Paulistanês: Speaking Like You’re From São Paulo City
The funny thing about people who live in the city of São Paulo is that they think everyone else has an accent except for them. And travelling to other parts of Brazil, I’ve learned most other people around the country realize they have a regional accent, except paulistanos who think their accent is the norm for Brazilian Portuguese. Paulistanos also swear everyone on TV speaks like them when it’s clearly not true either. They’re really so self centered they go around saying meu, in every other sentence!
Before we go on to some fun sayings from São Paulo, a little on pronunciations.
In general, Paulistanos pronounce their “e’s” with a more nasal sound and closer to an “a,” than most other parts of Brazil. When pronouncing the word apartamento, they’ll say ”aparta-may-ntu” instead of “aparta-meh-ntu” and when saying something has dust on it, they’ll pronounce poeira, “po-ay-rah” instead of “pu-era.”
Their “r’s” are rolled out almost like a Spanish “r.” Outside of São Paulo City, in São Paulo state, “r’s” are pronounced like American “r’s.” So if you’re thinking of coming to Brazil and want to learn an accent that’s easy for you if you’re American, small town São Paulo it is!
Ready to speak with a paulistano accent? Well, here’s the vocabulary to match! As usual, the order goes paulistanês, português, English:
Meu, no definition, it can be used for anything, but really it means Mine
Mano, “amigo,” can also mean anything, Friend
Ué!, Igual o Uai de Mineiro, No real meaning, usually said when questioning something that just happened.
Mina, “namorada/menina”, girlfriend, girl
Chops, “chopp”, draft beer
Farol, “semaforo”, stop light
Lombada, “quebra-mola”, speed bump
Ladeira, “morro”, hill
Pode Crer, “É mesmo”, True!
Some people use “pode crer” as a response to almost everything!
For example:
- “Ontem à noite a gente foi num churrasco.”
- “Pode crer…”
Firmeza?, “Oi, tudo bem?”, Hey, what’s up?
Tipo, Como, ou uma vírgula, Like, or in the place of a comma…
Mo’ Cara, “Muito tempo”, A long time
Então, No translation, Used at the beginning of every sentence.
Imagina!, “Que isso! Sem Problemas”, No problem! You’re Welcome!
Trampo, “Trabalho”, Work
Also check out these links:
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From Minas
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From São Paulo
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From Rio Grande do Sul
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From Rio
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From Espirito Santo
How To Speak Portuguese Like You Are From Bahia
How To Speak Portuguese Like You are From Pernambuco
About Laurena
very interesting. If I am not mistaken, Argentinians call girls "mina" too
Both "mano" and "firmeza" are associated with ghetto speak in Sao Paulo. This is not to say that more and more you'll hear those expressions in other communities as well.
As for "Ué", it is an interjection to something odd or surprising that just happened, or equally odd or surprising news that has just been told.
good job!
Thanks! I’m glad to have your feedback Eduardo. Take care!
This is soo true it’s hilarious! I lived in a small town in São Paulo and everyone walked around saying “Ô, meu!” and “tipo” and “então” in every sentence! But it’s pretty endearing now, and it’s even rubbed off on me. But honestly, our accent IS the most normal in Brazil!
Beijos
Hello, I’m from São Paulo and that’s slangs are not so famous, Like Mina,Mo’ Cara and Trampo, are indecent.