bonito
neutral, to a man
The plain word is bonito, "good-looking". Brazilians also say lindo, "lovely", and the slang gato, literally "cat", for an attractive man.
Meaning: good-looking, handsome (adjective)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| bonito | neutral, to a man |
| Lindo | warm, to a man |
| Gato | slang, to a man |
Bonito and lindo are safe compliments. Gato is casual and flirtatious, so it fits friends and teasing more than a polite first meeting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal people often say giro for a good-looking or cute person, which Brazilians do not use in that way.
How does it change in a sentence?
These words agree with the person, so a woman is bonita, linda or gata.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian slang a woman who is attractive is called gata, the feminine of gato, in the same way.
Examples in context
- Você está muito bonito hoje.You look very handsome today.
- Que homem lindo!What a handsome man!
- O novo professor é um gato.The new teacher is a hunk.
Example conversation
Mariana and her friend Bia talk about a new classmate named Diego in a school hallway in Fortaleza.
- MarianaVocê viu o Diego?Did you see Diego?
- BiaVi sim. Ele é muito bonito.Yes I did. He is very handsome.
- MarianaÉ um gato mesmo!He really is a hunk!
