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How to Say ‘What the hell is this?’ in Portuguese

Que raio é isto?

kee RAI-oo eh EESH-too

[kee RAI-oo eh EESH-too]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Mild enough for most everyday situations, unlike the caralho version.

Phrase Breakdown

Que raio

kee RAI-oo

What the heck

'Raio' literally means 'ray' or 'lightning'. It is a mild intensifier. The initial 'r' is guttural: 'kuh HRAI-oo'.

Example

Que raio aconteceu?

What the heck happened?

Words in this phrase

Que

[kee]

What

An interrogative used to ask for information about something.

Example

Na exposição, alguém exclamou: 'Que bom gosto você tem!'

At the exhibition, someone exclaimed: 'What good taste you have!'

raio

[RAI-oo]

heck / hell

Literally 'lightning bolt'; a mild intensifier in questions of surprise.

Example

Que raio de dia!

What a hell of a day!

é isto?

eh EESH-too

is this?

'É' (is) plus 'isto' (this). The two vowels link smoothly: 'eh EESH-too'.

Example

O que é isto?

What is this?

Words in this phrase

[eh]

Form of the verb 'ser' used to identify or state something.

Example

É meu interesse conhecer melhor a empresa.

It is my interest to get to know the company better.

isto

[EESH-too]

this

Used for something near the speaker.

Example

Queria isto, se faz favor.

I would like this, please.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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