What “Cu” Means in Brazilian Portuguese (Slang, Meaning & Examples)

If you’ve heard the word in a song, a video, or a heated conversation and wondered what it really means, here’s the short answer: the cu meaning in Portuguese is literally “ass” (the anatomical rear), but in Brazil it lives inside dozens of slang expressions where it rarely means anything anatomical at all. Knowing what “cu” means — and how Brazilians actually use it — is essential if you want to understand real, informal Portuguese instead of the polite textbook version.

So what does cu mean in Portuguese beyond the literal translation? It depends entirely on context. It can be an insult (“vai tomar no cu”), a way to say someone is lucky (“cu virado pra lua”), a complaint about a faraway place (“cu do mundo”), or a blunt way to deny something (“teu cu!”). Some of these are extremely vulgar, others are just playful and emphatic — and this guide breaks down each one with its meaning, tone, and a real example sentence.

Below you’ll find the full list of Brazilian slang and expressions built around this word, from the mild and funny to the seriously offensive. Whether you’re here for one specific phrase like teu cu meaning or cu doce meaning, or you want the complete picture of how this tiny word powers so much everyday Brazilian speech, you’ll come away able to recognize the tone instantly and never get caught off guard in a real conversation.

Video: Different Ways to Use the Word “CU” in Portuguese

Cu Dictionary – Table of Expressions

Expressions Explained in Detail With Example Sentences

Now that you’ve seen the summary in the cu dictionary above, let’s get to the good part: each expression explained in detail, with its full meaning, how vulgar it is, and example sentences so you can see how it’s really used in everyday life. This makes it much easier to understand the right context for each slang phrase with cu and never get confused again when you’re interpreting a conversation between Brazilians.

Fogo no cu (fogo no rabo)

Literally “fire in the ass.” It describes someone who is extremely excited, restless, or overly eager about something, such as overflowing enthusiasm or urgency.

• Esse menino tá com fogo no cu hoje, não para quieto um segundo.

Só se eu der o cu

Literally “only if I give my ass.” It means flatly refusing to do something, even for money or a big reward.

• Só se eu der o cu pra aceitar trabalhar de graça nesse feriado.

Só se eu tirar do cu

Literally “only if I pull it out of my ass.” It means that getting money is extremely difficult, as if it had to be taken from an impossible place.

• Esse dinheiro só se eu tirar do cu, porque não tenho nem um real agora.

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Encher o cu de cachaça

Literally “to fill your ass with cachaça.” It refers to drinking excessively until getting completely drunk.

• Ele foi pra festa e encheu o cu de cachaça, saiu carregado.

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Cu de cana

A vulgar Brazilian Portuguese expression used to describe someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, especially cachaça. Literally “sugarcane ass.”

• Cuidado com ele dirigindo, tem fama de ser cu de cana.

Expressions from Northeast Brazil

Cu doce

Literally “sweet ass.” It refers to someone who plays hard to get, pretends to be uninterested, or stalls in flirting or business.

• Para de cu doce e aceita logo o convite pra viajar.

Cara de cu / Cara de asterisco

Literally “ass face.” It describes someone with a grumpy, annoyed, angry, or unhappy facial expression.

• Ela chegou com uma cara de cu porque brigou com o namorado.

Cu virado pra lua

Literally “ass turned toward the moon.” It means being very lucky or in a privileged position.

• Desde que começou naquele emprego novo, tá com o cu virado pra lua.

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Ficar com o cu na mão

Literally “to hold your ass in your hand.” It means being extremely nervous, anxious, or scared.

• Quando vi a polícia atrás de mim, fiquei com o cu na mão.

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Fechar o cu

Literally “to close your ass.” It indicates extreme fear or tension.

• Nossa cara, fiquei com tanto medo que fechei o cu na hora.

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Comer até o cu fazer bico

Literally “to eat until your ass puckers.” It means doing something excessively or to the limit.

• No rodízio de pizza ele sempre come até o cu fazer bico.

Catinga de cu que não acaba nunca

Literally “a stench of ass that never ends.” It describes a persistent and unbearable bad smell.

• Tá pensando que dinheiro é que nem catinga de cu que não acaba nunca?

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Cu de bêbado não tem dono

Literally “a drunk person’s ass has no owner.” It means that a drunk person completely loses control.

• Ela acordou sem lembrar com quem ficou, e sabe o que dizem né, cu de bêbado não tem dono.

Cu do mundo

Literally “the ass of the world.” It refers to a very remote or extremely faraway place.

• Esse lugar fica no cu do mundo, não pega nem sinal de celular.

Enfiar no teu cu / Socar no cu

Literally “to shove it up your ass.” It means aggressively rejecting annoying comments or ideas.

• Deixa de encher meu saco e enfie esses comentários no seu cu.

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O que tem a ver o cu com as calças?

Literally “What does an ass have to do with pants?” It’s used to say that two things are completely unrelated.

• O que tem a ver o cu com as calças? Uma coisa não tem nada a ver com a outra.

Rir até cair o cu das calças

Literally “to laugh until your ass falls out of your pants.” It means laughing uncontrollably.

• Eu ri até cair o cu das calças com aquele vídeo.

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Contar com o ovo no cu da galinha

Literally “to count on the egg in the hen’s ass.” It means making premature plans.

• Melhor você não contar com o ovo no cu da galinha antes de fechar o contrato.

Vai tomar no cu

A very aggressive insult meaning “go to hell” or “f*** off.”

• Vai tomar no cu, você só fala merda, some daqui.

Tomar no olho do cu

Even stronger than “vai tomar no cu.” It means telling someone to f*** off in a very aggressive way.

• Esse trânsito tá me fazendo tomar no olho do cu todo dia.

Tomar no brioco

Means the same as “tomar no cu.” A very vulgar way to tell someone to f*** off.

• Se atrasar de novo, o chefe vai mandar você tomar no brioco.

Opinião/gosto é que nem cu, cada um tem um

Literally “opinions are like assholes — everyone has one.” It means everyone has their own taste or opinion.

• Você acha feio, eu acho bonito, opinião é que nem cu, cada um tem o seu.

Cuzão

Literally “big ass.” An insult for someone arrogant, annoying, or rude.

• Ele foi um cuzão comigo na reunião.

Cu riscado

Literally “marked ass.” A popular slang variation meaning someone wild, hyperactive, or mischievous.

• Esse menino é do cu riscado, não para quieto.

Tá com o olho no cu

Literally “has their eye in their ass.” It means being extremely distracted.

• Esse cara tá com o olho no cu, será que não tá vendo que eu tô aqui?

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Ralando o cu no prego

Literally “scraping your ass on a nail.” It means working extremely hard and painfully.

• Ele conseguiu isso ralando o cu no prego por anos.

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Perdeu o cu na minha cara

Literally “lost their ass in my face.” It means someone is staring at you in an annoying way.

• O que foi? por que tá me encarando? perder o cu na minha cara?

Cheira cu

Literally “ass sniffer.” It describes a suck-up or brown-noser.

• Para de ser cheira-cu desse chefe.

Cu sujo

Literally “dirty ass.” It refers to someone despicable or disgusting.

• Não confie nele não, é cu sujo.

“Alguma coisa” de cu é rola

From the movie Tropa de Elite. Originally “ONG de cu é rola.” It’s used to dismiss hypocrisy or nonsense in an aggressive and humorous way.

“rola” is a vulgar slang word for penis in Brazilian Portuguese.

• Promessa de político de cu é rola.

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Meu cu

Literally “my ass!” Used to strongly deny something absurd or unbelievable.

• Meu cu que isso vai dar certo.

Teu cu

Literally “your ass!” Used as an aggressive reply to contradict or insult someone.

• Teu cu que você vai me pagar amanhã, quero meu dinheiro agora.

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The Word “CUCA” in Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese, “cuca” can be hot, cold, broken, or eaten. Learn the different ways to use this very common word in Brazil.

Learn how to use CUCA in Portuguese.