Costume vs. Costume in Portuguese: A Habit or a Disguise?
Portuguese costume often means a custom or habit; an outfit for a party is usually a fantasia.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
In Brazilian Portuguese, costume commonly refers to a habit or customary practice. The expression ter o costume de means “to be in the habit of.” It does not usually mean an outfit for a party.
Costume usually means a habit or custom
Tenho o costume de caminhar depois do jantar.
I have a habit of walking after dinner.
É costume tirar os sapatos nesta casa?
Is it customary to take off your shoes in this house?
Use fantasia for a costume or dress-up outfit
A costume worn for Carnival, Halloween, or a themed party is usually fantasia. You can describe the character or ask whether the store has the outfit in your size.
Vou usar uma fantasia de pirata no Carnaval.
I’m going to wear a pirate costume at Carnival.
Vocês têm essa fantasia no tamanho infantil?
Do you have this costume in a child’s size?
Watch for the phrase ter o costume de
When costume appears after ter o costume de, the sentence is usually describing something someone habitually does. If the sentence is about clothing, use fantasia or roupa. The surrounding verb and context prevent a misleading literal translation.
Ela tem o costume de ler no ônibus.
She has a habit of reading on the bus.
A loja vende fantasias e acessórios.
The shop sells costumes and accessories.
Put it into practice
Costume is commonly a habit; fantasia is a dress-up costume.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I have a habit of walking after dinner”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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