Cara
KAH-rah
“Face; guy or dude.”
Cara literally means “face,” and Brazilians also use it informally for “a guy” or to address someone as “dude/man.” Tone matters: cara can sound friendly, amazed, irritated, or confrontational depending on how it is said.
InformalAll Brazilalso: caras, kra, kras
How Brazilians use it
“Ele levou um tapa na cara.”
“He got slapped in the face.”
Talking about someone’s face casually.
“Você está com cara de sono.”
“You look sleepy.”
Describing someone’s expression or look.
“Tem um cara te esperando lá fora.”
“There’s a guy waiting for you outside.”
Mentioning an unknown man informally.
“Cara, você não vai acreditar nisso.”
“Dude, you won’t believe this.”
Starting a casual story with a friend.
In a real book
“— Então, por que fizeste essa cara espantada?”“— A sua cara não me engana.”Similar expressions
- ManoMore like “bro”; very casual address.
- GenteMeans “people” or “guys,” not one dude.
- Moço / moçaSafer for politely addressing a stranger.
- RostoA more neutral word for “face.”
Brazil vs Portugal
The literal meaning “face” is normal in Portugal too. The “guy/dude” use sounds strongly Brazilian; in Portugal you are more likely to hear words like gajo/gaja or pá in similar informal roles.
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse cara “face/guy/dude” with cara as the feminine adjective of caro, meaning “expensive,” as in uma camisa cara.
- Do not write cará when you mean “face” or “dude”; cará is a different word.
- Do not use cara as a polite address for bosses, officials, or strangers when you need to sound respectful.
Frequently asked questions
What does cara mean in Portuguese?
Cara means “face” in everyday Portuguese. In Brazilian informal speech, it also means “guy” or “dude/man.”
Does cara mean face or dude?
It can mean both. A cara usually means “the face,” while um cara or o cara often means “a guy,” and Cara, ... at the start of a sentence can mean “Dude, ...”
Is cara rude or informal?
Cara is informal, not automatically rude. With friends it can sound natural, but with a boss, client, older stranger, or official it may feel too casual.
What is the difference between cara and mano?
Cara is broader: it can mean “face,” “guy,” or “dude.” [Mano](/expressions/mano) is closer to “bro” and usually feels more slangy or intimate.