How to Say "Thing" in Portuguese Like a Brazilian: Coisa, Treco and More

Thing in Portuguese is "coisa", but here in Brazil we almost never stop at that one word. In everyday conversation we also say treco, troço, trem, negócio and bagulho, and that's how we get by whenever the name of something slips our mind.

Think of them as the Brazilian slang for thing, our version of "stuff", "thingy" or "whatchamacallit". Here you'll learn how to say thing in Portuguese the way we actually do, the real coisa meaning (coisa in English is simply "thing"), how to say stuff in Portuguese and which word fits each situation, with real phrases to practice. And when something surprises us, we say "Que coisa!", which is like "What a thing!" or "How weird!".

I'll show you when to use each of these things in Portuguese without sounding odd, why "bagulho" can get you into trouble (yes, the bagulho meaning goes beyond "stuff") and how the "verb" coisar works for almost anything. And if what you can't remember is someone's name, check out these 20 ways to call someone in Portuguese.

Video: Different ways to say "thing" and "stuff" in Portuguese

In this video I show you, with examples we use in Brazil, the words that replace thing in Portuguese when you forget what something is called: coisa, treco, troço, trem, negócio and bagulho. Watch it first, then practice with the phrases below.

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Phrases to practice

These are the six words we use in Brazil to talk about something when you don't know its name in Portuguese. They all mean "thing" or "stuff", but each one has its own tone and context, so here are real phrases you can use without sounding like a gringo.

TRECO

Treco is the most common way to say thing in Portuguese when you're talking about an object and its name just won't come to you. The treco meaning is close to "thingy" or "gadget", so if you've ever wondered how to say thingy in Portuguese, this is your word. It's informal, you'll hear it all over Brazil and it's usually used for small, everyday things around the house.

• E esse treco saiu de onde hein?
• Cadê o treco pra colocar embaixo da porta pra não bater?

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TROÇO

Troço works almost like treco, but it often carries a tone of annoyance or surprise, for something ugly, weird or messy. It's like asking "what on earth is that thing?" with a frown on your face.

• Quem foi que trouxe esse troço tão horrível?
• Não sei quem foi a pessoa que deixou essa mesa cheia de troço em cima.

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TREM

Trem means "train", but in Minas Gerais the trem meaning goes way beyond trains: the mineiros use it for anything at all, like food, an object or even a situation. It's the trademark of "mineirês" (the way people speak in Minas Gerais), and if you travel there you'll hear it all the time.

• Eita que trem gostoso! (very common in Minas Gerais)

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Article in Portuguese: Dicionário Mineirês: Dialeto e sotaque próprio dos mineiros

NEGÓCIO

Negócio means "business", but in informal Portuguese it also replaces thing or matter, a bit like saying "I've got some stuff to take care of" in English. The context tells you whether you mean everyday stuff or an actual business deal.

• Tô na rua resolvendo uns negócios (here it means "things/stuff")
• Tenho uma reunião hoje à tarde pra fechar uns negócios. (here it means "to close a deal")

BAGULHO

Bagulho is the most streetwise way to say thing in Portuguese, very common among young people and in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Only use it in very informal settings, because it has a double meaning that I explain right below.

• Me diz aí como você vai resolver esse bagulho! (very informal)
• Tô ocupado por aqui fazendo uns bagulhos.

Heads-up: the bagulho meaning can also be "weed" (marijuana), so pay attention to the context. (you'll also hear "bagui")

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COISA

Coisa is the direct translation of thing in Portuguese and the most neutral word on the list: it works just as well chatting with friends as it does at work. It also shows up in exclamations like "Que coisa!", our way of saying "What a thing!" or "Unbelievable!".

• Tenho umas coisas pra fazer.

Imagine hearing this in Portuguese:

• - Pega pra mim?
  - O quê?
  - Aquele treco de coisar do lado daquele negócio.

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How to use the "verb" COISAR in Portuguese

Whenever you don't know a verb in Portuguese, you can use "COISAR" (very informal). The challenge is making sure the context shows what you mean.

For example, if you're going to heat water to make coffee but you don't know or forget the verb "esquentar" (to heat), you could say:

• Ei, você pode coisar a água pra fazer café?

In this context, the listener hears "água" and "café" and figures out that what the person means is "Você pode esquentar a água pra fazer café?"

So the "verb" coisar is really versatile, it can even be used to talk about having sex.

What does "cheia de coisa" mean?

In Brazil, a person who is "cheia de coisa" is usually someone who's really hard to deal with, full of fussy rules and restrictions, or who is suddenly treating someone differently.

Here it is in a sentence:

• Depois que disse que não ia fazer o favor pra Amanda ela ficou cheia de coisa pro meu lado.

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