Different from English internet slang, it is not common for Brazilians to abbreviate a whole sentence. For instance, Americans might use ‘G2G’ for ‘got to go’ or ‘IMO’ for ‘in my opinion’. When speaking of Brazilian internet slang though, we tend to use more abbreviations for single words and not full sentences. For example: ‘vc’ for ‘você and ‘blz’ for ‘beleza’.
So, if you are learning Brazilian Portuguese and meeting new Brazilian friends, let us teach you a few basic Brazilian internet slang and other facts worth learning.
What app to use when texting in Brazil?
Forget about SMS, Facebook Messenger, or iMessage. Almost 100% of Brazilians use WhatsApp to communicate. They will use this app to send you pictures, videos, texts, screenshots, and audio messages. Yes, some foreigners sometimes find it weird, but Brazilians often send audio messages to friends and family. So, when making Brazilian friends, do not forget to download the WhatsApp app on your phone and get ready to get many audio messages.
If Brazilians need to make a call or video call, they will most likely use WhatsApp for that as well.
Furthermore, even companies use WhatsApp to provide support to clients. You can use WhatsApp in Brazil to buy groceries, book doctors’ appointments, check your energy bill, and much more.
Dating Apps in Brazil
The most common dating apps Brazilians use are Tinder, Badoo, Happn, Inner Circle, Bumble, and Grindr. So, if you want to practice your Brazilian internet slang skills and also flirt with people, you can try one of these.
Further reading: Flirting in Portuguese With A Brazilian.
Brazilian Internet Slang: Laughing
Each Brazilian may use different abbreviations and acronyms for laughing when texting. Some use ‘rs’ or ‘rsrsrs’, which is an abbreviation for ‘risos’ (laughs). Others use the world famous ‘haha’. People in their thirties might still use ‘huahuahua’, which was popular among teens in the early 2000s. However, many foreigners, especially Americans, might find it really weird that most Brazilians use ‘kkk’ when texting. Do not worry, this is not a racist term in Brazil. Actually, ‘kkk’ is just the onomatopoeia of laughter in Brazilian Portuguese, in which the letter K is read as /kah/.
Vocabulary: Brazilian Internet Slang
| Brazilian Internet Slang | Meaning | English |
|---|---|---|
| aff | interjection used to display shock, either positive or negative | ugh |
| aki | aqui | here |
| amg | amigo, amiga | friend |
| bj, bjo | beijo | kiss |
| blz | beleza | ok, alright, fine |
| cmg | comigo | with me |
| ctg | contigo | with you |
| ctz | certeza | sure, for sure |
| d+ | demais | a lot, or very nice |
| dnv | de novo | again |
| dps | depois | later |
| eh | é | is |
| fds | fim de semana | weekend |
| flw | falou | ok, alright |
| ft | foto | picture |
| fz | fazer | to do |
| gnt | gente | people |
| hj | hoje | today |
| kd | cadê | where is |
| kkk, rs, haha, hehe, huahua | different ways to laugh in text messages | lol |
| msg | mensagem | message |
| msm | mesmo | same |
| n, ñ, nn | não | no |
| nd | nada | nothing |
| neh | né? | isn’t it?, right? |
| ngm | ninguém | no one |
| obg | obrigada, obrigado | thank you |
| oq | o que | what |
| p | para | to, for |
| pf, pfv | por favor | please |
| plmdds | pelo amor de Deus | for God’s sake |
| pq | por que, porque | why, because |
| q | que | pronoun used in different ways, mainly meaning ‘that’ |
| qd, qdo | quando | when |
| qq, qqr | qualquer | any |
| qr | quer | want |
| qt, qto | quanto | how much, how many |
| rlx | relaxa | relax |
| s, ss | sim | yes |
| sdds | saudades | I miss you |
| sla | sei lá | I don’t know |
| tbm, tb | também | too, also |
| td | tudo, todo | all, everything, whole |
| tmj | tamo junto | we are in this together |
| vc, vcs | você, vocês | you (singular or plural) |
| vdd | verdade | true |
| vlw | valeu | thank you |
| vms | vamos | let’s go |
| zap |
If you want to learn more Brazilian slang, check this post: The Ultimate List of Carioca Slang!
