Brazilian Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms to Sound Like a Carioca

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro—the Cidade Maravilhosa known for its sunny beaches, lively music, and a distinct way of speaking Brazilian Portuguese. The folks from Rio, often called cariocas, have a laid-back, fun, and sometimes cheeky approach to language. Their slang is sprinkled across casual conversations—on the beach, in the bar, or during a lively futebol chat with friends.

If you want to blend in and sound more like a genuine carioca, you’ll need more than just the basics of Bom dia or Tudo bem?. Below, you’ll find 100 essential Brazilian slang expressions that capture the soul and rhythm of Rio’s everyday talk.

Why Learn Carioca Slang?

Access the True Culture
Cariocas speak rapidly and with a particular accent. Slang is the spice that showcases the city’s humor, style, and attitudes. Knowing it helps you connect on a deeper level—not just as a tourist or language learner.

Understand Local Media & Music
From Rio’s famous funk (funk carioca) to comedic Brazilian YouTubers, slang appears in lyrics and dialogues all the time. Recognize terms like “sacou?” and “maneiro” for an enriched viewing/listening experience.

Have More Fun
Using slang expressions—like “fala sério!” or “partiu!”—makes your interactions light-hearted and memorable. Cariocas appreciate the effort and will likely engage you in more vibrant conversations.

Fun Fact: According to a 2020 IBGE language study on Brazilian Portuguese, over 70% of young Brazilians use informal expressions daily on social media and in face-to-face chats.

Quick Tips for Using Carioca Slang

1. Know Your Audience: Some terms might be too informal with older people or in professional contexts.
2. Moderation: A few well-chosen slang words can sound cool, but too much might seem forced or awkward.
3. Listen & Mimic: Watch Brazilian shows, YouTubers, or listen to local music to catch the intonation and real usage.
4. Combine with a Smile: Cariocas are known for being friendly—smiling and being laid-back goes hand-in-hand with local slang.

Greetings & Everyday Expressions (1–10)

1. E aí, beleza?
   • Meaning: “Hey, what’s up? All good?”
   • Usage: “E aí, beleza? Como foi o fim de semana?” (“Hey, what’s up? How was the weekend?”)
2. Tranquilo
   • Meaning: “Chill,” “No worries,” “It’s all good.”
   • Usage: “Tá tudo tranquilo, vamos pra praia?” (“Everything’s chill, shall we go to the beach?”)
3. Fala sério!
   • Meaning: “Are you serious?” or “Come on!” (expressing disbelief).
   • Usage: “Você acha mesmo que ele vai aparecer? Fala sério!” (“You really think he’ll show up? Come on!”)
4. Partiu
   • Meaning: “Let’s go,” literally “departed,” used for heading somewhere.
   • Usage: “Partiu cinema?” (“Shall we go to the cinema?”)
5. Valeu
   • Meaning: “Thanks,” short for “valeu a pena.”
   • Usage: “Valeu pela ajuda, cara.” (“Thanks for the help, man.”)
6. Beleza?
   • Meaning: “All good?” or “Okay?”
   • Usage: “Beleza? Então a gente se encontra às 7.” (“All good? So we’ll meet at 7.”)
7. Suave
   • Meaning: “Smooth,” meaning “chilled out,” “fine.”
   • Usage: “Como tá aí? – Suave, de boa.” (“How’s it going? – Chill, all good.”)
8. De boa
   • Meaning: “At ease,” “cool,” or “chill.”
   • Usage: “Tô de boa em casa hoje.” (“I’m just chilling at home today.”)
9. Firmão?
   • Meaning: “Firm?” meaning “All good?” or “Sure?”
   • Usage: “Firmão, né? Então bora!” (“All good, right? Let’s go then!”)
10. Maluco / Maluca
    • Meaning: “Crazy guy/gal,” used as “dude” or “buddy.”
    • Usage: “Ô maluco, cadê seu celular?” (“Hey dude, where’s your phone?”)

People & Friendship (11–20)

11. Mano / Mina
    • Meaning: “Dude” / “Girl,” commonly used among youth.
    • Usage: “Ô mano, chama a mina pra cá.” (“Hey dude, call the girl over here.”)
12. Parça
    • Meaning: “Partner,” “buddy,” from “parceiro.”
    • Usage: “E aí, parça, quanto tempo!” (“Hey buddy, long time no see!”)
13. Irmão / Irmã
    • Meaning: “Brother” / “Sister,” used affectionately among friends.
    • Usage: “Ô irmão, cê vai ou não?” (“Hey bro, you going or not?”)
14. Truta
    • Meaning: “Trusted friend,” literally “trout,” but used as slang.
    • Usage: “Truta, me dá uma força aqui?” (“Bro, can you help me out?”)
15. Rapaziada
    • Meaning: “The gang,” referencing a group of friends.
    • Usage: “Vamos chamar a rapaziada pra sair hoje.” (“Let’s call the crew to hang out tonight.”)
16. Migué
    • Meaning: “Fake,” or “pretending not to see,” referencing a sly friend.
    • Usage: “Não vem com migué, eu sei que você viu.” (“Don’t play innocent, I know you saw it.”)
17. Gato / Gata
    • Meaning: “Cute guy/girl,” literally “cat.”
    • Usage: “Ela é muito gata, cara.” (“She’s really hot, man.”)
18. Playboy
    • Meaning: “Spoiled or posh person,” used ironically.
    • Usage: “Ele é playboy, só anda de carro importado.” (“He’s a rich boy, always with an imported car.”)
19. Cueca
    • Meaning: “Underwear,” but among friends can mean “buddy.” (Less mainstream, be cautious)
    • Usage: “E aí, cueca, tranquilo?” (Used in certain circles humorously)
20. Bicho
    • Meaning: “Dude,” “buddy,” or literally “animal,” used mostly in some states.
    • Usage: “Bicho, tamo junto nessa.” (“Dude, we’re in this together.”)

Expressing Emotions & Reactions (21–30)

21. Caraca

• Meaning: “Wow,” “Dang,” less strong than “caralho.”
• Usage: “Caraca, que vista linda!” (“Wow, what a beautiful view!”)

22. Nossa!

• Meaning: “Wow!” or “OMG!” short for “Nossa Senhora.”
• Usage: “Nossa, que susto!” (“Wow, that scared me!”)

23. Putz

• Meaning: “Darn,” “Shoot,” mild expletive.
• Usage: “Putz, esqueci a carteira em casa.”

24. Credo

• Meaning: “Gross,” “Ew,” or “Oh dear.”
• Usage: “Credo, que cheiro ruim.”

25. Mó

• Meaning: “Really,” “super,” intensifier for an adjective.
• Usage: “Tá mó calor hoje.” (“It’s really hot today.”)

26. Tá ligado?

• Meaning: “You know?” or “Get it?”
• Usage: “Esse show é imperdível, tá ligado?” (“This show is unmissable, you feel me?”)

27. Fechou

• Meaning: “Deal,” or “Agreed,” from “it’s closed.”
• Usage: “Então amanhã às 7, fechou!” (“So tomorrow at 7, done deal!”)

28. Maluco(a) beleza

• Meaning: “Chill weirdo,” referencing a quirky but cool person.
• Usage: “Ele é meio doido, mas um maluco beleza.”

29. Arre

• Meaning: “Wow,” “Jeez,” an exclamation of surprise or annoyance.
• Usage: “Arre, toda hora me chamam no WhatsApp.”

30. Sacou?

• Meaning: “Got it?” or “You understand?”
• Usage: “Eu expliquei a regra, sacou?”

Food & Dining Slang (31–40)

31. Rango

• Meaning: “Food,” from “rango” meaning “meal.”
• Usage: “Bateu a fome, bora atrás de um rango.”

32. Bater um pratão

• Meaning: “Eat a big plate (meal),” referencing a hearty meal.
• Usage: “Depois do treino, vou bater um pratão de feijoada.”

33. Coxinha

• Meaning: Brazilian snack, but slang for “uptight” or “posh.”
• Usage: “Ele é muito coxinha, não gosta de balada.”

34. Larica

• Meaning: “Munchies,” used when craving food, often late at night.
• Usage: “Deu larica, vamos pedir pizza?”

35. Barriga roncando

• Meaning: “Stomach growling,” meaning you’re super hungry.
• Usage: “Vamos comer, minha barriga tá roncando!”

36. Queimar o filme

• Meaning: “Ruin your reputation,” but also used if someone spoils food for you.
• Usage: “Não vai queimar meu filme com o chefe, tá?”

37. Tomar um gole

• Meaning: “Take a sip,” can be coffee, beer, etc.
• Usage: “Bora tomar um gole de cerveja antes do show.”

38. Queimar a largada

• Meaning: “Jump the gun,” from race context, but used if you eat or start something prematurely.
• Usage: “Já comeu o bolo? Queimou a largada, era pra festa.”

39. Um doce

• Meaning: “A sweet moment,” ironically meaning “that’s unbelievable.”
• Usage: “Ele fez isso? Um doce pra quem adivinhar o resultado.”

40. Chá de cadeira

• Meaning: “To wait a long time,” literally “chair tea.”
• Usage: “No hospital, tomei chá de cadeira por 2 horas.”

Internet & Tech Slang (41–50)

41. Zap

• Meaning: “WhatsApp,” short for “WhatsApp message.”
• Usage: “Me manda um zap quando chegar lá.”

42. Printar

• Meaning: “Take a screenshot,” from “print screen.”
• Usage: “Vou printar essa conversa pra te mostrar depois.”

43. TBT

• Meaning: “Throwback Thursday,” same as in English Instagram usage.
• Usage: “Postei foto antiga, #TBT do intercâmbio.”

44. Fake

• Meaning: “Fake account,” from English.
• Usage: “Cuidado com esse perfil, pode ser fake.”

45. Stalkear

• Meaning: “To stalk someone’s profile,” from “stalk.”
• Usage: “Deixa eu stalkear teu Insta rapidinho.”

46. Direct

• Meaning: “DM,” or private message.
• Usage: “Manda os detalhes no direct, fechou?”

47. Print

• Meaning: “Screenshot,” used in daily slang.
• Usage: “Me manda print da conversa se quiser prova.”

48. Treta

• Meaning: “Fight,” “drama,” can also appear in online conflicts.
• Usage: “Rolou uma treta no grupo de WhatsApp.”

49. Exposed

• Meaning: “Exposed,” from English, used if someone’s secrets are revealed online.
• Usage: “Ele foi exposed no Twitter, todo mundo viu.”

50. Deu ruim

• Meaning: “It went bad,” referencing a fail or error.
• Usage: “Na live, a conexão caiu—deu ruim total.”

Love & Dating Slang (51–60)

51. Ficar

• Meaning: “To hook up,” or “casually date,” very Brazilian.
• Usage: “Eles estão ficando, mas não é nada sério.”

52. Crush

• Meaning: Borrowed from English, means “someone you like.”
• Usage: “Meu crush tá lá na festa, tomara que venha falar comigo.”

53. Dar mole

• Meaning: “Show interest,” or “flirt back.”
• Usage: “Se ele der mole, pode rolar algo mais.”

54. Chaveco

• Meaning: “Pick-up line,” or “attempt to woo someone.”
• Usage: “O chaveco dele é fraco, mas a menina gostou.”

55. Dar um gelo

• Meaning: “Give someone the cold shoulder.”
• Usage: “Ela me deu um gelo depois da briga.”

56. Largar mão

• Meaning: “Give up on someone,” literally “let go of their hand.”
• Usage: “Acho que vou largar mão desse rolo.”

57. Namorico

• Meaning: “Fling,” short casual relationship.
• Usage: “É só um namorico, nada muito sério.”

58. Mandei mensagem, e ela deu vácuo

• Meaning: “I sent a message, she left me on read.”
• Usage: “Fiquei esperando resposta, mas fiquei no vácuo.”

59. Bater de frente

• Meaning: “To confront or butt heads,” used if an argument arises in a relationship.
• Usage: “Eles sempre batem de frente por ciúmes.”

60. Dar um toque

• Meaning: “Give a hint,” or “call” someone to get their attention.
• Usage: “Se chegar tarde, me dá um toque no celular.”

Family & Daily Life (61–70)

61. Corujão

• Meaning: “Night owl,” from “coruja” meaning owl.
• Usage: “Ele é corujão, só funciona depois da meia-noite.”

62. Pistolão

• Meaning: “Connection,” or “influence,” to get a job or favor.
• Usage: “Conseguiu o emprego por pistolão, o tio dele é dono da empresa.”

63. Bater perna

• Meaning: “Walk around,” “stroll the streets.”
• Usage: “Vamos bater perna no centro, ver umas lojas?”

64. Xepa

• Meaning: “The leftover sale,” at markets or close to closing time.
• Usage: “Chegamos no fim, pegamos a xepa de frutas baratas.”

65. Quebrado(a)

• Meaning: “Broke,” no money.
• Usage: “Tô quebrado este mês, sem grana pra balada.”

66. Bafão

• Meaning: “Scandal” or “big gossip.”
• Usage: “Soube do bafão na festa de ontem? Foi tenso.”

67. Mete o pé

• Meaning: “Leave quickly,” “bounce.”
• Usage: “A polícia chegou, a galera meteu o pé rapidinho.”

68. Bater a real

• Meaning: “Speak the truth,” “be straightforward.”
• Usage: “Vou bater a real, seu plano não tá funcionando.”

69. Empurrar com a barriga

• Meaning: “Procrastinate,” or “avoid dealing with an issue.”
• Usage: “Não fica empurrando com a barriga, resolve logo.”

70. Trocar uma ideia

• Meaning: “Discuss,” “have a chat.”
• Usage: “Vamos trocar uma ideia sobre aquele projeto.”

Negative Feelings & Frustrations (71–80)

71. Tô bolado

• Meaning: “I’m upset/annoyed,” from “bolado” (confused or angry).
• Usage: “Tô bolado com você por não ter avisado antes.”

72. Encher o saco

• Meaning: “To annoy,” literally “to fill the bag.”
• Usage: “Não enche o saco, deixa eu trabalhar em paz.”

73. Pagar sapo

• Meaning: “To scold,” “to lecture someone.”
• Usage: “Meu chefe me pagou sapo por chegar atrasado.”

74. Dá raiva

• Meaning: “It makes me angry,” from “raiva” (anger).
• Usage: “Dá raiva quando perco o ônibus por 1 minuto.”

75. Tá osso

• Meaning: “It’s tough,” literally “It’s a bone.”
• Usage: “Grana tá osso, mal dá pra pagar as contas.”

76. Força a barra

• Meaning: “To push it,” or “go too far.”
• Usage: “Não força a barra com essa desculpa esfarrapada.”

77. Fazer caô

• Meaning: “Cause drama,” “pretend,” from “caô” meaning “fake story.”
• Usage: “Não faz caô comigo, seja sincero.”

78. Pirar

• Meaning: “Go crazy,” or “freak out.”
• Usage: “Se ele descobre, vai pirar de raiva.”

79. Dar mancada

• Meaning: “Slip up,” “make a big mistake.”
• Usage: “Você deu mancada, esqueceu de pegar meu filho na escola!”

80. Tá de sacanagem

• Meaning: “You must be joking,” or “This is a joke, right?”
• Usage: “Você quer que eu faça todo o trabalho sozinho? Tá de sacanagem.”

Pop Culture & Trends (81–90)

81. Funk

• Meaning: “Brazilian Funk,” popular music style from Rio.
• Usage: “Vamos pro baile de funk hoje à noite.”

82. Pagodinho

• Meaning: “Little pagode,” referencing samba-pagode music event.
• Usage: “Partiu um pagodinho no domingo?”

83. Bailão

• Meaning: “Big dance party,” from “baile.”
• Usage: “Vai ter bailão de favela no fim de semana.”

84. Meme

• Meaning: “Meme,” from internet culture.
• Usage: “Você viu o meme novo do jogador de futebol? Hilário!”

85. Mano Brown

• Meaning: Brazilian rapper, used as reference for being “hardcore/real street.”
• Usage: “Ele é tipo Mano Brown, mandando a real.”

86. Taloko

• Meaning: Variation of “tá louco,” meaning “are you crazy?” in a fun, stylized way.
• Usage: “Taloko, cê vai saltar de paraquedas?”

87. Fuleragem

• Meaning: “Nonsense,” “tomfoolery,” often from up north but trending.
• Usage: “Para com essa fuleragem e foca no jogo!”

88. Zoeira

• Meaning: “Joking around,” “playful chaos.”
• Usage: “No grupo de WhatsApp é só zoeira o dia todo.”

89. Miga

• Meaning: “Girlfriend,” from “amiga,” used among women.
• Usage: “Miga, que look arrasou hoje!”

90. Bonde

• Meaning: “Crew,” “gang,” from Rio funk slang.
• Usage: “Tô chegando com meu bonde pro rolê.”

Additional 10 Slang Gems (91–100)

91. Pão duro
    • Meaning: “Stingy,” literally “hard bread.”
    • Usage: “Ele é pão duro, não paga nem um café.”
92. Pra dedéu
    • Meaning: “A lot,” “plenty,” old-school but still used.
    • Usage: “Tinha gente pra dedéu nessa festa!”
93. Embrazar
    • Meaning: “Get lit,” “fire up the party.”
    • Usage: “Vamos embrazar na pista, DJ tá mandando bem.”
94. Dizer abobrinha
    • Meaning: “Talk nonsense,” literally “say zucchini.”
    • Usage: “Ele só diz abobrinha quando bebe demais.”
95. Gambiarra
    • Meaning: “Makeshift fix,” “McGyvering,” from everyday problem-solving.
    • Usage: “Usei uma gambiarra pra ligar a TV sem controle.”
96. Tá arrastando asa
    • Meaning: “He/she is flirting” (like a bird showing off wings).
    • Usage: “Aquele cara tá arrastando asa pra você, percebeu?”
97. Ter pano pra manga
    • Meaning: “To have a lot to talk about,” “lots of material.”
    • Usage: “Essa conversa tem pano pra manga, vai longe.”
98. Manga larga
    • Meaning: “Loose sleeve,” ironically “someone easy to trick or manipulate.”
    • Usage: “Ele é meio manga larga, cuidado pra não passar a perna.”
99. Perder a linha
    • Meaning: “Lose control,” “go too far.”
    • Usage: “Ele bebeu e perdeu a linha na festa.”
100. Passar a visão

• Meaning: “Lay it out,” “explain the context clearly,” from new rap/funk jargon
• Usage: “Passa a visão, qual é o real plano pra hoje?”

Conclusion: Dive into Rio’s Carioca Vibe

Fechou, galera! You’ve just explored 100 essential Brazilian slang terms—each capturing a piece of Carioca identity, from the laid-back beach culture to the quick banter on Rio’s bustling streets. Mastering these phrases will bring you closer to Rio’s heart, letting you chat confidently with the locals, catch subtle jokes, and show up in true Carioca spirit.

Final Tips:

• Use Slang Wisely: A few well-chosen expressions can make you sound natural—too many might be overkill.
• Watch Locals & TV: Listen to how your Brazilian friends talk, or watch Rio-based shows to observe real usage.
• Keep Learning: Slang evolves. If a friend says “that’s old,” just laugh and ask for the new trending phrase.

Call to Action:

Which slang expression do you want to try out first? Share in the comments below! If you enjoyed this article, pass it on to your fellow Portuguese learners or travelers. Don’t forget to subscribe for more cultural and linguistic deep dives.

Now, partiu carioca life! Next time you’re strolling in Copacabana or grabbing garnachas in Lapa, drop an “E aí, beleza?” with confidence and enjoy that warm Brazilian grin in return. Valeu—and keep the gírias flowin’!

See Also: Mexican Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms for Mastering Chilango Talk