ai, ui, ei!

by cecília reifschneider

(a gringo’s guide to brazilian interjections)

für meine Schatz, so that he may better understand me.

Language is the source of misunderstandings.Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 - 1944)

ai“ai! essa doeu.”

interj.used to express sudden pain or displeasure

approximate translation: ouch

sounds like: letter “i”writer’s note: not to be mixed up with “aí”, meaning either “there” or “ and then”. for example: “aí eu gritei: ai, não tinha visto o espinho aí”. another interjection “ai” shouldn’t be confused with is “ai, ai” — unlike

it’s singular couterpart “ai, ai” is used to express dissapointment (it’s approximate translation being: tsk tsk)

afe “afe, pára.”

interj.used to express insatisfaction, an exclamation of annoyance

approximate translation: aff

sounds like: ah + phewriter’s note: a common use of this interjection is in the idiom “afe maria”;

the english equivalent of which would be a very bored person saying “oh God”.

credo“credo! como tá quente.”

interj.used to express irritation or contempt with some surprise

approximate translation: damn

sounds like: cr + air without the “r” + doughwriter’s note: simillar to “caramba”

êba“êba! chocolate!”

interj.used to express contentment, happines

approximate translation: yey

sounds like: letter “a” + bahwriter’s note: also known as the variant “oba”

eca“eca! que nojo!”

interj.used to express dissgust about something gross

approximate translation: ewww

sounds like: air without the “r” + car without the “r”writer’s note: a variant of the interjection “eca” becomes the noun “nheca”.

for example: “esse bolo ficou uma nheca”

ei“ei, você tá me ouvindo?”

interj.used to attract attention or to express surprise, appreciation

approximate translation: hey

sounds like: letter “a”writer’s note: can be used with a pejorative enphasis like the one in “hey, watch where you are going” if it is said with a prolongued “e”

eita“eita, como ela está diferente!”

interj.used to express amazement at the unexpected

approximate translation: wow

sounds like: letter “a” + tahwriter’s note: depending on the region it can also be pronounced “êta”

iiiii“iiii, já ví que vai dar briga.”

interj.used to signify the understanding of forthcoming displeasure

approximate translation: oh man

sounds like: extended letter “e”writer’s note: can be used to provoke/ make fun of someone who is not acting the way they should.

for example: “iii, tá nervosinho é?”

ixi“ixi! derrubei a água em você?”

interj.an exclamation of surprise or of apology when

someone has a slight accident or makes a mistakeapproximate translation: oops

sounds like: letter “e” + shewriter’s note: a lighter and censored version

of what could be many curse words

vixe“vixe quanta gente!”

interj.used to express irritation and amazement

approximate translation: oh my god

sounds like: vea + shewriter’s note: although vixe is often said by itslef it is also

comonly used as a substitute for the word “virgem” in the expression “virgem maria”, the meaning remaining the same

ôôô“ôôô! cuidado aí, meu!”

interj.used to call attention

approximate translation: watch it

sounds like: letter “o”writer’s note: although “meu” means mine it is alsoused meaning “dude” in some regions of brazil,

for example: the city of são paulo

ô“ô, e como.”

interj.expressing agreement

approximate translation: yeah

sounds like: letter “o”writer’s note: “ô” doen’t usually require a follow-up sentance.

one can respond to a question simply by saying “ô”

ó“ó o auê aí, ó!”

interj.used to

approximate translation: look/ look here

sounds like: ohwriter’s note: the word “auê” used in

the exemple sentance means mess or noise

pô “pô, se toca!”

interj.used to call attention in a negative way

approximate translation: ey

sounds like: powwriter’s note: “pô” is short for “poxa”,

which in turn is the nice version of the curse word “porra”

só“entendeu? - sóóó”

interj.used to express understanding

approximate translation: ok

sounds like: sorrow without the “rrow”writer’s note: although “só” also means alone it is easy to

diferentiate the two seeing as the interjection usualy lasts longer

toma“vai, toma!”

interj.used to ridicule

approximate translation: serves you right

sounds like: tohmahwriter’s note: another approximate translation

could be bart simpson’s “ha-ha”. litterally, “toma” means take it

ué“ué, você não ia pro cinema?”

interj.used to express concern or missunderstanding

approximate translation: huh?

sounds like: “oooh” + air without the “r”writer’s note: although no one knows for sure how it came to be, it is common knowledge that ué is an abreviattion of the phrase “não é?” meaning “isn’t it?”

ufa “ufa, cansei.”

interj.used to express insatisfaction approximate translation: uff

sounds like: oof + ahwriter’s note: mostly used by women

ui“ui, nêga!”

interj.used to express sudden pain or displeasure

approximate translation: ouch

sounds like: oof wiithout the “f” + letter “e”writer’s note: used to express pain only by members of the gay comunity,

when used by heterosexuals it is said in a mocking tone by which the person saying it makes fun of how delicate you are

a yet unprinted book. looking for publisherscopyright © 2009 cecilia reifschneider by tipovivo

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