brega
/ˈbɾɛ.ɡɐ/
The English word "trashy" can be translated into Portuguese as brega.
The term brega is used across Portuguese-speaking countries to describe something that is in poor taste or lacks style and elegance. It is a colloquial term that can be used pejoratively to mock a person's taste or style.
Meaning: indecent or lacking class (adj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
brega is a colloquial term. If you need to describe something as disgraceful, indecent or offensive in a more formal way, you can use rasteiro(a). For informal contexts, other options include cafona to mean tacky or kitschy or chunga to mean vulgar or low quality.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While brega is used throughout the Portuguese-speaking world, the term cafona is specifically Brazilian and chunga is more common in Portugal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective brega is invariable in gender, so it remains the same whether describing a masculine or feminine noun. To make the word plural, add an s to form bregas.
Did you know?
- While brega is often used as a slur for bad taste, it is also the name of a massive, legitimate musical genre in Brazil that embraces sentimental and kitschy aesthetics.
- One linguistic theory traces the word back to a corruption of the German surname 'Schomberg', which supposedly became 'xumbrega' before being shortened to brega.
Examples in context
- Não acredito que ela comprou aquele vestido cafona!I can't believe she bought that trashy dress!
- Aquele programa de TV é muito brega.That TV show is so trashy.
- Uma música muito brega.A very trashy/tacky song.
- Eu não gosto de decoração brega.I don't like trashy decoration.
Example conversation
Mariana and Gabriel are looking at home decor in a store.
- MarianaOlha esse vaso, você acha brega?Look at this vase, do you think it's trashy?
- GabrielSim, achei bem brega.Yes, I thought it was quite trashy.
- MarianaEu também, não combina com a sala.Me too, it doesn't match the living room.
- GabrielVamos procurar algo mais elegante, Mariana.Let's look for something more elegant, Mariana.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry brega, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brega, CC BY-SA 4.0.
