Portuguese · Romance & Rejection
Levar um chifre
leh-VAR oong SHEE-free · /le.ˈvaʁ ũ ˈʃi.fɾi/
To be cheated on
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
Literally
"To take a horn"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
"Chifre" (horn) is the mark of the betrayed partner — "levar um chifre" is to be cheated on, "dar um chifre" (or "chifrar") is to do the cheating. This is the whole world behind the "corno" insult and the chifrinho hand gesture. A cornerstone of Brazilian relationship drama, memes, and pagode lyrics. Mild as a word; heavy as a subject.
Heard in the wild
Descobriu que levou chifre e terminou na hora.
She found out she'd been cheated on and ended it on the spot.
Where it lands
Brazil (universal).
Quick answers
- What does "Levar um chifre" mean?
- In Portuguese, "Levar um chifre" means "To be cheated on". Literally it's "To take a horn". "Chifre" (horn) is the mark of the betrayed partner — "levar um chifre" is to be cheated on, "dar um chifre" (or "chifrar") is to do the cheating. This is the whole world behind the "corno" insult and the chifrinho hand gesture. A cornerstone of Brazilian relationship drama, memes, and pagode lyrics. Mild as a word; heavy as a subject.
- Is "Levar um chifre" 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 "Levar um chifre"?
- Say it "leh-VAR oong SHEE-free" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: le.ˈvaʁ ũ ˈʃi.fɾi.
Related in Portuguese
Cantada kahn-TAH-dah A pickup line / a come-on Levar um fora leh-VAR oong FOH-rah To get rejected / dumped / blown off 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) Filho da puta FEE-lyoo dah POO-tah Son of a bitch / bastard
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