At Porto Secreto, our mission is to write about the city and its surroundings, covering the most varied aspects, from the best restaurants to transport news. In a unique environment that only those who live here recognize, it’s normal for there to be expressions that only those who are from Porto and/or the North understand.
The people of Porto havetheir own 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)Vai no Batalha: You’re telling me “stories”; you’re “winding me up”; it’s tape; it’s a lie
- He stretched his leg: he died
- Filling up the mule: eating too much
- Bitaites: to make guesses
- Molete: a normal loaf of bread
- To advance a bulk: It’s not even worth it
- Walking on your ass: riding in a car
- Dar de frosques: to leave (bazar)
- Estrugido: The first step in any Portuguese cooking. In other regions they say “refogado”.
- Alapar: to sit well
- Pneu (drink): rock water with ice and lemon and a packet of sugar, which comes with it for those who want it
- Arreganhar a taxa: to laugh and show one’s teeth
- Bicha: a queue (for example)
- Bolinha pinchona: down there they say “bolinha saltitona” (little bouncy ball)
- Bufar: to blow
- Breca: a cramp
- Jeco: a dog
- Lapada: a slap, a slap
- To call Gregório: to vomit
- (B)Vergar a mola: to work hard, to give a hard time
- Mandar bitaites: to make guesses
- Estar com o tocco: to be in a bad mood
- Andor (b)violeta: get out, get lost!
- Dia de picó boi: working day
- Enchar a mula: to eat (and well)
- Carago: an interjection that can be used in most situations (surprise, joy, annoyance, you name it!)
- Broeiro: someone without manners, rude
- Briol: cold (very cold)
- Waking up with your ass in the air: waking up in a bad mood
- Comer o caco: to confuse
- Laurear a pevide: go for a walk, take a ride
- Surbia: a beer
- (Ó) (b)vai-me à loja: don’t bother me, go away
- Smash: to fall
- Bater a caçoleta: to die
- Quero um fino: the same as an imperial further south
- Aloquete: padlock
- Went to make bricks: died
- Having a rocket: hole in the socks (tights)
These are just a few of the many expressions that only those from Porto understand! ♥️