Brazzil
Nation
February 2003
As an American married to a Brazilian, with two Brazilian children, and with 17 years experience with Brazilian Portuguese (BP), coming to Portugal and trying to adapt to the Continental variety of Portuguese (CP) was not easy at first. I think that if I had not known any other variety of the language, in effect coming with a clean slate, the period of linguistic adaptation would have been smoother.
When we first arrived in Porto it was very difficult to understand the people. They could understand us but the opposite was not true. Now that we have been here for nine years, going on ten, the language presents less of a problem, and communication is not so labored. As in most language learning situations we tend to struggle with the less educated. This of course is because as teachers we have most of our contact with middle-class people with some schooling, who speak a standard form of the language.
Knowing Brazilian Portuguese was help and a hindrance when we arrived in Portugal. On the one hand, most of the arduous process of learning the local language was facilitated and we could communicate from the first day on. On the other hand, the knowledge of the other linguistic variety impeded the learning process in many ways. Prejudices about the supposed attractiveness and even superiority of Brazilian Portuguese made it harder to accept Continental Portuguese. Many Portuguese themselves say that the sounds of Brazilian Portuguese are more melodious and softer than Continental Portuguese.
Another problem is that the Brazilian Portuguese speaker has no, or almost no contact with Continental Portuguese. Outside the restricted world of the Portuguese colony in Rio and São Paulo, with its clubs and codfish dinners, Brazilians have no experience of what Continental Portuguese sounds like. Even the Portuguese who have lived in Brazil for a certain period of time soon lose their accent and do their best to blend in with the local culture. This rarely occurs with the Brazilian in Portugal.
Perhaps this blending in Brazil was because the Portuguese immigrants were looked upon as ignorant and backward, despite their economic success. The historical idea of what a Portuguese was like has never been a positive one in Brazil. In fact, most of the jokes told are about the Portuguese. The prejudice and ignorance can be shocking at times, if one is Portuguese. One student of mine was told he had such an interesting conversation that he didn't even seem to be Portuguese.
In a situation in which no cultural input from Portugal enters Brazil, there is almost a total ignorance about the mother nation. Portuguese singers have never even tried to penetrate the Brazilian market. Recently a Portuguese rock group performed live at a rock concert in Rio. The Portuguese television reporter interviewed several young people and asked them what they thought about the music. The first comment was that it sounded ok but they couldn't understand a word.
Only with Subtitles
Portuguese television and films have likewise never been shown in Brazil, outside a few art cinemas in Rio or São Paulo. A recent package of Portuguese films was sent to be shown during the celebrations commemorating the discovery of Brazil. It was decided that the films could only be shown with subtitles.
The Continental Portuguese language is almost never heard in Brazil, especially in the interior. A student of mine, when visiting a small town in Brazil, was asked if she was speaking Italian. Brazilian women who went to a women's congress in Moscow in the early sixties, before the revolution of 1964, said that when the delegates' words were being translated into Continental Portuguese on their headphones, they had to switch to a Spanish translation to understand. Surely the same would not happen with Spanish from Spain and Mexican Spanish, or even with American and British English—although dialects like Geordie or Scouse can be unintelligible for Americans. But they are dialects; here we are talking about standard varieties.
When the Brazilian arrives in Portugal he encounters two types of reactions to his Portuguese. There are those who think he has a "nice" accent and enjoy listening to it. There are also those who seem to resent the fact that a different type of Portuguese is being spoken, and more so in Brazil—a country that most people in the world today identify with the Portuguese language.
A Portuguese student of mine resented the fact that in Paris, on a sightseeing bus, the symbol for the Portuguese language was the Brazilian flag and the narration of the tour was in Brazilian Portuguese. Ironically this is in a city with close to half a million Portuguese immigrants. Obviously they don't go on sightseeing tours.
Children, adolescents, and simple working people, be they villagers or city folk, are very accepting of Brazilian Portuguese. They watch soap operas from Brazil, listen to Brazilian singers like Daniela Mercury, Gal Costa etc. and generally accept the different accent and vocabulary. The problem arises with more educated older people, usually those who have gone to university or are at university. We have seen that negative language attitudes towards Brazilian Portuguese come from the middle class.
Stop this Rebellion
The comments made about Brazilian Portuguese are always the same. The mother tongue is Continental Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese speakers should not persist in their linguistic rebellion. Centuries of separation from the mother country are not taken into consideration. Brazilian children who enter the Portuguese school system see their writing covered with red marks, with every Brazilian Portuguese word or spelling singled out for correction. They either learn the Portuguese way or fail. There is no such thing as linguistic diversity or multicultural education in Portugal. All immigrants must adapt to the standard or risk failure.
As most of the articles or books required for university studies are written in foreign languages—nine times out of ten in English—and not in Continental Portuguese (the market is too small for translation) the students either have to read in the foreign language, pay someone to translate it, or heaven forbid, read a translation made in Brazilian Portuguese. The negative reaction to the reading of these academic articles and books in Brazilian Portuguese is almost pathological. "The Brazilians don't know how to translate." "The Portuguese is all wrong." "We prefer to struggle with English than have to read in a Brazilian translation."
Ignorance? Yes, a lot of it does stem from total ignorance of linguistics. But there is also the possibility of nationalistic pride and that same inferiority complex that makes the Portuguese so negative about Spain. "Spanish food is terrible," or "the Spanish language is harsh and ugly." The fact that Brazilians have translated such articles and books, and the Portuguese haven't, wounds their nationalistic pride. They forget that the Brazilian market is so much larger—with hundreds of universities compared to Portugal's dozens—and it is logical that the publishers would have a translation in Brazilian Portuguese.
The solution for all of this is of course for Portugal to try to make Brazilians more aware of their modern culture, including the language. I don't think the two languages will come closer together in the near future though. Certainly it won't occur by way of government fiat. As long as Brazil remains so far away, with much more in common with its Latin American neighbors, and with the United States, Portugal and Brazil will not be close linguistically or culturally.
The force of Brazilian culture is much stronger because it comes with economic clout and the reality of having over one hundred and sixty million people versus ten million. In the future there will be much more infiltration of Brazilian Portuguese because of music, television, and immigration.
Perhaps with a strong Portuguese presence in the Brazilian economy—supermarkets, electricity, banks, and cellular telephones—there might be an accompanying cultural and linguistic input, but this is yet to be seen. The Portuguese companies that have acquired a position in the Brazilian economy will most likely do everything they can to blend in and appear to be Brazilian.
Ray Vogensen, the author of the article and the dictionary below, was born in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. He lived in Brazil for 17 years and then moved to Portugal where he has been living for 10 years. You can visit his Portuguese Culture Web site - http://www.portcult.com - which includes several topics related to Portugal and the Portuguese language. He welcomes comments at portcult@hotmail.com
| Continental Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | English |
| A | ||
| açorda | uma sopa grossa com migalhas de pão e alho, as vezes com um ovo encima | a thick soup with bread crumbs and garlic, often with an egg on top |
| adesivo | esparadrapo | bandage |
| adiante | em frente | straight ahead, over there |
| adeus | tchau | goodbye |
| agrafador | grampeador | stapler |
| agrafo | grampo | staple |
| água fresca | água gelada (para beber)
água fria (para banhos,etc.) |
cold water |
| águas furtadas | sótão | garret, attic |
| albufeira | represa | dam, reservoir |
| alcatifa | carpete | fitted carpet |
| alcatrão | asfalto | tarmac, asphalt |
| alcunha | apelido | nickname (apelido in Portugal is last name) |
| aldrabão | sacana, vigarista, safado | crook |
| aldrabar | sacanear, enganar | to trick, to fool |
| aleijar | machucar | to hurt (physically) |
| além | ali | over there |
| alfacinha | habitante de Lisboa | a person from Lisbon |
| alfaias | ferramentas de agricultor | agricultural tools |
| alforreca | agua-viva | medusa, jellyfish |
| algália | cateter | catheter |
| algures | em algum lugar | somewhere |
| aligeirar | aliviar | to relieve, to lighten |
| almeida | gari, varredor de rua | street sweeper |
| almofada | travesseiro | pillow—almofada means cushion in Brazil. |
| alterne, casa de | boîte, bordel, prostíbulo | a type of nightclub where prostitutes encourage men to buy drinks. |
| alterneira | mulher que trabalha numa case de alterne | bargirl, woman who works in a nightclub |
| aluguer | aluguel | rent or lease |
| anda ca! | vem ca! | come here! |
| andar | apartamento | apartment |
| anedota | piada | joke |
| ao pé de | perto de | near |
| aparcar | estacionar | to park |
| apelido | sobrenome | last name—apelido means nickname in Brazil |
| apertar | amarrar | to tie |
| apitadela | telefonema | telephone call |
| apitar | buzinar | to sound the horn |
| aposentação | aposentadoria | retirement |
| arca congeladora | congelador, freezer | freezer |
| ardina | vendedor de jornais | newspaper seller |
| arrancar | começar | to begin |
| arranjar | consertar | to repair, to fix |
| arrecadação | lugar para guardar coisas, dispensa | storage space |
| arrefecer | esfriar | to get cold |
| arrumador | lanterninha (no cinema) | usher in a movie theater |
| artista | eletricista ou encanador | professional: an electrician or plumber |
| aselha | desajeitada | person who is clumsy |
| atacador | cadarço | shoe strings |
| atendedor automático | secretária electrônica | answering machine |
| aterrar | aterrissar | to land in a plane |
| atestar | encher o tanque do carro | to fill up the gasoline tank |
| auscultadores | audiofones | headphones |
| autarca | funcionário da câmara local | city government worker |
| autocarro | ônibus | bus or coach |
| autoclismo | descarga da privada | toilet flush |
| avançado | atacante | forward, striker (football) |
| avariado | quebrado | broken |
| B | ||
| bagaceira | cachaça, pinga | brandy |
| bagaço | cachaça, pinga | brandy |
| baixa | centro da cidade | downtown |
| baliza | gol | goal or goalpost |
| balela | mentira | lie |
| balneário | vestiário | changing room, locker room |
| bancada | arquibancada | stands, bleachers |
| bandolete | tiara, arco | headband |
| banheiro | salva vidas | lifeguard (in Br. Port. banheiro is "bathroom" |
| baril | legal, do caralho | cool, groovy |
| barriga da perna | batata da perna (também em algumas regiões do Brasil se usa barriga da perna) | calf of the leg |
| batota | trapaça | trick |
| bazar | ir embora, dar com o pé | slang for to leave, to hit the road, to skedaddle |
| BD: banda desenhada | gibi, revistinha | comic book |
| bem disposto? | como vai? | how are you? |
| beneficiação | melhoramento, beneficiamento | improvement |
| berlinde | bola de gude | marble, as in the children's game |
| berma | acostamento (berma é um termo técnico que quer dizer aba lateral de um aterro) | hard shoulder of the highway |
| bestial | legal | cool, groovy |
| betão | concreto | concrete |
| Beto (calão) | Mauricinho, riquinho | rich kid |
| biberão | mamadeira | baby bottle |
| bica | cafezinho | expresso coffee (in Lisbon) |
| bicha | fila | line, queue: bicha in Brazil means queer |
| bifana | bife de porco | slice of fried pork |
| bicho carpinteiro | cupim | termite |
| bilheteira | bilheteria | box office |
| bocado, bocadinho | um pouco | a little bit |
| bófia | tira | cop |
| bola, ir a | ir ver o jogo de futebol | to go to a football game |
| boléia | carona | a ride, a lift |
| borbulhas | espinhas | pimples |
| borga | farra | high jinks, spree |
| borla, de | de graça | for free |
| borracha | garota | girl |
| borracheira | bebedeira | drunken state |
| bossa | corcunda | hump |
| bouça | mato | thicket |
| broche | sexo oral, uma chupada, uma chupeta | fellatio, oral sex |
| Bucha e Estica | o Gordo e o Magro | Laurel and Hardy |
| bué | muito | very (slang) as in "bué de caro" |
| bufar | soprar (bufar é expirar violentamente como se estivesse cansado ou muito nervoso) | to blow |
| bute | "s'imbora", vamos embora | slang for "let's hit the road" |
| C | ||
| cabrão | filho da puta (em Portugal cabrão pode significar "chifrudo") | son of a bitch (in Portugal "cabrão" can mean "cuckold") |
| cacete | pão francês | baguette, French bread (in Brazil cacete is slang for penis |
| caçoilo | caçarola pequena | small casserole dish |
| cachopa | garota, moça | girl |
| cachorro | cachorro quente, hot dog | hot dog |
| calção | shorts | shorts, bermudas |
| calcar | pisar (calcar é apertar) | step on |
| calhar, se | talvez | maybe |
| calhau | pedra, pedregulho | stone |
| colunas | altofalantes, caixas de som | speakers (for a stereo) |
| camisa de dormir | camisola | night dress, night gown |
| canalha | criança | kid (in Brazil canalha is bastard) |
| canalizador | bombeiro (mais comum no Rio de Janeiro), encanador | plumber |
| cancro | câncer | cancer |
| candeeiro | abajur (de mesa), lustre (de teto) | lamp |
| caneca | caneco | mug |
| capa | letra k (ká) | the letter k |
| capachinho | peruca | wig, toupee |
| Capuchinho Vermelho | Chapeuzinho Vermelho | Little Red Riding Hood |
| caraça! | caralho! | prick! |
| caril | curry | curry |
| carne picada | carne moída (carne moída é aquela passada no moedor e picada é aquela cortada em pequenos pedaços com uma faca) | ground meat |
| carne verde | carne fresca | fresh meat |
| carocha | fusca | Volkswagen Beetle, the Bug |
| carpete | tapete solto | loose rug (in Brazil, this is called carpete) |
| carpir | chorar (no Brasil usa-se mais no sentido de chorar os mortos) | to cry, to mourn |
| carregar | apertar um botão | to press a button |
| carrinha | utilitário fechado, tipo Kombi | van |
| carruagem | vagão de trem | train car, carriage |
| carta de condução | carta de habilitação, carta de motorista | driving license |
| carteira | bolsa de mulher | handbag |
| casa de banho | banheiro | bathroom |
| casa de pasto | boteco, restaurante popular | inexpensive restaurant |
| cash and carry | atacadista | wholesaler |
| castanho | marrom (tambêm se usa castanho, mais para cor dos olhos e cabelos) | brown |
| catita | elegante | dandy, elegant |
| cauteleiro | vendedor de bilhetes de loteria | lottery ticket salesman |
| cave | porão | basement, cellar |
| cesto | cesta (tb se usa cesto como de lixo) | basket in basketball |
| chanatos (calão) | chinelos | slang for slippers |
| charcutaria | espécie de mercearia fina | delicatessen |
| chaufagem | aquecimento | heating system |
| chavalo | garoto | young boy or girl |
| chávena | xícara | cup |
| cheio de frio, fome etc. | com frio, fome etc. (morto de fome) | hungry, thirsty |
| chibar | reclamar | complain |
| chiça! | puxa! doeu! | wow! jeez! |
| chicha | carne (linguagem de criança) | meat (baby talk) |
| chispa | rápido, vamos (tb se usa com o sentido de sai, passa, fora, se manda!) | let's go! |
| chispe | pé de porco (um prato popular em Portugal) | pig's trotter (a popular dish) |
| chucha | chupeta (de criança) | pacifier for babies |
| chuço | guardachuva | umbrella |
| chui | tira | cop |
| chumbar | não passar de ano, levar pau na escola | to fail at school |
| chumbar o dente | obturar | to fill a tooth |
| chunga (calão) | mau, chato | bad, the pits |
| chupa-chupa | doce num palito | candy, sucker |
| churrasqueira | churrascaria (a churrasqueira normalmente só serve frango no churrasco) | steak house, restaurant that serves barbecued meats |
| chuto | picada de heroína | heroin injection |
| cimeira | reunião de cúpula | summit meeting |
| códea | casca de pão | crust of bread |
| coima | multa | fine |
| colaboradora (eufemismo para um anûncio no jornal) | prostituta em boîte | bargirl, prostitute (euphemism) |
| colega | companheiro de trabalho (tb se usa colega de trabalho ou só colega) | workmate |
| comboio | trem | train |
| cona | vagina | vagina |
| conductor | chofer, motorista | driver |
| conduzir | guiar, dirigir | to drive |
| conservatório | repartição pública | government office |
| cota (calão) | pais | slang for parents |
| contabilista | contador | accountant |
| continuação! | até logo! | see you later! |
| copos, ir aos | sair para beber, encher a cara | have some drinks |
| corte | tapão, toco | a blocked shot in basketball |
| coscuvilhar | fofocar | to gossip |
| coxia | cadeira de corredor | aisle seat, used for planes, theater etc. |
| cu | bunda | ass, buttocks |
| cueca | calcinha ou cueca quando é de homem | underpants |
| cunha | pistolão, QI (quem indicou?) | influence to get a job |
| cusco | bisbilhoteiro | ferret, busybody |
| D | ||
| dar explicações | dar aulas particulares | to teach private classes |
| dar uma vista de olhos | dar uma olhada | to take a look |
| defeso | temporada | season (football) |
| deitar fora | jogar fora | to throw away |
| desculpe lá! | com licença! | excuse me! |
| diospiro | caquí | persimmon |
| dobrar | dublar | to dub a film |
| doméstica | dona de casa | housewife (in Brazil doméstica is a house worker, a cleaning lady) |
| dorido | dolorido | painful |
| drogaria | armarinho | store that sells brooms, cleaning material |
| duche | chuveiro, banho de chuveiro | shower |
| durex | camisinha | condom—in Brazil durex is scotch tape |
| E | ||
| ecran | tela | television screen |
| eléctrico | bonde | tram or streetcar |
| em diferido | videoteipe | video tape |
| ementa | cardápio, menu | menu |
| ena pá! | caramba, putis grila | wow! |
| encarnado (semáforo encarnado) | vermelho | red |
| encerrado | fechado (encerrado é utilizado mais com o sentido de terminado como em expediente encerrado) | closed |
| enfrascarse (calão) | ficar bêbado | get drunk |
| engaço (o verbo é engaçar) | rastelo, ancinho | rake |
| engraçado | engraçado (cômico ou bonito) | funny or pretty |
| entornar | derramar | to spill |
| escadote | escada | ladder |
| escanção | a arte de servir o vinho | the art of serving wine |
| escaparate | estante | bookshelf |
| escusado, ser | ser inútil, não ser necessário | to need not, needless to say |
| escuta | escuteiro | boy scout |
| esférico | bola de futebol | football |
| esferográfica | caneta (tb se usa esferográfica) | ballpoint pen |
| esferovite | isopor | styrofoam |
| espalhar | esparramar | to spread |
| espalhar um exame | tomar bomba num exame | to fail a test, to flunk |
| esparregado | creme de legumes | vegetable sauce |
| espirituosa | bebida alcólica | spirits, alcoholic drink |
| espumante | champanha, campagne (tb se usa espumante) | champagne |
| esquentamento | aquecimento | heating, warming up |
| estafetas, corrida de | revezamento | relay race |
| estalo | bofetada, tapa (forte) | slap |
| estendal | varal | a plastic clothes drier used in apartments |
| estomatologista | dentista | a doctor who specialized in dentistry |
| estore | persiana de madeira ou plástico | wooden or plastic blind |
| explicador | professor particular | private teacher |
|
|
||
| facho | lanterninha, lanterna portátil | flashlight, torch |
| factura | nota fiscal | invoice |
| falhanço | fracasso | failure |
| fato | terno | suit |
| fato de banho | maiô ou calção de banho | swimming suit |
| fato macaco | macacão, jardineira | overalls |
| faz favor! | por favor | excuse me! |
| fazer óó | fazer naná | baby talk for go to sleep |
| fazer o pino | plantar banana | stand on your head |
| febra | pedaço de carne de porco | slice of pork |
| feijão verde | vagem | green beans |
| feira da ladra | feira hipie | flea market |
| fiambre | presunto (no Brasil fiambre é presuntado; presunto como em Portugal só importado) | processed ham |
| ficha | tomada | plug |
| ficheiro | fichário | file (cabinet) |
| filete | bife | beef steak |
| fino | chope pequeno | small glass of draft beer |
| fisga | estilingue, bodoque | slingshot |
| fita-cola | durex (em Portugal Durex é uma marca conhecida de camisinha) | scotch tape |
| fixe | genial, legal | cool, groovy |
| fogo | apartamento | apartment |
| força | passa! Xô! Se manda! Sai! | go ahead! |
| forreta | pão duro | stingy, cheapskate |
| fotocópia | xerox (tb se usa fotocópia ou xerocópia) | photocopy |
| frigorífico | geladeira | fridge, icebox |
| fufa | sapatão | lesbian, dyke |
| fumado | defumado | smoked |
| fumador | vagão de trem para fumantes | smoking car on a train |
| fumo | fumaça | smoke |
| fundir | queimar (Fundir é derreter o motor) | to burn out—used for light bulbs |
| furo | pneu furado | flat tire |
| fusca | gíria para pistola ou revólver | revolver |
| G | ||
| gabardina | capa de chuva | raincoat |
| gadanha | foice | scythe, sickle |
| galão | café com leite | coffee with milk served in a glass |
| gamba | camarão gigante | prawns |
| ganga, calça de | jeans | jeans |
| ganza | baseado | a joint of marijuana |
| garina | garota | girl |
| garrafeira | loja de bebidas alcólicas | wine shop, bottle shop |
| gasóleo | óleo diesel | diesel |
| gasolineira | posto de abastecimento ou de gasolina | gas station |
| gasolineiro | frentista | gas station worker |
| gelado | sorvete | ice cream |
| gestor | gerente | manager |
| ginja | cereja preta | black cherry |
| giradiscos | tocadiscos | record player |
| girafa | caneca grande de cerveja | large mug of beer |
| giro | legal, bacana | great, cool |
| golo | gol | goal |
| grelha | programação de televisão ou grade de programação | list of programs on TV |
| grilar | bater pino | to ping-said of a motor |
| grossista | atacadista | wholesaler |
| grosso | atacado | wholesale |
| guardafatos | armário, guarda-roupa | wardrobe, closet |
| guarda-lama | pára-lamas | mudguard (on the car) |
| guarnecida | com batatas | food with potatoes |
| guiador | guidão | handlebar |
| guião | roteiro | screenplay |
| gulosema | balinha | sweet, candy |
| H | ||
| habilitações literárias | grau de instrução, formação acadêmica | educational background |
| Hansel e Gretel | João e Maria | Hansel and Gretel |
| hemiciclo | Senado, Câmara dos Deputados | Chamber of Deputies |
| hipótese (não há hipótese) | chance (não há chance)
hipótese é uma suposição |
chance |
| hora de ponta | hora do pique, hora do rush | rush hour |
| hospedeira | aeromoça, comissária de bordo | air hostess, stewardess |
| I | ||
| imperial | chope | draft beer |
| indicador de combustível | ponteiro | fuel gauge |
| intriga | fofoca (intriga é uma discórdia) | gossip |
| invisual | cego | blind person-politically correct word |
| L | ||
| ladrar | latir | to bark |
| lameiro | brejo, terreno húmido | swamp, wet pasture |
| lanço | trecho de estrada ou de pontes | part of a highway |
| larilas | chorão | wimp |
| leitor de cassetes | toca-fitas | tape recorder |
| liceu | ginásio | high school |
| ligeiro | carro de passageiros | passenger car |
| lombo | filé mignon | filet mignon |
| lume | fogo, um fósforo | a light, a match |
| M | ||
| maçante | chato | a bore |
| maçar | chatear | to bother |
| macaco (calão) | titica | snot, bugger |
| magoar | machucar | to hurt, to harm—in Brazil machucar is physical and magoar is psychological. |
| mais pequeno | menor | smaller—mais pequeno is considered incorrect in Brazil |
| mala | bolsa de mulher | handbag |
| malga | tigela para sopa | soup bowl |
| malta | turma | group of friends |
| mamas | peito | tits, breasts |
| mandrião | preguiçoso | lazy |
| manguito | dar uma banana | to give the finger, to flip the bird |
| maple | sofá, poltrona | sofa |
| marcação | reserva | reservation |
| marcar | discar | dial (a telephone) |
| marco | caixa de correio | post box, letter box |
| marialva | metido a gostoso, conquistador | Don Juan |
| marosca | batota | deception, trick |
| marrão (calão) | C.D.F. (Cu de Ferro), estudioso | hard studier |
| matrícula | placa de carro | license plate, number plate |
| maxilar | mandíbula (tb se usa maxilar) | jaw |
| médios | faróis baixos | low beams in a car |
| meia de leite | café com leite | coffee with milk |
| melga | mosquito, perilongo (tb chato) | mosquito, a pain in the ass |
| meloa | melão | small melon |
| menina | garota (tb se usa menina para uma criança e garota para uma adolescente) | girl, Miss—used as a title |
| merugem | garoa, chuvisco | drizzle |
| meruja | garoa | drizzle |
| merujar | cair merugem, cair garoa | to drizzle |
| mingar/minguar | emagrecer,diminuir (tb se usa raramente minguar) | decrease, get thin |
| miúdos | crianças (miúdos são os órgãos internos e vísceras comestíveis das aves) | children |
| moço | garoto, jovem (tb se usa moço) | young man |
| mola | prendedor de roupa | clothes pin |
| monstros | entulhos | trash left on the street |
| montar | subir (montar é cavalgar ou subir na fêmea na hora da relação sexual o mesm que cobrir - gíria com o mesmo sentido de trepar) | to climb |
| monte (Monte dos Vendavais) | morro (Morro dos Ventos Uivantes) | hill, heights (Wuthering Heights) |
| montra | vitrine | shop window |
| mossa | estrago, amolgadura | damage (used for a car) |
| mota | moto | motorcycle |
| motorizada | lambreta | motorbike, scooter |
| muinha | dor constante | constant pain |
| muita | muito | a lot—in Portugal the word can be feminine before a feminine noun |
| mulher a dias | faxineira | cleaning woman |
| N | ||
| nado de bruços | nado de peito | breast stroke in swimming |
| nado de mariposa | nado de golfinho | butterfly stroke in swimming |
| naifa | canivete | jack-knife, pocketknife |
| néria | nada, necas | nothing |
| nojice | nojeira | rotten, sickening |
| nomeadamente | principalmente | mainly |
| notário | tabelião | notary public |
| O | ||
| oh, pa! | pô! | damn! |
| ora bem! | veja bem! | let's see! |
| P | ||
| pacóvio | lerdo, burro | silly, foolish |
| Pai Natal | Papai Noel | Santa Claus |
| palmarés | currículo, resumo da obra | background, experience |
| panado | à milanesa | breaded meat |
| paneleiro | bicha | queer, gay |
| pantomineira (calão) | mulher barulhenta, cheia de gestos | a loud, vociferous woman |
| pantuflas | chinelos (tb se usa em Portugal) | slippers |
| papeira | caxumba | mumps |
| paralítico | imagem parada (paralítico é aquele que não pode andar) | stopped image on TV or video |
| parangona | manchete | headline |
| parque | estacionamento | car park, parking lot |
| particular (jogo) | amistoso | friendly match |
| partir | quebrar | to break |
| parvo | idiota, tolo, bobo | fool |
| parvoices | besteiras, idiotices, bobagens, tolices | stupidities |
| passadeira | passagem de pedestres, passarela | zebra crossing, crosswalk |
| pastilhado | drogado (em pastilhas) | drugged on pills |
| pastilhas elásticas | chiclete, goma de mascar | chewing gum |
| patilhas | costeletas | sideburns |
| peão | pedestre | pedestrian |
| pêga | puta | whore |
| peixeira | pessoa barulhenta (vem das vendedoras de peixe) | loud person (comes from a woman fishmonger) |
| pelas | às (tb se usa pelas: lá pelas tantas horas) | around such and such a time |
| peleiro | peleteiro | furrier |
| pelouro | cada um dos ramos da administração pública | public administration |
| penso | curativo | bandage |
| penso higiênico | absorvente íntimo, modes | kotex, sanitary napkins |
| penso rápido | band-aid | Band-aid |
| pequena | garota | girl |
| pequeno almoço | café da manhã | breakfast |
| pêra | barbicha, cavanhaque | goatee |
| perceber | entender (perceber é mais próximo de sentir: ele não percebeu ela chegando) | to understand |
| percebes | tipo de marisco | barnacle |
| perdidos e achados | achados e perdidos (essa é ótima pq primeiro se perde para depois se achar) | lost and found |
| pessoa colectiva | pessoa jurídica | a company |
| pestanas | cílios | eyelashes |
| peúgas | meias | short socks |
| piada (não tem piada) | graça | funny (in Brazil piada is a joke) |
| pica | injeção | an injection (in Brazil pica is slang for penis) |
| picas | cobrador de ônibus | the ticket puncher on the train |
| pila | pinto, pau (pila tb é uma gíria no Sul para dinheiro) | prick, cock |
| pildra, ir para | ira para cama ou ir para a prisão | to go to bed or to go to prison |
| pionês | tachinha | thumbtack, drawing pin |
| pipi (fazer) | xixi | children's slang for urine |
| pirilampo | vagalume | firefly |
| piri-piri | pimenta malagueta | hot sauce, chile pepper |
| piropo | galanteio, cantada | words of praise said by men to women |
| piroso | cafona | corny |
| piso | andar do prédio (também se usa piso para designar andar de prédio ou o acabamento que se põe no chão das edificações) | floor of a building |
| planear | planejar | to plan |
| pois! | então! | so! OK |
| porreiro | legal | great, cool |
| portagem | pedágio | toll on a road |
| portanto (pronunciado "purtanto" | portanto (uma das palavras mais usadas em Portugal; usa-se como "filler" numa frase) | so |
| pouco profundo | raso (tb pode se dizer pouco profundo mas o mais comum é raso) | shallow |
| póvoa | povoado | village, town |
| prego | churrasquinho de carne de vaca | a beefsteak usually served on bread |
| prenda | presente (no interior se usa prenda com esse mesmo sentido) | present, gift |
| preservativo | camisinha | condom |
| pressão, cerveja de | chope | draft beer |
| pronto! (or prontos!) | e daí, pois, OK | Ok, uh huh! |
| pronto a vestir | roupa feita, pret-a-porter | ready to wear |
| propina | mensalidade (propina é o dinheiro de suborno que se paga para obter alguma vantagem ou encobrir um ilícito) | tuition |
| putos | crianças (puto é uma pessoa desprezível, um filho-da-puta) | kids |
| Q | ||
| queca | trepada, metida, transa | a fuck |
| quinta | sítio ou chácara | small farm |
| quiosque | banca de jornal (quiosque é uma construção rústica sem paredes e com telhado de palha) | newsstand |
| quispo (kispo) | blusão, casaco | parka, anorak |
| R | ||
| rabiosque | nádegas, bunda | buttocks, ass |
| rabo | bunda, bumbum (também se usa bastante rabo com o mesmo sentido, só que mais forte) | behind, ass |
| ralhar | brigar (ralhar está em desuso mas também é entendido) | to fight, to argue |
| ranha | titica | snot, nasal mucous |
| rapariga | garota | girl |
| rasca | ordinário, reles | vulgar, common |
| rata | vagina (rata é a fêmea do rato) | pussy |
| realizador | diretor | film director |
| rebaixas | liquidações | sales |
| rebuçado | doce de caramelo, pirulito | candy |
| reformado | aposentado (se usa reformado nas Forças Armadas) | retired |
| registar | registrar | register |
| rego | vagina (no Brasil rego é o mesmo que bunda) | vagina |
| reinar | gozar, zoar, brincar | to joke |
| relato | narração (tb se usa relato como uma narração mais formal, um depoimento) | narration |
| relvado | gramado | lawn |
| remate | chute a gol | goal kick |
| renda |
aluguel (renda é o dinheiro ganho ou um trabalho feito com linha num tecido) |
rent |
| reparação | conserto | repair |
| rés-do-chão | térreo | ground floor |
| residencial | tipo de hotel | inexpensive hotel |
| ressalto | rebote (ressalto é uma saliência) | rebound in basketball |
| ressonar | roncar (ressonar é dormir leve; roncar is used in Portugal for animals) | to snore |
| retalhista | varejista | retailer |
| retrete | privada, vaso sanitário | bathroom |
| S | ||
| sacho | enxada | weeding hoe |
| saco | bolsa a tiracolo de mulher | handbag |
| safar | apagar ("apagar" com borracha | to erase ("safar" in Brazil means "to escape") |
| saloio | caipira | hillbilly |
| sandes | sanduíche | sandwich |
| sanita | privada, vaso sanitário | toilet |
| santinho! | Deus te ajude! Deus te crie! | God bless you!—said when someone sneezes |
| sapateira | tipo de caranguejo (sapateira é o lugar onde se põe os sapatos) | type of crab |
| sarilho | confusão (sarilho é um modo de se colocar os fuzis em pé apoiados uns nos outros) | problems, mess |
| sebenta | apostila | notes to help you to study |
| se calhar | talvez | perhaps |
| secretária | escrivaninha (secretária é a funcionária que organiza a agenda de um empresário) | desk |
| selecionador | treinador | coach, manage |
| seropositivo | aidético | sufferer of Aids, HIV positive |
| serrano | pessoa rural, do interior | hillbilly |
| Setor/a | Professor/a (usado para se dirigir ao professor) | Teacher, Mr, Miss (used when addressing a teacher) |
| sim, senhora! | sim, senhor ou senhora (se usa mais Sim, senhor!) | yes, sir or madam |
| sítio | lugar (sítio é uma propriedade rural pequena) | place |
| snack bar | café, lanchonete | snack bar |
| soalheiro | ensolarado | sunny |
| solarengo | ensolarado | sunny |
| solicitador | despachante | solicitor—someone who helps you to get documents |
| sujidade | sujeira | dirt, filth |
| sumo | suco (tb se usa menos sumo) | juice |
| T | ||
| tabaco | cigarro | tobacco or cigarettes |
| tacão | salto | heel of a shoe |
| tachista | marajá | government worker who lives like a king |
| talá? | quem fala? alô? | who is speaking? |
| talho | açouge | butcher's |
| tampão | calota do carro | hubcap |
| tanga | mentira | lie |
| tanso | palerma, otário | fool, jerk |
| taralhoco | maluco | crazy |
| tareia | surra | a beating |
| tasca | boteco | simple bar |
| tejadilho de abrir | teto solar | sunroof |
| telefonia | rádio do carro | car radio |
| ter a lata | ter a ousadia | to have the guts, the balls |
| ter pena | sentir muito | to be sorry |
| tigre | camarão gigante | tiger prawns |
| tintas, estou-me nas | estou pouco ligando para isso | I don't give a damn |
| tira-cápsulas | abridor de garrafa | bottle opener |
| tira uma bufa | soltar um pum, um peido | to pass gas, to fart |
| tomates | ovos, saco | balls, testículos |
| tossim! | alô! | Hello!!—used when answering the phone |
| tosta | torrada | toast |
| trânsito condicionado | trânsito impedido | interrupted traffic |
| traque | pum | fart |
| travão | freio | brake |
| trepador | escalador | climber in cycling |
| tresandar | feder | to stink |
| treta | besteira, conversa fiada | prattle, verbosity |
| trincar | morder (trincar é quando o vidro quebra mas não despedaça) | to bite |
| tripeiro | habitante de Porto | inhabitant of Oporto |
| troço | trecho de estrada | stretch of road |
| trolha | ajudante de pedreiro | laborer, construction worker |
| trucidado | atropelado (usa-se sempre com o trem) | run over by a train |
| tubo de escape | escapamento | exhaust pipe |
| U | ||
| utente | usuário | user of a public service |
| V | ||
| vai-e-vem | ônibus espacial | space shuttle |
| varicela | catapora | chicken pox |
| vazio | filet mignon | filet mignon |
| velharia | antiguidade | antique |
| verbena | arraial, festa ao ar livre | night festival in the open air |
| verniz | esmalte (verniz é um protetor de madeira) | nail polish (in Brazil they use esmalte on fingernails and verniz on wood) |
| vir abaixo | apagar, morrer—refere-se ao carro | to "die"—said of a car's engine |
| vivenda | casa, mansão | house, detached house |
| vulgar | comum (mas não vulgar) | ordinary, common |