Brazilian Portuguese Slang and Filler Words You Will Actually Hear in Brazil

To really sound Brazilian, you have to get comfortable with Brazilian Portuguese slang and the filler words we use all the time here in Brazil: those little words that almost never show up in textbooks.

You have probably caught some of these Brazilian slang words in movies, videos, or songs and had no idea what they meant, because slang completely changes the way a real conversation sounds.

In this guide I will walk you through the most common Portuguese slang and filler words you will actually hear in Brazil, with example sentences and audio, so you can start speaking in a more fluent and natural way. And if you want to go further, take a look at the most common expressions in Brazilian Portuguese too.

Video: Brazilian Portuguese Slang and Popular Filler Words in Brazil

In this video I show you the Brazilian Portuguese slang and the filler words exactly as they sound in a real conversation, with the pronunciation we use here in Brazil. Watch it first: it works as a guide for everything that comes next.

A Few Sentences to Practice Brazilian Portuguese Slang

These sentences bring together the most common Portuguese slang in Brazil inside real sentences, so you can see how they are used and not just what they mean. Practice each one out loud and compare your pronunciation with the audio.

Listen to the reading of the sentences and the explanation

Beleza

"Beleza" is one of the most used Brazilian slang words: it means "okay" or "all good", and it also works to ask how someone is doing ("tudo beleza?"). This is how we confirm something or wrap up a conversation in everyday life.

• Me apaixonei pela beleza dessa cidade. (gostei muito)
• Opa, tudo beleza por aí? (tudo em ordem?)

Valeu

"Valeu" is a Brazilian filler word we use to say thanks in an informal way, like a quick "thanks" between friends. Depending on the context, it also means that something "was worth it".

• Já estou cansado, vou nessa pessoal, valeu e até mais!! (tchau)
• O que você achou do show? Valeu? (foi bom? valeu a pena?)

Greetings and farewells in Portuguese

Galera

"Galera" means "group of people" and, more commonly, "my friends": when we say "minha galera" we are talking about our close crew. It is one of the Brazilian slang words you will hear the most among young people in Brazil.

• Eu encontrei essa galera pela primeira vez aqui no hotel. (grupo de pessoas)
• Hoje vou sair com a minha galera. (meus amigos/amigas)

E aí!

"E aí" is the go-to informal greeting in Brazil: it is like "what's up" or "hey there" and it works to break the ice. Keep in mind that "aí" on its own also means "there", so the meaning depends on the context.

• E aí Jorge, quando é que você vai viajar?
• Pega aí essa chave pra mim por favor!

Cara

"Cara" has two very Brazilian uses: literally it means "face", but on the street it means "guy" or "dude", to refer to someone without saying their name. It is so common that you will hear it in almost any conversation.

• O vidro tava (estava) tão limpo que ele bateu a cara na janela. (rosto)
• Eu já falei com o cara pra ajeitar o computador.

20 ways to call someone when you don't know their name

A gente / Nós

In Brazil we almost never say "nós" when we speak: we use "a gente" to say "we", but always with the verb in the third person ("a gente vai"). Getting this filler word down is key to sounding natural and not like a grammar book.

• E aí Renato, a gente vai sair com a galera hoje? Vou dar uma ligada pro cara do bar pra saber o que vai rolar mais tarde.
• E aí Renato, nós vamos sair com a galera hoje? Vou ligar para o cara do bar para saber o que vai ter por lá mais tarde.

How to use "a gente" and "as pessoas" in Portuguese

How to conjugate any verb in Portuguese

The 30 Very Popular Brazilian Expressions

To go along with the slang above, here are 30 expressions we hear all the time here in Brazil. Watch the video and, if you want the full list with explanations, head to the dedicated post I link below.

[Full post here]