rato de academia

Portuguese

Etymology

Calque of English gym rat.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʁa.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ/ [ˈha.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʁa.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ/ [ˈha.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈʁa.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ/ [ˈχa.tu d͡ʒi a.ka.deˈmi.ɐ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʁa.to de a.ka.deˈmi.a/ [ˈha.to de a.ka.deˈmi.a]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʁa.tu d‿ɐ.kɐ.dɨˈmi.ɐ/ [ˈʁa.tu ð‿ɐ.kɐ.ðɨˈmi.ɐ]

Noun

rato de academia m (plural ratos de academia, feminine rata de academia, feminine plural ratas de academia) (Brazil, Internet slang, colloquial, possibly derogatory)

1. anyone addicted to physical exercise and overly concerned with the pursuit of enhancing their body muscles at any cost
2. anyone who spends most of their free time at the gym, whether to exercise or just be there to chat with others

Usage notes

Although there is a feminine equivalent, masculine is generally used to refer to both men and women as it is a colloquial term.

Related terms

• ratinha de academia