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Portuguese · Insults & Name-Calling

Burro

BOO-hoo · /ˈbu.ʁu/

Dumb / stupid (person)

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"Donkey"

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

How to use it

Plain "stupid," and the cleanest demo of the augmentative dial: "burro" is dumb, "burrão" (big-donkey) is REALLY dumb, "burrinho" can soften it to a teasing "silly." Kids say it, adults say it, and self-deprecation is common ("fui muito burro"). Mild — bar-safe and even TV-safe.

Heard in the wild

Que burro, coloquei açúcar no lugar do sal.

So dumb of me, I put sugar instead of salt.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal).

Quick answers

What does "Burro" mean?
In Portuguese, "Burro" means "Dumb / stupid (person)". Literally it's "Donkey". Plain "stupid," and the cleanest demo of the augmentative dial: "burro" is dumb, "burrão" (big-donkey) is REALLY dumb, "burrinho" can soften it to a teasing "silly." Kids say it, adults say it, and self-deprecation is common ("fui muito burro"). Mild — bar-safe and even TV-safe.
Is "Burro" 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 "Burro"?
Say it "BOO-hoo" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈbu.ʁu.

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 Babaca bah-BAH-kah Jerk / idiot / asshole (mild) Corno KOR-noo Cuckold — a man whose partner cheats on him Vagabundo vah-gah-BOON-doo Bum / lowlife / good-for-nothing (f. 'vagabunda' = slut) Arrombado ah-hom-BAH-doo Asshole (strong) / piece of shit

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "You idiot".

how to say "You idiot" →

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