Sujeira vs. sujidade vs. porcaria
When describing dirt or filth in Portuguese, the choice of word depends heavily on the region and the level of disgust. Sujeira is the general term in Brazil, sujidade is the standard term in Portugal (but technical in Brazil), and porcaria implies messy filth or junk.
Sujeira
A2This is the most common and standard word for dirt, mess, or grime in Brazil. It refers to the physical presence of dust, stains, or trash. In Portugal, it is also used but can specifically imply a state of confusion or messy disorder rather than just surface grime.
Tem muita sujeira embaixo do tapete da sala.
(There is a lot of dirt under the living room rug.)
Limpe essa sujeira do seu rosto antes de sair.
(Clean that dirt off your face before you go out.)
A chuva criou muita sujeira nas ruas da cidade.
(The rain created a lot of mess on the city streets.)
Não gosto de ver sujeira acumulada nos móveis.
(I do not like to see accumulated dust on the furniture.)
Sujidade
B2This is the standard, everyday word for dirt or grime in Portugal. However, in Brazil, sujidade sounds formal, clinical, or technical (used by doctors, dentists, or industrial cleaners to describe specific particles or contamination).
É difícil remover toda a sujidade destas janelas antigas.
(It is difficult to remove all the grime from these old windows.)
O médico lavou as mãos para eliminar qualquer sujidade.
(The doctor washed his hands to eliminate any dirt.)
Esta máquina remove a sujidade profunda dos tecidos.
(This machine removes deep dirt from fabrics.)
Havia marcas de sujidade na parede branca.
(There were marks of dirt on the white wall.)
Porcaria
B1Derived from the word for pig (porco), this word carries a stronger connotation of disgust. It refers to filth, nasty substances, trash, or general junk. It is used in both Brazil and Portugal when the dirt is considered gross or when referring to objects of very poor quality.
Tira essa porcaria grudenta da mesa agora mesmo.
(Take that sticky filth off the table right now.)
O menino estava brincando na lama e se encheu de porcaria.
(The boy was playing in the mud and covered himself in filth.)
Pare de comer essa porcaria e jante comida de verdade.
(Stop eating that junk and have real food for dinner.)
Não pise nessa porcaria que o cachorro deixou no chão.
(Do not step in that mess the dog left on the ground.)
Summary
Use sujeira for general dirt if you are speaking Brazilian Portuguese. Use sujidade for general dirt if you are speaking European Portuguese (or writing a technical report in Brazil). Use porcaria in either region to express disgust regarding filth, trash, or junk.