Have you ever, when learning Portuguese, heard a Brazilian Portuguese phrase that didn’t make any sense to you – yet all the locals seemed to have understood it perfectly?
Well, if you go to Brazil, you’ll hear lots of them!
Just like in Spanish, or any other language for that matter, we Brazilians love to use our most common idiomatic expressions to add a bit of flair to what we’re saying. And, as crazy as they may seem, they actually make a lot of sense!
So let’s put things into context:
I’m going to show you some of our essential Brazilian Portuguese expressions by introducing you to your new imaginary best friend, Fernanda.
Imagine your friend Fernanda is a real gem. She’s brilliant and caring, and you love hanging out with her…
Literal translation: to put one’s hand in the fire for someone
English equivalent: to do anything for someone
You’ve just entrusted Fernanda with some top-secret information. It reminds you how trustworthy and lovely she is, and how you’d do anything for her.
In Brazil, we’d say:
Eu colocaria a mão no fogo por ela.
I’d do anything for her.
Obviously we don’t mean it literally – putting your hand in the fire is a little extreme! It’s just an expression we use to show how much we trust someone.
Literal translation: to hold a candle
English equivalent: to be a third wheel
So now Fernanda’s got a new boyfriend, but you still want to hang out with her, right?
Well, be prepared to..“segurar vela”.
Segurar vela
To be the third wheel
In Brazil, “segurar vela” describes that sometimes awkward act of gatecrashing quality time of two of your favourite lovebirds.
Literal translation: to give a cake
English equivalent: to stand somebody up
No, sadly your good friend Fernanda did not turn up at your door with a cake. Here’s what actually happened: Fernanda forgot she was supposed to meet you, and went out with her boyfriend instead. You turned up none the wiser, as she didn’t message you to cancel.
Deu um bolo.
She stood me up.
Bad form, Fernanda! We don’t approve of no-shows.
Literal translation: to step on the ball
English equivalent: to screw up
You (quite rightly!) aren’t thrilled with the fact that Fernanda deu um bolo, and you confront her.
Você pisou na bola.
You screwed up.
This is the perfect Portuguese expression to use in Brazil if you don’t agree with something someone has done or said.
Literal translation: to give your arm to be twisted
English equivalent: to eat a slice of humble pie
Fernanda’s had some time to think and now feels awful for having stood you up.
She admits she was wrong. In other words:
Deu o braço a torcer.
She ate a slice of humble pie.
With her arms thoroughly twisted (or no more humble pie left to eat!), Fernanda promises she’ll never do it again. You hug and make up, and your friendship is restored!
I’ll leave the every-so-slightly cheesy story with Fernanda there – one row is enough for one day.
If you’re curious about other Brazilian Portuguese expressions that would go down a treat with locals, there are too many to count.
To name a few, we’ve got:
Literal translation: to break a wooden stick
English equivalent: to do someone a favour
Literal translation: to wash your hands
English equivalent: to not to anything about something
Literal translation: to make a storm in a glass of water
English equivalent: to exaggerate
But I could be here for hours.
If you’d like to find out more about Portuguese in Brazil and our idiomatic sayings, why not try our app’s (Brazilian) Portuguese course?
