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Speak like a Native: 10 Informal European Portuguese Expressions to Add to Your Vocabulary

Slang terms can vary widely from region to region and even from city to city within a country. That being said, here are ten commonly used slang terms in European Portuguese that you might find useful:

      1. "Tuga" is a slang term that is used in Portugal to refer to a person from Portugal.
      2. "Esperto/a" - meaning someone who is clever or resourceful
      3. "Fixe" - meaning cool or awesome
      4. "Bué" - meaning a lot
      5. "Pt" - a shortened version of "Português" (Portuguese) used to refer to the language or nationality
      6. "Bacano/a" - a synonym for "fixe"
      7. "Na boa" - meaning everything is good or going well
      8. "Chungo/a" - This term is used to describe something that is bad or unpleasant
      9. "Porreiro/a" - another synonym for "fixe"
      10. "Doido/a" - meaning crazy or wild

Keep in mind that these are just a few examples and that slang terms can change rapidly. It's always a good idea to do some research and try to get a sense of the slang used in the specific region you will be visiting or living in.

 

Tuga  

"Tuga" is a slang term that is used in Portugal to refer to a person from Portugal, it's a colloquial term that is used informally among friends and in informal settings, but not commonly used in formal situations. It's a contraction of "Portuguese" and "tuguese" and it's considered a light-hearted, playful and affectionate way of referring to oneself or someone else as being Portuguese. Some people may find it derogatory or offensive, so it is best to use it with care and only among people you know well.

 

Esperto/a

"Esperto" is a Portuguese word that can have different meanings depending on the context. In general, it means "clever" or "smart", it can be used to describe someone who is quick-witted, resourceful, or has good judgement. It can also be used to describe someone who has a lot of knowledge or experience in a certain subject. It can also be used to express that someone is acting clever or smart-alecky.

It also has a negative connotation when someone is acting like they know everything or being arrogant and showing off their knowledge, that is why the phrase "Dar uma de esperto" means to act smart or show off.

 

Fixe

"Fixe" is a Portuguese slang term that can be translated to "cool" or "nice" in English. It is used to express approval or admiration and can be used in a variety of contexts, such as to describe someone or something that is pleasing or attractive. It is an informal term and can be used among friends or in casual settings. It's similar to "awesome" or "great" but less strong.

 

Bué

"Bué" is a slang term that is commonly used in Portugal meaning "a lot" or "very", it's an intensifier word and it can be used in different situations to express that something is a lot of something or that something is very good or very bad. For example "Eu estou a gostar muito" can be said as "Eu estou a gostar bué" or "Este prato está muito bom" can be said as "Este prato está bué bom". It is quite informal and should be used carefully in more formal situations.

 

Bacano/a

"Bacano" is a Portuguese slang term that means "cool" or "awesome". It is an informal expression that is used to express approval or admiration and can be used in a variety of contexts, such as to describe a person, a situation, an event, etc. It is a term that is commonly used among young people, and it is similar in meaning to other words like "cool" or "great". It is less formal than other words, and you can use it more freely in informal situations.

 

Na boa

"Na boa" is used to indicate that everything is okay or that there is no issue, "no problem". It can be used to show agreement or acceptance of a situation and can also be used to brush off a minor inconvenience or problem. It's an informal expression and it's used mostly among friends and in casual settings.

 

Chungo/a

"Chungo" is a Portuguese slang term that means "bad" or "unpleasant". It is used to express dissatisfaction or negative feelings about something or someone. It can be used to describe a situation, event, person, or thing, and is often used to refer to something that is not up to expectations or is substandard. It is considered an informal term and is usually used in colloquial and informal conversations among friends. It can also be used to describe something that is uncomfortable or awkward.

 

Porreiro/a

"Porreiro" is a Portuguese slang term that means "good" or "nice". It is an informal expression that is used to express approval or admiration and can be used in a variety of contexts, such as to describe a person, a situation, an event, etc. It is a term that is commonly used among young people, and it is similar in meaning to other words like "cool" or "great". It is less formal than other words, and you can use it more freely in informal situations. It is also used to express that something is fun or enjoyable.

 

Doido/a

"Doido" is a Portuguese word that can have different meanings depending on the context. In a general sense, it means "crazy" or "insane" and it can be used to describe someone who is behaving in an irrational or abnormal way. It can also be used to describe someone who is behaving in an extreme or excessive way, or someone who is behaving in a dangerous or reckless way.

In a more informal way, "doido" can also be used as an intensifier in a playful way, similar to the way "crazy" is used in English, such as "I'm so crazy in love" would be "Estou doido de amor" in Portuguese.

It can also be used as a slang term to express something is really good or really cool, similar to "awesome" or "amazing" .

It is considered an informal term and should be used with care in formal situations.

 

Photo by Vinicius Garcias Andrade: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-tram-on-a-narrow-street-between-concrete-buildings-14727231/

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