What Are The Social Classes in Portugal?

The quintessential question in New York when you meet someone is “what do you do?” Nobody is going to ask you who your parents are. In Portugal, things are quite different. In Portugal, if you are not a foreigner, people will want to know what your last name is, who your parents are, where you went to school, and if you have a title. I have been doing a little digging ever since I learned about the Tias de Cascais. If you have been wondering what the social classes in Portugal are (and what stereotypes fit them according to Portuguese people), look no further. Today, I will delve into the meanings behind:

Meninos Bem
Meninos Queque
Betos
And Chungas

Keep in mind these all carry negative connotations, just like redneck or hillbilly, so this is to help you understand these words when people throw them into a conversation, but not necessarily to use them in conversation.

Portuguese Social Classes

Antonio channeling his inner Menino de Bem.

Meninos de Bem

noun

one who belongs to high society, who belongs to the elite, well-born.

Meninos de Bem don’t really know when their family acquired their fortune, but their family has had wealth for a loooong time. They have status and good names, but not liquidity. They come from “good blood” or a familia de bem. They know that they come from good stock. They don’t really have a care in the world since they have grown up in privilege. A Menino de Bem has staff and is used to having things like laundry done for him. You would not be able to tell his societal status by his clothes, but more by his vibe.

How To Recognize A Menino Bem

Meninos de Bem don’t care about what they wear. They are said to wear the hand-me-downs of their fathers and grandfathers or simple clothes like jeans and a tee shirt.

Popular Meninos Bem Names

Meninos de Bem usually have composed names and a lot of last names, for example: João Miguel Mello Fernandes Pereira dos Reis.
Has a second name of Maria – example Jose Maria da Fonseca.

Antonio channeling his inner Queque.

Queques

noun

one who belongs to high society, who belongs to the elite, well-born, but not as well born as a Menino Bem

Queques know which ancestor created the family fortune, usually a great grandfather, so their family has history, but not as much as a Menino de Bem. They were absolutely beautifully to attend the right schools, but no matter what, they never feel like they measure up to the Meninos de Bem. They’d be happy to marry into a Familia de Bem. Queques show off their wealth.

How To Recognize A Queque

Queques wear expensive clothes, expensive watches, and things that signify their wealth

Antonio channeling his inner Beto.

Betos (aka Betinhos)

noun

one who belongs to a favored social group and wears expensive clothes

Betos have money, but the money was probably made by their father. Their dad was a self-made man. Betos are said to be social climbers who want to integrate into the Queque and Meninos de Bem society, but since he did not have the privilege of going to the right schools, he does not always succeed. It does not matter that he currently is wealthier than both. Betos will treat those they consider to be below them with contempt and will kiss the ass of those who he aspires to spend time with.

How To Recognize A Beto?

Betos wear plaid shirts, knitted jackets, brand new jeans and black loafers with a silver strap.

Popular Beto Names

Male Beto Names: Martim, Salvador, Tomás, Bernardo, Duarte, Afonso
Female Beto Names: Constança, Carolina, Caetana, Madalena

The three types above are mostly applied to a younger generation. As these generations mature, their differences water down, they become bourgeois. Chungas come in all ages – thanks for the info Andre!

Antonio channeling his inner chunga.

Chunga

noun

one who is poor, working class, has poor education and income (this title comes with a negative connotation as well).

Chungas (also known as azeiteiros or gunas). They don’t have good taste or class. They are poor and can never get out of their social strata.

How To Recognize A Chunga?

Chungas wear baseball caps, sweatpants that are scrunched up to calf length, and graphic tees.
Chungas will wear counterfeit brand clothes.
Changes are loud.

What Are Chunga Names

Male Chunga names include Cristiano, Leandro, Sandro, Fábio, Rúben, Flávio, Sandro, Ivan, Márcio, Nelson
Female Chunga names include Soraia, Vanessa, Carla, Carina

I’m sure there are a ton more of these stereotypes. If you are Portuguese, let me know what else there is. Oh, and if you know what names would fit someone who is a Menino Queque, let me know. So far nobody has been able to tell me.