Regional vocabulary in Pernambuco

what?, huh?, wow!

The clipped form of 'oxente', fired off at the start of a reply to signal surprise, disbelief or mild indignation. It is the single most recognisable Northeastern marker in speech and instantly regional-sounding elsewhere.

Oxe, de onde você tirou essa ideia maluca?What? Where did you get that crazy idea?

you see?, you got it?, right?

Tacked onto the end of a sentence to check the other person is with you — 'tranca a porta, visse?'. It is the single most recognisable marker of Recife speech and instantly places you as pernambucano.

Não esqueça de trancar a porta, visse?Don't forget to lock the door, got it?

oh my god, jesus, holy moly

Expanded form of 'vixe' (itself from 'Virgem Maria'), used for shock, dismay or exasperation — Aulete prints 'Vixe Maria!' as its own example. Both dictionaries mark it Northeastern.

Vixe maria, viu o preço da carne?Oh my god, did you see the price of meat?

ugly person

Depreciative word for someone shabby or ugly — Priberam splits it as 'badly dressed' in Bahia and 'ugly' in Minas Gerais. Offensive if aimed at a person.

O cachorro dele é um tribufu, mas é simpático.His dog is ugly, but friendly.

cocky, cheeky, ballsy

Said of someone forward, cheeky or pushy who oversteps the mark; in the North and Northeast it is the everyday word for a bold, provocative person. Mildly critical, often said half-jokingly, and about behaviour rather than about looks.

Esse cara é abusado, chegou sem ser convidado.That guy is so cocky, he showed up without being invited.

hair tie

Northeastern word for a hair elastic (elsewhere 'elástico de cabelo' or 'xuxinha'); Priberam also records it for the bunched-up knot of hair itself. Completely everyday.

Me empresta um pitó para prender o cabelo?Can you lend me a hair tie to put my hair up?

to mock, to make fun of

To mock or take the mickey out of someone, usually with 'de' ('mangar de alguém'); Northeastern lists treat it as a staple, and it is teasing rather than aggressive.

Pára de mangar do seu irmão!Stop making fun of your brother!

big rat

The regional name for a big rat, and by extension a chancer or petty crook — calling a person 'gabiru' is an insult. Northeastern glossaries and Recife lists both carry it.

No Recife, é comum chamar a ratazana de gabiru.In Recife, it's common to call a big rat gabiru.