Are you learning Brazilian Portuguese and want to understand the different ways to describe someone who is stingy? In this blog post, we will explore various terms used to describe a stingy person, along with sentences in Portuguese and their English translations. By the end of this article, you’ll have a richer vocabulary and be able to use these terms in context. Let’s dive in!
1 – Mão de vaca
The term “mão de vaca” literally translates to “cow’s hand” but is used to describe someone who is very stingy.
O João é tão mão de vaca que nunca divide a conta do restaurante.
João is so stingy that he never splits the restaurant bill.
Não acredito que ela é mão de vaca a ponto de não comprar um presente para o aniversário do próprio filho.
I can’t believe she’s so stingy that she won’t buy a birthday present for her own child.
Ele é tão mão de vaca que reutiliza até papel higiênico.
He is so stingy that he even reuses toilet paper.
2 – Mesquinho
“Mesquinho” is a term that can mean petty or stingy, often used to describe someone who is small-minded about money.
O comportamento mesquinho dele afastou muitos amigos.
His petty behavior drove away many friends.
Ela sempre foi mesquinha com as gorjetas, mesmo em restaurantes caros.
She has always been stingy with tips, even in expensive restaurants.
A atitude mesquinha de cortar benefícios dos funcionários gerou muita insatisfação na empresa.
The petty decision to cut employee benefits caused a lot of dissatisfaction in the company.
3 – Pão duro
“Pão-duro” literally means “hard bread,” but it’s used to describe someone who is extremely tight-fisted.
Meu tio é tão pão-duro que nem paga uma passagem de ônibus para visitar a família.
My uncle is so cheap that he won’t even pay for a bus ticket to visit the family.
Você é pão-duro demais para gastar dinheiro em um bom jantar.
You’re too tight-fisted to spend money on a good dinner.
Ele se orgulha de ser pão-duro e economiza até o último centavo.
He prides himself on being tight-fisted and saves every last penny.
4 – Amarrado
“Amarrado” translates to “tied,” indicating someone who is tight with their money.
Não adianta pedir nada para ele, é muito amarrado com dinheiro.
There’s no point in asking him for anything; he’s very tight with money.
Ela é tão amarrada que nunca contribui pros presentes coletivos.
She is so tight that she never contributes to group gifts.
Ele é amarrado ao ponto de não trocar uma lâmpada queimada, para economizar na conta de luz.
He is tight to the point of not replacing a burnt-out light bulb to save on the electricity bill.
5 – Avarento
“Avarento” is a more formal term for someone who is miserly.
O personagem avarento do filme era obcecado por acumular riquezas.
The miserly character in the movie was obsessed with hoarding wealth.
Ela era tão avarenta que escondia dinheiro até de seus próprios filhos.
She was so miserly that she hid money even from her own children.
A atitude avarenta de não doar nada para caridade fez ele ser mal visto por todos.
His miserly attitude of not donating anything to charity made him poorly regarded by everyone.
6 – Mão fechada
“Mão fechada” literally means “closed hand” and is used similarly to describe someone who is tight-fisted.
Sempre soube que ele era mão fechada, mas não imaginava que fosse tanto.
I always knew he was tight-fisted, but I didn’t realize it was that bad.
Ela é mão fechada até para comprar roupas novas, usa as mesmas peças por anos.
She is tight-fisted even when it comes to buying new clothes, wearing the same pieces for years.
Ser mão fechada pode te ajudar a economizar dinheiro, mas também pode te afastar das pessoas.
Being tight-fisted can save money, but it can also drive people away.
Understanding these terms can help you better grasp the nuances of Brazilian Portuguese and improve your fluency. By learning these expressions, you’ll be able to describe different levels of stinginess accurately and contextually. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use these terms naturally in conversation.
For more language learning tips and resources, be sure to explore our other articles. Happy learning!
