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A2 adjective #4,000 most common 11 min read

bruto

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips bruto in 30 Seconds

Explanation bruto in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic physical and financial meanings of 'bruto'. Think of it as 'raw' or 'gross'. For a beginner, the most important phrase to learn is 'salário bruto' (gross salary). Even if you are just starting, you need to know how much you are being paid! You might also see it in very simple descriptions of materials, like 'pedra bruta' (raw stone). At this stage, don't worry about the complex metaphorical uses. Just remember that 'bruto' means the total amount before anything is taken away, or something in its simplest natural form. Always remember to change the ending: 'bruto' for masculine things and 'bruta' for feminine things. For example, 'o peso bruto' but 'a renda bruta'. Keep it simple and use it in these concrete situations. You will often see this word on labels or in simple forms. It is a very useful word for everyday life in a Portuguese-speaking country because it appears on receipts, pay stubs, and product packaging. If you see 'Peso Bruto' on a box of cereal, it means the weight of the cereal plus the box. If you see 'Preço Bruto', it might mean the price before a discount. By learning this word now, you are building a foundation for both business and daily survival vocabulary. Practice saying it with a clear 'u' sound (like 'broo-too').

At the A2 level, you can start using 'bruto' to describe people and behaviors, in addition to its financial and physical meanings. You might describe someone who is a bit clumsy or rough as 'bruto'. For example, if a friend closes a door too hard, you could say 'Que bruto!'. You are also expected to understand the term 'Produto Interno Bruto' (PIB), which you will hear on the news. This is a great way to start connecting your Portuguese studies to real-world events. In terms of grammar, you should be comfortable making the adjective agree with plural nouns, such as 'diamantes brutos' or 'rendas brutas'. You should also begin to distinguish 'bruto' from 'cru' (raw food). Remember: 'carne crua' (raw meat) but 'petróleo bruto' (crude oil). This distinction is a key marker of an A2 learner. You are moving beyond simple labels and starting to understand how the word changes depending on the context. Try to use 'bruto' in sentences about your work or your hobbies. If you like jewelry, talk about 'diamantes brutos'. If you work in an office, talk about 'lucro bruto'. This level is about expanding the range of situations where you can use the word correctly. You should also be aware of the common collocation 'força bruta' (brute force), which is used when someone uses physical strength instead of a key or a tool.

By the B1 level, you should be able to use 'bruto' in more abstract and idiomatic ways. You might use it to describe a 'glaring' or 'gross' error, calling it an 'erro bruto'. This shows you understand the metaphorical sense of the word meaning 'unrefined' or 'obvious'. You should also be aware of the cultural connotations of 'bruto' in different regions. For example, in Brazil, the 'cultura bruta' of the countryside is a common topic in music and television. You can start using 'bruto' to discuss personality traits in more detail. A 'homem bruto' isn't just someone who is strong; it implies a specific type of rustic, perhaps uneducated but authentic character. You should also be able to handle more complex financial discussions involving 'lucros brutos' and 'margens brutas'. Your understanding of the word should now include its use as a noun in certain expressions, like 'um bruto de um susto' (a huge fright). This use of 'bruto' as an intensifier is very common in spoken Portuguese. At B1, you are expected to navigate these nuances without much hesitation. You should also be able to explain the difference between 'bruto' and its synonyms like 'tosco' or 'grosseiro' to someone else. This ability to define and contrast words is a hallmark of the intermediate level. Practice using 'bruto' in your writing to describe complex situations, like the 'raw talent' (talento bruto) of an artist or the 'raw data' (dados brutos) of a project.

At the B2 level, you should have a sophisticated grasp of 'bruto' and be able to use it fluently in professional and academic contexts. You will use it to discuss 'dados brutos' (raw data) in research or 'matéria-prima bruta' (raw material) in industrial processes. You should be familiar with the nuances of how 'bruto' can change meaning slightly depending on its position in a sentence, though it usually stays after the noun. You should also be comfortable with idioms like 'no bruto' (in the raw/roughly speaking). Your vocabulary should include related words like 'brutalidade' (brutality) or 'embrutecer' (to make or become crude/brutal). You can use 'bruto' to critique art or literature, perhaps discussing the 'estética bruta' (raw aesthetic) of a particular movement. At this level, you should also be able to recognize and use 'bruto' in its slang forms, especially in Brazil, where it can be used as an intensifier for anything impressive or large. You are expected to understand the historical and etymological roots of the word—from the Latin 'brutus' meaning heavy or dull—and how that history informs its current diverse meanings. Whether you are reading a financial report, a classic novel, or watching a documentary about rural life, 'bruto' should no longer pose a challenge to your comprehension. You should be able to use it to add color and precision to your speech, choosing it over more generic words like 'grande' or 'ruim' when the context of 'unrefined' or 'total' is appropriate.

At the C1 level, your use of 'bruto' should be indistinguishable from that of a native speaker. You can use it to express subtle shades of meaning, such as the difference between a 'comportamento bruto' (rough behavior) and a 'comportamento grosseiro' (rude behavior). You will use 'bruto' in high-level economic discussions, perhaps debating the merits of 'PIB' vs. other measures of national well-being. You should be able to use the word in creative writing to evoke specific textures or atmospheres—the 'cheiro bruto da terra' (the raw smell of the earth) or the 'luz bruta do meio-dia' (the harsh, unrefined light of noon). You are also expected to understand the word's role in philosophical or sociological contexts, such as the 'estado bruto' of nature. Your mastery of the word includes its most obscure idiomatic uses and regional variations. You can switch between the technical precision of 'peso bruto' and the colloquial energy of 'sistema bruto' with ease. At this level, you might also explore the verb 'embrutecer' and how it describes the process of losing refinement or sensitivity due to harsh conditions. You should be able to provide detailed synonyms and antonyms for 'bruto' in any given context, showing a deep and wide-ranging vocabulary. Your understanding of 'bruto' is now a tool for precise and evocative communication, allowing you to describe everything from the 'raw power' of a storm to the 'gross inaccuracies' of a flawed argument.

At the C2 level, you possess a masterly command of 'bruto'. You can use it to navigate the most complex linguistic landscapes, from legal contracts to avant-garde poetry. You understand the word not just as a vocabulary item, but as a concept that permeates Portuguese culture and thought. You can discuss the 'brutalismo' architectural movement and its connection to the 'raw' (bruto) use of concrete. You can analyze the use of 'bruto' in the works of great Lusophone writers, noticing how they use the word to contrast the civilized with the primal. Your usage is characterized by perfect timing and placement, using 'bruto' to create emphasis, irony, or precise technical descriptions. You are aware of the most subtle shifts in meaning that have occurred over centuries and can use the word to evoke historical or regional flavors in your speech. Whether you are delivering a keynote speech on macroeconomics or writing a literary critique, 'bruto' is a word you use with absolute confidence and nuance. You might use it to describe the 'essência bruta' (raw essence) of a philosophical idea or the 'realidade bruta' (harsh reality) of a social situation. At C2, the word 'bruto' is a flexible and powerful instrument in your linguistic repertoire, reflecting your deep immersion in the Portuguese language and its diverse cultures.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

bruto in 30 Seconds

Bruto means 'raw' or 'unrefined' for materials like diamonds and oil.
In finance, it means 'gross'—the total amount before any taxes or deductions.
It can describe a person who is rough, rude, or lacks social manners.
Always remember to match the gender: 'bruto' (masculine) and 'bruta' (feminine).

The Portuguese word bruto is a multifaceted adjective that every learner must master because it bridges the gap between physical descriptions, financial terminology, and character analysis. At its most fundamental level, it describes something in its natural, unrefined, or raw state. Imagine a diamond just pulled from the earth, covered in dust and lacking the sparkle of a cut gem; in Portuguese, this is a diamante bruto. This physical sense extends to any material that has not yet undergone industrial processing or artistic refinement. You will hear it used in construction when referring to raw materials like stone or timber that haven't been polished or treated.

Physical State: Refers to materials that are unrefined, raw, or in their natural condition without any human intervention or processing.

Beyond the physical, bruto is an essential term in the world of finance and logistics. If you are working in Brazil or Portugal, you must distinguish between bruto (gross) and líquido (net). Your salário bruto is the total amount you earn before the government takes its share in taxes. Similarly, in shipping, the peso bruto includes the weight of the product plus all its packaging. This distinction is vital for avoiding confusion in contracts and business dealings.

O valor bruto do contrato é maior do que eu esperava.

Another common usage relates to human behavior and force. When used to describe a person, bruto suggests someone who is rough, rude, or lacks delicacy. It doesn't always mean the person is 'evil,' but rather that they are 'unpolished' in their social interactions—much like the raw diamond mentioned earlier. In terms of physical action, força bruta (brute force) describes a situation where a problem is solved through sheer power rather than intellect or strategy.

Economic Context: Used to indicate the total amount or weight before any deductions, taxes, or adjustments are made.

Não use força bruta para abrir a porta; use a chave.

Social Context: Describes a person who is insensitive, crude, or lacks manners in their speech or actions.

Ele foi muito bruto com os funcionários hoje de manhã.

A matéria-prima bruta chega à fábrica toda segunda-feira.

In summary, whether you are talking about geology, finance, or personality, bruto indicates an absence of refinement. It is the starting point of a process—the unearned salary, the uncarved stone, or the untamed behavior. Understanding this word allows you to navigate technical documents and social nuances with much greater precision.

Using bruto correctly requires attention to two main things: the context (financial vs. physical vs. behavioral) and grammatical agreement. Because it is an adjective, it must match the noun it describes. For instance, 'salário' is masculine, so we use bruto. 'Renda' (income) is feminine, so we must use bruta. This seems simple, but in fast-paced conversation, many learners forget to make these adjustments.

Financial Agreement: Always check the gender of the financial term. Salário bruto (Masculine), Renda bruta (Feminine), Lucro bruto (Masculine).

In sentence structure, bruto usually follows the noun it modifies. This is the standard position for descriptive adjectives in Portuguese. Putting it before the noun can sometimes add a poetic or emphatic tone, but for daily usage, stick to the post-noun position. For example, 'Ele é um homem bruto' (He is a rough man) is the standard way to describe someone's personality.

Nós precisamos calcular o peso bruto da carga antes do embarque.

When discussing materials, bruto emphasizes the lack of processing. If you are at a market and see honey that hasn't been filtered, you might call it mel bruto. If you are talking about crude oil, the term is petróleo bruto. In these cases, the word functions almost like 'raw' or 'crude' in English. In more abstract or metaphorical senses, bruto can describe an error that is very obvious or 'thick.' An erro bruto is a glaring mistake that shouldn't have been made. It implies a lack of care or a lack of 'fine-tuning' in one's work. This usage is common in academic or professional critiques.

Metaphorical Use: Describes things that are obvious, large, or lacking in subtlety, such as 'erro bruto' (gross error).

Aquele diamante bruto vale uma fortuna no mercado internacional.

O PIB (Produto Interno Bruto) do país cresceu três por cento este ano.

Ela tem um talento bruto, mas ainda precisa de muito treino.

To master this word, practice switching between its meanings. Try describing your 'bruto' salary, then a 'bruto' person you know, and then a 'bruto' material like a rock. This mental flexibility will help you internalize the core concept of 'unrefined total' that unites all these different uses.

You will encounter bruto in a surprising variety of environments, from the quiet halls of a central bank to the dusty atmosphere of a construction site. In the professional world, especially in accounting and HR, it is perhaps the most common word you'll hear. During a job interview, when the recruiter discusses compensation, they will almost always specify the valor bruto. If you don't realize this is the 'gross' amount, you might be disappointed when your actual paycheck arrives with the 'líquido' (net) amount!

Financial Offices: Used daily to discuss 'salário bruto,' 'lucro bruto,' and 'rendimento bruto.' Essential for anyone working in business.

In the shipping and logistics industry, bruto is ubiquitous. Boxes, containers, and trucks all have a peso bruto marked on them. This is the weight of the cargo plus the vehicle or packaging. Drivers and logistics managers must constantly monitor these numbers to ensure they don't exceed legal limits on roads and bridges.

Verifique o peso bruto na etiqueta da caixa.

If you travel to rural areas, particularly in the interior of Brazil (like Minas Gerais, Goiás, or Mato Grosso), bruto takes on a cultural life of its own. In the world of 'sertanejo' music and rodeo culture, 'ser bruto' is a point of pride. It signifies a person who is tough, works with their hands, and isn't 'softened' by the delicate manners of the big city. You might see bumper stickers that say Sistema Bruto, which roughly translates to 'The system is tough' or 'We do things the hard way.' In the news, you will frequently hear the term PIB, which stands for Produto Interno Bruto (Gross Domestic Product). This is the standard measure of a country's economic output. Economists and news anchors use it daily to report on the health of the economy.

The Media: Frequent use of 'Produto Interno Bruto' (GDP) and reports on 'petróleo bruto' (crude oil) prices.

O preço do barril de petróleo bruto subiu novamente hoje.

Ele é um peão bruto, mas tem um coração de ouro.

Não aguento mais esse clima bruto do deserto.

Finally, in the arts, you might hear about Art Brut (or Arte Bruta), which refers to raw art created by those outside the professional art world, such as prisoners or psychiatric patients. It emphasizes the raw, unrefined creative impulse. This shows how the word travels from the most practical financial settings to the most abstract creative ones.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with bruto is using it where they should use cru. While both can translate to 'raw' in English, their usage in Portuguese is strictly divided. Cru is almost exclusively used for food that hasn't been cooked (e.g., carne crua - raw meat). If you say carne bruta, a native speaker will understand you mean the meat is 'tough' or 'unrefined,' but it sounds very strange in a culinary context. Use bruto for materials like minerals, oil, or wood, and cru for your sushi or steak.

Bruto vs. Cru: Bruto: Raw materials (diamonds, oil), Gross values (salary, weight). Cru: Raw food (meat, vegetables), Uncooked.

Another pitfall is the confusion between bruto and grosseiro. While they both mean 'rude' or 'rough,' grosseiro specifically refers to bad manners or lack of education. Bruto is more about the intensity of the force or the lack of refinement. If someone bumps into you and doesn't apologize, they are grosseiro. If someone picks up a delicate glass with so much force that it breaks, they are bruto.

Erro comum: 'Eu gosto de comer peixe bruto' (Errado). Correto: 'Eu gosto de comer peixe cru'.

Grammatical agreement is another area where errors are common. Because bruto is often used in technical or financial terms, learners sometimes treat it as an invariable noun. Remember, if the word it modifies is plural, bruto must be plural. 'Os lucros brutos' (The gross profits) is correct. 'Os lucros bruto' is a common error. Learners also sometimes confuse bruto with the English 'brutal.' While they share a root, 'brutal' in Portuguese (brutal) is used more for things that are extremely violent, shocking, or even 'awesome' in slang. Bruto is less about the shock value and more about the raw, unpolished nature.

False Friend Alert: Portuguese 'brutal' often means 'great' or 'incredible' in slang, whereas 'bruto' means raw or unrefined.

Cuidado com a concordância: 'As rendas brutas das empresas foram declaradas.'

Não diga 'peso bruta', o correto é 'peso bruto' porque peso é masculino.

Ele tem um jeito bruto de falar, mas é uma boa pessoa.

Finally, avoid using bruto when you mean 'natural' in a health context. You wouldn't say 'suco bruto' for natural juice; you would say 'suco natural.' Bruto is for things that could be refined but haven't been yet, or for totals that could be deducted from but haven't been yet.

To expand your vocabulary beyond bruto, you should learn its synonyms and related terms, which vary depending on whether you are talking about materials, money, or manners. For materials, a great alternative is natural or virgem. For example, 'azeite virgem' (virgin olive oil) is a specific type of unrefined oil. If you are talking about the 'raw' aspect of a person, tosco is a very common word. Tosco implies something that is poorly made, rough, or unpolished, often in an aesthetic or behavioral sense.

Bruto vs. Tosco: Bruto: Raw, unrefined, or gross total. Tosco: Poorly made, rustic, or aesthetically unrefined.

In financial contexts, if you want to avoid bruto, you might use total or integral. While 'salário total' is understood, 'salário bruto' is the standard technical term. However, you might say 'o valor integral' to mean the full amount without any discounts applied.

O móvel tem um acabamento tosco, mas é muito resistente.

For describing a person who is rude or 'bruto,' you have many options. Grosseiro is the most common, but you could also use estúpido (which means rude/unpleasant, not necessarily unintelligent in Portuguese) or inculto (uneducated/unrefined). If the person is physically aggressive or rough, you might call them violento or agressivo. In the context of 'raw' food, as mentioned before, cru is your only real choice. For 'raw' data in a scientific context, you would use dados brutos.

Bruto vs. Rústico: Bruto: Often implies a lack of processing that needs to happen. Rústico: Implies a style that celebrates natural textures.

Os dados brutos da pesquisa ainda não foram analisados.

Ele é um diamante bruto; só precisa de uma oportunidade.

O estilo da casa é rústico, com muita madeira e pedra.

Understanding these alternatives allows you to be more precise. Use bruto when the focus is on the unrefined total or state, tosco for poor quality, rústico for style, and cru for food. This level of nuance is what separates an intermediate learner from a truly fluent speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The famous Roman Marcus Junius Brutus, who participated in the assassination of Julius Caesar, had a name that literally meant 'dull' or 'stupid'. It was originally a family nickname that stuck.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈbɾu.tu/

US /ˈbɾu.tu/

The stress is on the first syllable: BRU-to.

Rhymes With

Astuto Canudo Contudo Escudo Estudo Grudo Miúdo Veludo

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r' (it should be a tap).
Pronouncing the final 'o' as a strong 'oh' (it should be a soft 'u').
Making the 't' aspirated (it should be a dry, unaspirated 't').
Confusing it with 'brutal' (which has stress on the last syllable).
Pronouncing the 'u' like the 'u' in 'but' (it must be 'oo').

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in financial and technical texts.

Writing 3/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is key, especially the tapped 'r'.

Listening 2/5

Commonly heard in daily life and news.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Peso Salário Pedra Força Total

Learn Next

Líquido Refinado Grosseiro Lapidado PIB

Advanced

Embrutecimento Brutalidade Ontológico Visceral

Grammar to Know

Adjective Agreement

O lucro bruto (masc) vs. A renda bruta (fem).

Pluralization of Adjectives

Os pesos brutos (plural masc) vs. As matérias brutas (plural fem).

Adjective Position

Usually follows the noun: 'diamante bruto'.

Intensifier Construction

Use 'um bruto de um...' to intensify: 'um bruto de um erro'.

Compound Noun Agreement

In 'matéria-prima bruta', only 'bruta' and 'matéria' usually change in simple speech, but technically it is 'matérias-primas brutas'.

Examples by Level

O peso bruto da mala é vinte quilos.

The gross weight of the suitcase is twenty kilos.

Note the masculine agreement: 'peso' and 'bruto'.

Meu salário bruto é bom.

My gross salary is good.

'Salário' is masculine, so we use 'bruto'.

Eu vi um diamante bruto no museu.

I saw a rough diamond in the museum.

'Diamante' is masculine.

A pedra é bruta e pesada.

The stone is raw and heavy.

Here, 'bruta' agrees with the feminine 'pedra'.

Qual é o valor bruto?

What is the gross value?

'Valor' is masculine.

Eles vendem mel bruto na feira.

They sell raw honey at the market.

'Mel' is masculine.

O total bruto está aqui.

The gross total is here.

'Total' is masculine.

Ela tem uma renda bruta alta.

She has a high gross income.

'Renda' is feminine, so we use 'bruta'.

Não seja tão bruto com o brinquedo!

Don't be so rough with the toy!

Used here to describe physical behavior.

O PIB do Brasil cresceu este ano.

Brazil's GDP grew this year.

PIB stands for Produto Interno Bruto.

Ele é um homem bruto, mas gentil.

He is a rough man, but kind.

Describing personality/appearance.

Precisamos de mais matéria-prima bruta.

We need more raw material.

'Matéria-prima' is feminine.

O petróleo bruto é transportado por navios.

Crude oil is transported by ships.

'Petróleo' is masculine.

Que erro bruto você cometeu!

What a gross error you made!

Used as an intensifier for a mistake.

A força bruta não resolve tudo.

Brute force doesn't solve everything.

Common collocation 'força bruta'.

Eles usam madeira bruta na construção.

They use raw wood in the construction.

'Madeira' is feminine.

O lucro bruto da empresa foi de um milhão.

The company's gross profit was one million.

Professional financial context.

Ele deu um bruto de um grito.

He gave a huge shout.

Using 'bruto' as an intensifier for a noun.

O acabamento do móvel ainda está bruto.

The finish of the furniture is still raw.

Describing the state of a process.

A natureza bruta é fascinante e perigosa.

Raw nature is fascinating and dangerous.

Abstract/environmental use.

Não use esse tom bruto comigo.

Don't use that harsh tone with me.

Describing a way of speaking.

O resultado bruto da pesquisa foi inconclusivo.

The raw result of the research was inconclusive.

Academic/scientific context.

Aquele jogador é muito bruto em campo.

That player is very rough on the field.

Describing athletic style.

Ela tem um talento bruto para a pintura.

She has a raw talent for painting.

Meaning 'unrefined but great potential'.

A margem bruta de contribuição é essencial.

The gross contribution margin is essential.

Specific accounting terminology.

A realidade bruta dos fatos não pode ser ignorada.

The harsh reality of the facts cannot be ignored.

Abstract/rhetorical use.

O minério bruto é processado na usina.

The raw ore is processed in the plant.

Technical/industrial context.

O seu comportamento foi de uma brutalidade bruta.

Your behavior was of a raw brutality.

Using 'bruta' to emphasize 'brutalidade'.

Os dados brutos precisam de tratamento estatístico.

The raw data needs statistical treatment.

Scientific/data context.

Ele é um diamante bruto que precisa ser lapidado.

He is a rough diamond that needs to be polished.

Idiomatic expression for potential.

A luz bruta do sol de meio-dia queimava a pele.

The raw light of the midday sun burned the skin.

Literary description.

O peso bruto total do caminhão excede o limite.

The total gross weight of the truck exceeds the limit.

Logistics context.

A estética bruta do concreto define o brutalismo.

The raw aesthetic of concrete defines brutalism.

Art and architectural history context.

A linguagem bruta do autor chocou os críticos.

The author's raw language shocked the critics.

Literary analysis.

A renda bruta per capita é um indicador limitado.

Gross income per capita is a limited indicator.

High-level social science context.

Sentiu um bruto de um alívio ao receber a notícia.

He felt a huge sense of relief upon receiving the news.

Colloquial intensifier usage.

O mármore bruto aguardava as mãos do escultor.

The raw marble awaited the hands of the sculptor.

Poetic/artistic description.

A matéria bruta do pensamento é a experiência.

The raw material of thought is experience.

Philosophical metaphor.

O sistema é bruto e não perdoa falhas.

The system is harsh and does not forgive failures.

Cultural idiom ('sistema bruto').

A força bruta da maré destruiu o cais.

The brute force of the tide destroyed the pier.

Describing natural power.

A ontologia do ser em seu estado bruto.

The ontology of being in its raw state.

Highly academic/philosophical context.

O texto exala uma vitalidade bruta e visceral.

The text exhales a raw and visceral vitality.

Literary criticism.

A depreciação foi calculada sobre o valor bruto.

The depreciation was calculated on the gross value.

Complex financial/legal context.

Houve uma bruta de uma confusão na assembleia.

There was a massive confusion at the assembly.

Advanced colloquial intensifier.

O artista busca a verdade bruta sob o verniz social.

The artist seeks the raw truth beneath the social varnish.

Metaphorical/artistic analysis.

A exploração de petróleo bruto em águas profundas.

The exploration of crude oil in deep waters.

Technical/industrial precision.

A natureza, em sua crueza bruta, é indiferente.

Nature, in its raw starkness, is indifferent.

Existential description.

O coeficiente bruto de mortalidade foi analisado.

The crude mortality rate was analyzed.

Scientific/statistical terminology.

Common Collocations

Salário bruto

Peso bruto

Diamante bruto

Força bruta

Produto Interno Bruto

Petróleo bruto

Erro bruto

Matéria-prima bruta

Lucro bruto

Dados brutos

Common Phrases

No bruto

— In a rough or estimated way. Often used when giving a quick calculation.

No bruto, acho que vamos gastar mil reais.

Sistema bruto

— A colloquial way in Brazil to describe a tough, rural, or traditional lifestyle.

Aqui o sistema é bruto, trabalhamos de sol a sol.

Jeito bruto

— A rough or insensitive way of acting or speaking.

Ele tem um jeito bruto, mas é gente boa.

Madeira bruta

— Wood that hasn't been planed or treated.

Construíram a cerca com madeira bruta.

Renda bruta

— Total income before any taxes or expenses.

A renda bruta familiar é declarada no imposto.

Valor bruto

— The total value without any discounts or deductions.

O valor bruto da nota fiscal está correto.

Trabalho bruto

— Heavy manual labor that requires strength.

O trabalho bruto na roça é cansativo.

Pedra bruta

— A natural, uncarved stone.

Ele coleciona pedras brutas de diferentes cores.

Mármore bruto

— Unpolished marble block.

O mármore bruto foi trazido da Itália.

Erro bruto de português

— A very obvious and bad grammar mistake.

Escrever 'nóis vai' é um erro bruto de português.

Often Confused With

bruto vs Cru

English speakers use 'raw' for both, but Portuguese uses 'cru' for food and 'bruto' for materials/finance.

bruto vs Brutal

'Brutal' means violent or extreme; 'bruto' means unrefined or total.

bruto vs Grosseiro

'Grosseiro' is about bad manners; 'bruto' is about lack of refinement or high intensity.

Idioms & Expressions

"Diamante bruto"

— A person with great potential who needs training or refinement.

Aquele estagiário é um diamante bruto.

Informal

"Bruto como uma porta"

— Very rude, insensitive, or lacking in social grace.

Não adianta falar com ele, é bruto como uma porta.

Informal

"No bruto"

— Approximately or without detail.

No bruto, a viagem custará dois mil.

Colloquial

"Dar uma de bruto"

— To act in a rough or aggressive manner suddenly.

Ele deu uma de bruto e saiu batendo a porta.

Slang

"Bruto, rústico e sistemático"

— A catchphrase in Brazil describing an authentic country man.

Meu avô era bruto, rústico e sistemático.

Cultural Slang

"Força bruta"

— Using physical power instead of intelligence to solve a problem.

Resolvemos o problema na força bruta.

Neutral

"Um bruto de um..."

— Used as an intensifier for a noun (a huge...).

Levei um bruto de um susto!

Informal

"Sistema é bruto"

— Life is hard or we are tough.

Aqui o sistema é bruto, companheiro.

Rural Slang

"Talento bruto"

— Natural talent that hasn't been professionally trained.

Ela canta com um talento bruto.

Neutral

"Massa bruta"

— A large, unorganized group or the raw material of a population.

A massa bruta da população quer mudanças.

Sociological

Easily Confused

bruto vs Cru

Both translate to 'raw'.

Cru is for uncooked food; Bruto is for unrefined materials or gross amounts.

Peixe cru vs. Petróleo bruto.

bruto vs Brutal

Cognates with different nuances.

Brutal is usually for violence or something 'awesome' (slang); Bruto is for raw states or totals.

Um ataque brutal vs. Um peso bruto.

bruto vs Tosco

Both mean rough/unpolished.

Tosco implies bad quality or ugly finish; Bruto implies natural state or total amount.

Um trabalho tosco vs. Um diamante bruto.

bruto vs Rústico

Both relate to 'rough' or 'rural'.

Rústico is often positive/stylistic; Bruto is more functional or behavioral.

Móvel rústico vs. Homem bruto.

bruto vs Grosseiro

Both mean rude.

Grosseiro is specific to manners/education; Bruto is more about physical force or lack of delicacy.

Um comentário grosseiro vs. Um toque bruto.

Sentence Patterns

O [noun] bruto é [adjective].

O peso bruto é grande.

Não seja [adjective] com [noun].

Não seja bruto com o gato.

Ele tem um talento [adjective].

Ele tem um talento bruto.

O [noun] [adjective] precisa de [noun].

O diamante bruto precisa de lapidação.

A [noun] [adjective] da [noun] é [adjective].

A realidade bruta da vida é difícil.

Sob a [noun], encontra-se o [noun] [adjective].

Sob a pele, encontra-se o ser bruto.

Meu [noun] [adjective] é [number].

Meu salário bruto é dois mil.

Foi um [adjective] de um [noun].

Foi um bruto de um susto.

Word Family

Nouns

Brutalidade

Bruteza

Brutalismo

Verbs

Embrutecer

Embrutecer-se

Adjectives

Brutal

Embrutecido

Cru

Grosseiro

Rústico

Tosco

Violento

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in economic, logistical, and rural contexts.

Common Mistakes

Eu como carne bruta. → Eu como carne crua.
You used 'bruto' for food. 'Cru' is the correct word for uncooked food.
O salário bruta é alto. → O salário bruto é alto.
'Salário' is masculine, so the adjective must be 'bruto'.
A peso bruto da caixa. → O peso bruto da caixa.
'Peso' is masculine, so the article must be 'O'.
Ele é muito brutal comigo. → Ele é muito bruto comigo.
'Brutal' means violent/cruel. 'Bruto' means rough/rude. Unless he is attacking you, 'bruto' is more common.
Os lucros bruto da empresa. → Os lucros brutos da empresa.
Adjectives must agree in number (plural) with the noun they modify.

Tips

Gender Agreement

Always check the noun. 'O valor bruto' but 'A quantia bruta'. This is the most common mistake for beginners.

Bruto vs Cru

Never use 'bruto' for food. Sushi is 'peixe cru'. Oil is 'petróleo bruto'. Keeping this distinction clear is vital.

Brazilian Rural Pride

In the Brazilian interior, 'bruto' is often used with pride in 'Sertanejo' culture. It means being strong and true to the land.

Salary Negotiations

When discussing salary, always ask if the value is 'bruto' or 'líquido'. The difference can be 20-30% of the total!

The Tapped R

The 'r' in 'bruto' is a quick tap. If you use the English 'r', you will sound very foreign. Practice by saying 'tt' in 'better'.

Rough Diamond

The phrase 'diamante bruto' is perfect for describing a student or employee with lots of potential but little training.

Intensifier

Use 'um bruto de um...' in informal writing to add emphasis. 'Tivemos um bruto de um problema' (We had a huge problem).

PIB in the News

Listen for 'PIB' on the news. It's the most common way you'll hear the word 'bruto' in a formal context.

Shipping Labels

Check shipping labels on boxes. You will see 'P.B.' or 'Peso Bruto'. This helps you learn the word in a practical setting.

Latin Roots

Remembering that 'brutus' meant 'heavy' in Latin helps you connect the 'gross weight' and 'rough person' meanings.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'BRUte' in a 'TOtal' state. A brute is rough (behavior) and a total is gross (finance).

Visual Association

Imagine a giant, unpolished rock (pedra bruta) sitting on top of a pile of money (salário bruto). Both are 'unrefined' and 'total'.

Word Web

Salário Diamante Peso PIB Petróleo Rude Raw Gross

Challenge

Try to find three things in your house that are 'bruto' (unprocessed) and check your last 'salário bruto' on your pay slip.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'brutus', which originally meant 'heavy', 'dull', 'stupid', or 'irrational'. It was often used to describe animals or inanimate objects that lacked the power of reason.

Original meaning: Heavy, dull, or irrational.

Romance (Latin)

Cultural Context

Be careful when calling people 'bruto'. In professional settings, it is a strong criticism of someone's manners. Use 'grosseiro' for a more standard critique of rudeness.

English speakers often confuse 'bruto' with 'brutal'. While 'brutal' exists in Portuguese, 'bruto' is much more common for everyday things like salary and weight.

The song 'Bruto, Rústico e Sistemático' by Tião Carreiro & Pardinho. The economic indicator 'PIB' (Produto Interno Bruto) mentioned in every news broadcast. The concept of 'Art Brut' (Arte Bruta) in modern art history.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Employment

Salário bruto
Contrato bruto
Benefícios brutos
Rendimento bruto

Construction/Mining

Pedra bruta
Madeira bruta
Diamante bruto
Material bruto

Logistics

Peso bruto
Carga bruta
Tonelagem bruta
Volume bruto

Economics

PIB
Lucro bruto
Produto bruto
Margem bruta

Social/Behavioral

Homem bruto
Jeito bruto
Força bruta
Erro bruto

Conversation Starters

"Você prefere saber o seu salário bruto ou o salário líquido primeiro?"

"Você já viu um diamante bruto de perto?"

"O que você acha do PIB como medida de sucesso de um país?"

"Você conhece alguém que tenha um jeito muito bruto de falar?"

"Você acha que a força bruta pode resolver problemas complexos?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva uma situação em que você teve que usar força bruta para resolver um problema físico.

Explique a diferença entre o seu salário bruto e o que você realmente recebe (líquido).

Escreva sobre um 'diamante bruto' (uma pessoa com talento não lapidado) que você conhece.

Reflita sobre como o 'sistema bruto' da vida no campo difere da vida na cidade.

Analise por que o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) é tão importante para os políticos.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should use 'cru'. 'Bruto' is for materials like minerals or oil, and for financial totals. Saying 'carne bruta' would sound like the meat is tough or unrefined in a non-culinary way.

Not always. In rural Brazil, it can be a compliment meaning tough and authentic. However, in an urban or professional setting, it usually means the person is rude or clumsy.

Salário bruto is your total salary before taxes and deductions. Salário líquido is the actual amount you receive in your bank account after everything has been taken out.

You say 'Produto Interno Bruto', commonly abbreviated as PIB.

Yes, it becomes 'bruta'. For example: 'renda bruta' (gross income) or 'pedra bruta' (raw stone).

Only in the sense of 'raw' or 'heavy'. For something violently cruel, 'brutal' is the better word. In slang, 'brutal' can also mean 'amazing'.

It means using physical strength or sheer power to solve a problem instead of intelligence, tools, or a key. It's the same as 'brute force' in English.

Use 'tosco' when you want to emphasize that something is poorly made, ugly, or lacks any aesthetic quality. Use 'bruto' for something in its natural, unrefined state.

Yes, it is extremely common. You will see it on almost every food package (peso bruto), in every financial news report (PIB), and hear it in daily conversation.

It is called 'Arte Bruta'. It refers to art created by people outside the established art world, emphasizing raw, unrefined expression.