← Back to Fala2Me

be mean

[/biː miːn/]
verb phrase
ser mesquinho; ser mau; significar
1. to be unkind, cruel, or hurtful to someone
Don't be mean to your sister.
Não seja mesquinho com sua irmã.
2. to have as a meaning or intention; to signify
What does this word mean?
O que significa esta palavra?
3. to be of poor quality or value; stingy
He was mean with his money.
Ele era avarento com seu dinheiro.
NYC Slang
be tight; be stingy (when referring to money); be wack (when referring to behavior)
Synonyms
be cruelbe unkindbe nastybe stingybe miserlysignifydenote
Antonyms
be kindbe nicebe generousbe benevolent

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser mesquinho; ser mau; significar
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
ser chato; ser ruim
Colloquial variation
São Paulo
ser mesquinho; ser miserável
Standard usage
Portugal
ser miserável; ser mau; significar
European Portuguese equivalent

Related Idioms & Phrases

mean business
no mean feat
by no means
what do you mean?
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →