Which one should you use?
While feio is the standard term, other variations exist to convey different nuances. Feioso/a is used to describe someone or something as ugly in an affectionate or slightly teasing manner. For something visually unattractive in everyday conversation, you might use horrível, which literally translates to horrible. If you want to express that something is extremely ugly, the colloquial Brazilian expression feio de doer is commonly used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the informal and expressive term medonho can be used to describe something as ugly, though it may also mean terrifying or hideous. In Brazil, the colloquialism feio de doer is used to mean extremely ugly.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, feio must agree with the noun it describes. It changes to feia to agree with feminine nouns, feios for masculine plural nouns and feias for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfej.u/
Did you know?
- In Brazil, if you call a situation or an action feio, you are not talking about its appearance, but rather describing it as 'unfair' or 'dishonorable'.
- Because it derives from the Latin foedus, the word feio is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'foul'.
- Portuguese speakers may use feio to describe bad weather, such as tempo feio, to mean gloomy or rainy.
Examples in context
- Tom não é feio.Tom isn't ugly.This sentence shows how to use feio in a negative statement about Tom.Tatoeba #5823624 by bill, translation #3171265 by CK
- Eu não sou feio.I'm not ugly.This sentence demonstrates the use of feio in a negative statement about oneself.Tatoeba #3447779 by Ricardo14, translation #3329974 by CK
- Você não é feio.You aren't ugly.This sentence illustrates the use of feio in a negative statement about you.Tatoeba #5673074 by bill, translation #3819023 by CK
- Ele tem um rosto feio.He has an ugly face.
- Essa pintura está muito feia.This painting is very ugly.
- A atitude dele foi muito feia.His behavior was very ugly.
- Aquela paisagem é realmente desagradável aos olhos.That landscape is really ugly to look at.
- O novo corte de cabelo dele ficou horrível.His new haircut looks horrible.
- Eu não gostei do vestido dela, achei horrível.I didn't like her dress, I found it ugly.
- Aquele ator é feio de doer, não entendo o porquê de ser tão famoso.That actor is extremely ugly, I don't understand why he's so famous.
- Esse carro antigo está feio de doer.This old car is extremely ugly.
- Ele tem umas roupas medonhas.He has some really ugly clothes.
- Aquele prédio novo ficou medonho.That new building looks hideous.
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are looking at a painting in an art gallery.
- RodrigoEsse quadro é muito feio.This painting is very ugly.
- CamilaEu discordo, achei ele interessante.I disagree, I found it interesting.
- RodrigoPara mim, as cores são feias.To me, the colors are ugly.
- CamilaRodrigo, você é muito crítico!Rodrigo, you are very critical!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations and entries feio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries feio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
