Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Stupid" in Portuguese: burro/a
burro/a
Note: also: bobo/a
Stupid in Portuguese is often burro or burra — strong and insulting. Softer talk uses bobo/a or sem noção depending on tone.
Self-tease
Que burro — deixei a chave dentro de novo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce burro/a
Say it
BOO-hoo / BOO-hah
/ˈbu.ʁu/, /ˈbu.ʁa/
BOO-hoo / BOO-hah. Double r as a strong h in much of Brazil.
"Stupid" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| burro / burra | stupid (harsh) Insult — use carefully. | Insult — use carefully. |
| bobo / boba | silly / foolish Softer. | Softer. |
| sem noção | clueless / out of line Behavior judgment. | Behavior judgment. |
| ideia burra | stupid idea About plans, still blunt. | About plans, still blunt. |
How to use burro/a in real life
- 1Self-tease
Que burro — deixei a chave dentro de novo.
How stupid — I left the key inside again.
Self-directed softens impact.
- 2Warning a friend
Não chama ninguém de burro no trabalho.
Don’t call anyone stupid at work.
Social advice.
- 3Bad plan
Pagar em dinheiro na rua à noite é ideia burra.
Paying in cash on the street at night is a stupid idea.
About the idea.
Mistakes English speakers make with burro/a
Incorrect: Você é burro (no escritório, alto).
Correct: Foi sem querer. / Isso foi bobo.
Burro is a harsh insult at work; soften or skip it.
Incorrect: Ela é burro.
Correct: Ela é burra.
Agree gender: burro/burra.
Good to know
Burro also means donkey, which makes the insult feel animalistic. Brazilians often redirect with que bobo or que vacilo instead of attacking the person. At work, skip burro entirely.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Laughing off a mistake
ChatPal
Mandei o e-mail sem o anexo… que burro.
I sent the email without the attachment… how stupid.
You
Não é burro — acontece com todo mundo.
It’s not stupid — it happens to everyone.
ChatPal
Valeu. Ainda assim foi uma falha burra.
Thanks. Still, it was a stupid slip.
You
Reenvia agora e pronto.
Just resend it now and done.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Stupid" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Stupid" in Portuguese
Is burro very rude?
Yes — strong insult; soften or avoid.
Gender?
Burro / burra.
Softer words?
Bobo/a, sem noção, vacilo.
Also means donkey?
Yes — same word.
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
