmarcelo, translation #66827 by CK
- Tom é ganancioso, não é?Tom is greedy, isn't he?This sentence is useful for asking for confirmation about whether Tom is greedy.Tatoeba #5028271 by bill, translation #3417153 by CK
- Ele é ganancioso e sempre busca obter mais do que precisa.He is greedy and always seeks to obtain more than he needs.
- A avarenta empresária recusou-se a ajudar os funcionários necessitados.The greedy businesswoman refused to help the needy employees.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are discussing a businessman's behavior.
- RodrigoAquele homem é muito ganancioso.That man is very greedy.
- BeatrizEle só quer o dinheiro dele.He only wants his money.
- RodrigoBeatriz, ele não tem limites.Beatriz, he has no limits.
- BeatrizSim, ele é um ganancioso.Yes, he is a greedy person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greedy” translations and entries ganancioso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
