Who hasn’t heard (or said) expressions and slang from São Paulo that, when translated into another language, don’t mean anything? After all, just as places can be striking, the way we speak and express ourselves also characterizes us as inhabitants of São Paulo.
For example, when we think of expressions from São Paulo, we immediately think of the famous “meu”! But there are many expressions that are the face of São Paulo. That’s why we’ve selected some of the funniest and most common examples in the day-to-day life of São Paulo residents.
São Paulo slang and expressions
Cê
Short for you.
“Are you going to class today?”
Dude
Slang often used to call someone, or at the beginning and end of any sentence. It’s classic São Paulo!
“Ô loco, meu”
Mano
It works in the same way as “dude”. Sometimes it becomes almost a comma because we use it so much.
“Bro, you don’t know what happened!”
Mina
The feminine form of “mano” is also a slang term used in São Paulo to refer to girlfriends.
“That’s my mine”
Mano do céu
The interjection that is the face of São Paulo. It can be positive or negative and we can’t get enough of it.
“Mano do céu! You don’t know!”
Are you getting me off?
A synonym for the expression “are you kidding me?”. Used to make fun of attitudes we don’t like.
“I can’t believe you did it. You’re getting me off, aren’t you?”
Do you know what I mean?
When you ask if someone knows a certain fact. Also often used at the end of sentences as a substitute for “got it?”.
“You know I really wish I could go…”
Beer
Beer.
“Shall we have a beer after work?”
Pistola/Pistolou
Someone who loses patience, the act of losing patience with something or someone.
“Did you see the fight? So-and-so got pistol-whipped!”
Old man
This is another SP slang word for someone from the same family as “meu” and “mano”.
“Velho, I’m so tired!”
Tio
Yes, Paulistanos have all these ways of calling people.
“What’s up, uncle? Are you crazy?”
Bone!
Something that’s very difficult to happen or a bad situation.
“It’s rough at the firm.”
Manjar
A São Paulo expression for understanding or knowing.
“You know that new bar that opened in Paulista?”
Miado
Something that’s bad.
“This party is pissed! Let’s go!”
Rolê
It’s the same as a party, an outing. But it’s one of those São Paulo slang terms with more than one meaning, as it can be used for something that takes a lot of work.
“Let’s go for a rolê this weekend?” or “Wow, rolê to the South Zone and back!”
Mó
Synonymous with a lot.
“Wow, mó rolê!” (very far, very difficult)
Mó cota
Cota is used for time, and this expression with “mó” refers to something that has taken or will take a long time.
“It’s been mó cota since I’ve been to Center Norte.”
Colar
São Paulo slang for being present at a place or event.
“Are you going to the barbecue this weekend?”
Two sticks
Something that is done quickly.
“Hold on two sticks, I just need to finish this exercise.”
Blurry
A difficult situation to resolve.
“It’s hard to get everyone together, huh?!”
Closed
Synonymous with agreed, scheduled.
“That’s it, then. I’ll be there on Sunday!”
Sorry
São Paulo slang for apologizing for something.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Going crazy
Making up stories, lies or excuses. Either to avoid a situation or to add to a story.
“She went crazy so she could miss school.”
Migué
A variation on “go crazy”. To make small talk or lie.
“I had to go crazy to get out of the house.”
To have “the moral high ground”
Synonymous with having courage or audacity.
“I doubt you have the morals to do that!”
Bump into
Bumping into someone.
“We’ll bump into each other at the party, then”
Giving PT
A “total loss” after drinking, i.e. not remembering (almost) anything.
“So-and-so drank so much at the party that he crashed! We had to get a cab.”
Bus
Bus.
“I can’t stand chasing the bus anymore.”
Rachar o bico
One of São Paulo’s slang terms for laughing until you’re sick.
“Wow, I cracked up at that guy’s fall!”
You bet
Used when we agree with someone. Or not so much, but to avoid fatigue, we end the discussion.
“You bet!”
Smooth
It’s used to agree with something, say it’s fine or even refuse something.
“I’m soft from a fight, can we be okay?”
Trampar
What every paulistano does a lot and well. Work!
“I can’t go out today, tomorrow I’ll work early.”
Treta
Synonymous with a fight or argument.
“Wow, there was a lot of brawling outside my house last night.”
Bagulho
This SP slang is used in almost all situations as a synonym for “thing”, “situation”, etc.
“O bagulho é louco!”
Slang that only Paulistanos understand, according to our readers
We bet there are some slang words that only Paulistanos understand! After all, the city is diverse and has many external influences that have directly impacted our language, so it’s not hard to find speech fads that only occur here, is it? But do outsiders understand our everyday vocabulary? Or is it about time we launched a “Paulistano Glossary” to help visitors?
To help us with this, our followers have listed the Paulistano slang and expressions that only residents of the city understand. Check them out below and see if any of them are in your vocabulary:
@leilanevelame – Mistura… what other place calls protein a mistura?!!!?????!
@danielapiresconsteladora – You can jump right in, solve your BO
@luizajunquerida – Mó cota
@marcelosirsant – They call cookies cookies, even though it says so on the packaging, you’ll understand kkk
@camillatres – JÃO
@eliane.mingues – Saying thank you: Magina hahaha. I don’t know at what point in São Paulo’s existence we used Imagina as a way of saying thank you, but it’s very funny 😂
@karole.lopes – Eat ball
@saudementalpopnegra – Mó fita
@naty.greg – Two sticks
@oipauloarmando – “Mano” and his 6419 intonations
@luisaendo – It’s not slang, but pasta ice cream makes anyone outside São Paulo think it’s a pot of frozen noodles.
@caina_passos – Yeah. I use it and a lot of people don’t understand…
@rachelmaranhao – Cottage cheese on the way in or on the way out?
@gumouta – I’m just powdering my nose.
@anediasz – I’m in the mood for food, but real food 😂😂
@gh.smenezes – Mixed, full of 9 hour, turned on Jiraya
Did you like the list of São Paulo slang and expressions? Which one do you use the most? And which one did you miss out? Ah, here’s our farewell...