Learning Portuguese is an adventure expats face when moving to Portugal. And the list of quirky phrases is just one of its challenges… 

Learning Portuguese can sometimes seem daunting for those who are just starting. But don’t despair! Once you get past the pronunciation, irregular verbs and quirky formalities, the list of hilarious proverbs makes Portuguese one of the funniest languages to learn. 

Here are some examples of hilarious Portuguese phrases that may leave some foreigners “feitos ao bife”:




















Translation: Done to the steak
Meaning: If a Portuguese person tells you that you’re “feito ao bife”, you’re definitely in trouble or in a complicated situation.

Translation: Go comb the monkeys
Meaning: This is the Portuguese version of “get lost” or “go away”. And yes, this is one of the phrases that make no sense at all! 

Translation: It’s chicken soup!
Meaning: When something is easy to do, the Portuguese will probably smile and say “é canja!”. Because let’s face it, any Portuguese can make chicken soup. 

Translation: Plenty of years turning chickens
Meaning: If you visit a Portuguese “churrasqueira”, you’ll understand why this phrase means “to have a lot of experience”. It might not be rocket science, but experience is required to grill a perfect “frango no churrasco”.  

Translation: Swallow frogs
Meaning: Having to do something we disagree with or staying quiet when we would prefer to speak. Which is almost like… swallowing a frog. 

Translation: Dragging a wing
Meaning: When someone is smitten, they’ll probably be caught “dragging their wing” towards the one they love.  

Translation: Having the olive oils
Meaning: When someone is in bad humour or upset with a situation. 

Translation: A flea behind our ear
Meaning: To be suspicious about something or to feel that something isn’t right.
 

Translation: In the days of the fat cows
Meaning: In a time when there was more money or things were cheaper.

Translation: Little monkeys in your head
Meaning: Anyone with “macaquinhos na cabeça” is worried about things that may never happen or are unreal. 

Translation: Stuffing sausages
Meaning: To write, speak, or do something in a boring and time-consuming manner without finishing or addressing what was initially intended. 

Translation: Bread bread, cheese cheese
Meaning: A situation or a person that is frank or direct. When you go straight to the point or demand something straightforward. 

Translation: My soul is dumb 
Meaning: When someone is surprised or astonished to learn something new or unexpected. 

Translation: You can get that little horse out of the rain 
Meaning: Advice for someone to give up on an illusion or stop waiting for something that will probably never happen.

Translation: Make a little cow 
Meaning: To collect money with the help of several people to reach a certain goal or buy something. To “chip in”. 

Translation: Release the chicken 
Meaning: When someone becomes more “crazy”, behaves extravagantly or is having a blast.

Translation: Believe in the Virgin and don't run! 
Meaning: Advice not to wait for a solution to fall from the sky, but to do something to solve a problem. 

Translation: Go with the pigs 
Meaning: To die or when something finishes in a definite or abrupt manner. 

Despite all languages having funny idioms, the meaning will sometimes be lost in translation as they are unique to every country and culture. For example, if it's raining heavily in the UK one might say “it’s raining cats and dogs” while in Portugal it’ll probably be “raining pots” (“chover a potes”). 

The best way to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of the Portuguese language is to visit or live in the country. Discovering all the wacky idioms, proverbs and expressions is just one of the many pleasures of experiencing everyday life in Portugal!

If the language of Camoes and Portuguese lifestyle interests you, don’t hesitate to give us a call and schedule your visit to find out more about buying a property in Portugal.

Our team of property specialists is happy to share their experience of living in Portugal and assist you in everything you need to invest or move to Portugal. 

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