this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2025
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In Portuguese, I find it funny that gato/gata could be someone attractive or a literal cat.

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[–] callyral@pawb.social 3 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

As a lusophone (of the Brazilian variety), it's weird that "cão" (dog) can refer either to a dog or to the devil (???).

Or how "veado" (deer) can mean "deer" the animal, a gay person (pejoratively) or "dude" in slang (depends on the region and on the speaker's vocabulary).

[–] wendyz@piefed.social 2 points 9 hours ago

Exatamente! A língua portuguesa pode ser estranha né?

[–] Takapapatapaka@lemmy.world 18 points 18 hours ago

"Chatte" (female cat) is the equivalent of pussy in english.

"Poulet" (chicken) is a cop. "Poulette" (hen) is a rather disrespectful word for a women.

"Gorille" (gorilla) is a tall muscular person.

"Cochon" (pig) is someone filthy, especially in the sexual sense. (can be used as an adjective, "films cochons" are porn films).

"Canard" (duck) can be a newspaper, or a mistake when playing music.

"Levrette" (female greyhound) is the name for the doggy style sexual position.

"Vache" (cow) can be either someone mean, either a cop. The second case is rarely used except in the sentence "Mort aux vaches" (death to the cops) and probably comes from the Wache germanic root for Guardian, rather than the actual animal.

[–] susleg@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

In Russian there are many slang words with similar meaning to English.

"Змея" is snake. Same meanings with animal and someone who is deceiving or treacherous

"Киска" is pussy with same meanings

More unique is probably "тёлка" - heifer. A bit derogatory term for young woman. Size does not matter. Kinda similar to English chick

One very specific to Russian is rooster "петух". It comes from prison slang and means a person from prison untouchable caste. Literally untouchable, because if you touch them you will also become петух. A terrible insult, you may be killed if you say it to a wrong person

"Козел" male goat is another one from prison slang, which means an inmate that works with prison administration. Outside of prison in everyday life is just a very bad insult

[–] Underwaterbob@sh.itjust.works 3 points 14 hours ago

"개새끼" (pronounced gay sek ee) literally translates to "dog baby". "Son of a bitch" in Korean. It's honestly the only example I can think of in Korean. I guess you also hear "돼지" (pronounced dway ji) meaning "pig" for fat people. Pretty bog standard around here I guess.

[–] JadenSmith@sh.itjust.works 3 points 15 hours ago

Kutta in Punjabi is dog, but it can also be an insult and often is (kutti would be the same as calling someone a Bitch).
When I was really young I was in India, and a dog had pups and I tried to approach her, to pet her, and she barked at me which gave me a bit of a spook.

I ran in the house yelling, "kutta doggie!! Kutta doggie!!"
Everyone started laughing :(

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 27 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Most I can think of at the moment are derogatory.

A "dog" is a person pushing their horniness to inappropriate levels.

A "cow" is someone fat and slow/stupid.

A "shark" is a savvy business person who edges into taking advantage of people unethically.

A "snake" is a liar and a cheat. Sometimes slang for a penis.

Quiet, shy people are "mousy".

Someone who tattles to cops/authority is a "rat".

A "chick" is an old-timey term for a girl/woman that might get you slapped.

A "kitty" is a vagina and also may get you slapped depending on context.

Someone messy/dirty is a "pig". "Pig" might also be used for a man who is rude and pushing sexual innuendos onto women without their consent.

While to "go the whole hog" means to not hild back, to embrace doing a thing completely.

[–] hddsx@lemmy.ca 7 points 23 hours ago (3 children)

Why would chick get you slapped? Growing up that just meant girl. No connotations

[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 7 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Go somewhere public and call a girl a chick, see what happens 😂

Seriously though, it's not the word that's the issue, it's the labelling of someone based on their gender. I can't speak for the bottom line as I don't appear to be a woman, but I'd start getting fucked off if a generic term was used to address me when I had a perfectly good name.

In the UK, an equivalent is "bird". Equally likely to get you booted in the balls.

[–] FerretyFever0@fedia.io 6 points 22 hours ago

It feels kinda like you're objectifying them. Really depends who you use it with though, like all words.

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 4 points 22 hours ago

Yeah, I would advise using against using it today. Like, I said, old timey. Not as acceptable as it might have been in decades past.

I'm middle millennial and consider it flippant at best. Like "chick flicks" and "chick lit" are seen as less serious/valuable/artistic than media intended for men. "Hot chick" as a way to value/devalue a woman on looks alone.

[–] Maiq@lemy.lol 8 points 1 day ago

Bitch [a female dog], an unpleasant or disagreeable woman, a man or woman made submissive or subservient, the act of complaining and finally something causing you problems or complications in an annoying way.

[–] DioramaOfShit@lemmy.world 14 points 22 hours ago (2 children)
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[–] Rich_Benzina@feddit.it 5 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

In Italy "uccello" (bird) means penis in a very unformal context, usually used with friends. In Tuscany, for the regional ones, we have "Topa" (female of the mouse) to indicate a very pretty girl, also very unformal and a bit rude. Same translation for "passera" (female of the sparrow). Both can also indicate the literal female reproductive organe. "Gatta morta" (dead female cat) means somebody who acts ingenous or hide her personality under a chill, almost naif mask to act at the opportune moment.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Hah that's interesting! In Spanish we have "mosquita muerta", meaning dead female fly, and means exactly what the gatta morta does for you.

I like gatta better, cats are more dangerous :)

[–] Rich_Benzina@feddit.it 1 points 8 hours ago

Very interesting! Yeah it's strange the use of the fly, i'd argue that a cat has a more doubleface aura than a cat. Still pretty cool

[–] TheWeirdestCunt@lemmy.today 5 points 18 hours ago

Bird is slang for woman in the UK and in the Midlands duck is a slang for when you're talking to anyone

[–] MTK@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

"You dog", "you bitch", "you pig" and more

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 8 points 22 hours ago

Someone who is a snake can't be trusted.

Of course the word bitch, a female dog.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

A chicken hawk is an older gay man who pursuits younger men.

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

In English? Lol what region? I have never heard this

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

Yes, it's English, but it's gay slang from the Midwest.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 9 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

In Spanish, gato is not necessarily attractive (though they usually are) but a cheap sex worker or a promiscuous seductress/tor.

Potro (colt) is an attractive young man
Yegua (mare) equivalent to bitch, an asshole woman
Vaca (cow) same as in English, could be used for someone overweight or dumb
Cerdo (pig) same as English, a filthy/fat person

Marmota and burro (marmot and donkey resp.) someone dumb

Vibora, buitre (snake, vulture resp.) toxic person
Sapo, bicho (frog, bug resp.) someone ugly
Mariposa (butterfly) allegedly or suspected to be gay

Those are the first ones to pop into my mind but I'm sure there's more

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Wondering what region of Spanish this is. I'm mexican and I know some of them but have never heard of others.

[–] Thadden@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago

Could be argentinian, at least it checks out. Every one of those is used over there, and the slang sounds about right.

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

I mean, could be from Spain.

[–] leaky_shower_thought@feddit.nl 6 points 22 hours ago

monkey = not attractive, can also be foolish

gorilla = swole, ripped

crocodile = greedy

worm = of low social status

turtle = slow

cockroach = hard to kill

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Cougar.

It's either a type of big cat, or an older, attractive, single woman.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 10 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Isn't cougar specifically older women that favour younger men.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 22 hours ago

I think so but I wasn't 100% sure if it's a requirement. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Cougar, older women attracted to younger men.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 6 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

In Norwegian, Grouse (Rype. Don't bother trying, you're definitely pronouncing it incorrectly) somehow became slang for an attractive woman. Not used that often anymore, though.

Caged owl (Burugle) is slang for an unattractive woman.

[–] Whirlygirl9@kbin.melroy.org 7 points 23 hours ago

fox is older term for a good looking female. also a vixen is a term for a suductress.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 9 points 1 day ago

In the USA, "cat" can mean just any person, a woman, or vagina (an alternative to the more vulgar term that used to mean cat).

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 6 points 23 hours ago

Mongoose: humorous term for a man who is successful in social situations (for example with women).

Monkey: Clever or competent person, usually used when someone accomplishes something unexpected with a nuance of "how did you even do that".

Chick: Slang for boyfriend.

[–] zomboi@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

uhh, « manger comme un cochon » is to eat like a pig. more idioms but i speak english better. « malin comme un singe » is to be very clever (« as a monkey »)

i’ve heard « serpent » for backstabber, or serpan since i’m learning haitian creole

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

"Bird" is old-time slang for a woman, usually understood to be pretty.

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

In some Spanish-speaking regions, a goat is usually like a big dumb guy. And calling someone a horse is another way of saying they’re stupid.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Which regions? And do they say caballo for it or a different word?

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 1 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Caballo, yes. That's specific to Costa Rica. I forget where I heard the goat one (cabron) but I think it was either Spain or Mexico.

[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

Cabron in Mexican Spanish is widely used, but I think it's not usually used to describe dumb. I'd translate it rather as bastard/asshole.

It can also be used to describe when a situation or something is difficult.

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 hours ago

Ah it’s been a while I may have misremembered the exact definition.

[–] guillem@aussie.zone 3 points 21 hours ago

Both. "Cabrón" is specifically billygoat. Goat is used in constructions like "como una cabra" in Spain to mean crazy.

[–] guillem@aussie.zone 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Catalan has sheep to mean slut. Woodworm for somebody that pesters or annoys insistently. Ferret for a sly person. A rat, contrary to other languages where it's a traitor, is more used for stingy people.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Rata i curcó sí, però les altres dues ara no hi caic.

Edit: marrana, ara hi he caigut. Em falta l'altra.

[–] guillem@aussie.zone 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Pècora, from mala pècora, a sheep that goes astray from the herd. And fura :)

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

I've never used pècora in that sense, only to mean bad person, more like bitch.