Is "Chifrinho" offensive?

It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.

How do you pronounce "Chifrinho"?

This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Index fingers held up like horns at the sides of your own or someone's head.

Work in progress! Native speakers are still checking every phrase. Spot something off? Tell us.

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Portuguese · Hand Gestures · hand gesture

Chifrinho

You're a cuckold / your partner cheats on you

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

The gesture

"Index fingers held up like horns at the sides of your own or someone's head"

What your hand is actually doing.

How to use it

The silent partner to the "corno" insult: two "horns" (chifres) held up behind or beside someone's head brands them a cuckold. Flashed at rival fans, in arguments, or as a photobomb prank. Cutting because it attacks pride, not intelligence. Note: this is NOT the rock-'n'-roll "horns" — context and placement make it an insult here.

Heard in the wild

Fizeram chifrinho atrás dele na foto, sacanagem.

They gave him the cuckold horns behind his head in the photo, so mean.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal).

Quick answers

What does "Chifrinho" mean?: In Portuguese, "Chifrinho" means "You're a cuckold / your partner cheats on you". Literally it's "Index fingers held up like horns at the sides of your own or someone's head". The silent partner to the "corno" insult: two "horns" (chifres) held up behind or beside someone's head brands them a cuckold. Flashed at rival fans, in arguments, or as a photobomb prank. Cutting because it attacks pride, not intelligence. Note: this is NOT the rock-'n'-roll "horns" — context and placement make it an insult here.
Is "Chifrinho" offensive?: It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
How do you pronounce "Chifrinho"?: This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Index fingers held up like horns at the sides of your own or someone's head.

Related in Portuguese

Banana gesture Up yours! / Screw you! Dedo do meio gesture The finger / flipping someone off O sinal do 'OK' gesture Asshole — a genuine insult in Brazil Porra nenhuma! POH-hah neh-NYOO-mah Bullshit! / Like hell! / Not a damn thing Filho da puta FEE-lyoo dah POO-tah Son of a bitch / bastard Otário oh-TAH-ree-oo Sucker / gullible fool / mug

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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