fazer choradinho
to whine
Littéralement: to do a little crying
Use it when someone is playfully or annoyingly acting sad just to get their way.
En 15 secondes
- To whine or complain to get sympathy or a favor.
- A mix of 'playing the victim' and tactical pouting.
- Commonly used when someone is being a bit of a drama queen.
Signification
It describes the act of complaining, whining, or putting on a 'poor me' act to get sympathy or a favor. It is that specific type of nagging where someone acts more miserable than they are to get what they want.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6A friend wants a discount at a market
Ela fez um choradinho e conseguiu o desconto.
She whined a little and managed to get the discount.
A colleague asking for more time on a project
Não adianta fazer choradinho, o prazo é hoje!
It's no use whining, the deadline is today!
Texting a partner to get them to cook dinner
Vou fazer um choradinho pra ver se ele faz a janta.
I'm going to do a little 'poor me' act to see if he'll cook dinner.
Contexte culturel
The phrase leans into the Portuguese habit of using diminutives to soften or mock behavior. It captures a specific social strategy where 'acting the victim' is a recognized (if sometimes frowned upon) way to navigate bureaucracy or social favors. It is deeply tied to the informal 'negotiation' culture found in Brazil and Portugal.
The Power of the Diminutive
The '-inho' ending makes the 'crying' seem less serious. It's what differentiates a real sob from a tactical whine.
Read the Room
If you tell someone 'para de fazer choradinho' while they are actually upset, you will sound very insensitive. Use only for minor stuff!
En 15 secondes
- To whine or complain to get sympathy or a favor.
- A mix of 'playing the victim' and tactical pouting.
- Commonly used when someone is being a bit of a drama queen.
What It Means
Fazer choradinho is the art of the tactical whine. It is not about real grief. It is about acting sad or needy to influence someone. Think of a child asking for candy. Or a friend wanting a ride. You are 'making a little cry' to soften a heart. It is playful but can be annoying.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. You can say someone 'is doing' (está fazendo) a choradinho. It often takes the preposition para (for/to). For example: Ele fez um choradinho para o chefe. It implies the person is laying it on thick. Use it when you spot someone being manipulative in a harmless way.
When To Use It
Use it with friends when they complain about small things. It is perfect for the office when a colleague wants a deadline extension. Use it at a restaurant if you are jokingly asking for a free dessert. It works well in texting when someone sends sad emojis. It adds a layer of 'I see what you are doing' to the conversation.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this during actual tragedies. If someone is truly mourning, this phrase is incredibly offensive. Avoid it in high-stakes legal or medical situations. Do not use it with your boss if they are actually angry. It is too lighthearted for serious professional reprimands. It suggests the person's feelings are a performance.
Cultural Background
Portuguese culture has a soft spot for the underdog. However, we also have a sharp eye for 'drama queens.' The diminutive -inho is key here. It makes the 'crying' sound small, cute, or pathetic. It reflects a social dynamic where negotiation often involves emotional appeals. It is a cousin to the concept of jeitinho, but more focused on the sob story.
Common Variations
You might hear choramingar, which is just 'to whimper.' Some people say dar uma de coitadinho (to act like a poor little thing). In some regions, people just say está de choro. But fazer choradinho remains the most common way to describe that specific, performative pouting we all recognize.
Notes d'usage
This is a quintessential informal expression. It relies heavily on the 'inho' suffix to denote a lack of seriousness. Use it to call out someone's 'theatrical' complaining.
The Power of the Diminutive
The '-inho' ending makes the 'crying' seem less serious. It's what differentiates a real sob from a tactical whine.
Read the Room
If you tell someone 'para de fazer choradinho' while they are actually upset, you will sound very insensitive. Use only for minor stuff!
The 'Chorinho' Secret
In bars, a 'chorinho' is an extra splash of a drink given for free. It's the successful result of a 'choradinho'!
Exemples
6Ela fez um choradinho e conseguiu o desconto.
She whined a little and managed to get the discount.
Shows the phrase used as a negotiation tactic.
Não adianta fazer choradinho, o prazo é hoje!
It's no use whining, the deadline is today!
A firm but informal way to shut down excuses.
Vou fazer um choradinho pra ver se ele faz a janta.
I'm going to do a little 'poor me' act to see if he'll cook dinner.
Self-aware and humorous use of the tactic.
O João está fazendo choradinho por causa do videogame.
João is whining because of the video game.
Classic use for children's behavior.
Fui lá fazer um choradinho com o professor, mas não funcionou.
I went there to plead my case with the teacher, but it didn't work.
Implies the student tried to gain sympathy rather than arguing facts.
Para de fazer esse choradinho, eu não vou emprestar!
Stop that whining, I am not lending it!
Very common in sibling rivalries.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to complete the expression.
Se você ___ um choradinho, talvez ela te ajude.
The standard collocation is 'fazer' (to do/make) + 'choradinho'.
Which situation best fits the use of 'choradinho'?
O termo 'choradinho' é mais adequado quando ___.
It is used for minor, often manipulative complaints, not real suffering.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Scale of 'Fazer Choradinho'
Teasing a close friend about their pouting.
Para de choradinho!
Describing a coworker's tactics to a friend.
Ele fez um choradinho pro chefe.
Avoid in formal writing; use 'reclamar' instead.
N/A
When to Spot a 'Choradinho'
At the Market
Asking for a 'friendly price'.
With Parents
Asking for a later curfew.
At Work
Getting out of a boring task.
In Romance
Fishing for compliments or attention.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot necessarily. While it can be annoying, it is often used playfully between friends or as a recognized way to negotiate small favors.
Only if you have a very close, informal relationship. Otherwise, it sounds unprofessional to accuse someone of 'whining' or to admit you are doing it.
Chorar is the physical act of crying. Fazer choradinho is a figurative 'crying' or complaining to get something.
Yes, it is widely understood in both countries, though the specific tone of the 'whine' might vary by region.
Yes, o choradinho is the noun. You can say 'Esse seu choradinho não funciona comigo' (That whining of yours doesn't work on me).
Yes, you can say Eles estão fazendo um choradinho if a group is collectively complaining to get a benefit.
Resmungar (to grumble) or queixar-se (to complain) are more formal, but fazer fita is a similar slang for acting.
Not lying exactly, but definitely exaggerating their dissatisfaction or neediness.
You can say Para de choradinho! or Chega de choradinho!
Only in informal writing like texts, social media, or dialogue in a story. Avoid it in essays or reports.
Expressions liées
choramingar
to whimper or whine constantly
dar uma de coitadinho
to play the victim
fazer fita
to show off or make a scene/act
pedir um chorinho
to ask for a little extra (usually a drink)
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