porco

Porco is a word in Italian and Portuguese with the primary meaning pig or hog. In Italian, porco is a masculine noun and also an adjective meaning pig-like or dirty; the feminine form is porca and the plural is porci. In Portuguese, porco means pig or pork, with feminine porca and plural porcos. The term derives from the Latin porcus, a common root across Romance languages. In Italian, porco can also appear in colloquial usage as an informal insult or descriptor, though such uses depend on context.

Beyond its literal meaning, porco appears in various cultural references. The most well-known is Porco Rosso, the title character of the 1992 Studio Ghibli animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film follows a former World War I fighter ace who has become a pig and operates as a freelance aviator over the Adriatic Sea. The title Porco Rosso translates roughly to “Red Pig,” and the work is noted for its aviation imagery, antiwar themes, and distinctive visual style. Porco Rosso is widely recognized in international audiences as part of Miyazaki’s filmography.

In summary, porco functions as the basic word for pig in Italian and Portuguese, with additional cultural significance through its use in titles such as Porco Rosso.