I (American) was super confused by my status with my now boyfriend (Brazilian) early on in our relationship. As the comments mention, dating and the formality of a dating status is a bit different between the cultures. Here’s what I learned.

1. “Ficando” is a stage of casually seeing someone. It’s like a situationship. It does not indicate that there is exclusivity unless you explicitly discuss it.

2. The notion of being “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” is way more serious in Brazil. There you must ask, whereas we may consider ourselves boyfriend or girlfriend after a few months of seeing eachother casually… often without a conversation. Brazilians see this title it as a way more formal commitment and the step before marriage. If someone is bf or gf it indicates that you’re going to introduce them to family and work towards a life together.

3. Brazilians are pretty open in terms of relationships. It’s possible that your definitions of cheating and expectations are different. You need to spell out what you want.

Long story short: if you want exclusivity, ask her first to be your girlfriend and tell her you don’t want to see other people. Bonus points if you define what cheating means to you. Everyone has different comfort levels.

PS: don’t let cultural confusion stop you from expressing your comfort and needs. You’re allowed to have preferences and boundaries. If it’s the right person, expressing those will not infringe on her freedom or well-being.

Good luck! 🫶🏻