gostoso
/ɡosˈto.zu/
In Portuguese, the phrase for "someone is hot" is gostoso.
The term is used to describe a person who is physically and sexually attractive. When used to describe a person, it often implies that they are "tasty" or "delicious" to look at.
Which one should you use?
While gostoso is used to describe an attractive person, it also literally means "tasty" or "delicious" when you are describing food.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Calling someone gostoso is highly informal and carries a strong sexual connotation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use the feminine form gostosa for a woman, the masculine plural gostosos for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and the feminine plural gostosas for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡosˈto.zu/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- Because gostoso refers to physical pleasure, it is sometimes used to describe a feeling of comfort, such as a banho gostoso, which is a 'delicious' or relaxing bath.
- In Brazil, using gostoso to describe a person is much more common and socially accepted in casual settings than in Portugal, where it can sound more aggressive.
- While English speakers say someone is 'hot', Portuguese speakers use a term based on 'taste', reflecting a cultural linguistic tendency to associate beauty with sensory indulgence.
Examples in context
- Essa pessoa é muito atraente.This person is very attractive
- Essa pessoa é um tesão!This person is sexy
- Caramba, você está um arraso hoje!Wow, you're a knockout today!
- Nossa, você é mesmo um gato!Wow, you really are a handsome guy!
- Aquele ator é muito gostoso.That actor is very hot.
- Ele é um homem gostoso.He is a hot man.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Rodrigo are talking about a guy they saw at the gym.
- BeatrizVocê viu aquele cara ali? Ele é muito gostoso.Did you see that guy over there? He is very hot.
- RodrigoSim, eu vi. Ele é realmente gostoso.Yes, I saw him. He really is hot.
- BeatrizEu acho que vou tentar falar com ele.I think I'm going to try to talk to him.
- RodrigoBoa sorte, Beatriz!Good luck, Beatriz!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gostoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
