If you’re planning a trip to Brazil or simply want to sound more natural when speaking Portuguese, learning some slang words can be very useful. Brazilians love to use informal expressions in daily conversations, and knowing them will help you understand native speakers better. Here are ten common slang words used in Brazil and how to use them:
1. Beleza (Cool, Okay)
Beleza literally means “beauty,” but in slang, it means “cool” or “okay.” It’s commonly used to agree with something.
- Example:
- “Vamos nos encontrar às 7h?” (Shall we meet at 7?)
- “Beleza!” (Cool!)
2. Cara (Dude, Guy)
Cara means “face,” but it’s often used to refer to someone casually, similar to “dude” or “guy.”
- Example:
- “Esse cara é muito legal!” (This guy is really cool!)
3. Massa (Awesome)
Massa literally means “dough” or “mass,” but in slang, it means something is great or awesome.
- Example:
- “Esse filme foi muito massa!” (That movie was really awesome!)
4. Grana (Money)
Grana is a casual word for money, similar to “cash” or “bucks” in English.
- Example:
- “Preciso economizar grana para viajar.” (I need to save money to travel.)
5. Valeu (Thanks, Thanks a lot)
Valeu is an informal way to say “thank you” or “thanks a lot.”
- Example:
- “Valeu pela ajuda!” (Thanks for the help!)
6. Bora (Let’s go)
Bora is a contraction of “Vamos embora,” meaning “Let’s go” or “Let’s get going.”
- Example:
- “Bora pra praia?” (Shall we go to the beach?)
7. Trampo (Work, Job)
Trampo is a slang word for “work” or “job,” often used in informal conversations.
- Example:
- “Não posso sair hoje, tenho muito trampo.” (I can’t go out today, I have a lot of work.)
10 Brazilian Slang Words You Need to Know
If you’re planning a trip to Brazil or simply want to sound more natural when speaking Portuguese, learning some slang words can be very useful. Brazilians love to use informal expressions in daily conversations, and knowing them will help you understand native speakers better. Here are ten common slang words used in Brazil and how to use them:
1. Beleza (Cool, Okay)
Beleza literally means “beauty,” but in slang, it means “cool” or “okay.” It’s commonly used to agree with something.
- Example:
- “Vamos nos encontrar às 7h?” (Shall we meet at 7?)
- “Beleza!” (Cool!)
2. Cara (Dude, Guy)
Cara means “face,” but it’s often used to refer to someone casually, similar to “dude” or “guy.”
- Example:
- “Esse cara é muito legal!” (This guy is really cool!)
3. Massa (Awesome)
Massa literally means “dough” or “mass,” but in slang, it means something is great or awesome.
- Example:
- “Esse filme foi muito massa!” (That movie was really awesome!)
4. Grana (Money)
Grana is a casual word for money, similar to “cash” or “bucks” in English.
- Example:
- “Preciso economizar grana para viajar.” (I need to save money to travel.)
5. Valeu (Thanks, Thanks a lot)
Valeu is an informal way to say “thank you” or “thanks a lot.”
- Example:
- “Valeu pela ajuda!” (Thanks for the help!)
6. Bora (Let’s go)
Bora is a contraction of “Vamos embora,” meaning “Let’s go” or “Let’s get going.”
- Example:
- “Bora pra praia?” (Shall we go to the beach?)
7. Trampo (Work, Job)
Trampo is a slang word for “work” or “job,” often used in informal conversations.
- Example:
- “Não posso sair hoje, tenho muito trampo.” (I can’t go out today, I have a lot of work.)
8. Firmeza (Alright, Solid)
Firmeza literally means “firmness,” but in slang, it means something is good, reliable, or solid.
- Example:
- “Tudo certo?” (Everything okay?)
- “Firmeza!” (All good!)
9. Zoar (To joke, To tease)
Zoar means to joke around or tease someone in a playful way.
- Example:
- “Ele tá só zoando com você.” (He’s just joking with you.)
10. Rolê (Hangout, Outing)
Rolê refers to going out, hanging out, or taking a walk.
- Example:
- “Vamos dar um rolê no shopping?” (Let’s hang out at the mall?)