Brazilian Sayings

11 de December de 2013

Yo yo people! All good? In our Dica today, we will talk about some Brazilian Sayings.

Sayings are short phrases, from an unknown writer, and carry a common cultural meaning between all of those in the society.
In Brazil they’re spoken from generation to generation, and are used in different situations daily
Let’s check out some examples.

Brazilian Sayings

NΓ£o hΓ‘ rosas sem espinhos
There aren’t roses without spines

This one is used to warn about something that looks too good and may deceive you. Nothing is that good, even roses have spines.

A pressa Γ© inimiga da perfeiΓ§Γ£o
The rush is enemy to perfection

We use this saying to warn that doing something in a rush is guaranteed to have mediocre results.

A uniΓ£o faz a forΓ§a
The union makes strength.

That’s for when we want to encourage people to work together, more is better!

Quem com ferro fere, com ferro serΓ‘ ferido
Who hurts with iron, with iron will be hurt

We can resume this saying in one word: Karma!

De grΓ£o em grΓ£o a galinha enche o papo
From grain to grain the chicken fills its stomach

You can’t expect to have instant results, right? So you got to take it step by step, one by one.

Quem nΓ£o tem cΓ£o, caΓ§a com gato
Who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with a cat.Β 

Life isn’t easy, so you have to make do with what you got, this is what this saying is about.

Cavalo dado nΓ£o se olha os dentes
You don’t look a given horse’s teeth

If someone gives you a present, you shouldn’t complain!

Macaco velho nΓ£o pula em galho seco
An old monkey doesn’t jump on dry branchesΒ 

Experience comes with age!

Let’s see some examples of expressions using Brazilian sayings:

Examples using Brazilian Sayings

Eu sei que vocΓͺ acha que sua namorada Γ© perfeita, mas cuidado! AtΓ© rosas tΓͺm espinhos!
I know you think your girlfriend is perfect, but watch out! Even roses have spines!

A comida vai demorar, mas lembrem-se: a pressa Γ© inimiga da perfeiΓ§Γ£o.
Lunch is going to take some time, but remember:

Pessoal, vamos trabalhar juntos! A uniΓ£o faz a forΓ§a!
Guys, let’s work together! United we are stronger!

Eu sei que vocΓͺ nΓ£o gosta do JoΓ£o, mas nΓ£o faΓ§a nada. VocΓͺ sabe que quem com ferro fere, com ferro Γ© ferido.
I know you don’t like JoΓ£o, but don’t do anything. You know that who hurts with iron, with iron is hurt.

Cara! NΓ£o tenha pressa. De grΓ£o em grΓ£o a galinha enche o papo.
Dude! Don’t rush. From grain to grain the chicken fills its stomach

Eu queria beber uma caipirinha para ficar bΓͺbado, mas sΓ³ tenho cerveja. Bem, quem nΓ£o tem cΓ£o caΓ§a com gato.
I wanted to drink a caipirinha to get drunk, but I only got a beer. Well, who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat.

Minha mΓ£e me deu essa camisa nova, eu nΓ£o gostei muito mas cavalo dado nΓ£o se olha os dentes.
My mother gave me this new shirt, i didn’t like it very much but you don’t look a given horse’s teeth.

Eu moro hΓ‘ tanto tempo no Rio de Janeiro, que eu sei que nΓ£o devo andar sozinho de noite. Macaco velho nΓ£o pula em galho seco.
I live in Rio de Janeiro for so long that I know I shouldn’t walk alone at night. Old monkeys don’t jump on dry branches.

Brazilian Truck Sayings

Also, when driving in Brazilian territory, you may notice that a lot of trucks on the street have sayings too, but most of them witty or with double meaning. Check out:

 width=  width=

That’s it y’all!
Now you know some Brazilian Sayings, funny, right? What about going out on the streets and practicing a bit? And do you know any other Brazilian Saying?

Big hug to you all, and remember, the doors to our schoolΒ are always open for you! Come pay us a visit! And like us on Facebook too!

Kisses fromΒ Rio de Janeiro!

Ler esta Dica em PortuguΓͺsΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Leer esta Dica en EspaΓ±ol
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Classroom Expressions in Portuguese
Portuguese Informal Phrases
The expression Pois nΓ£o in Portuguese
Chutar o balde in Portuguese
Portuguese Expressions