calão

Calão is a term used in Portuguese linguistics to describe a register of informal language that includes slang, vulgar expressions, and profanity. It refers to words and phrases that lie outside standard formal speech and are commonly used in everyday talk by particular social groups, urban communities, or subcultures. Calão serves to express solidarity, humor, hostility, or casualness, and its presence in discourse can signal group identity, social stance, or situational context.

The scope of calão overlaps with, but is not identical to, gíria (slang). In many contexts calão specifically denotes crude or taboo language, including swear words, erotic or scatological terms, and insults. In other usages, calão is treated as a broader form of informal speech similar to gíria, with emphasis on colloquial expressions rather than formal vocabulary. The boundaries between calão, gíria, and jargão are fluid and vary by region and scholarly tradition.

Regional differences are notable. In Portugal and Brazil alike, calão is associated with speech that is less formal and sometimes considered offensive, but it also appears as a literary and sociolinguistic resource. Analyses emphasize its social functions: indexing age, class, gender, and group membership, as well as conveying tone, humor, or rebellion. Because of its potential to offend, its use is typically constrained by audience and context.