Portuguese · Romance & Rejection
Cantada
kahn-TAH-dah · /kɐ̃.ˈta.da/
A pickup line / a come-on
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"A serenade / 'a singing'"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
"Dar uma cantada" is to hit on someone with a line — sometimes charming, often cringe. A "cantada barata" is a cheesy pickup line. Important for travelers: a street "cantada" (unsolicited catcalling) is unwelcome and increasingly called out as harassment ("cantada de rua não é elogio"). Know the word; don't be the guy giving them.
Heard in the wild
Ele soltou a pior cantada e ela riu na cara dele.
He dropped the worst pickup line and she laughed in his face.
Where it lands
Brazil (universal).
Quick answers
- What does "Cantada" mean?
- In Portuguese, "Cantada" means "A pickup line / a come-on". Literally it's "A serenade / 'a singing'". "Dar uma cantada" is to hit on someone with a line — sometimes charming, often cringe. A "cantada barata" is a cheesy pickup line. Important for travelers: a street "cantada" (unsolicited catcalling) is unwelcome and increasingly called out as harassment ("cantada de rua não é elogio"). Know the word; don't be the guy giving them.
- Is "Cantada" 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 "Cantada"?
- Say it "kahn-TAH-dah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: kɐ̃.ˈta.da.
Related in Portuguese
Levar um fora leh-VAR oong FOH-rah To get rejected / dumped / blown off Levar um chifre leh-VAR oong SHEE-free To be cheated on Gato / Gata GAH-too / GAH-tah Hottie / good-looking guy or girl Ficar (com alguém) fee-KAR To make out / hook up casually (no strings) Gostoso / Gostosa gohs-TOH-zoo / gohs-TAW-zah Hot / sexy (of a person); also literally 'delicious' (of food) Porra nenhuma! POH-hah neh-NYOO-mah Bullshit! / Like hell! / Not a damn thing
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