What’s up, friends?! Today we will learn some Brazilian nicknames and of course, some Brazilian football team nicknames too!
Learning Brazilian Nicknames
Nicknames are short versions of names or words that represent a specific personal characteristic, which we use to call someone without using their actual names.
Usually, nicknames show a little bit more affection towards the other person, and here in Brazil, they are very common. Almost everyone has a nickname here, and it can be related to someone’s appearance, name, or even to their attitude. It’s even more common among famous people (especially football players) and teams. We like to create nicknames, especially for members of Brazilian soccer teams.
Brazilian Nicknames List
To begin with, let’s learn some cool Brazilian nicknames that are very common here.
| Dani | Daniele/Daniel |
| Léo | Leonardo |
| Zé | José |
| Lu | Luana |
| Chico | Francisco |
| Rafa | Rafael |
| Mané | Manoel |
| Susi | Susana |
| Binho | Robson |
| Lucinha | Lúcia |
| Cris | Cristiane |
| Drica | Adriana |
| Beto | Roberto |
| Andinho | Anderson |
| Dayane | Day |
| Carolina | Carol |
| Natalia | Nath |
| Giovanna | Gi |
| Joana | Jô |
| Beatriz | Bia |
| Bianca | Bi/Bibi |
| Fabiana | Fabi |
Now, let’s have a look at a small text with some examples of common nicknames in Brazil:
Examples of Nicknames in Portuguese
Leonardo: Oi, Dani. Tudo bem?
Daniele: Oi, Léo. Tudo bem. E você?
Leonardo: Estou ótimo. Você ouviu falar que o Zé vai dar uma festa na casa dele amanhã?
Daniele: Ouvi, sim. Você vai?
Leonardo: Sim. Vou levar a Lu comigo.
Daniele: Ah! Que legal! Quero muito ir também. Estou com saudades de conversar com a galera.
Leonardo: Eu também. Ouvi dizer que o Chico, o Rafa, o Mané, a Susi, o Binho, a Lucinha e a Cris também vão.
Daniele: Que legal! Minha irmã, Drica e o namorado dela, Beto, também vão.
Leonardo: E o seu noivo? Vai também?
Daniele: Sim. O Andinho vai também.
Leonardo: Legal. Então nos vemos lá. Até sábado, Dani.
Daniele: Até sábado, Léo.
Translation of the Dialogue
Leonardo: Hi, Dani. How are you?
Daniele: Hi, Léo. I’m doing well, and you?
Leonardo: I’m great! Have you heard that Zé will have a party at his place tomorrow?
Daniele: Yes, I heard about it. Are you going?
Leonardo: Yes. I’m taking Lu with me.
Daniele: Oh! Cool! I want to go too. I miss talking to the guys!
Leonardo: Me too. I heard that Chico, Rafa, Mané, Susi, Binho, Lucinha and Cris are also going.
Daniele: Awesome! My sister, Drica and her boyfriend, Beto, are also going.
Leonardo: What about your fiancé? Is he going too?
Daniele: Yes, Andinho is coming with me.
Leonardo: Cool, we’ll see each other then. See you tomorrow, Dani.
Daniele: See you tomorrow, Léo.
Now, take a look at this list of some famous people, their Brazilian nicknames and their real names:
Famous Brazilian Nicknames
| Tom Jobim | Antonio Carlos Jobim | Musician |
| Chico Buarque | Francisco Buarque de Hollanda | Musician |
| Lula | Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva | President of the Republic |
| Guga | Gustavo Kuerten | Tennis player |
| Rubinho | Rubens Barrichello | F1 Driver |
| Xuxa | Maria da Graça Meneghel | Actress / TV hostess |
| Cazuza | Agenor de Miranda Araujo Neto | Musician |
Brazil Team Nicknames
Did you think that we wouldn’t have nicknames when we speak about our national soccer team? Of course, we have different ways of talking about the Brazilian soccer team! These are some of the nicknames for the squad:
| A Seleção | The National Squad |
| Canarinha | Little Canary |
| Verde-Amarela | Green and yellow |
Brazilian Football Team Nicknames
When we talk about our beloved football teams we often use nicknames for them too! Check out the nicknames of some Brazilian football teams and the states that they represent.
| Flamengo | Mengo | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fluminense | Nense | Rio de Janeiro |
| Botafogo | Fogo/Fogão | Rio de Janeiro |
| Vasco | Vascão | Rio de Janeiro |
| Internacional | Inter | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Portuguesa | Lusa | Rio de Janeiro |
| Ceará Sporting Clube | Vôzão | Ceará |
| Fortaleza Esporte Clube | Leão | Ceará |
| Atlético Mineiro | Galo | Minas Gerais |
| Corinthians | Timão | São Paulo |
| Cruzeiro Esporte Clube | Raposa | Minas Gerais |
| Grêmio | Imortal | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Santos | Peixe/ Alvinegro | São Paulo |
| Chapecoense | Chape | Santa Catarina |
If you know any other Brazilian national team nicknames, tell us! Leave a comment here on our Dica!
Brazilian football player nicknames
A lot of football players are not called by their names, to make it more personal or because sometimes the names are very common, we usually call them by their nicknames. Check out some famous players and their nicknames.
| Pelé | Edson Arantes do Nascimento | Football player |
| Ronaldinho | Ronaldo de Assis Moreira | Football player |
| Fenômeno | Ronaldo Luiz Nazário de Lima | Football player |
| Zico | Arthur Antunes Coimbra | Football player |
| Garrincha | Manuel Francisco dos Santos | Football player |
| Kaká | Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite | Football player |
| Dunga | Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri | Football coach |
| Felipão | Luiz Felipe Scolari | Football coach |
Before you leave let’s talk about love… If you are in a relationship (or if you want to have one) with a Brazilian, we will help you call them in a lovely way. Check out this list of most common cute Portuguese nicknames:
Cute Portuguese Nicknames
| Amor | Love |
| Mô | Luv |
| Mozão | Lovey |
| Bebê/ bb | Baby |
| Gata/ Gato | Kitten |
If you want to learn even more cute Portuguese nicknames, check out our Dica about it!
Listen and Learn: Brazilian Nicknames Podcast 🎧
Want to practice your listening skills and check how all these Brazilian nicknames are pronounced by a native speaker? Our podcast is the perfect way to review everything you’ve learned in this Dica.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Real examples of Brazilian nicknames for boyfriend and girlfriend
- How personal names like Beatriz become Bia, and Francisco becomes Chico
- Famous nicknames in Brazilian culture
- The use of cool Brazilian nicknames in football: from Mengo to Timão
- A fun conversation full of natural nickname use
🇧🇷 Feeling confident? You can also listen to the full episode in Portuguese by switching the Dica’s language option. It’s a great way to train your ear and challenge your comprehension.
Let us know in the comments: do you or your partner use any of these nicknames? Which one is your favorite?
Final Thoughts
That’s it! We have just learned a few nicknames in Portuguese! What’s your nickname in your country? Share with us!
Want to have a cool nickname in Portuguese? Come to our classes and we’ll give you one!
Stay tuned with our Dicas through our Youtube Channel, and learn Portuguese every day! We will see you in our next Dica!
Big hug from us at Rio & Learn!
See you then!
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Love Nicknames in Portuguese
Present tense of Ser, Estar and Ter in Portuguese
How Brazilians Greet
Online Academic Coordinator at Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
Experienced educational coordinator and teacher since 2007, adept in curriculum development, creating physical and digital educational materials, and leveraging online platforms to enhance learning outcomes
2 Responses
What is a good nickname for Franckilin? Something easier to say.
Hey, how about Francky?