figa

Figa is a term with multiple meanings in Romance languages, most notably Italian and Portuguese, and its sense depends on context, region, and register. In everyday speech it is often associated with female anatomy and sexuality, but it can also appear in neutral references to fruit or folklore.

In Italian, figa (feminine) is a vulgar slang term for the vagina and is generally considered crude or offensive in formal settings. It is also used, sometimes playfully or insultingly, to refer to a woman perceived as sexually attractive—phrases like “una figa” or colloquial variants. The related masculine form figo means “cool” or “attractive,” and época depends on tone and audience. Because of its crude connotation, usage tends to be restricted to informal speech among familiar peers or in media that aims for explicit humor.

In Portuguese, figa can refer to the fruit of the fig tree in neutral contexts, but in slang it likewise denotes female genitalia. As in Italian, its acceptability is highly context dependent and it can be considered vulgar or offensive in many settings. The term may also appear in informal expressions related to attractiveness or sexuality.

Culturally, the word is linked to folklore in parts of Southern Europe through the figure of the mano fico, an amulet or talisman involving a hand gesture and the fig motif to ward off the evil eye. Although related etymologically to the fig, this folkloric use is distinct from everyday slang and is typically described separately in discussions of cultural symbols.

Because figa is a slang term with potential offense, its use is generally avoided in formal writing and uncertain social contexts.