Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cara | /ˈka.ɾɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈka.ɾɐ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| tipo | /ˈt͡ʃi.pu/ (Brazil) /ˈti.pu/ (Portugal) |
Portugal, masculine |
| chapa | /ˈʃa.pɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈʃa.pɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine, masculine |
| bicho | /ˈbi.ʃu/ (Brazil) /ˈbi.ʃu/ (Portugal) |
Brazil, masculine |
These terms are used to refer to a male or a man. Note that in Brazil, cara has a dual meaning: it is a common way to say 'guy', but it is also the literal word for 'face'.
Which one should you use?
While cara is a standard informal term for 'guy' in Brazil, in Portugal, people often use tipo to refer to a 'guy' or a 'sort of person'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term cara is informal and is widely used in casual conversation in Brazil to mean 'guy' or 'dude'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, cara is frequently used instead of rapaz to address a guy casually. The term bicho is a colloquialism used in certain parts of Brazil to refer to a guy or a friend. In Portugal, tipo is the common way to express this meaning.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple people, the plural of cara is caras.
How do you pronounce it?
cara is pronounced /ˈka.ɾɐ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The term chapa can refer to a 'guy' or 'pal' in some regions, but it literally means 'metal sheet' or 'plate'.
- The word bicho can be used for a person, but it is also the standard Portuguese word for 'bug' or 'insect'.
- The term tipo shares the same Greek root as the English word 'typical', both coming from the word for 'mark' or 'impression'.
Examples in context
- Quem é o cara lá?Who is the guy there?This sentence is useful for asking about the identity of a specific cara.Tatoeba #8200721 by josivangoncalves, translation #8197999 by josivangoncalves
- Ele é um bom cara.He's a good guy.This sentence is useful for describing someone as a good cara.Tatoeba #1853763 by luca22, translation #1853760 by Spamster
- Quem é aquele cara?Who's that guy?This sentence is useful for identifying a specific cara at a distance.Tatoeba #5659068 by bill, translation #2254911 by CK
- 218 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are talking about a stranger at a party.
- BeatrizVocê viu aquele cara ali?Did you see that guy over there?
- GabrielNão, qual cara?No, which guy?
- BeatrizO cara de camisa branca.The guy in the white shirt.
- GabrielAh, eu vi ele.Ah, I saw him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “guy” translations and entries cara, tipo, chapa, bicho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bicho, cara, chapa, tipo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
