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Portuguese · Insults & Name-Calling

Desgraçado

jeez-grah-SAH-doo · /dʒiz.ɡɾa.ˈsa.du/

Bastard / wretch / son of a gun

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"Disgraced / graceless one"

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

How to use it

A cursed, wretched person — "aquele desgraçado me traiu." But like most Brazilian insults it doubles as astonished affection: "seu desgraçado, ganhou de novo?!" ("you bastard, you won again?!"). Northeastern speakers deploy it constantly, both ways. Rude but not top-shelf; tone decides whether it's a threat or a compliment.

Heard in the wild

O desgraçado do vizinho ligou o som às 3 da manhã.

That bastard neighbor cranked the music at 3 a.m.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal); especially the Northeast.

Quick answers

What does "Desgraçado" mean?
In Portuguese, "Desgraçado" means "Bastard / wretch / son of a gun". Literally it's "Disgraced / graceless one". A cursed, wretched person — "aquele desgraçado me traiu." But like most Brazilian insults it doubles as astonished affection: "seu desgraçado, ganhou de novo?!" ("you bastard, you won again?!"). Northeastern speakers deploy it constantly, both ways. Rude but not top-shelf; tone decides whether it's a threat or a compliment.
Is "Desgraçado" 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 "Desgraçado"?
Say it "jeez-grah-SAH-doo" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: dʒiz.ɡɾa.ˈsa.du.

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) Burro BOO-hoo Dumb / stupid (person)

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Screw you".

how to say "Screw you" →

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