Regional vocabulary in Rio de Janeiro

hustler, street-smart person, cunning

Two faces in one word: admiringly, the street-smart survivor of the classic carioca 'malandro' figure celebrated in samba; disapprovingly, a freeloader or crook. Tone of voice decides which one you mean, so use it carefully about real people.

Ele é muito malandro, sempre dá um jeito de se virar.He is a real hustler, he always finds a way to get by.

slick streetwise guy

Names a sharply dressed young man from the urban periphery — designer clothes, fresh haircut, funk-scene attitude. It is a style label as much as a personality one, and can be admiring or mocking depending on who says it.

Aquele mandrake conhece todo mundo na área.That slick guy knows everyone in the area.

bro, dude

A contraction of 'meu irmão' used as a carioca address term, roughly 'bro'. It is one of the strongest markers of a Rio accent and is used to friends and strangers alike in casual speech.

Mermão, tu vai pra praia?Bro, are you going to the beach?

silly, distracted, dimwit

A pejorative for someone seen as a country bumpkin — clumsy, unpolished, out of step. Aulete marks it Pej., so it is an insult, not affectionate teasing. In Pará it separately means someone from Santarém.

Não seja mocorongo, presta atenção!Don't be silly, pay attention!

local bread-roll name in North Fluminense

A small-sample local response in Campos dos Goytacazes and São João da Barra, in North Fluminense.

Comprei uma brizolinha crocante para comer com queijo.I bought a crisp bread roll to eat with cheese.

tangerine

The Southeastern name for the tangerine; elsewhere you will hear 'tangerina', 'bergamota' (South) or 'mimosa'. Completely neutral, everyday vocabulary at the market.

Em São Paulo, muita gente diz mexerica.In São Paulo, many people say mexerica.

lie, bullshit

Carioca slang for a lie or a tall story told to deceive; 'contar caô' is to spin nonsense. Casual and street-level, fine among friends but not in formal speech.

Essa história dele é o maior caô, não acredita nisso.That story of his is total bullshit, don't believe it.

maybe, perhaps

A hedging opener meaning 'maybe / who knows' — 'se pá eu vou'. Very casual youth slang; it would sound out of place in writing or at work.

Se pá eu vou na festa hoje.Maybe I'll go to the party today.