Gato / gata
GAH-too / GAH-tah
How to say itPart of: Affection
“Hot; good-looking (not a cat).”
Gato is a cat, and in Brazilian slang a gato or gata is a good-looking person: hot, a catch. It is playful and flirty, said about someone (que gato!) more than to them, and gatinho / gatinha, the diminutive, is sweeter. It agrees with the person: gata for a woman, gato for a man.
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SlangAll Brazilalso: gatinho, gatinha, gatão, gatonaReply: Obrigada, você também!
How Brazilians use it
“Que gato esse seu namorado!”
“Your boyfriend is so good-looking!”
About someone.
“Nossa, ela é muito gata.”
“Wow, she’s really hot.”
Among friends.
“Oi, gatinha!”
“Hi, gorgeous!”
Flirting, or a pet name between partners.
“O gato dormiu no sofá de novo.”
“The cat slept on the sofa again.”
The literal cat.
How to reply
- Obrigada, você também!If you want to flirt back.
Similar expressions
- Lindo / lindaBeautiful: warmer, less slangy.
- Gostoso / gostosaSexy; stronger and more sexual. Careful.
- Bonito / bonitaPretty, handsome.
- Querido / queridaDear, darling.
Brazil vs Portugal
In Portugal gato is mostly the animal; the slang for good-looking is giro / gira. Gato / gata as “hot” sounds Brazilian there.
Common mistakes
- Don’t use gata to a woman you don’t know: it is a come-on, not a compliment.
- Don’t confuse it with gostosa, which is explicitly sexual.
- Don’t match it to yourself: gata for a woman, gato for a man, whoever is speaking.
Frequently asked questions
What does gata mean in Portuguese slang?
A good-looking woman: hot, a catch. Gato is the man. Both come from the word for cat, and both are playful and flirty.
What does gatinha mean?
Gata with the diminutive: “little cat”, sweeter and more affectionate. Partners use it as a pet name; from a stranger it is still a come-on.
Is calling someone gato a compliment?
Said about someone (que gato!), yes. Said to a stranger, it is flirting. Between friends and partners it is a warm, playful compliment.
What is the difference between gata and gostosa?
Gata is good-looking, hot in a playful way. Gostosa is sexy and explicitly about the body; it can offend. For a safe compliment, linda or bonita.