Usually when a person learns a language they do so in the traditional means, which causes them to sound a bit robotic and unnatural. An easy remedy to this is to learn some slang words so that you can speak more like a native. This is definitely the case for the Portuguese language, in which most Brazilians like to speak in a more casual way and so slang words are very frequently used. Check out this article by Lize on the most commonly used Portuguese slang words!

Portuguese Slang

13 Portuguese Slang Words to Speak Like a True Brazilian

Hi, Lize here. I’m from Brazil and I’m part of the MosaLingua Team. Brazilians are usually very informal people. That is why slang is an important part of our vocabulary. Today, you will learn 13 Portuguese slang words that you should know if you want to speak like a Brazilian! Then, if you need more resources for learning Portuguese, check out our guide.

Listen to Portuguese Slang Pronounced by a Real Brazilian

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Portuguese Slang You Need to Know

Joia

In Brazil, when we greet someone, it is quite usual to use the word “joia.” “Joia” is something usually made of gold or silver, that people wear as decoration. As a Brazilian slang word, though, “joia” means “great.” So, if someone says: “Hi there! What’s up?” It’s quite common to answer: “Tudo joia (I’m great!) E você? (How about yourself?)”

Beleza

Another popular slang word in Brazil is “beleza.” “Beleza” literally means beauty. As a slang word, “beleza” means “yes” or “it’s a deal.” So, if someone asks: “Let’s have a barbecue (“um churrasco”) this weekend?” You might answer: “Beleza! Eu levo a cerveja! (I’ll bring the beer!)” And, since we’ve mentioned beauty, if someone calls you “gato” or “gata”… say thanks! This is the slang we use to say someone is hot/handsome.

Cara

“Cara” literally  means face. As a slang term, it’s a word we use to talk about a young man we don’t know. So, to use “cara” (guy) and “gato” (handsome), which you’ve already learned how to use, we could say: “Viu o cara de azul na praia? Um gato!”

Pepino and Abacaxi

When people are talking about a problem, we sometimes use the name of two fruits: “pepino” (cucumber), as a slang word, is a synonym of problem, as well as “abacaxi” (pineapple). So, if a friend says: today, I’ll have to work late… “Estou com um pepino no escritório!” that doesn’t mean he’s making a salad, it means he has a problem to deal with.

Bacana

And when we want to say that something is nice or that we like something, one of the most usual word is “bacana” (nice).

Mala

But when we want to say someone is annoying, one of the most common slang in Brazil is “mala” (suitcase), as in the sentence: “Meu vizinho (neighbour) é um mala! He makes noise (barulho) all night long.” We could also say that this neighbor “faz barulho pra caramba.” “Pra caramba means “a lot” or “too much.”

Foi Mal

And if this neighbor feels bad about disturbing you so much, he might say: “foi mal!” “Foi mal” is a slang term we use to say we’re sorry.

Falou

In this case, you might answer using another very typical slang word in Brazil:  “Falou!” which means “OK,” “I agree,” or “gotcha.”

Rolar

And since we’ve mentioned a barbecue and the beach, another very common slang in Brazil is “rolar.” Literally, “rolar” is a synonym for “to spin,”  or “start spinning.” As slang, it means “to happen.” “The weekend (fim semana) was great! Rolou praia no sábado e no domingo!” or even: “Rola um cinema (a movie) na semana que vem?”

Valeu

To end this article, I’ve chosen another very popular slang word in Brazil: “Valeu!” “Valeu” simply means obrigada (thanks)! Thanks for reading!

 

More Portuguese and Brazilian Slang

Do you know other Portuguese slang terms that you think should be on this list? Share them in the comments section. Don’t forget to tell us what they mean and how they are used.

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