15초 만에
- A versatile slang term meaning 'cool', 'awesome', or 'great'.
- Used as a reaction or to describe people and things.
- Very common in Brazil, especially in casual, friendly conversations.
뜻
It is a super common way to say something is cool, awesome, or great. Use it when you are impressed or just really like something.
주요 예문
3 / 6Reacting to a friend's new shoes
Nossa, que tênis massa!
Wow, what cool sneakers!
Texting about a party plan
A festa vai ser massa, você tem que ir!
The party is going to be awesome, you have to go!
Meeting a friend's nice cousin
Seu primo é muito massa, gostei dele.
Your cousin is really cool, I liked him.
문화적 배경
While used throughout Brazil, 'massa' is deeply rooted in the musical and street culture of Salvador, Bahia. It gained massive popularity through Axé music and pop culture in the 80s and 90s. It represents a 'vibe' rather than just a physical quality.
The Sarcasm Switch
If you say 'massa' with a flat tone when something bad happens, it becomes sarcastic. It's the Brazilian 'Oh, fantastic...'
Regional Flavor
In the state of Bahia, 'massa' is practically a punctuation mark. You'll hear it more often there than anywhere else!
15초 만에
- A versatile slang term meaning 'cool', 'awesome', or 'great'.
- Used as a reaction or to describe people and things.
- Very common in Brazil, especially in casual, friendly conversations.
What It Means
Massa is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of Portuguese compliments. While it literally means dough or pasta, in a social context, it means "cool." It describes anything that gives you a good vibe. It is positive, energetic, and very Brazilian. If you see a beautiful sunset, that is massa. If your friend gets a promotion, that is massa too.
How To Use It
You can use it as a one-word reaction or inside a sentence. It functions like an adjective. You might say Que massa! to mean "How cool!" You can also use it to describe people. Calling someone a pessoa massa means they are a great, easy-going person. It is short, punchy, and easy to pronounce.
When To Use It
Use it when you are genuinely impressed. It works perfectly when texting friends about weekend plans. Use it at a restaurant when the food arrives looking amazing. It is great for reacting to good news. If someone tells you they bought tickets for a concert, shout Massa! to show your excitement. It makes you sound like a local instantly.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using it in very formal settings. Do not say it to a judge or during a solemn ceremony. If you are at a funeral, definitely keep massa out of your vocabulary. It is a bit too "chilled out" for a high-stakes corporate board meeting. However, with coworkers you know well, it is usually fine. Just gauge the room first.
Cultural Background
This expression is a huge part of Brazilian identity. It is used all over the country, but it is especially iconic in the Northeast, like in Bahia. It reflects the laid-back and appreciative nature of Brazilian culture. It likely evolved from the idea of something being "well-kneaded" or having "good substance." Now, it is just the go-to word for anything high-quality.
Common Variations
You will often hear Muito massa! which means "Very cool!" In some regions, people might say Massa demais! for extra emphasis. If you want to sound even more informal, you can combine it with other slang. For example, Massa, cara! (Cool, man!). It is a versatile word that never really goes out of style.
사용 참고사항
Massa is primarily an informal Brazilian expression. It sits comfortably between 'neutral' and 'slang', making it safe for most social interactions except the most formal ones.
The Sarcasm Switch
If you say 'massa' with a flat tone when something bad happens, it becomes sarcastic. It's the Brazilian 'Oh, fantastic...'
Regional Flavor
In the state of Bahia, 'massa' is practically a punctuation mark. You'll hear it more often there than anywhere else!
Don't confuse with food
If you are at a restaurant and ask for 'a massa', you are asking for the pasta. Context is everything!
예시
6Nossa, que tênis massa!
Wow, what cool sneakers!
Used here as an adjective to describe an object.
A festa vai ser massa, você tem que ir!
The party is going to be awesome, you have to go!
Predicting a positive experience.
Seu primo é muito massa, gostei dele.
Your cousin is really cool, I liked him.
Describing a person's personality.
Você foi promovido? Que massa, parabéns!
You got promoted? How cool, congratulations!
A warm, informal way to celebrate success.
Massa... esqueci minha chave dentro de casa.
Great... I forgot my key inside the house.
Brazilians love using 'massa' sarcastically when things go wrong.
Olha esse pôr do sol, que coisa massa.
Look at this sunset, what a cool thing.
Expressing genuine awe at nature.
셀프 테스트
Choose the best word to complete the reaction to good news.
Ganhei uma viagem para o Brasil! — Que ___!
'Que massa!' is the standard way to say 'How cool!' in response to good news.
How would you describe a cool person?
O João é um cara muito ___.
When describing a person, 'massa' means they are cool or great to be around.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality Level of 'Massa!'
Very common among friends and youth.
Massa, cara!
Safe for family and casual colleagues.
Que massa!
Better to use 'legal' or 'ótimo'.
Isso é ótimo.
Avoid completely in ceremonies.
N/A
Where to use 'Massa!'
At a concert
O show foi massa!
Eating out
Esse lanche é massa.
On WhatsApp
Massa! Te vejo lá.
Meeting people
Ela é muito massa.
연습 문제 은행
2 연습 문제Ganhei uma viagem para o Brasil! — Que ___!
'Que massa!' is the standard way to say 'How cool!' in response to good news.
O João é um cara muito ___.
When describing a person, 'massa' means they are cool or great to be around.
🎉 점수: /2
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, it literally means 'dough' or 'pasta'. However, in 90% of casual conversations, it is used to mean 'cool' or 'awesome'.
Yes, they are very similar. Legal is slightly more neutral, while massa feels a bit more modern and informal.
If you have a friendly relationship and the office is casual, yes. If it's a formal corporate environment, stick to ótimo or excelente.
It is understood, but it's much more common in Brazil. In Portugal, people are more likely to say fixe to mean cool.
You can say muito massa or massa demais. You can also stretch the 'a' sound: maaaaaassa!
Absolutely! Ele é um cara massa means 'He is a cool guy'. It refers to their personality.
Yes, the word massa doesn't change. You can say Ela é massa or Ele é massa.
There isn't a direct slang opposite, but you could use chato (boring/annoying) or ruim (bad).
Not at all. While it's been around for decades, it's still widely used by all ages in Brazil today.
Yes, but be careful! Essa massa está massa would mean 'This pasta is cool/great'. It's a funny pun!
관련 표현
Legal
Cool / Nice (The most common version)
Show
Great / Awesome (Literally 'Show')
Top
Excellent / High quality (Very trendy slang)
Bacana
Cool / Nice (Slightly more polite/classic)
