Brazilian Portuguese is full of colourful, playful expressions that don’t always translate well – but they sure are funny. Whether you're learning the language or just love a good laugh, these 18 phrases will give you a taste of Brazil’s humour.
1. Pão duro (Hard bread)
Pão duro
/ˈpɐ̃w̃ ˈdu.ɾu/“Cheapskate”
Literally 'hard bread', this phrase describes someone who’s stingy with money. If your friend never picks up the tab, they’re definitely a 'pão duro'.
2. Enche linguiça (Filling sausage)
Enche linguiça
/ˈẽ.ʃi lĩˈɡi.sɐ/“To pad out / waffle”
When someone talks a lot without saying anything useful, they’re 'enchendo linguiça' – stuffing sausage. Perfect for politicians and long-winded meetings.
3. Pagar o pato (Pay the duck)
Pagar o pato
/paˈɡaɾ u ˈpa.tu/“To take the blame”
If you end up taking the fall for something you didn’t do, you’ve just 'paid the duck'. Poor duck.
4. Tá de brincadeira? (Are you joking?)
Tá de brincadeira?
/ta dʒi bɾĩ.kaˈdej.ɾɐ/“Are you kidding me?”
A classic reaction to something absurd. If someone tells you it’s snowing in Rio, this is the only appropriate response.
5. Falar pelos cotovelos (Talk through the elbows)
Falar pelos cotovelos
/faˈlaʁ ˈpe.lus koˈto.ve.lus/“To talk non-stop”
Some people don’t just talk – they 'speak through their elbows'. It’s a vivid way to describe someone who never shuts up.
6. Estar com a macaca (To be with the monkey)
Estar com a macaca
/isˈtaʁ kõ a maˈka.ka/“To be in a bad mood”
When someone’s grumpy, Brazilians say they’ve 'got the monkey'. Avoid them until the monkey leaves.
7. Chutar o balde (Kick the bucket)
Chutar o balde
/ʃuˈtaɾ u ˈbaw.dʒi/“To give up / lose it”
Unlike the English version, this doesn’t mean dying – it means snapping and quitting something in frustration.
8. Fazer uma vaquinha (Make a little cow)
Fazer uma vaquinha
/faˈzeɾ ˈu.ma vaˈkĩ.ɲa/“To pool money together”
When friends chip in for a gift or a night out, they’re 'making a little cow'. No actual cows are involved.
9. Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau (Kill the snake and show the stick)
Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau
/maˈtaɾ a ˈkɔ.bɾa i moʃˈtaɾ u ˈpaw/“To prove you did it”
This means not just doing something difficult but also proving you did it. A weirdly violent way to say 'show your work'.
10. Tá com a faca e o queijo na mão (Got the knife and the cheese in hand)
Tá com a faca e o queijo na mão
/ta kõ a ˈfa.ka i u ˈke.ʒu na ˈmɐ̃w̃/“To have all the power”
If someone has everything they need to succeed, they’re holding the knife and the cheese. Now they just have to cut it.
11. Vai pentear macaco (Go comb a monkey)
Vai pentear macaco
/vaj pẽˈtʃaɾ maˈka.ku/“Get lost”
A ridiculous way to tell someone to go away. Bonus points if you say it with a straight face.
12. Chorar as pitangas (Cry the pitangas)
Chorar as pitangas
/ʃoˈɾaɾ as piˈtɐ̃.ɡas/“To complain excessively”
Pitangas are small Brazilian fruits. If someone’s 'crying pitangas', they’re whining about something trivial.
13. Andar na pindaíba (Walk on the pindaíba)
Andar na pindaíba
/ɐ̃ˈdaʁ na pĩˈdaj.ba/“To be broke”
Pindaíba is a thorny plant. Walking on it? Painful. Being broke? Also painful.
14. Tirar o cavalo da chuva (Take the horse out of the rain)
Tirar o cavalo da chuva
/tʃiˈɾaɾ u kaˈva.lu da ˈʃu.va/“Give up on an idea”
If someone tells you to 'take the horse out of the rain', they mean your plan isn’t happening. Time to move on.
15. Não entender patavinas (Not understand patavinas)
Não entender patavinas
/nɐ̃w̃ ẽ.tẽˈdeʁ pa.taˈvi.nas/“To not understand a thing”
A fancy way to say you’re completely lost. No one knows what 'patavinas' are, which makes it funnier.
16. Cuspido e escarrado (Spit and spat)
Cuspido e escarrado
/kusˈpi.du i is.kaˈʁa.du/“Spitting image”
If someone looks exactly like another person, they’re 'spit and spat'. A bit gross, but accurate.
17. Ficar a ver navios (Stay watching ships)
Ficar a ver navios
/fiˈkaɾ a ˈveʁ naˈvi.us/“To be left waiting”
Originating from Lisbon’s harbour, this means waiting for something that’s never coming. Just you and the ships.
18. Comer com os olhos (Eat with the eyes)
Comer com os olhos
/koˈmeʁ kõ uz ˈo.ʎus/“To devour with the eyes”
When you stare at food (or someone attractive) like you want to consume them. We’ve all been there.
Brazilian Portuguese is packed with playful, bizarre, and hilarious expressions. Want more? Check out our guide on Brazilian Portuguese slang or the rhythmic charm of the Brazilian accent.
