In 15 Seconds
- Used to request tidiness or orderly behavior in any setting.
- Commonly heard in households, offices, and social gatherings.
- Can refer to physical clutter or general rowdy behavior.
Meaning
It means to keep things tidy or behave yourself. You use it when asking someone not to clutter a space or cause trouble.
Key Examples
3 of 7A parent talking to children before leaving
Comportem-se e não façam bagunça na sala.
Behave and don't make a mess in the living room.
Visiting a friend with a very clean apartment
Pode deixar, eu vou tomar cuidado para não fazer bagunça.
Don't worry, I'll be careful not to make a mess.
In a professional shared workspace
Por favor, tente não fazer bagunça na mesa de reuniões.
Please try not to make a mess on the meeting table.
Cultural Background
The word 'bagunça' is central to Brazilian social life, often used to describe the chaotic but fun nature of parties. While it can be negative, 'fazer uma bagunça' can sometimes mean having a loud, uninhibited good time with friends. However, the negative command 'não fazer' is the universal standard for maintaining social order.
The 'Organized' Mess
If someone tells you 'Não mexe na minha bagunça', they are claiming their clutter is actually an organized system. Don't clean it for them!
Tone Matters
Saying 'Não faça bagunça' with a smile is a polite request. Saying it with a flat face can sound like a stern scolding.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to request tidiness or orderly behavior in any setting.
- Commonly heard in households, offices, and social gatherings.
- Can refer to physical clutter or general rowdy behavior.
What It Means
Não fazer bagunça is your go-to phrase for order. It literally means "not to make a mess." In Brazil, bagunça is a big word. It covers physical clutter like toys on the floor. It also covers chaotic behavior or lack of discipline. When you say this, you want things to stay organized. You want people to follow the rules of the house.
How To Use It
You can use it as a command or a promise. If you are leaving kids at home, you say: Não façam bagunça! It works perfectly with the verb ir. For example: Eu vou lá, mas não vou fazer bagunça. This means you'll visit but won't cause any trouble. It is very flexible. You can use it for physical objects or social situations.
When To Use It
Use it when you enter someone's clean house. It shows you respect their space. Use it at work when starting a new project. It implies you want a clean, organized process. It is great for texting a roommate before a party. You are setting expectations early. It is a very common phrase in daily Brazilian life.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it in very high-stakes legal or diplomatic settings. It sounds a bit too domestic for a courtroom. Avoid using it with your boss if they are very strict. It might sound like you are talking to a child. If the "mess" is emotional, use não criar confusão instead. Bagunça is usually more about physical or organizational chaos.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are generally very hospitable and love hosting. However, there is a deep pride in a clean, "tidy" home for guests. The word bagunça actually has roots in older Portuguese. It originally referred to a specific type of confusion or noise. Today, it is the ultimate "mom word" in Brazil. Every Brazilian child has heard não faz bagunça a thousand times. It is part of the collective childhood experience.
Common Variations
You might hear não mexe na minha bagunça. This means "don't touch my mess" (my organized chaos). Another one is que bagunça!, which is what you say when you walk into a disaster. If someone is being loud or rowdy, you say para de bagunça. This is a direct order to settle down. It is a very versatile root word for any kind of disorder.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. The main 'gotcha' is ensuring you conjugate 'fazer' correctly for the person you are talking to (faça/façam/faz).
The 'Organized' Mess
If someone tells you 'Não mexe na minha bagunça', they are claiming their clutter is actually an organized system. Don't clean it for them!
Tone Matters
Saying 'Não faça bagunça' with a smile is a polite request. Saying it with a flat face can sound like a stern scolding.
Bagunça vs. Confusão
Brazilians use 'bagunça' for physical mess and 'confusão' for arguments or trouble. Use 'bagunça' for the toys, 'confusão' for the fight.
Examples
7Comportem-se e não façam bagunça na sala.
Behave and don't make a mess in the living room.
A classic parental command for physical tidiness.
Pode deixar, eu vou tomar cuidado para não fazer bagunça.
Don't worry, I'll be careful not to make a mess.
A polite way to reassure a host.
Por favor, tente não fazer bagunça na mesa de reuniões.
Please try not to make a mess on the meeting table.
Used here for organizational professionalism.
Meu primo vai dormir aqui, mas ele não vai fazer bagunça.
My cousin is sleeping here, but he won't make a mess.
Setting expectations via text.
Silêncio, pessoal! Não façam bagunça agora.
Silence, everyone! Don't cause trouble now.
Refers to behavioral chaos rather than physical clutter.
Cuidado com esse café, não vai fazer bagunça na minha camisa!
Watch out with that coffee, don't make a mess on my shirt!
Using the phrase for a potential spill.
Ai meu Deus, eu juro que não queria fazer bagunça.
Oh my God, I swear I didn't mean to make a mess.
Used to apologize for an accident.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the verb 'fazer' to complete the command for a group of people.
Crianças, por favor, não ___ bagunça no quarto!
Since you are addressing 'crianças' (plural), you use the imperative plural form 'façam'.
Complete the sentence to say you will try to keep things clean.
Eu prometo que não vou ___ bagunça.
After 'vou' (future auxiliary), you use the infinitive 'fazer'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Não fazer bagunça'
Talking to siblings or close friends.
Não faz bagunça, cara!
Standard daily use in shops or homes.
Por favor, não faça bagunça.
Professional or polite requests.
Solicitamos que não façam bagunça no saguão.
Where to use 'Não fazer bagunça'
At a Friend's House
Reassuring the host you'll be tidy.
Office Kitchen
Signs asking staff to clean up.
With Kids
Setting rules for playtime.
Airbnb Stay
Reading the house rules.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesCrianças, por favor, não ___ bagunça no quarto!
Since you are addressing 'crianças' (plural), you use the imperative plural form 'façam'.
Eu prometo que não vou ___ bagunça.
After 'vou' (future auxiliary), you use the infinitive 'fazer'.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot at all! It is a very common, mild word used by everyone from grandmothers to toddlers. It just means 'mess' or 'disorder'.
Yes, especially in shared spaces like the kitchen or a shared desk. You can say Vamos tentar não fazer bagunça aqui to keep the team organized.
You can say Parem de fazer bagunça! (Stop making a mess!) or Não façam bagunça (Don't make a mess).
Bagunça is clutter or disorder (things out of place), while sujeira is actual dirt or filth. You can have a bagunça of clean clothes!
People might say não avacalha, which is more informal and means 'don't mess things up' or 'don't ruin it'.
Sometimes! Fazer uma bagunça can mean having a fun, loud party. But não fazer bagunça is almost always about keeping order.
You say Eu fiz uma bagunça. It is the past tense of the same phrase.
Yes! You can say Não faça bagunça nas pastas do computador to tell someone not to clutter the computer folders.
Yes, but they also use the word desarrumação quite often for a physical mess. Bagunça is understood but very Brazilian.
In that case, it is better to say não faça um escândalo or não crie confusão. Bagunça is usually less dramatic.
Related Phrases
Arrumar a bagunça
To clean up the mess
Que bagunça!
What a mess!
Bagunceiro
A messy person / troublemaker
Pôr em ordem
To put in order / to tidy up
