The short answer: a sunga is the Brazilian swim brief, cut with a wider, square side and fuller coverage behind, made for a day on the beach. A "speedo" is what most people call a racing brief, after the swimwear brand, and it's cut narrower and lower for speed in a pool. Both are briefs. The sunga is the one built to be worn, seen and lived in from the water to the beach bar.

In a hurry? Jump to the three sunga cuts, how a sunga should fit, or the FAQ.

What is a sunga?

A sunga (say soon-gah) is the swim brief Brazilian men actually wear. On the beaches of Rio, Ipanema and Copacabana, it's the default: fitted, low-rise, quick to dry and cut to flatter. The defining detail is the side. A sunga's side panel is wider than a racing brief's, which gives it a squarer, more tailored line and more coverage without the bulk of shorts.

New to the style? Start with our guide: What is a sunga?

What do people mean by a "speedo"?

Speedo is a brand name that became the everyday word for any men's swim brief, the same way people say Q-tips for cotton swabs. In that sense, a sunga is a kind of "speedo" too. What most people picture, though, is the racing brief: narrow sides, minimal fabric, cut tight against the body so nothing slows you down in the water. It does that job well. It's built for laps, not for a full day in the sand.

Sunga vs. speedo at a glance

Which one should you wear?

If you're training competitively, wear a racing brief. That's what it's built for. For everything a real beach day involves, wear a sunga: a game of beach volleyball, an afternoon in the sand with your friends, lying out for a tan, drinks at the beach club as the sun goes down. It's the quintessential Brazilian beach outfit, the one you wear from the first swim to the last round, from Ipanema to Mykonos to Puerto Vallarta. It gives you the clean, confident line of a brief with enough coverage to feel at ease all day, and it looks deliberate rather than athletic.

Like the look of a racing brief but want one you can actually live in? Start with the Slim. It mirrors the racing brief's line, with a narrow 6 cm side, but it's cut to be comfortable through a full day at the beach. It handles recreational laps just fine.

It earns a place in your gym bag too. Wear it in the lap pool or the cold plunge instead of your underwear, put it through the gym's suit spinner, and it's close to dry in seconds. Because it dries fast, it won't sit damp and sour in your bag the way long board shorts do.

Why wear a sunga instead of board shorts?

Because you've put work into your body, and knee-length shorts hide all of it. Board shorts cover you from waist to knee, hold water, and leave a tan line halfway down your thigh. A sunga does the opposite: it shows your legs, dries in minutes and moves with you.

You don't need a fitness model's body to wear one. On Ipanema, men of every age and build wear a sunga, because it's simply what you wear to the beach. If it's your first, the Classic gives you full coverage and an easy fit. Most men stop thinking about it within ten minutes of putting it on.

Is a sunga more modest than a speedo? The three Caio cuts

Usually, yes. The wider side and fuller back give a sunga more coverage than a typical racing brief. How much depends on the cut, and that's the point: you choose your level.

Classic: the original sunga

The Classic has a 12 cm (4.7") side and full rear coverage. It's the easiest place to start if you've never worn a brief.

Slim: the racing-brief line, built for the beach

The Slim has a 6 cm (2.4") side and a sleeker line through the hip, with traditional brief coverage behind. If you like how a speedo looks, this is your cut.

Bikini: the most minimal cut

The Bikini has a 5 cm (2") side and a high-cut leg. It's our most minimal cut, bold and confident. Not a thong.

How should a sunga fit?

A sunga should sit low on the hips with a little room in it: smooth, not skin-tight, and comfortable enough to wear all day. Caio fits true to size, but for the full sunga look, like the one in our photos, go one size up. That bit of extra room is what gives a sunga its relaxed, easy line on the beach, the way Brazilians wear it. Every Caio sunga is lined, so it holds its shape wet or dry. Sizes run S to XL, and if the first size isn't right you have 30 days to exchange it.

Frequently asked questions

Which cut should I start with?

If it's your first, start with the Classic: fuller sides and full coverage, the original Brazilian shape. The Slim is narrower with a 6 cm side. The Bikini is the most minimal, with 5 cm sides.

Do sungas run small?

No. Caio sungas fit true to size. For the full sunga look, with a little room the way Brazilians wear them, go one size up. Check the size chart on each product page if you're unsure.

Are sungas see-through when wet?

Not ours. Caio's printed sungas are double lined, front and back, in quick-dry nylon and spandex, so they stay opaque and keep their shape in and out of the water.

What if I order the wrong size?

You have 30 days to exchange it for another size or for store credit.

Why do Brazilian men wear sungas instead of board shorts?

On Brazil's beaches, the sunga is simply what men wear. It dries fast, moves with you, doesn't trap sand and leaves a cleaner tan line. Board shorts read as a tourist on Ipanema; a sunga reads as a local.