mala sem alça

Portuguese

Etymology

Literally, “suitcase without a strap”, modelled on the informal sense of mala.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈma.lɐ ˈsẽj̃ ˈaw.sɐ/ [ˈma.lɐ ˈsẽɪ̯̃ ˈaʊ̯.sɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈma.lɐ ˈsẽj̃ ˈaw.sɐ/ [ˈma.lɐ ˈsẽɪ̯̃ ˈaʊ̯.sɐ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈma.la ˈsẽj̃ ˈaw.sa/ [ˈma.la ˈsẽɪ̯̃ ˈaʊ̯.sa]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈma.lɐ ˈsɐ̃j̃ ˈal.sɐ/ [ˈma.lɐ ˈsɐ̃j̃ ˈaɫ.sɐ]

Noun

mala sem alça m or f (plural malas sem alça)

1. (Brazil, derogatory) an irritating person
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mala,‎ sem,‎ alça.

Further reading

• “mala sem alça”, in iDicionário Aulete (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2024
• “mala sem alça”, in Dicionário inFormal (in Portuguese), 2006–2024
• “mala sem alça”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2024