Work in progress! Native speakers are still checking every phrase. Spot something off? Tell us.
cursing.in curse like a local

Portuguese · Insults & Name-Calling

Babaca

bah-BAH-kah · /ba.ˈba.ka/

Jerk / idiot / asshole (mild)

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"(slang) idiot / originally vulva"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The everyday "jerk" — the driver who cuts you off, the coworker who takes credit. Register-flexible: annoyed but not nuclear, so it slips into TV and casual talk. Roughly "moron" crossed with "asshole." Bar-safe; you can call your friend a babaca and stay friends.

Heard in the wild

Que babaca, buzinou antes do sinal abrir.

What a jerk, he honked before the light even changed.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal).

Quick answers

What does "Babaca" mean?
In Portuguese, "Babaca" means "Jerk / idiot / asshole (mild)". Literally it's "(slang) idiot / originally vulva". The everyday "jerk" — the driver who cuts you off, the coworker who takes credit. Register-flexible: annoyed but not nuclear, so it slips into TV and casual talk. Roughly "moron" crossed with "asshole." Bar-safe; you can call your friend a babaca and stay friends.
Is "Babaca" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
How do you pronounce "Babaca"?
Say it "bah-BAH-kah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ba.ˈba.ka.

Related in Portuguese

Filho da puta FEE-lyoo dah POO-tah Son of a bitch / bastard Otário oh-TAH-ree-oo Sucker / gullible fool / mug Corno KOR-noo Cuckold — a man whose partner cheats on him Vagabundo vah-gah-BOON-doo Bum / lowlife / good-for-nothing (f. 'vagabunda' = slut) Burro BOO-hoo Dumb / stupid (person) Arrombado ah-hom-BAH-doo Asshole (strong) / piece of shit

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.