Can't play like a Brazilian? So what, here's how you can speak like one

The World Cup is only a few days away so it’s time to brush up on your Portuguese. However, you don’t want to look like that gringo who learns Portuguese on his flight to Rio – that’s why we’ve included a few slangs and Brazilian expressions you can use to pretend you know a lot more than the basics. So – vamos nessa? (Let’s go?) BEFORE THE MATCH -- Can you tell me how to get to Maracanã Stadium? Você pode me dizer como chegar no Maracanã? -- How much is a metro pass? Quanto é a passagem de metro? DURING THE MATCH -- How much is a coke? Quanto é uma Coca Cola? -- Are you crazy? That’s too expensive! Você tá louco? Tá custando os olhos da cara! Literal translation: It’s as expensive as the eyes on my face! Explanation: Although it seems pretty obvious that selling the eyes on your face would be very costly since you wouldn’t be able to watch the World Cup matches, there is a story behind this expression. It came from the story of conquistador Diego de Almagro, who lost one eye in a battle against the Incas – he historically said “Defending the Spanish crown has cost me one eye on my face.” [caption id=“attachment_1566147” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Children attend a soccer school class on a court in the Mangueira slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AP[/caption] -- This stadium looks great but it took forever to be ready. Este estádio está lindo, mas só ficou pronto aos 45 do segundo tempo. Literal translation: This stadium looks great, but it was only ready at the 45 minutes of the second half. Explanation: Brazilians have a lot of expressions that relate to football. Being ready at the 45 minutes mark of the second means it was ready just in time. -- Neymar isn’t playing well today. Neymar está um bola murcha hoje. Literal translation: Neymar is a flat football today. Explanation: Having a flat football is a bad thing; therefore it means he is being a bad player. -- The goalie is awful. O goleiro é um frango. Literal translation: The goalie is a chicken. Explanation: You know when you’re chasing a chicken for roast dinner and it keeps escaping between your legs? That’s where this expression comes from. -- Where’s the bathroom? Onde é o banheiro? -- The Brazilian supporters look very excited. A camisa 12 brasileira está bastante animada. Literal translation: Brazil’s number 12 is very excited. Explanation: A team’s supporters are referred to as their ‘number 12’ – an extra player to give extra support. -- This match is boring. Que jogo chato. -- Oh look, England are going to mess up on the penalties again. Olha só, a Inglaterra vai amarelar nos penaltis de novo. Literal translation: Look, England is going to become yellow during penalties again. Explanation: ‘To become yellow’ in Portuguese means setting out to do something but messing up or giving up in the end because you are too scared to follow through. AFTER THE MATCH -- Where is the closest pub? Onde é o barzinho mais próximo? -- What football team do you support? Você torce para quem? -- Can I have a caipirinha, please? Me traz uma caipirinha, por favor? -- What a game! Que jogão! -- A beer, please. Uma cerva, por favor. Explanation: You could be a true tourist and try to pronounce ‘cerveja’, or you can use the shortened slang ‘cerva’. It means the same thing, but you’ll seem more familiar with your surroundings. -- My team won! Suck it, Brasil! Meu time ganhou! Chupa, Brasil! -- I have a death wish, so I will mention the 1950 World Cup where Brazil lost at the finals: the Maracanazo. Quero morrer, por isso vou mencionar a copa de 1950, na qual o Brasil perdeu na final: o Maracanasso. Explanation: The final between Uruguay and Brazil in 1950 in the Maracanã was famously nicknamed Maracanasso – a hybrid between Maracanã and ‘fracasso’ (‘failure’ in Portuguese). To this day the expression is used to signify the loss of a home team in Maracanã to a visiting team. -- Can I have… whatever this is on the menu? Me traz uma porção de pastel de carne e uma porção de aipim, por favor. Explanation: I’ve just ordered you a portion of meat pasties and a portion of fried aipim (a kind of Brazilian tuber). You’re welcome. -- I am drunk and I don’t speak Portuguese. Estou bêbado e não falo português. -- Can you take me to my hotel? Você pode me levar até meu hotel? AND FINALLY, WHAT NOT TO SAY -- Messi is better than Neymar. O Messi é melhor que o Neymar. -- Maradona is better than Pelé. O Maradona é melhor que o Pelé. -- Argentina is going to win the Cup! A Argentina vai ganhar a Copa!