bobo
/ˈbo.bu/
To say silly in Portuguese, use bobo. If unsure, use bobo. Wiktionary also lists tolo.
Meaning: foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom (adj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bobo | /ˈbo.bu/ (Brazil) /ˈbo.bu/ (Portugal) |
| tolo | /ˈto.lu/ (Brazil) /ˈto.lu/ (Portugal) |
bobo describes someone or something foolish or lacking good sense, often in a lighthearted or playful way. It can also be a noun for a silly person.
Which one should you use?
tolo carries a slightly more serious sense of being naive or lacking judgment, and it suits more formal contexts. Inocente means innocent but can suggest naivety.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
boboca is more colloquial and a bit childish, a goofy way to say silly.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal Parvo(a) is the usual word for silly or foolish.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
bobo agrees with the noun: boba for a feminine noun, bobos for males or a mixed group and bobas for a group of females.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /ˈbo.bu/, with the stress on the first syllable. In Brazil the final o sounds like the oo in boot.
Did you know?
- The word bobo shares its roots with the Spanish word for a fool, as both descend from the Latin balbus, which describes someone who is stammering or slow of speech.
- In Brazil, calling a romantic partner bobo or boba is often a term of endearment rather than an insult. It functions more like calling someone 'silly' or 'goofy' in a cute, affectionate way.
- While bobo is common in Brazil, using the word parvo in Portugal can be perceived as a genuine insult rather than a playful comment.
Examples in context
- Ei! Não seja bobo.Hey! Don't be silly.Não seja bobo is the usual way to say don't be silly.Tatoeba #913034 by alexmarcelo, translation #65200 by Lumi
- Seu chapéu é bobo.Your hat is silly.Here bobo describes an object, a silly hat.Tatoeba #1853769 by luca22, translation #1853761 by Spamster
- Não seja bobo, Tom.Don't be silly, Tom.Não seja bobo, Tom uses the masculine form because it speaks to Tom.Tatoeba #10645776 by pedromagia, translation #9202524 by CK
- Ele sempre faz piadas bobasHe always makes silly jokes
- Não faça coisas tolasDon't do silly things
- Você está agindo de maneira bobocaYou're behaving silly
- Ele se sentiu trouxa depois de acreditar em tal históriaHe felt silly after believing such a story
- Ele é um bocado palerma às vezesHe can be a bit silly sometimes
- Não sejas parvo(a)Don't be silly
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are joking around at home.
- RodrigoVocê está sendo muito bobo hoje, Beatriz.You are being very silly today, Beatriz.
- BeatrizEu não sou, você que é bobo!I'm not, you're the silly one!
- RodrigoIsso foi uma ideia boba.That was a silly idea.
- BeatrizÉ apenas uma brincadeira.It is just a joke.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silly” translations and entries bobo, tolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bobo, tolo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
