truant

[/ˈtruːənt/]
noun, adjectivepl: truants
faltoso, absenteísta, aluno que falta aula
1. A student who is absent from school without permission or without a valid excuse
The school principal sent a letter to the parents of the truant student.
O diretor da escola enviou uma carta aos pais do aluno faltoso.
2. Absent without leave or permission; playing hooky
He went truant from school to go to the beach with his friends.
Ele matou aula na escola para ir à praia com seus amigos.
3. A person who shirks duty or responsibility
She was labeled a truant for repeatedly missing work meetings.
Ela foi rotulada como absenteísta por faltar repetidamente às reuniões de trabalho.
In Brazil, 'truant' behavior is taken seriously in schools, with truant officers (inspetores de alunos) monitoring attendance. In the USA, 'truant' has historical significance with the truancy officer being a familiar figure. The concept is more formalized in American education systems with legal consequences for persistent truancy.
NYC Slang
skipping school, cutting class, playing hooky
Synonyms / Sinônimos
absenteeshirkerdodgermalingererdeserter
Antonyms / Antônimos
diligent studentpresentattendantfaithful

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
faltoso, aluno faltoso, matador de aula
Most common term; 'faltoso' refers to someone who is absent frequently
Rio de Janeiro
matador de aula, pilantra da escola
More colloquial, sometimes with negative connotations
São Paulo
absenteísta, faltador
More formal usage in educational contexts
Portugal
miúdo faltador, aluno ausente
Portuguese usage emphasizes the absence rather than the act of skipping

Related Words

absenteeismskipping classhookyabsencedelinquency

Related Idioms & Phrases

play truant
go truant
truant officer (a school official who monitors attendance)
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →