What does Maricas mean?!?

Hi there,

My girlfriend is a bit mad and keeps calling me "maricas" but won't tell me what it means!

The dictionary says "poof" but I don't think she means I am homosexual.

Can you help?

Thanks

Hi XionXxen,

Well it is hard to know in what context she calls you that, even though you said she's mad.

The Portuguese word "maricas" means in fact homosexual. But you can also use it when you want to say the person is weak, has not a strong personality to assume his/her acts or when the person is undecided about something all the time and scared to make a decision.

For example here in Australia is what we call a "chicken" ... "are you a chiken or what?" ... this is the several meanings that word can have in Portuguese.

Hope it helped.

Kangas

Hi Kangas,

She calls me this in many contexts!

I am assuming she doesn't want to call me homosexual so I am left to believe she is calling me a "chicken", or that I don't have the guts to make a decision.

Thanks for your help

She might also tell you "Não sejas maricas!" which could be translated as "Don't be a wuss". Perhaps if you're easily scared of some things she might say that in that context rather than meaning you are a coward.

I hope I have helped.