At Porto Secreto, our mission is to tell many (good) stories about our city. At the same time, we want to explore every nook and cranny, introduce you to the most secret places and more. In a unique environment, which only those who live here recognize, it’s normal for there to be expressions that only those from the Porto and/or the North understand.
The porto have a very unique way of being in life and this is also clear in the way they speak. It’s part of our identity. Shall we (re)discover some of these more typical expressions?
Expressions that only those from Porto understand
So these are some (among many others) expressions that only those from Porto will understand!
- (B)Go to Batalha: You’re telling me “stories”; you’re “winding me up”; it’s tape; it’s a lie
- Molete: a normal loaf of bread
- Advancing a bulk: It’s not even worth it
- Walking on shaky ground: riding in a car
- Dar de frosques: to leave (bazaar)
- Struggle: The first step in any Portuguese cooking process. In other regions they say “refogado”
- Alapar: to sit well
- Tire (drink): water from the stones with ice and lemon and a packet of sugar, which comes with it for those who want it
- To grind your teeth : to laugh and show your teeth
- Queue: a queue (for example)
- Bolinha pinchona: down there they say “bolinha saltitona”
- Breca: a cramp
- Jeco: a dog
- Lapada: a slap, a slap
- To call Gregório: to vomit
- (B)Seeing the spring: working hard, working hard
- Bite the bullet: to make guesses
- To be stumped: to be in a bad mood
- Andor (b)violet: get out, get lost!
- Picó boi day: working day
- Filling the mule: eating (and well)
- Carago: an interjection that can be used in most situations (surprise, joy, annoyance, you name it!)
- Brogue: someone without manners, rude
- Briol: cold (very cold)
- Waking up with your ass in the air: waking up in a bad mood
- Eating the shard: confusing
- Laureate a pevide: go for a walk, take a ride
- Surbia: a beer
- (Ó) (b)go to the store: don’t bother me, go away
- Shatter: fall
- To hit the bottle: to die
- I want a fine one: the same as an imperial further south
These are just a few. We have many more of our own. We’re also proud to be from Porto ♥️