← Back to Fala2Me

palhaço

[pə.ˈʎa.su]
nounmasculinepl: palhaços
clown
1. A comic entertainer, especially in a circus, who wears a traditional costume and makeup and performs silly acts to amuse an audience
The children laughed at the clown's funny antics at the circus.
As crianças riram das brincadeiras engraçadas do palhaço no circo.
2. A person who behaves ridiculously or makes a fool of themselves; a foolish or ridiculous person
He made a fool of himself and became the laughingstock.
Ele agiu como um palhaço e virou motivo de zombaria.
3. A contemptible or despicable person
That guy is nothing but a clown.
Esse cara é um palhaço mesmo.
NYC Slang
clown, joker, bozo, goofball
Synonyms
bufãobobograciosopalhaçadaridículo
Antonyms
sábiosensatoprudente

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
palhaço
Standard term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
palhaço
Common usage; sometimes used pejoratively in informal speech
São Paulo
palhaço
Standard usage, frequently heard in circus contexts
Portugal
palhaço
Standard European Portuguese term

Related Idioms & Phrases

fazer de palhaço - to make a fool of oneself
palhaçada - foolish or ridiculous behavior
circo de palhaços - a chaotic or ridiculous situation
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →