bacana

Bacana is a term in Brazilian Portuguese that functions as an informal adjective meaning "cool," "nice," "good," or "pleasant." It is used to describe people, situations, objects, or experiences that are agreeable or enjoyable. The word is common in casual speech and popular culture, but it is considered informal and is not typically used in formal writing. The form is the same for all genders, so sentences like "Ele é bacana" and "Ela é bacana" are both correct; it can also appear as "Que bacana!" to express approval.

Usage notes: It can intensify positive impressions, for example "Que festa bacana!" or "Esse filme é bacana." It is often substituted for synonyms such as "legal," "bom," "massa," or "show." There are related informal expressions like "bacaninha" (diminutive form, meaning very nice or cute) and "bacana demais" (very cool). Regional preferences vary across Lusophone communities; in Portugal the term is understood but less central to everyday speech.

Etymology and history: The origin of bacana as a slang adjective is not clearly documented; it emerged and spread in Brazilian popular speech and media in the late 20th century and has since become widely recognized in informal registers.

Other uses: Bacana also appears as a proper noun in some contexts, including place names or brands, but these uses are distinct from the adjective's meaning.

See also: legal, massa, show, top.