Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Cool (great)" in Portuguese: legal
legal
Note: PT-PT: fixe
Cool meaning great in Brazilian Portuguese is legal. Que legal! is everyday praise. In European Portuguese, fixe covers a similar vibe.
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How to pronounce legal
Say it
leh-GAHL
/le.ˈɡaw/
leh-GAHL
"Cool (great)" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| legal | cool / great Default Brazilian adjective. | Default Brazilian adjective. |
| que legal! | how cool! Quick reaction. | Quick reaction. |
| muito legal | really cool Stronger praise. | Stronger praise. |
| fixe (PT-PT) | cool (Portugal) European Portuguese from the entry note. | European Portuguese from the entry note. |
How to use legal in real life
- 1Friend's new plan
Que legal esse trampo novo!
How cool that new job is!
Celebration.
- 2Trying a café
O lugar é legal e barato.
The place is cool and cheap.
Review.
- 3Hearing an invite
Legal! Eu topo ir com vocês.
Cool! I'm in to go with you all.
Agreement.
Mistakes English speakers make with legal
Incorrect: Que fixe! (in Brazil as default)
Correct: Que legal!
Fixe is PT-PT; Brazilians say legal.
Incorrect: É cool demais (only English).
Correct: É legal demais.
Prefer legal for this headword.
Good to know
Legal is Brazil's all-purpose thumbs-up—from playlists to people. It rarely means lawful in casual chat. In Portugal, swap in fixe and you will sound local.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reacting to concert tickets
ChatPal
Consegui ingresso na arquibancada. Legal, né?
I got a bleacher ticket. Cool, right?
You
Legal demais! Que horário?
So cool! What time?
ChatPal
Às nove. Vai ser legal ver a banda ao vivo.
At nine. It'll be cool to see the band live.
You
Com certeza.
For sure.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cool (great)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cool (great)" in Portuguese
Legal or fixe?
Legal in Brazil; fixe in Portugal.
How do I react fast?
Que legal!
Does legal mean lawful here?
In this slang sense, it means cool/great.
Can I say bacana?
Yes as another warm option, but the headword is legal.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
