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Portuguese · Football & the Terraces

Fominha

foh-MEE-nyah · /fo.ˈmĩ.ɲa/

Ball hog / someone who won't share

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"Little hunger"

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

How to use it

The kid (or grown man) who never passes — "hungry" for the ball and the glory. "Não seja fominha, toca a bola!" ("don't be a ball hog, pass it!"). It generalizes to anyone greedy or hoggish off the pitch. Mild, playful, and very useful in a pickup game.

Heard in the wild

Passa a bola, seu fominha!

Pass the ball, you ball hog!

Where it lands

Brazil (universal).

Quick answers

What does "Fominha" mean?
In Portuguese, "Fominha" means "Ball hog / someone who won't share". Literally it's "Little hunger". The kid (or grown man) who never passes — "hungry" for the ball and the glory. "Não seja fominha, toca a bola!" ("don't be a ball hog, pass it!"). It generalizes to anyone greedy or hoggish off the pitch. Mild, playful, and very useful in a pickup game.
Is "Fominha" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "Fominha"?
Say it "foh-MEE-nyah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: fo.ˈmĩ.ɲa.

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 "Show-off".

how to say "Show-off" →

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