In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone who is very angry or frustrated.
- Uses 'estar' because the anger is a temporary emotional state.
- The word 'super' acts as a common, modern intensifier.
- Change 'bravo' to 'brava' when describing a woman.
Meaning
This phrase describes someone who is extremely angry, annoyed, or upset. It is the go-to way to say someone is 'fuming' or 'really mad' in a casual conversation.
Key Examples
3 of 6Texting a friend about a mistake
Não me liga agora, o meu chefe está super bravo.
Don't call me now, my boss is super angry.
Talking about a sibling's reaction
Minha irmã ficou super brava porque peguei o carro dela.
My sister got super mad because I took her car.
Explaining a delay in a professional but friendly email
O cliente está super bravo com o atraso do projeto.
The client is very angry about the project delay.
Cultural Background
The 'Mãe Brava' trope is huge in Brazilian comedy. Comedians like Paulo Gustavo often portrayed mothers who are 'super bravas' but use that anger to protect and care for their children. In Portugal, 'bravo' is frequently used for nature. A 'mar bravo' is a dangerous, wavy sea. Using it for people is common but 'zangado' is the more 'proper' daily term. In Angolan Portuguese, 'estar mambo' or other local slang might be used, but 'estar bravo' remains a standard way to express anger in the capital, Luanda. Brazilians use the 'super bravo' sentiment to create 'exposed' threads on Twitter, where they vent about companies or bad experiences, often starting with 'Gente, estou super brava...'
Gender Agreement
Always check who you are talking about. If it's a girl, it's 'brava'. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.
Don't use with the CEO
It's a bit too informal for a serious corporate meeting. Stick to 'preocupado' or 'insatisfeito' there.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone who is very angry or frustrated.
- Uses 'estar' because the anger is a temporary emotional state.
- The word 'super' acts as a common, modern intensifier.
- Change 'bravo' to 'brava' when describing a woman.
What It Means
Estar super bravo is your bread and butter for expressing high-level frustration. In Portuguese, bravo doesn't mean 'brave' like in English. It means angry or grumpy. Adding super just cranks the volume up to ten. You use it when someone is visibly upset. Their face might be red. They might be venting loudly. It is a very common, everyday expression.
How To Use It
You use the verb estar because anger is a temporary state. You aren't an angry person forever (usually). You are just angry right now. If you are talking about a woman, remember to change it to brava. For a group, use bravos or bravas. It fits perfectly in texts, over coffee, or when complaining about a bad day.
When To Use It
Use it when the situation is intense but not necessarily a tragedy. Use it when your friend's car gets towed. Use it when your boss cancels your vacation at the last minute. It is great for venting. Text your best friend: Meu pai está super bravo comigo. It sounds natural and relatable. It shows you understand the intensity of the emotion.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal legal or academic writing. It is a bit too 'chatty' for a court of law. Also, be careful with the word bravo in Portugal. In Brazil, it means angry. In some parts of Europe, it can still mean courageous or well-behaved. If you are at a funeral, maybe choose a more somber word like triste or abalado.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are generally expressive people. We don't just get 'annoyed'; we get super bravo. The word super became a universal intensifier in Brazil during the 90s. It replaced older, more formal adverbs. It reflects the informal, high-energy nature of Brazilian Portuguese. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a dramatic hand gesture.
Common Variations
You will often hear muito bravo for a slightly more neutral tone. If you want to sound more modern, try puto (though be careful, that’s a bit vulgar). For a more 'slang' feel, some people say virado no girassol or virado no bicho. But super bravo remains the safest, most popular choice for daily life.
Usage Notes
This phrase is solidly informal but safe for most social interactions. The biggest 'gotcha' is the gender agreement; always ensure the adjective matches the subject.
Gender Agreement
Always check who you are talking about. If it's a girl, it's 'brava'. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.
Don't use with the CEO
It's a bit too informal for a serious corporate meeting. Stick to 'preocupado' or 'insatisfeito' there.
Use 'ficar'
To sound more native, use 'ficar' when something *makes* you angry. 'Eu fiquei super bravo' sounds better than 'Eu estive super bravo'.
Examples
6Não me liga agora, o meu chefe está super bravo.
Don't call me now, my boss is super angry.
The speaker is warning a friend about a tense atmosphere at work.
Minha irmã ficou super brava porque peguei o carro dela.
My sister got super mad because I took her car.
Shows the feminine form 'brava' in a family context.
O cliente está super bravo com o atraso do projeto.
The client is very angry about the project delay.
Used to convey the seriousness of a client's frustration.
Olha a cara do gato, ele parece super bravo!
Look at the cat's face, he looks super angry!
Lighthearted use of the phrase to describe an animal.
Eu estou super bravo com esse trânsito hoje.
I am super angry with this traffic today.
A very common daily complaint in Brazilian cities.
Cuidado, seu pai está super bravo com a nota da prova.
Watch out, your dad is super mad about the test grade.
Used to set expectations before an interaction.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'bravo' (bravo, brava, bravos, bravas).
Minha irmã perdeu a chave e agora ela está super ______.
Since 'irmã' (sister) is feminine singular, the adjective must be 'brava'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'They are super mad' in a casual conversation?
Choose the best option:
We use 'estar' for temporary feelings and 'super' as the informal intensifier.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
A: O que aconteceu com o João? B: O carro dele quebrou de novo. Ele ______.
João is angry because his car broke, which is a temporary state.
Match the emotion to the situation.
Situation: You waited 2 hours for a pizza and it arrived cold.
A cold pizza after a long wait is a classic reason to be 'super bravo'.
Choose the correct verb to show someone *became* angry.
Quando eu contei a verdade, ele ______ super bravo.
'Ficar' is used to show a change in state (he wasn't angry, then he became angry).
Match the Portuguese phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
All pairs are actually correct translations of different senses of 'bravo'.
🎉 Score: /6
Visual Learning Aids
Levels of Anger in Portuguese
When to use 'Bravo'
People
- • Angry
- • Upset
- • Fuming
Animals
- • Wild
- • Aggressive
- • Untamed
Nature
- • Rough sea
- • Stormy weather
Practice Bank
6 exercisesMinha irmã perdeu a chave e agora ela está super ______.
Since 'irmã' (sister) is feminine singular, the adjective must be 'brava'.
Choose the best option:
We use 'estar' for temporary feelings and 'super' as the informal intensifier.
A: O que aconteceu com o João? B: O carro dele quebrou de novo. Ele ______.
João is angry because his car broke, which is a temporary state.
Situation: You waited 2 hours for a pizza and it arrived cold.
A cold pizza after a long wait is a classic reason to be 'super bravo'.
Quando eu contei a verdade, ele ______ super bravo.
'Ficar' is used to show a change in state (he wasn't angry, then he became angry).
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All pairs are actually correct translations of different senses of 'bravo'.
🎉 Score: /6
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! In Brazil, you can say 'super feliz', 'super cansado', 'super longe'. It's a universal intensifier.
No, it's just a description of an emotion. However, telling someone 'Você está bravo?' might annoy them further!
'Puto' is much more vulgar (slang) and intense. Use 'super bravo' in general company, and 'puto' only with very close friends.
Rarely in conversation. It's mostly found in literature or when talking about historical figures.
You say 'Não estou bravo' or 'Não estou brava'.
According to the new orthographic rules, you only use a hyphen with 'super' if the next word starts with 'h' or 'r'. So, 'superbravo' is technically one word, but 'super bravo' is very common in informal writing.
Yes. 'Cuidado, esse cachorro é bravo' means the dog is aggressive/dangerous.
Use the masculine plural: 'Eles estão super bravos'.
Yes, but 'zangado' sounds a bit more like something a child or an older person would say. 'Bravo' is more 'cool' and common.
Use the present continuous: 'Estou ficando bravo'.
Related Phrases
estar irritado
similarTo be irritated
estar fulo da vida
synonymTo be livid/fuming
estar com raiva
synonymTo be with anger
estar de mal
relatedTo not be on speaking terms
perder a paciência
builds onTo lose one's patience
estar de boa
contrastTo be chill/fine
