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A1 adjective #7,000 most common 12 min read

fedorento

Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips fedorento in 30 Seconds

Explanation fedorento in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'fedorento' is introduced as a basic descriptive adjective used to express a simple sensory dislike. Students learn it alongside other physical descriptors like 'grande' (big), 'bonito' (beautiful), and 'limpo' (clean). The focus is on the most literal application: objects that smell bad. A1 learners should focus on three things: the core meaning (stinky), the basic pronunciation (fe-do-REN-to), and the masculine/feminine distinction (fedorento/fedorenta). At this stage, you don't need to worry about the metaphorical uses or high-level synonyms like 'fétido'. You simply need to be able to say 'O cachorro está fedorento' or 'Este lixo é fedorento'. It's a very practical word for daily life, helping you communicate basic needs (like needing to clean something) or basic reactions to your environment. Remember, in Portuguese, adjectives come after the noun, which is a key grammar point for A1 students using this word. You'll often hear it in simple 'Subject + Verb + Adjective' sentences, which are the building blocks of early Portuguese fluency. Practice by pointing at things (privately!) and identifying if they are 'cheirosos' (good smelling) or 'fedorentos' (stinky).

At the A2 level, you begin to expand how you use 'fedorento' by incorporating it into more complex sentences and using adverbs of intensity. Instead of just saying something is stinky, an A2 learner can say it is 'muito fedorento' (very stinky) or 'um pouco fedorento' (a bit stinky). You also start to understand the difference between 'ser' and 'estar' with this word. For example, 'O peixe está fedorento' means the fish has gone bad (temporary state), while 'Este bicho é fedorento' might mean the animal naturally smells bad (permanent characteristic). A2 students should also be comfortable using the plural forms 'fedorentos' and 'fedorentas' to describe groups of objects, like 'meias fedorentas' (stinky socks). You might also encounter the word in simple stories or dialogues about household chores, pets, or city life. Understanding 'fedorento' at this level involves being able to provide a reason for the smell: 'O sapato está fedorento porque está molhado' (The shoe is stinky because it is wet). This connects the adjective to the wider context of cause and effect in the Portuguese language.

By the B1 level, your use of 'fedorento' becomes more natural and integrated into social contexts. You start to understand the social implications of the word—specifically, that calling a person 'fedorento' is a strong insult and should be handled with care. B1 learners can use the word to describe more abstract situations, such as a 'vestiário fedorento' (stinky locker room) or a 'rio fedorento' (stinky river), and can participate in discussions about environment or hygiene. You also begin to recognize common synonyms like 'malcheiroso' and understand that 'malcheiroso' is a more polite, slightly more formal way to say the same thing. At this stage, you should be able to use 'fedorento' in the comparative and superlative forms: 'Este queijo é mais fedorento do que aquele' (This cheese is stinkier than that one) or 'Este é o sapato mais fedorento do mundo' (This is the stinkiest shoe in the world). You also start to hear the word in popular culture, such as the 'Gato Fedorento' comedy group in Portugal, and can appreciate the humor or irony in its usage.

At the B2 level, you move beyond the literal and start to see how 'fedorento' and its root 'fedor' can be used metaphorically, although this is less common than in English. You might use it to describe a 'fedorento' situation in a very informal, slangy way to imply something is 'rotten' or 'fishy', though 'estranho' or 'suspeito' are more common for that purpose. B2 learners should have a firm grasp of the word's register—knowing that it's a 'low-to-middle' register word and shouldn't be used in formal academic or business writing unless specifically discussing odors (like in a sanitation report). You also begin to use the word in more complex grammatical structures, such as passive voices or conditional sentences: 'Se você não lavar essa camisa, ela ficará fedorenta' (If you don't wash this shirt, it will become stinky). You can also distinguish between regional variations, such as the high frequency of 'fedido' in Brazil versus 'fedorento' in Portugal, and you can adjust your speech based on who you are talking to. Your vocabulary is now rich enough to describe *why* something is fedorento using specific nouns like 'mofo' (mold), 'suor' (sweat), or 'esgoto' (sewage).

At the C1 level, you are exploring the nuances of 'fedorento' in literature and specialized contexts. You recognize that while 'fedorento' is the standard, a writer might choose 'fétido' to evoke a sense of morbid decay, or 'mefítico' to describe noxious gases in a scientific or historical text. You understand the etymological roots (from the Latin 'foetere') and how this word family has branched out. C1 learners can use 'fedorento' in sophisticated rhetorical ways, perhaps using it in a satirical piece of writing to criticize urban neglect or social issues. You are also aware of the phonetics and rhythm of the word, using it effectively in storytelling to create a vivid sensory atmosphere. You can discuss the word's impact in various Lusophone cultures—how hygiene standards in Brazil might make the word 'fedorento' carry more social stigma than in other places. Your mastery includes the ability to use the word in any tense or mood, including the subjunctive: 'Duvido que o lixo esteja tão fedorento assim' (I doubt the trash is that stinky).

At the C2 level, 'fedorento' is just one of many tools in your olfactory vocabulary. You have a near-native intuition for when to use it versus more obscure terms like 'pestilento' or 'graveolente' (a rare, high-register word for strong-smelling). You can analyze the use of the word in classical Portuguese literature, perhaps comparing how different authors describe the 'fedor' of a 19th-century city. Your understanding of the word is deeply cultural; you know the jokes, the idioms, and the historical context of its usage. You can switch effortlessly between the blunt, colloquial 'fedorento' and the clinical 'emissão de odores desagradáveis'. In a C2 context, you might even use the word to analyze social hierarchies, discussing how 'fedor' has historically been used to marginalize certain groups. You have complete control over the word's emotional weight, using it for maximum impact in either a humorous, disgusting, or purely descriptive way. At this level, 'fedorento' is not just a word you know; it's a word you *feel* and can manipulate to suit any possible communicative intent.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

fedorento in 30 Seconds

Fedorento means 'stinky' and is the most common Portuguese adjective for bad smells.
It must agree in gender (fedorento/a) and number (fedorentos/as) with the noun.
It is usually used with the verb 'estar' for temporary smells or 'ser' for permanent ones.
While common for objects and animals, calling a person 'fedorento' is quite offensive.

The Portuguese word fedorento is a common adjective used to describe anything that emits a foul, unpleasant, or stinking odor. Derived from the verb feder (to stink), it is the most direct way to call something 'stinky' in a casual or semi-formal context. In Portuguese culture, sensory descriptions are often vivid, and fedorento is no exception. It is used for physical objects like garbage, unwashed clothes, or certain types of food, but it can also be applied to animals or people who haven't showered. Understanding the weight of this word is crucial because, while it is common, it can be quite offensive if directed at a person. It is not a clinical term; rather, it is a visceral reaction to a bad smell. When you walk past a dumpster in Lisbon or Rio de Janeiro on a hot summer day, the word that will immediately come to mind is fedorento.

Physical Objects: Used for trash, rotten food, or dirty socks. Example: 'Este lixo está muito fedorento.'

O queijo que você comprou é extremamente fedorento, mas dizem que o sabor é ótimo.

Beyond the physical, fedorento sometimes carries a metaphorical weight. If a situation 'stinks' (meaning it is suspicious or morally wrong), a Portuguese speaker might occasionally use the related noun fedor, but the adjective fedorento usually stays firmly in the realm of the olfactory. It is important to note the gender agreement: fedorento for masculine nouns (o sapato fedorento) and fedorenta for feminine nouns (a meia fedorenta). The plural forms are fedorentos and fedorentas respectively. In Brazil, you might also hear the word fedido, which is essentially a synonym, though fedorento feels slightly more descriptive of the quality of the object itself.

Animals and Pets: Commonly used for wet dogs or farm animals like pigs. Example: 'O cachorro voltou do parque todo fedorento.'

Tire esse sapato fedorento da sala agora mesmo!

In a 600-word deep dive, we must also consider the intensity. If something is just slightly smelly, you might use malcheiroso. If it is deathly stinky, you might move toward fétido. But fedorento is the 'Goldilocks' of stinky words—it is powerful, common, and understood by everyone from toddlers to the elderly. It evokes a specific reaction: the wrinkling of the nose and the desire to open a window. It is the word used in the famous translation of the 'Smelly Cat' song from the TV show Friends, known in Brazil as 'Gato Fedorento'. This pop culture reference solidified the word's place in the modern lexicon as both a literal descriptor and a humorous label.

Environmental Contexts: Used for polluted rivers or stagnant water. Example: 'O rio estava fedorento devido ao esgoto.'

A cidade ficou fedorenta depois que a greve dos lixeiros começou.

Não quero entrar naquele vestiário fedorento.

Mastering the use of fedorento requires an understanding of Portuguese grammar rules regarding adjectives. Unlike English, where 'stinky' remains the same regardless of what is stinking, fedorento must change its ending to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. This is a fundamental step for A1 learners. For example, 'o carro' (the car) is masculine, so it is 'o carro fedorento'. However, 'a mala' (the suitcase) is feminine, so it becomes 'a mala fedorenta'. If you have multiple stinky items, like 'os sapatos' (the shoes), you must say 'os sapatos fedorentos'. This agreement is the hallmark of a fluent speaker.

Subject-Adjective Agreement: Singular Masculine: fedorento; Singular Feminine: fedorenta; Plural Masculine: fedorentos; Plural Feminine: fedorentas.

As meias dele estão tão fedorentas que podem ser sentidas de longe.

Another important aspect is the placement of the adjective. In 90% of cases, fedorento will follow the noun. Placing it before the noun (e.g., 'o fedorento lixo') is technically possible in poetic or highly stylized Portuguese, but in everyday conversation, it sounds unnatural. You will also frequently see it used with the verb estar (to be - temporary state) rather than ser (to be - permanent state). This is because a smell is often a temporary condition. If you say 'O cachorro está fedorento', it implies he needs a bath. If you say 'O cachorro é fedorento', it implies that stinking is a permanent characteristic of that specific dog.

Verb Usage: Ser vs. Estar: Use 'estar' for temporary smells (the most common use). Use 'ser' for things that are inherently stinky (like a skunk).

Este pântano é naturalmente fedorento por causa da decomposição das plantas.

Furthermore, fedorento can be modified by adverbs to increase its intensity. You can say 'muito fedorento' (very stinky), 'extremamente fedorento' (extremely stinky), or even 'um pouco fedorento' (a bit stinky). In Brazilian Portuguese, a common colloquial way to intensify adjectives is to use the suffix '-íssimo', resulting in 'fedorentíssimo', though this is more for emphasis and humor than formal description. When writing, remember that 'fedorento' is an objective description of a subjective sense, so it is often paired with verbs of perception like parecer (to seem) or ficar (to become).

Intensifiers: Commonly paired with 'muito', 'demais', or 'insuportavelmente' (unbearably).

Depois do treino, o ginásio fica insuportavelmente fedorento.

Aquela comida estragada deixou a geladeira fedorenta.

In the real world, fedorento is a word of the streets, the home, and the market. You will hear it most often in domestic settings. Parents might say it to their children who have been playing outside all day: 'Vá tomar banho, você está fedorento!' (Go take a bath, you're stinky!). It is also a staple in the kitchen when checking if food has gone bad. If a carton of milk is opened and the smell is off, someone will inevitably exclaim that it is fedorento. It is a word that triggers action—cleaning, washing, or throwing things away.

Domestic Life: Used for laundry, trash, and personal hygiene. It's a word used by families to maintain cleanliness.

O balde de lixo da cozinha está fedorento; precisamos esvaziá-lo.

In public spaces, fedorento is used to describe urban issues. In large cities like São Paulo, Luanda, or Porto, residents might use the word to complain about pollution in rivers or the state of public restrooms. It's a common word in news reports discussing environmental disasters or sanitation problems. Furthermore, in the context of sports, particularly in locker rooms or after intense matches, players and coaches might use it jokingly or as a matter of fact. The word has a certain 'grit' to it—it doesn't sugarcoat the reality of a bad smell.

Public and Urban Contexts: Used to describe public transport during rush hour or neglected public squares.

O banheiro da rodoviária estava tão fedorento que eu preferi esperar.

Pop culture has also embraced the word. As mentioned, the translation of 'Smelly Cat' into 'Gato Fedorento' is iconic. In children's cartoons, characters that live in the trash or don't bathe are often labeled with this adjective. This makes it one of the first 'negative' adjectives a Portuguese-speaking child learns. Interestingly, while it is a negative word, it can be used affectionately with pets—'Meu cachorrinho fedorento'—in the same way an English speaker might call their dog 'my stinky little boy'. The context and tone of voice completely change the impact of the word.

Media and Humor: Common in comedy, cartoons, and informal social media posts to describe relatable, smelly situations.

Aquele desenho animado tem um monstro que é muito fedorento.

Não aguento mais esse cheiro fedorento de cigarro no corredor.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using fedorento is forgetting the gender agreement. In English, 'stinky' is gender-neutral, but in Portuguese, saying 'a menina fedorento' is a glaring error that will immediately mark you as a beginner. You must ensure the 'o' changes to 'a' for feminine nouns. Another common pitfall is using fedorento when you actually mean 'smelly' in a neutral or positive way. In English, 'smelly' can sometimes be neutral (though usually negative), but fedorento is *always* negative. You would never use it to describe a strong perfume or a fragrant flower; for those, use cheiroso or perfumado.

Agreement Errors: Mistake: 'A comida está fedorento.' Correct: 'A comida está fedorenta.'

Cuidado para não usar fedorento para falar de um perfume forte; use 'enjoativo' ou 'intenso' em vez disso.

A second major mistake is the confusion between fedorento and fedido. While they are synonyms, fedido is technically the past participle of the verb feder. In Brazil, fedido is used very frequently and is often interchangeable with fedorento. However, in Portugal, fedorento is more standard as an adjective. If you use fedido in a formal writing context in Portugal, it might be seen as slightly too informal or 'Brazilianized'. Additionally, learners often confuse fedorento with fermentado (fermented) because of the similar sound. While some fermented foods are stinky, they are not the same thing!

Regional Nuances: In Brazil, 'fedido' is very common. In Portugal, 'fedorento' is the preferred everyday adjective.

Dizer que alguém é fedorento é muito ofensivo; use com cautela.

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the difference between fedorento and sujo (dirty). While something dirty is often stinky, they are different qualities. You can have a clean shirt that is fedorento because it was stored in a damp place (smelling of mold/mofo), and you can have a dirty shirt that doesn't smell yet. Be precise in your descriptions. If you are in a restaurant and the food smells bad, saying it is suja (dirty) will confuse the waiter; you must say it is com um cheiro ruim or fedorenta if it's truly pungent. Precision in sensory adjectives is a key step toward B1/B2 proficiency.

Vocabulary Precision: Sujo = Dirty (visual). Fedorento = Stinky (olfactory). Don't use them interchangeably.

O pano de prato não parece sujo, mas está fedorento.

Não deixe essas toalhas fedorentas no chão do banheiro.

While fedorento is the most common word for stinky, Portuguese offers a rich palette of synonyms depending on the intensity and the context. For a mild or general bad smell, malcheiroso is a great alternative. It is literally 'bad-smelling' and is slightly more formal than fedorento. If you are in a professional setting, like a doctor's office or a formal report, malcheiroso is the safer choice. It lacks the bluntness of fedorento and sounds more like an objective observation than a complaint.

Malcheiroso vs. Fedorento: Malcheiroso: More formal, clinical, or polite. Fedorento: More common, blunt, and visceral.

O paciente apresentava um hálito malcheiroso devido à infecção.

For extreme cases, we have words like fétido, pestilento, and mefítico. Fétido is often used in literature or medical contexts to describe the smell of decay or rotting matter. It carries a sense of 'stench' that is more powerful than a simple 'stinky'. Pestilento suggests a smell so bad it could carry disease (related to 'pestilence'). These words are rarely used in daily conversation but are essential for reading Portuguese literature. On the other end of the spectrum, fedido is the informal Brazilian favorite, often used in the exact same way as fedorento but with a slightly more 'slangy' feel.

High-Register Synonyms: Fétido: Rotting/Decaying. Pestilento: Foul/Diseased. Mefítico: Noxious/Poisonous gas.

O ar na caverna era fétido e pesado.

If you want to avoid adjectives altogether, you can use noun phrases. Instead of 'lixo fedorento', you can say 'lixo com cheiro ruim' (trash with a bad smell) or 'lixo com um fedor insuportável' (trash with an unbearable stink). The word fedor is the noun form and is very common. You might also encounter the word nhaca in Brazil, which refers specifically to a strong, unpleasant body odor or a general 'bad vibe' associated with a smell. Understanding these alternatives allows you to adjust your tone based on who you are talking to and how much you want to emphasize the unpleasantness of the situation.

Noun Alternatives: Fedor: Stink/Stench. Fedentina: A widespread or lingering stink. Nhaca: Foul body odor (Brazil).

Que fedentina é essa que está vindo do quintal?

Aquele queijo francês é famoso por ser fedorento.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'fed-' is also found in the word 'fétido', which is the more formal, scientific cousin of 'fedorento'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fə.ðuˈɾẽ.tu/

US /fe.doˈɾẽ.tu/

The primary stress is on the penultimate syllable: fe-do-REN-to.

Rhymes With

bento cento dentro evento isento lento momento sentimento

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'o' as a hard 'O' instead of 'u'.
Failing to nasalize the 'en' syllable.
Making the 'r' sound like an English 'r' instead of a soft tap.
Stressing the first syllable instead of the third.
Confusing the 'e' sound in the first syllable between Brazilian and European variants.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

The word is common and easy to recognize in text.

Writing 2/5

Requires attention to gender and number agreement.

Speaking 2/5

Nasalization of 'ren' can be tricky for some learners.

Listening 1/5

The 'fed-' root is very distinctive and easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

cheiro bom ruim ser estar

Learn Next

malcheiroso fedor perfumado sujo limpo

Advanced

fétido mefítico pestilento odorífero fragrância

Grammar to Know

Adjective Agreement

O lixo (m) fedorento (m) / A meia (f) fedorenta (f).

Placement of Adjectives

Usually follows the noun: 'cachorro fedorento'.

Ser vs Estar

Estar for temporary state (O lixo está fedorento).

Pluralization

Add 's' to make it plural: fedorentos/fedorentas.

Nasalization

The 'en' in fedorento is a nasal vowel, common in Portuguese.

Examples by Level

O cachorro está fedorento.

The dog is stinky.

Masculine singular agreement.

Esta meia é fedorenta.

This sock is stinky.

Feminine singular agreement.

O lixo está muito fedorento.

The trash is very stinky.

Use of 'muito' as an intensifier.

Eu tenho um gato fedorento.

I have a stinky cat.

Adjective follows the noun.

Sua mão está fedorenta?

Is your hand stinky?

Interrogative sentence structure.

O queijo é fedorento.

The cheese is stinky.

Use of 'ser' for inherent qualities.

Meus sapatos estão fedorentos.

My shoes are stinky.

Masculine plural agreement.

A comida está fedorenta.

The food is stinky.

Feminine singular agreement.

O banheiro ficou fedorento depois do banho do cachorro.

The bathroom became stinky after the dog's bath.

Use of 'ficar' to indicate a change in state.

Não coma isso, parece fedorento.

Don't eat that, it seems stinky.

Use of 'parecer' for perception.

As roupas sujas estão fedorentas no cesto.

The dirty clothes are stinky in the basket.

Feminine plural agreement.

O rio da cidade é muito fedorento.

The city's river is very stinky.

Describing environmental conditions.

Por que seu quarto está tão fedorento?

Why is your room so stinky?

Use of 'tão' for emphasis.

Eu não gosto desse peixe fedorento.

I don't like this stinky fish.

Demonstrative 'desse' + noun + adjective.

O ar aqui fora está um pouco fedorento.

The air out here is a bit stinky.

Adverbial phrase 'um pouco'.

Aquelas toalhas estão fedorentas e precisam ser lavadas.

Those towels are stinky and need to be washed.

Coordinating two clauses.

O vestiário da academia é sempre fedorento no final do dia.

The gym locker room is always stinky at the end of the day.

Frequency adverb 'sempre'.

Achei o restaurante um pouco fedorento, então fomos embora.

I found the restaurant a bit stinky, so we left.

Using 'achar' to express an opinion.

Se você deixar o lixo no sol, ele vai ficar fedorento rápido.

If you leave the trash in the sun, it will get stinky fast.

Conditional 'se' + future 'vai ficar'.

Ninguém quer sentar perto do balde fedorento.

Nobody wants to sit near the stinky bucket.

Negative pronoun 'ninguém'.

O cheiro fedorento vinha do esgoto entupido.

The stinky smell was coming from the clogged sewer.

Imperfect tense 'vinha'.

Ela comprou um produto para limpar o tapete fedorento.

She bought a product to clean the stinky carpet.

Infinitive 'limpar' following a purpose.

O cachorro voltou do pântano todo fedorento.

The dog came back from the swamp all stinky.

Adverbial 'todo' used for intensity.

A geladeira ficou fedorenta porque a luz acabou.

The fridge got stinky because the power went out.

Causal conjunction 'porque'.

O ambiente de trabalho tornou-se fedorento devido às intrigas.

The work environment became 'stinky' (unpleasant) due to intrigues.

Metaphorical use of the concept, though 'tóxico' is more common.

Apesar de ser fedorento, esse queijo é uma iguaria local.

Despite being stinky, this cheese is a local delicacy.

Concessive 'Apesar de' + gerund/infinitive.

O odor fedorento impregnou em todas as cortinas da casa.

The stinky odor permeated all the curtains in the house.

Verb 'impregnar' + preposition 'em'.

Eles reclamaram do estado fedorento das instalações públicas.

They complained about the stinky state of the public facilities.

Noun phrase 'estado fedorento'.

Não há nada mais fedorento do que carne podre no verão.

There is nothing stinkier than rotten meat in the summer.

Comparative of superiority 'mais ... do que'.

O produto químico exalava um vapor fedorento e perigoso.

The chemical product gave off a stinky and dangerous vapor.

Verb 'exalar' (to exhale/emit).

A cidade lidava com o problema fedorento do tratamento de esgoto.

The city was dealing with the stinky problem of sewage treatment.

Adjective modifying an abstract noun 'problema'.

Era impossível ignorar o hálito fedorento do fumante.

It was impossible to ignore the smoker's stinky breath.

Impersonal 'Era impossível'.

A narrativa descrevia com detalhes o beco fedorento e úmido.

The narrative described the stinky and damp alley in detail.

Literary description.

O descaso governamental exalava um aroma fedorento de corrupção.

Governmental neglect exhaled a stinky aroma of corruption.

Highly metaphorical/rhetorical use.

Submergido em águas fedorentas, o objeto era irreconhecível.

Submerged in stinky waters, the object was unrecognizable.

Past participle 'submergido' as an adjective.

O autor utiliza o adjetivo 'fedorento' para enfatizar a pobreza da região.

The author uses the adjective 'stinky' to emphasize the region's poverty.

Metalinguistic analysis.

A mistura de suor e fumaça criava uma atmosfera fedorenta e opressiva.

The mix of sweat and smoke created a stinky and oppressive atmosphere.

Complex noun phrase.

Nenhum perfume conseguia mascarar o odor fedorento que vinha do porão.

No perfume could mask the stinky odor coming from the basement.

Negative subject 'nenhum'.

As emanações fedorentas do pântano afastavam os viajantes.

The stinky emanations from the swamp kept travelers away.

Formal noun 'emanações'.

O crítico chamou o filme de 'um lixo fedorento', em uma análise mordaz.

The critic called the movie 'stinky trash' in a scathing review.

Quoted figurative speech.

A decomposição orgânica gera subprodutos inerentemente fedorentos.

Organic decomposition generates inherently stinky byproducts.

Technical/Scientific register.

A pátina do tempo não era apenas visual, mas também olfativamente fedorenta.

The patina of time was not just visual, but also olfactorily stinky.

Adverbial 'olfativamente'.

Persiste na memória o trauma daquele ambiente fedorento e insalubre.

The trauma of that stinky and unhealthy environment persists in the memory.

Inverted sentence structure for emphasis.

A subjetividade do que é considerado 'fedorento' varia entre as culturas.

The subjectivity of what is considered 'stinky' varies between cultures.

Nominalization 'A subjetividade'.

O vocábulo 'fedorento', embora comum, carrega uma carga semântica de repulsa imediata.

The word 'fedorento', though common, carries a semantic load of immediate repulsion.

Concessive clause with 'embora'.

Explorando as cloacas fedorentas da alma humana, o poeta chocou a sociedade.

Exploring the stinky sewers of the human soul, the poet shocked society.

Metaphorical literary use.

A obsolescência do sistema era um cadáver fedorento que ninguém queria enterrar.

The system's obsolescence was a stinky corpse that no one wanted to bury.

Extended metaphor.

O hálito fedorento do dragão na mitologia simbolizava a própria morte.

The dragon's stinky breath in mythology symbolized death itself.

Mythological/Symbolic context.

Synonyms

malcheiroso fedido fétido pestilento enjoativo mefítico podre acre

Antonyms

cheiroso perfumado aromático odorífero

Common Collocations

lixo fedorento

queijo fedorento

meias fedorentas

cachorro fedorento

hálito fedorento

banheiro fedorento

rio fedorento

sapato fedorento

odor fedorento

pé fedorento

Common Phrases

Que cheiro fedorento!

— What a stinky smell! Used as a spontaneous exclamation.

Abri a geladeira e: Que cheiro fedorento!

Está fedorento aqui.

— It's stinky in here. Used to describe the atmosphere of a room.

Abra a janela, está fedorento aqui.

Ficar fedorento

— To become stinky. Describes the process of starting to smell bad.

Se você não lavar a louça, ela vai ficar fedorenta.

Cachorro fedorento

— Stinky dog. Often used as a nickname for a pet.

Vem cá, meu cachorro fedorento!

Lixo fedorento

— Stinky trash. A very common daily complaint.

O lixo fedorento está atraindo moscas.

Pé fedorento

— Stinky foot (smelly feet). A common informal complaint.

Lave esse pé fedorento!

Boca fedorenta

— Stinky mouth (bad breath). A blunt way to describe halitosis.

Ele acordou com uma boca fedorenta.

Roupa fedorenta

— Stinky clothes. Usually referring to sweat or dampness.

Coloque essa roupa fedorenta na máquina.

Ovo fedorento

— Stinky egg. Often used to describe the smell of sulfur.

Essa água tem cheiro de ovo fedorento.

Gato fedorento

— Stinky cat. A famous reference in Portugal and the 'Friends' song.

Gato fedorento, o que eles te dão de comer?

Often Confused With

fedorento vs fedido

Often used as a synonym, but 'fedido' is technically a past participle and more informal in Portugal.

fedorento vs fermentado

Sounds similar but means 'fermented'. Some fermented things are stinky, but not all.

fedorento vs fardado

Sounds slightly similar but means 'in uniform'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Pagar o pato fedorento"

— To take the blame for something you didn't do (variation of 'pagar o pato').

Eu não quebrei nada, mas acabei pagando o pato fedorento.

Informal

"Negócio fedorento"

— A 'stinky' deal, implying something illegal or immoral.

Essa venda de terrenos parece um negócio fedorento.

Slang

"Fedor de chulé"

— The specific stink of sweaty feet.

Que fedor de chulé nesse quarto!

Informal

"Fedor de carniça"

— The smell of rotting meat/death.

Tem um fedor de carniça vindo do mato.

Colloquial

"Cheirar mal"

— Literally 'to smell bad', but often used idiomaticly to mean a situation is suspicious.

Essa história está cheirando mal.

Neutral

"Dar o nó no nariz"

— To be so stinky it 'knots the nose'.

O cheiro era tão fedorento que deu um nó no meu nariz.

Humorous

"De lascar o cano"

— Something so intense (like a smell) it could break a pipe.

Um fedor de lascar o cano!

Regional Slang

"Bafo de onça"

— Extremely bad breath (literally 'jaguar breath').

Ele chegou com um bafo de onça terrível.

Informal

"Fedor de bode"

— A very strong, gamey smell (literally 'goat stink').

O vestiário estava com um fedor de bode.

Colloquial

"Cheiro de mofo"

— The smell of mold/mildew.

Esse livro velho tem um cheiro de mofo fedorento.

Neutral

Easily Confused

fedorento vs cheiroso

Opposite meaning.

Cheiroso is for good smells; fedorento is for bad ones.

O perfume é cheiroso, mas o lixo é fedorento.

fedorento vs sujo

Often occur together.

Sujo refers to visual dirt; fedorento refers to smell.

O prato está sujo, mas não está fedorento.

fedorento vs azedo

Used for food.

Azedo means 'sour' (taste/smell of milk); fedorento is a general stink.

O leite está azedo e fedorento.

fedorento vs fétido

Synonym.

Fétido is much more formal and strong, often used for rot.

O cadáver estava fétido.

fedorento vs malcheiroso

Synonym.

Malcheiroso is the polite/formal version of fedorento.

O médico notou um hálito malcheiroso.

Sentence Patterns

O [noun] está fedorento.

O lixo está fedorento.

Eu tenho um [noun] fedorento.

Eu tenho um gato fedorento.

O [noun] ficou fedorento porque [reason].

O quarto ficou fedorento porque a janela estava fechada.

As [noun plural] estão fedorentas.

As meias estão fedorentas.

Achei o [noun] muito fedorento.

Achei o banheiro muito fedorento.

Se [condition], vai ficar fedorento.

Se você não lavar a roupa, ela vai ficar fedorenta.

Nada é mais fedorento do que [noun].

Nada é mais fedorento do que peixe podre.

O [noun] exalava um odor fedorento de [noun].

O beco exalava um odor fedorento de lixo acumulado.

Word Family

Nouns

fedor (stink)

fedentina (strong lingering stink)

fedorentina (humorous variant)

Verbs

feder (to stink)

Adjectives

fedorento (stinky)

fedido (stinky - past participle)

cheiro

odor

fétido

malcheiroso

olfato

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in daily spoken Portuguese.

Common Mistakes

O lixo está fedorenta. → O lixo está fedorento.
'Lixo' is masculine, so the adjective must be masculine.
Ela é muito fedorento. → Ela é muito fedorenta.
'Ela' is feminine, so the adjective must be feminine.
As meias está fedorento. → As meias estão fedorentas.
The verb and adjective must both be plural to match 'as meias'.
Este perfume é fedorento. → Este perfume é muito forte/enjoativo.
'Fedorento' is only for bad smells, not strong pleasant ones.
O cachorro é fedorento. → O cachorro está fedorento.
Use 'estar' if the dog just needs a bath; 'ser' implies he always stinks naturally.

Tips

Check the Gender

Always match the ending of 'fedorento' to the noun. A common mistake is using the masculine form for everything.

Gato Fedorento

In Portugal, 'Gato Fedorento' is a legendary comedy group. Knowing this will help you understand many cultural references and jokes.

Use 'Malcheiroso' for Politeness

If you need to tell someone something smells bad without being too blunt, 'malcheiroso' is your best friend.

Nasalize the 'EN'

The 'en' in 'fedorento' is nasal. Practice by saying 'en' while lightly pinching your nose to feel the vibration.

Ser vs Estar

Use 'estar' for things that are stinky right now but can be cleaned. Use 'ser' for things that always stink, like a skunk.

Chulé

Don't just say 'pé fedorento'; use the word 'chulé' to sound like a native when talking about smelly feet.

Sensory Details

In creative writing, use 'fedorento' to create a sense of discomfort or realism in your descriptions of places.

The 'FED' Root

Whenever you hear 'fed-', your brain should immediately think 'stink'. This helps you decode new words like 'fedentina'.

The Smelly Cat

Associate 'fedorento' with the 'Smelly Cat' song from Friends to remember its meaning easily.

Be Careful with People

Avoid calling people 'fedorento' unless you want to start a fight or you are joking with a very close friend.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'FED' (Federal agent) who is 'OR' (operating) in a 'RENTO' (rental car) that is very STINKY because of old donuts.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant piece of green, fuzzy cheese with stink lines coming off it and the word 'FEDORENTO' written in bold letters across it.

Word Web

lixo meia queijo cachorro suor esgoto podre banheiro

Challenge

Try to find three things in your house that could be described as 'fedorento' (like the trash or a gym bag) and say the word out loud each time you see them.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'foetere', meaning 'to stink' or 'to be foul'. The suffix '-ento' is used in Portuguese to indicate 'full of' or 'characterized by'.

Original meaning: Characterized by a foul smell.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Avoid using this word to describe people unless you are very close to them or intend to be insulting.

Equivalent to 'stinky' or 'smelly', but 'fedorento' feels slightly more aggressive than 'smelly'.

Gato Fedorento (Portuguese comedy group) Friends (Smelly Cat translation) Various Brazilian memes about 'chulé' (foot stink)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At home

O lixo está fedorento.
Sua meia está fedorenta.
A geladeira ficou fedorenta.
Que cheiro fedorento!

With pets

O cachorro está fedorento.
Vem cá, seu fedorento!
Ele precisa de um banho, está fedorento.
Gato fedorento.

In the city

O esgoto está fedorento.
O rio é muito fedorento.
O banheiro público estava fedorento.
Ar fedorento da poluição.

With food

Esse queijo é fedorento.
A carne está fedorenta.
Leite fedorento.
Comida estragada e fedorenta.

Personal hygiene

Tênis fedorento.
Hálito fedorento.
Suor fedorento.
Você está fedorento!

Conversation Starters

"Você acha que esse queijo francês é muito fedorento?"

"O que você faz quando o seu cachorro volta fedorento do parque?"

"Qual é o lugar mais fedorento que você já visitou?"

"Você se incomoda com o cheiro fedorento de cigarro?"

"Como você tira o cheiro fedorento das meias de ginástica?"

Journal Prompts

Descreva uma vez que você sentiu um cheiro extremamente fedorento. O que era?

Você prefere comidas que são fedorentas, como alguns queijos, ou prefere cheiros suaves?

Escreva sobre um problema ambiental na sua cidade que envolva algo fedorento (como um rio ou lixo).

Como você descreveria a diferença entre algo 'sujo' e algo 'fedorento'?

Crie uma história curta sobre um personagem chamado 'O Monstro Fedorento'.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, if used to describe a person, it is quite offensive. It implies poor hygiene. Use it carefully and mostly for objects or pets.

In Brazil, they are almost identical in usage. In Portugal, 'fedorento' is the standard adjective, while 'fedido' sounds more like a past participle or Brazilian slang.

No. 'Fedorento' is only for bad smells. For a strong perfume that you don't like, use 'enjoativo' or 'muito forte'.

You can say 'pés fedorentos', but the specific word for the smell of sweaty feet is 'chulé'.

Yes, it is used in both, though Brazil also frequently uses 'fedido'.

The most common opposite is 'cheiroso' (good-smelling).

Yes, especially for strong cheeses or food that has gone bad.

Simply add an 's': 'fedorentas'.

The verb 'estar' is most common because smells are usually temporary states.

Yes, 'malcheiroso' is the standard formal alternative.