faux pas

[/foʊ ˈpɑː/]
nounpl: faux pas
deslize social
1. A social blunder or tactless mistake in behavior or speech that causes embarrassment or offense in polite company
Making a joke about her divorce was a serious faux pas at the dinner party.
Fazer uma piada sobre o divórcio dela foi um deslize social grave na festa de jantar.
2. An action or remark considered inappropriate or offensive in a particular social context
Arriving late to a formal event is considered a faux pas in high society.
Chegar atrasado a um evento formal é considerado um deslize social na alta sociedade.
The French term 'faux pas' is widely recognized and used in English-speaking countries when discussing social etiquette and cultural mistakes. In Brazil, while 'deslize social' is the literal translation, the word 'gafe' (from French 'gaffe') is extremely popular in casual conversation. The concept reflects the importance of social awareness in formal settings across both American and Brazilian cultures, particularly in business, diplomatic, and high-society contexts.
NYC Slang
major oopsie, major misstep, screw-up
Synonyms / Sinônimos
deslize socialgafeindiscriçãofalta de educaçãocomportamento inadequadoerro de etiqueta
Antonyms / Antônimos
comportamento apropriadodelicadezaeducaçãocortesiadiscrição

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
deslize social
most commonly used translation in formal and informal contexts
General Brazilian
gafe
informal and more colloquial alternative, very popular in everyday speech
São Paulo
deslize
shortened version, commonly used in urban contexts
Portugal
deslize social
used similarly to Brazilian Portuguese, though 'faux pas' is often used untranslated in formal contexts

Related Words

etiquetadecoropropriedadeconstrangimentoinsultoofensa

Related Idioms & Phrases

commit a faux pas
avoid making a faux pas
what a faux pas!
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →