Hello, folks! In today’s Dica, we’ll take a look at the meaning of cara in Portuguese. Do you know what cara means? Well, it’s a versatile word with multiple meanings, so hold on tight and join us on this new adventure through the Portuguese language!
Cara Meaning: It Has More Than One
“Cara” is one of those handy words that you’ll hear all the time in Brazilian Portuguese, and it’s great to get the hang of it. Its meaning can change based on the context in which it’s used. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Face: Literally, “cara” means “face.” For example, “Ele tem uma cara feliz” means “He has a happy face.”
Guy/Dude: Informally, “cara” is often used to refer to a guy or dude. It’s like saying “Hey, man!” or “Hey, dude!” For example, “Esse cara é legal” means “That guy is cool.”
Expression: “Cara” can also refer to an expression or look on someone’s face. For instance, “Ela fez uma cara estranha” means “She made a strange face.”
Polite Pronoun: Sometimes, “cara” is used at the beginning of a letter or formal message when you’re writing to a woman. It has the same meaning as “Dear,” for example: “Caro leitor” / “Cara leitora” / “Dear reader”.
Expensive: In some contexts, “cara” can be the feminine form of “caro,” which means expensive. So if someone says “Essa coisa é cara,” they’re saying “This thing is expensive.”
Examples of Cara in Portuguese
Not only does cara have different meanings, but it also varies with gender and number. So, before we dive into the different uses we have for this word, let’s take a look at these variations:
| Singular | Plural | |
| Masculine | caro | caros |
| Feminine | cara | caras |
Not every usage allows these variations, so be careful to use them in the right way!
For Our Friends
First of all, we can use cara as slang to refer to a friend, but very casually here in Rio de Janeiro. This word, in its feminine singular form, can refer to both guys and girls. Take a look at our example:
Diogo: Pierre! Vem ver essa moça que está no meu Instagram!
Pierre: Nossa, cara! Essa moça é muito linda!
Diogo: Pena que ela não quer nada comigo!
Diogo: Pierre! Come here and see this woman on my Instagram!
Pierre: Wow, dude! She is gorgeous!
Diogo: It’s a pity she doesn’t want anything with me!
For Our Faces
We can also use cara when we want to refer to a certain part of our bodies: our face! But watch out if you speak Spanish: this word can be a false friend, ok? When referring to our face, this word is always in its feminine singular form.

Luana: Eita! A minha cara tá cheia de espinhas!
Silvia: Eu tenho um creme ótimo pra te emprestar!
Luana: Valeu, hein!
Luana: Gosh! My face is full of pimples!
Silvia: I have an excellent cream to lend you!
Luana: Thanks!
As a Polite Pronoun
We can also use cara as a polite pronoun in letters or formal messages, for example. In this case, the word will vary in gender and number. Take a look at the example below:
José: Cara Ana, nosso evento beneficiente será dia 13 de maio.
Ana: Obrigada por avisar, caro José!
José: Dear Ana, our charity event will be on May 13th.
Ana: Thank you for letting me know, dear José!
For Expensive Stuff
We can use this word to refer to something expensive. In this case, the word cara can vary according to the gender of the subject.

Igor: Nossa, esses óculos são muito caros!
Igor: Wow! These glasses are really expensive!
Expressions Using “Cara” in Portuguese
To add to its versatility, cara in Portuguese is used in a lot of expressions that mean different things. Let’s take a look at them:
“Cara de pau” – Someone who is shameless or brazen.
- Example: “Ele é um cara de pau, mentiu na frente de todo mundo.” (He is shameless, he lied in front of everyone.)
“Cara a cara” – Face to face.
- Example: “Eles resolveram a discussão cara a cara.” (They resolved the argument face to face.)
“Cara metade” – Soulmate or better half.
- Example: “Ela encontrou a sua cara metade.” (She found her soulmate.)
“Com a cara e a coragem” – With nothing but one’s wits and courage.
- Example: “Ele começou o negócio com a cara e a coragem.” (He started the business with nothing but his wits and courage.)
“Dar de cara” – To bump into or unexpectedly meet someone.
- Example: “Eu dei de cara com meu professor no mercado.” (I bumped into my teacher at the market.)
“Cara lavada” – With a straight face, without shame.
- Example: “Ela mentiu com a cara lavada.” (She lied with a straight face.)
“Meter a cara” – To dive into something, to face something head-on.
- Example: “Ele meteu a cara nos estudos para passar no exame.” (He dived into his studies to pass the exam.)
“Cara de poucos amigos” – Unfriendly or serious look.
- Example: “Ele entrou na sala com cara de poucos amigos.” (He entered the room with an unfriendly look.)
“Cara ou coroa” – Heads or tails, when flipping a coin.
- Example: “Vamos decidir no cara ou coroa.” (Let’s decide with heads or tails.)
“Botar a cara no sol” – To show up, to face the world.
Example: “Depois de tanto tempo escondido, ele resolveu botar a cara no sol.” (After so much time in hiding, he decided to show up.)
Review Cara in Portuguese
Now that you know all the meanings of the word cara in Portuguese, let’s check out this video made by our teachers and students here at Rio & Learn to complement your learning!
That is it for cara in Portuguese! I hope you enjoyed this Dica and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Big hug from Rio.
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Nossa in Portuguese
Eita in Portuguese
Body Parts in Portuguese
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes