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Portuguese · Insults & Name-Calling

Vagabundo

vah-gah-BOON-doo · /va.ɡa.ˈbũ.du/

Bum / lowlife / good-for-nothing (f. 'vagabunda' = slut)

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"Vagabond / bum"

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

How to use it

For a lazy, shady, or worthless person — "aquele vagabundo não paga o aluguel." Beware the gender split: the feminine "vagabunda" is a sexual slur (slut), far harsher than the masculine, so it's not a symmetric word. Also lands as affection-rough between men ("e aí, vagabundo!" — "sup, you bum!"). Read the room.

Heard in the wild

Esse político vagabundo sumiu depois da eleição.

That good-for-nothing politician vanished after the election.

Where it lands

Brazil (universal).

Quick answers

What does "Vagabundo" mean?
In Portuguese, "Vagabundo" means "Bum / lowlife / good-for-nothing (f. 'vagabunda' = slut)". Literally it's "Vagabond / bum". For a lazy, shady, or worthless person — "aquele vagabundo não paga o aluguel." Beware the gender split: the feminine "vagabunda" is a sexual slur (slut), far harsher than the masculine, so it's not a symmetric word. Also lands as affection-rough between men ("e aí, vagabundo!" — "sup, you bum!"). Read the room.
Is "Vagabundo" 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 "Vagabundo"?
Say it "vah-gah-BOON-doo" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: va.ɡa.ˈbũ.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 Burro BOO-hoo Dumb / stupid (person) Arrombado ah-hom-BAH-doo Asshole (strong) / piece of shit

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Get lost".

how to say "Get lost" →

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