Brazilian Portuguese

Modern Portuguese Expressions

The slang and expressions Brazilians actually use every day — on social media, at work, and hanging out. Click any one to see the meaning, pronunciation, and a real example.

🗣️

Everyday Fillers & Vibes

6 expressions

The words Brazilians sprinkle into almost every sentence

Nossa!Very common
+

Wow! / Oh my! — general exclamation of surprise

Tipo assimVery common
+

Like, kind of — a filler, just like English "like"

Né?/nɛ/Very common
+

Right? / isn't it? — tag question used constantly

PôCommon
+

Casual filler expressing frustration or emphasis — like "man" or "ugh"

MassaCommon
+

Cool / awesome (very common in Northeast Brazil)

DaoraTrending
+

Slang for "cool" — informal, popular with younger speakers

😎

Slang & Gírias

6 expressions

Casual words you'll hear everywhere, but rarely in a textbook

ManoVery common
+

Dude / bro

CaraVery common
+

Dude / guy — also literally means "face"

TretaVery common
+

Drama / conflict / beef

Rolê/ʁoˈlɛ/Trending
+

A hangout / outing

BagulhoCommon
+

Thing / stuff (very informal)

ZoeiraVery common
+

Joking around / messing about

✅

Agreement & Reactions

6 expressions

How to react, agree, and show surprise like a native speaker

Com certezaVery common
+

For sure / absolutely

Pode crerCommon
+

You can believe it / for real — a casual affirmation

Sério?Very common
+

Seriously? / really?

VerdadeVery common
+

True / that's right — used as a short reply

ImaginaCommon
+

No way / don't mention it — also used for "you're welcome"

Nossa senhoraCommon
+

Oh my gosh — a stronger exclamation of surprise than "Nossa"

🇧🇷

Everyday Brazilian Culture

6 expressions

Words that carry a bit of Brazilian culture with them — some famously untranslatable

Saudade/sawˈdadʒi/Very common
+

A deep, nostalgic longing — famously hard to translate into one English word

Jeitinho brasileiroCommon
+

The "Brazilian way" — creatively finding a workaround for any problem

GambiarraCommon
+

A makeshift fix / improvised, jury-rigged solution

BagunçaVery common
+

Mess / chaos

CafunéCommon
+

Gently running your fingers through someone's hair, affectionately

BelezaVery common
+

Cool / alright / ok — also literally means "beauty"

🍻

Food & Fun

6 expressions

What to say when you're eating, drinking, or hanging out

RangoCommon
+

Slang for "food / grub"

Boteco/boˈtɛku/Very common
+

A casual neighborhood bar — a Brazilian cultural institution

SuaveVery common
+

Chill / smooth / no problem

Da horaVery common
+

Awesome / cool

Tá na mãoCommon
+

It's a sure thing / in the bag

Rolê gastronômicoTrending
+

A food-focused outing

Want to learn more expressions like these?

Get new expressions, slang, and pronunciation tips straight to your inbox every week.

Get it for free