In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone who gossips or speaks ill of others.
- Translates literally to 'having a bad tongue'.
- Best for informal social settings and warning friends about rumors.
Meaning
This phrase describes someone who loves to talk behind people's backs or spread rumors. It is like saying someone has a 'wicked tongue' or is a habitual gossip who enjoys a bit of drama.
Key Examples
3 of 6Warning a new coworker
Cuidado com a Sandra, ela tem muito má língua.
Be careful with Sandra, she is a huge gossip.
Venting to a best friend
Não suporto aquele grupo, só sabem ter má língua de toda a gente.
I can't stand that group, they only know how to badmouth everyone.
Texting about a neighbor
A vizinha do 3º esquerdo é uma má língua de primeira!
The neighbor in 3E is a top-tier gossip!
Cultural Background
In Portugal and Brazil, social reputation is highly valued, making the 'má língua' a feared figure in neighborhoods and workplaces. Historically, the phrase appears in satirical poetry (Cantigas de Escárnio e Maldizer) from the Middle Ages. It reflects a long-standing cultural tension between the love for social storytelling and the moral disdain for gossip.
The Gender Rule
Even though 'língua' is feminine, if you call a man 'um má língua', you use the masculine article 'um'. It describes the person, not the tongue!
Don't confuse with 'Boca suja'
A 'boca suja' (dirty mouth) is someone who swears a lot. A 'má língua' is someone who gossips. They are different social crimes!
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe someone who gossips or speaks ill of others.
- Translates literally to 'having a bad tongue'.
- Best for informal social settings and warning friends about rumors.
What It Means
Ter má língua is all about that person who can't help but spill the tea. It describes someone who habitually speaks ill of others. It is not just about sharing news. It is about the negative or judgmental spin they put on it. If someone is a má língua, they are likely the office or neighborhood gossip.
How To Use It
You use it as a descriptor for a person's character. You can say someone tem má língua (has a bad tongue). You can also use it as a noun, calling someone um má língua. It works just like an adjective. Use it when you want to warn a friend about a coworker. Or use it to describe that one aunt who knows everyone's secrets.
When To Use It
Use it in casual conversations with people you trust. It is perfect for venting about a toxic social circle. Use it when someone starts spreading a rumor that feels a bit mean-spirited. It fits well in a coffee shop setting or a private WhatsApp group. You might use it at a family dinner to talk about a neighbor. It is great for setting boundaries with people who talk too much.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in professional performance reviews. It is too informal and sounds like personal gossip itself. Do not use it to describe someone who is just being honest. If the person is giving constructive criticism, they don't have a má língua. Also, avoid using it directly to the person's face unless you want a fight. It is a strong accusation of being a 'snake'.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture values social connections and close-knit communities. In small towns, the má língua was often the local news source. However, it carries a heavy stigma of being untrustworthy. There is a traditional sense that 'silence is gold'. Spreading rumors is seen as a social vice that breaks community trust. It is a very old expression found in classic Portuguese literature.
Common Variations
You might hear people say língua de trapo (rag tongue). This implies someone who talks too much and says nonsense. Another one is língua viperina (viper tongue). This is a much stronger, more poetic version. It suggests the person's words are actually poisonous. If you want to be funny, you can say someone's tongue 'doesn't fit in their mouth'.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral to informal. It is widely understood across all Portuguese-speaking countries but is most descriptive of a character flaw rather than a single action.
The Gender Rule
Even though 'língua' is feminine, if you call a man 'um má língua', you use the masculine article 'um'. It describes the person, not the tongue!
Don't confuse with 'Boca suja'
A 'boca suja' (dirty mouth) is someone who swears a lot. A 'má língua' is someone who gossips. They are different social crimes!
The 'Fofoca' Factor
In Brazil, the act of gossiping is 'fofoca'. While 'ter má língua' is understood, calling someone a 'fofoqueiro' is much more common in daily Brazilian slang.
Examples
6Cuidado com a Sandra, ela tem muito má língua.
Be careful with Sandra, she is a huge gossip.
Using 'muito' emphasizes how much the person gossips.
Não suporto aquele grupo, só sabem ter má língua de toda a gente.
I can't stand that group, they only know how to badmouth everyone.
Shows frustration with a toxic social environment.
A vizinha do 3º esquerdo é uma má língua de primeira!
The neighbor in 3E is a top-tier gossip!
The phrase 'de primeira' adds a humorous, superlative touch.
O meu tio tem má língua e acabou por afastar a família toda.
My uncle has a wicked tongue and ended up pushing the whole family away.
Reflects the serious social consequences of gossiping.
Eu não tenho má língua, só estou a dizer a verdade!
I'm not a gossip, I'm just telling the truth!
A common defensive reaction when caught sharing news.
Aquela comentadora de televisão é conhecida por ter má língua.
That TV commentator is known for having a sharp tongue.
Used to describe a public persona whose job is to critique others.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form to describe a group of people who gossip.
Eles não são de confiança, eles ___ má língua.
The verb 'ter' (to have) is always used with 'má língua' to describe the trait.
Complete the warning about a specific person.
Não lhe contes nada, ela é uma ___.
'Má língua' can be used as a noun to identify the person as a gossip.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Ter má língua'
Língua de trapo
Ele é um língua de trapo.
Ter má língua
Ela tem má língua.
Difamar / Caluniar
Ele difamou o colega.
When to use 'Ter má língua'
At a café
Talking about a mutual friend's drama.
Family dinner
Complaining about a judgmental relative.
Office breakroom
Warning a newbie about the office snitch.
WhatsApp group
Reacting to a mean rumor.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesEles não são de confiança, eles ___ má língua.
The verb 'ter' (to have) is always used with 'má língua' to describe the trait.
Não lhe contes nada, ela é uma ___.
'Má língua' can be used as a noun to identify the person as a gossip.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is generally negative. If you say someone tem má língua, you are criticizing their character and lack of discretion.
Absolutely not. It is too informal. Instead, use more professional terms like falta de discrição or comportamento pouco profissional.
Fofocar is the verb for the act of gossiping. Ter má língua is a personality trait; it means the person is a chronic gossip.
No, the expression is fixed as má língua because língua is a feminine noun. You just change the article, like ele é um má língua.
Yes, it is understood in Brazil, though Brazilians often prefer the word fofoqueiro for a person who gossips.
It is a more intense version of má língua. It literally means 'viper tongue' and suggests the person is malicious and hurtful.
No, for swearing you should use ter a boca suja (to have a dirty mouth). Má língua is strictly for talking about others.
In Portugal, people use cuscar or mexericar. In Brazil, the most common verb is fofocar.
Not necessarily. A má língua can tell the truth, but they do it in a way that is intended to harm someone's reputation.
There isn't a direct opposite phrase, but you could say someone is discreto (discreet) or não se mete na vida de ninguém (doesn't meddle in anyone's life).
Related Phrases
Língua de trapo
Someone who talks too much or tells secrets.
Cuscar
To snoop or gossip (common in Portugal).
Fazer fofoca
To gossip (common in Brazil).
Língua viperina
A very malicious or sharp-tongued person.
Dar à língua
To chatter or talk a lot.
