Rio de Janeiro Local Custom Tips by Ipanema_Princess

Talk like a Carioca !

Here is a little "survival essential vocabulary " in Rio. Cariocas have a really fun way to speak, with a lot of exageration and slang (called "giria").

Some basics
- Bom Dia / Boa Noite : Hello (day or night)
- Oi ! : Hi !
- Obrigado : Thank you
- Tudo bem ? or Beleza ? : How are you ?

Some words you may here a lot
- cachaça : alcool the Caïpirinha is made with
- praia : beach
- barzinho : small bar
- cerveja / chopp : bear
- cara : man
- gato / gata : cute guy / girl
- camelo : street vendor
- flanelinha : people that ask you money to watch on your car. Better to give them.
- Zona Sul : the area of the beaches of Rio (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon...)
- grana : money
- legal ! : great ! cool !
- fala serio ! : you're kidding me ? (more or less) You must say "Fala seeeeeeerio ! "
- novela : very important soap opera
- pra caralho / caramba : a lot