xingar

Senses

1. 1.

   to curse, to swear at, to insult

   to say offensive words or insults to someone

2. 2.

   to call names

   to address someone using offensive or derogatory terms

3. 3.

   to curse, to swear

   to use profanity or curse words (without necessarily targeting someone)

Examples

• "Ele me xingou de tudo quanto é nome quando descobriu a verdade."

  He called me every name in the book when he found out the truth.

• "Não adianta xingar o juiz, você só vai piorar a situação."

  There's no point in cursing at the referee, you'll only make things worse.

• "Minha mãe não gosta quando eu xingo, mesmo sem querer."

  My mother doesn't like it when I swear, even unintentionally.

Usage

Very common informal verb in Brazilian Portuguese. Often used with the preposition "de" when calling someone a specific name (xingar alguém de algo). Can be transitive (xingar alguém) or intransitive (just swearing in general). Register ranges from colloquial to vulgar depending on context.