Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fedorento | /fe.doˈɾẽ.tu/ (Brazil) /fɨ.duˈɾẽ.tu/ (Portugal) |
|
| fedido | ||
| malcheiroso | /maw.ʃe(j)ˈɾo.zu/ (Brazil) /mal.ʃɐjˈɾo.zu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| morrinhento | /mo.ʁĩˈɲẽ.tu/ (Brazil) /mo.ʁĩˈɲẽ.tu/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine |
| catinguento | /ka.t͡ʃĩˈɡẽ.tu/ (Brazil) /kɐ.tĩˈɡẽ.tu/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| fétido | /ˈfɛ.t͡ʃi.du/ (Brazil) /ˈfɛ.ti.du/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
All these terms are used to describe something that has a strong, unpleasant smell. Depending on the specific type of odor, such as mold, body odor or decaying matter, a different word may be more appropriate.
Which one should you use?
While fedorento and fedido both mean stinky, fedorento often implies a more persistent or characteristic smell, whereas fedido is a very common, direct way to say something smells bad right now. Use morrinhento specifically for the smell of mold, dampness or things that have been sitting in a closed space for too long. For a strong, often sweaty or pungent body odor, use the colloquial term catinguento.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Fétido is a more formal or literary term used to describe a foul or decaying smell. Conversely, catinguento is a colloquial term used to describe a strong, often sweaty or pungent body odor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, malcheiroso is commonly used to describe a stinky object or person.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe a feminine noun, change the masculine fedorento to the feminine fedorenta. To describe multiple masculine nouns, use the plural form fedorentos.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of fedorento is /fe.doˈɾẽ.tu/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on 3 of 4.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, the word catinga (the root of catinguento) refers to both a pungent body odor and a specific type of dry scrub forest ecosystem.
- The word morrinhento is not just about smells, it is also linked to the word morrinha, which can refer to a feeling of 'melancholy' or 'weakness'.
- In certain Portuguese dialects, calling someone fedido can be used as a playful or affectionate insult among very close friends, similar to 'stinker'.
Examples in context
- Você pode comprar mais desse queijo francês fedorento?Can you buy more of that stinky French cheese?This sentence shows how to use fedorento to describe a specific food item.Tatoeba #12712424 by Advanced, translation #8634003 by Eccles17
- Nativo da ilha indonésia de Sumatra, o sr. Fedorento possui folhas nervuradas do tamanho de guarda-sóis que são verdes por fora e de um vibrante vermelho-púrpura por dentro.Native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Mr. Stinky features umbrella-sized, ribbed leaves that are green on the outside and a vibrant, purplish-red on the inside.This sentence uses fedorento as a name for a person/entity.Tatoeba #11277197 by Cangarejo, translation #11277195 by Cangarejo
- O lixo está fétidoThe garbage is foul.
- Esta carne está fedorentaThis meat is stinky.
- Seus pés estão cheirando malYour feet are stinky.
- Esse sapato fedorento é seu?Is this stinky shoe yours?
Example conversation
Felipe and Camila are in a laundry room.
- FelipeCamila, por que esse cesto está tão fedorento?Camila, why is this basket so stinky?
- CamilaAcho que a roupa está úmida demais.I think the clothes are too damp.
- FelipePreciso tirar tudo daqui agora.I need to take everything out of here now.
- CamilaEu te ajudo com o cesto.I will help you with the basket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stinky” translations and entries fedorento, fedido, malcheiroso, morrinhento, catinguento, fétido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
