Foda-se
vulgar, Portugal
The Portuguese match for the English f-word is Foda-se, a strong swear used as an outburst. It is vulgar, so keep it for people you know very well. It is also called Foder and Caralho.
Meaning: strong swear word (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Foda-se | vulgar, Portugal |
| Foder | vulgar, verb |
| Caralho | vulgar, Portugal |
Foda-se is shouted when something goes wrong or surprises you, a bit like "damn it" or "fuck". It comes from the verb foder.
Which one should you use?
Caralho is another very common strong swear in Portugal. It literally names the male organ and works as a general exclamation of anger or amazement.
When do people say it?
Swearing is common among friends in Portugal, but these words are rude in front of older people, at work or with strangers.
Did you know?
- In foda-se the hyphen joins the reflexive pronoun se to the verb form, which is the usual spelling of this expression in Portuguese.
Examples in context
- Foda-se, esqueci-me das chaves.Damn it, I forgot my keys.
- Caralho, que susto!Hell, what a fright!
Example conversation
Rui hits his thumb with a hammer while hanging a shelf and his friend Tiago asks about it.
- RuiFoda-se!Damn it!
- TiagoEstás bem?Are you okay?
- RuiDei uma martelada no dedo.I hit my finger with the hammer.
