Você é mau
/voˈse ˈɛ ˈmaw/word by word
The English phrase 'you're mean' is translated into Portuguese as Você é mau.
What does it mean word for word?
The word mau is an adjective meaning 'bad' or 'wicked'.
Did you know?
- If you want to say someone is 'mean' in the sense of being stingy with money, Portuguese speakers usually avoid mau and instead use the word pão-duro, which literally means 'hard bread'.
- In a playful or romantic context, a Brazilian might call a partner mau or má as a form of flirtation, similar to calling someone 'wicked' or 'naughty' in English.
- The word você evolved from vossa mercee, which literally meant 'your mercy'. It transformed a formal plea for mercy into a standard word for 'you'.
Examples in context
- Você é mau.You're mean.Tatoeba #1201995 by alexmarcelo, translation #2203075 by CK
- Tenho certeza de que você fez de propósito, você é mau.I'm sure you did it on purpose. You're mean.Tatoeba #9725759 by carlosalberto, translation #9725739 by carlosalberto
Example conversation
Gabriel and Mariana are playing a board game.
- GabrielEu vou pegar toda a sua madeira.I'm going to take all your wood.
- MarianaVocê é mau, Gabriel!You're mean, Gabriel!
- GabrielÉ apenas um jogo.It's just a game.
- MarianaMas você sempre joga assim.But you always play like this.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (você, é, mau) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mau, você, é, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
