Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Cute" in Portuguese: fofo/a
fofo/a
Note: PT-PT: giro/a
Cute in Portuguese is fofo for masculine and fofa for feminine. Brazilians say Que fofo! about babies, pets, and sweet gestures. In Portugal you may hear giro/a instead.
Seeing a puppy
Esse cachorro é muito fofo!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce fofo/a
Say it
FOH-foo / FOH-fah
/ˈfo.fu/, /ˈfo.fa/
FOH-foo / FOH-fah. Soft f; stress on fo.
"Cute" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| fofo / fofa | cute Default Brazilian cute. | Default Brazilian cute. |
| Que fofo! | How cute! Quick reaction. | Quick reaction. |
| fofinho / fofinha | adorable (diminutive) Extra warm. | Extra warm. |
| giro / gira | cute, pretty (PT-PT) Portugal casual; Brazil prefers fofo. | Portugal casual; Brazil prefers fofo. |
How to use fofo/a in real life
- 1Seeing a puppy
Esse cachorro é muito fofo!
That dog is so cute!
Masculine noun → fofo.
- 2Baby photo
Sua filha está fofa nesse vestido.
Your daughter looks cute in that dress.
Filha is feminine → fofa.
- 3Kind message
Que mensagem fofa você mandou.
What a cute message you sent.
Fofa works for gestures and notes too.
Mistakes English speakers make with fofo/a
Incorrect: A gata é fofo.
Correct: A gata é fofa.
Match gender: feminine noun needs fofa.
Incorrect: Ele é giro (in Brazil).
Correct: Ele é fofo.
Giro is PT-PT; Brazilians say fofo.
Good to know
Fofo is everyday Brazil—pets, kids, romantic texts, and even a thoughtful coffee delivery. Portugal often uses giro/a for the same vibe, which can surprise Brazilian learners.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Looking at pet photos
ChatPal
Olha meu gato novo. Não é fofo?
Look at my new cat. Isn't he cute?
You
É super fofo! Qual é o nome?
He's super cute! What's his name?
ChatPal
Chama Pipoca. Ele dorme no sofá.
His name is Pipoca. He sleeps on the sofa.
You
Que fofo. Quero conhecer ele.
So cute. I want to meet him.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cute" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cute" in Portuguese
Fofo or fofa?
Fofo masculine, fofa feminine.
How do I react?
Que fofo! or Que fofa!
Portugal?
Often giro/a; Brazil sticks with fofo/a.
Diminutive?
Fofinho / fofinha.
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
