Is "O sinal do 'OK'" 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 "O sinal do 'OK'"?

This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Thumb and index finger form a circle (the American 'OK' sign).

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Portuguese · Hand Gestures · hand gesture

O sinal do 'OK'

Asshole — a genuine insult in Brazil

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

The gesture

"Thumb and index finger form a circle (the American 'OK' sign)"

What your hand is actually doing.

How to use it

Traveler trap: the American "OK / A-OK" circle is an obscene insult in Brazil, representing the anus ("o cu"). Flashing it to mean "okay" reads as calling someone an asshole — a mistake foreigners make constantly. A US president once did it to a Brazilian crowd, to predictable outrage. Use a thumbs-up ("joia") for "OK" instead.

Heard in the wild

Ele fez o sinal de 'OK' e todo mundo ficou chocado.

He flashed the 'OK' sign and everyone was shocked.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal); the offense is specifically Brazilian.

Quick answers

What does "O sinal do 'OK'" mean?: In Portuguese, "O sinal do 'OK'" means "Asshole — a genuine insult in Brazil". Literally it's "Thumb and index finger form a circle (the American 'OK' sign)". Traveler trap: the American "OK / A-OK" circle is an obscene insult in Brazil, representing the anus ("o cu"). Flashing it to mean "okay" reads as calling someone an asshole — a mistake foreigners make constantly. A US president once did it to a Brazilian crowd, to predictable outrage. Use a thumbs-up ("joia") for "OK" instead.
Is "O sinal do 'OK'" 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 "O sinal do 'OK'"?: This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Thumb and index finger form a circle (the American 'OK' sign).

Related in Portuguese

Banana gesture Up yours! / Screw you! Dedo do meio gesture The finger / flipping someone off Chifrinho gesture You're a cuckold / your partner cheats on you 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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