Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| Que porra é essa? | /ki ˈpo.ʁɐ ˈɛ ˈɛ.sɐ/ (Brazil, word by word) |
| PQP | /ˈpe ˈke ˈpe/ (Brazil) |
These expressions are used to convey shock, disbelief, surprise, anger or indignation. While Que porra é essa? specifically translates to "What the hell is this?", the acronym PQP functions as an exclamation of shock or disbelief similar to "Holy shit".
Which one should you use?
Que porra é essa? is a phrase used to express confusion or indignation regarding a specific situation, whereas PQP is an acronym (short for Puta que pariu) used as a general exclamation of shock or anger.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Que porra é essa? is an informal and vulgar way to express oneself. For a more formal way to convey disbelief or shock, you can use Que absurdo! In polite informal situations, you might use Mas o que foi que aconteceu? to ask what happened. If you want a colloquial exclamation of disbelief, you can use Caralho, não acredito! or an even more intense and vulgar version like Mas que merda é essa? among acquaintances.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Que porra é essa? is particularly common among friends in Brazil.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Que porra é essa? is /ki ˈpo.ʁɐ ˈɛ ˈɛ.sɐ/. It has 6 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The term porra is technically a noun referring to semen, but its usage in phrases like Que porra é essa? has evolved so far from its literal meaning that it functions almost purely as an intensifier of confusion.
- The word que in these phrases shares an ancient root with the English word 'who', both coming from the same Proto-Indo-European source.
- In Brazil, if a situation is completely nonsensical, someone might respond to a message using only the letters PQP to signal total disbelief.
Examples in context
- Que porra é essa? Não acredito que ele fez isso!What the hell is this? I can't believe he did that!
Example conversation
Rodrigo finds a strange mess in the kitchen.
- RodrigoMariana, que porra é essa na mesa?Mariana, what the fuck is this on the table?
- MarianaEu tentei fazer um bolo novo.I tried to make a new cake.
- RodrigoQue porra é essa? Parece lama!What the fuck is this? It looks like mud!
- MarianaNão reclama, eu ainda estou aprendendo.Don't complain, I'm still learning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wtf” translations and entries PQP, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (que, porra, é, essa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries PQP, essa, porra, que, é, CC BY-SA 4.0.
