Where it is said
- the Northeast· strongly associated
How it is used
Said of someone (or an animal) who is skinny and sickly-looking, weakened rather than merely slim. Aulete labels the sense Bras. N.E.; possibly of Bantu origin per Priberam.
Examples
Esse gato tá guenzo, dá comida pra ele.
That cat is skinny, give it some food.
O Renan voltou da viagem todo guenzo.
Renan came back from the trip looking sickly.
Esse cachorro é guenzo mas é esperto.
This dog is skinny but very smart.
Practise “guenzo” in context
Hear it, use it in a sentence and get corrected — Falando’s Real Talk and Idioms Trainer are built for words like this. Free for 7 days.
Sources cited on this page
Sources: Aulete — guenzo · tier 2; Priberam — guenzo · tier 2; Toda Matéria — Gírias de cada região do Brasil (dicionário regionalista) · tier 3