queixa

Queixa is a Portuguese noun that designates an expression of dissatisfaction or a formal report about a perceived wrong or harm. In everyday language, a queixa is a complaint about a product, service, or situation, often made to seek remedy, improvement, or compensation. The term comes from the verb queixar-se (to complain) and has the feminine form a queixa.

In legal contexts, queixa can refer to a formal accusation lodged with authorities that may initiate criminal or administrative proceedings. In many jurisdictions, a private individual may file a queixa-crime (private criminal complaint) for offenses where private prosecution is allowed; the filing can trigger investigations by police or prosecutors. The concept is sometimes contrasted with denúncia, which is often used for reports or charges brought by the state or by prosecutors rather than by private citizens.

Usage varies by country. In Portugal, a queixa-crime is the formal criminal complaint filed by the offended party and may lead to an inquiry or prosecution. In Brazil, the term also describes private prosecutions for certain offenses, though many crimes are pursued by the public prosecutor through denúncia. Outside the criminal sphere, queixa remains common in consumer and civil contexts, referring to complaints directed at organizations, public agencies, or service providers.

Related terms include reclamação (general complaint), denúncia (formal accusation raised by the state or others), and queixoso (the person who makes a queixa). Examples include a queixa ao serviço de atendimento ao cliente or a queixa de vizinho about noise.