What Does Dar Mole Mean in Brazilian Portuguese?
Dar mole changes meaning with context: it can describe showing romantic interest, missing a chance, or making a careless mistake.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Dar mole is informal Brazilian Portuguese, and its meaning changes with the situation. Dar mole para alguém can mean to show that you are interested in the person, often in a flirtatious way. Dar mole in a situation can mean to let an opportunity pass or to be careless.
Notice who or what follows dar mole
Because these readings are quite different, do not translate the expression without the rest of the sentence. The person being discussed, the verb tense, and the topic usually make the intended meaning clear.
Ele está dando mole para a colega.
He is flirting with his colleague.
Perdi a promoção porque dei mole e não comprei a passagem.
I missed the sale because I let the chance slip and didn’t buy the ticket.
Não dá mole com o celular na mesa do bar.
Don’t be careless with your phone on the bar table.
Use a more direct phrase when the meaning could be unclear
If you mean romantic interest, demonstrar interesse is a clearer and more neutral phrase. If you mean a mistake, vacilar or perder uma oportunidade may explain the situation more precisely. Dar mole is casual, so it may not fit a formal report or professional email.
It can also sound critical when you tell another person that they gave someone an opening. Pay attention to the relationship and say exactly what happened if you want to avoid blame.
Acho que ela demonstrou interesse nele.
I think she showed interest in him.
Vacilei e perdi o último ônibus.
I messed up and missed the last bus.
Não quero perder essa oportunidade.
I don’t want to miss this opportunity.
Put it into practice
Dar mole is informal and context-dependent. Use para alguém for a possible flirtatious reading; around a mistake or chance, check whether it means carelessness or letting an opportunity slip.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I think she showed interest in him”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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