Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions

"Selfish" in Portuguese: egoísta

egoísta

Say it: eh-go-EES-tahadjective/e.ɡo.ˈis.ta/

Selfish in Portuguese is egoísta for any gender. It criticizes someone who only thinks of themselves.

Sharing food

Não seja egoísta divide o bolo.
Don’t be selfish — share the cake.
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How to pronounce egoísta

Say it

eh-go-EES-tah

/e.ɡo.ˈis.ta/

eh-go-EES-tah

"Selfish" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
egoístaselfish

Invariant adjective.

não seja egoístadon’t be selfish

Warning.

atitude egoístaselfish attitude

Noun phrase.

foi egoístawas selfish

Past judgment.

How to use egoísta in real life

  1. 1Sharing food

    Não seja egoísta divide o bolo.

    Don’t be selfish — share the cake.

    Family.

  2. 2Group work

    Achei a decisão dele bem egoísta.

    I thought his decision was really selfish.

    Critique.

  3. 3Friendship

    Ela pode ser egoísta quando está estressada.

    She can be selfish when she’s stressed.

    Softened critique.

Mistakes English speakers make with egoísta

Incorrect: Ele é egoísto.

Correct: Ele é egoísta.

Egoísta stays the same for masculine and feminine.

Incorrect: Que pessoa selfish!

Correct: Que pessoa egoísta!

Use egoísta.

Good to know

Egoísta is a sharp word in Brazilian Portuguese—use it carefully with friends. Softer critiques might say pensando só nele or pouco solidário when you want less heat.

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Splitting a bill fairly

  1. ChatPal

    Dividir igual não é ser egoísta.

    Splitting equally isn’t being selfish.

  2. You

    Concordo. Egoísta seria deixar a conta comigo.

    Agreed. Selfish would be leaving the bill only with me.

  3. ChatPal

    Então pix pela metade, ok?

    Then half by pix, okay?

  4. You

    Fechado. mando agora.

    Deal. I’ll send it now.

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"Selfish" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Selfish" in Portuguese

Gender forms?

None — egoísta for all.

Don’t be selfish?

Não seja egoísta.

Selfishness (noun)?

Egoísmo.

Pronunciation?

eh-go-EES-tah.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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