Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| alegre | /aˈlɛ.ɡɾi/ (Brazil) /ɐˈlɛ.ɡɾɨ/ (Portugal) /ɐˈlɛ.ɡɾɨ/ (Portugal, Southern) |
| ligeiramente embriagado | |
| tocado | /toˈka.du/ (Brazil) /tuˈka.du/ (Portugal) /tuˈka.du/ (Portugal, Southern) |
You may use the humorous expression Meio pra lá de Bagdá, which translates roughly to 'halfway to Baghdad', to describe being tipsy.
Which one should you use?
While alegre literally means 'happy', in a social context involving alcohol, it is a common euphemism for being tipsy. Ligeiramente embriagado is the literal and formal way to say 'slightly drunk', whereas alegre is the more idiomatic, colloquial way to say 'tipsy'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
alegre is colloquial. In formal or professional contexts, you can use the phrase Em estado de leve embriaguez, which means 'in a state of mild intoxication'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /aˈlɛ.ɡɾi/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
When do people say it?
In a social context involving alcohol, alegre is a common euphemism for being tipsy.
Did you know?
- The word tocado literally means 'touched', as if the alcohol has merely grazed the person.
- The word alegre shares its roots with the Latin word 'alacer', which means 'brisk' or 'lively'. It suggests that being tipsy is not just about intoxication, but about a sudden burst of lively energy.
- The word embriagado is quite heavy and formal. Using it in a casual bar setting might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century Portuguese novel rather than a modern speaker.
Examples in context
- Ele está um pouco alegre.He's a little tipsy.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use alegre to describe someone being a little tipsy.Tatoeba #12297171 by carlosalberto, translation #2258567 by _undertoad
- Ela ficou um pouco alegre depois de dois copos.She became a little tipsy after two glasses.
- Não beba mais, você já está alegre.Don't drink anymore, you are already tipsy.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are at a small party.
- BeatrizFelipe, você parece um pouco alegre hoje.Felipe, you seem a little tipsy today.
- FelipeTalvez, eu bebi apenas uma cerveja.Maybe, I only drank one beer.
- BeatrizVocê está caminhando de um jeito engraçado.You are walking in a funny way.
- FelipeÉ verdade, acho que estou alegre.It's true, I think I'm tipsy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tipsy” translations and entries alegre, tocado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alegre, embriagado, ligeiramente, tocado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
