Portuguese · Romance & Rejection
Gostoso / Gostosa
gohs-TOH-zoo / gohs-TAW-zah · /ɡos.ˈto.zu / ɡos.ˈtɔ.za/
Hot / sexy (of a person); also literally 'delicious' (of food)
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"Tasty / delicious"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
Literally "tasty," and used both ways. Food is "gostoso" (delicious) all day, no issue. A PERSON called "gostoso/gostosa" is being called sexy in a frankly physical way — fine between flirting partners, objectifying and unwelcome if shouted at a stranger. Same word, wildly different registers: mind which one you're using.
Heard in the wild
Esse brigadeiro tá gostoso demais!
This brigadeiro is way too delicious!
Where it lands
Brazil (universal).
Quick answers
- What does "Gostoso / Gostosa" mean?
- In Portuguese, "Gostoso / Gostosa" means "Hot / sexy (of a person); also literally 'delicious' (of food)". Literally it's "Tasty / delicious". Literally "tasty," and used both ways. Food is "gostoso" (delicious) all day, no issue. A PERSON called "gostoso/gostosa" is being called sexy in a frankly physical way — fine between flirting partners, objectifying and unwelcome if shouted at a stranger. Same word, wildly different registers: mind which one you're using.
- Is "Gostoso / Gostosa" 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 "Gostoso / Gostosa"?
- Say it "gohs-TOH-zoo / gohs-TAW-zah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ɡos.ˈto.zu / ɡos.ˈtɔ.za.
Related in Portuguese
Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.