Brazil Local Custom Tips by peace_prevails

Twenty Words to Know in Brazilian Portuguese

1. Hello - Oi (more like hi than hello - informal)
2. Goodbye - Tchau (Chow)
3. Good morning - Bom dia
4. Good afternoon - Boa tarde
5. Good night - Boa noite
6. You good? - Tudo bom?
7. I'm good, and you? - Tudo bom e voce?
8. Where is the bathroom? - Onde esta o banheiro?
9. How much? - Quanto e?
10. How many? Quantos?
11. Expensive. Caro/Cara
12. Cheap. Barato/Barata
13. Where is ___________? Onde est? ________?
14. My name is Rupruct. Meu nome e Rupruct.
15. What is your name? Come seu nome?
16. I am an american. Eu sou americano.
17. Are you Brasilian? A voce e Brasileiro?
18. Where are you from? De onde voce e?
19. I am from Texas. Eu sou de Texas.
20. I am going to learn Portuguese. Vou aprender portugues.

Beijos - Kisses and greetings

I am by no means an expert on this, but this is my understanding of giving beijos, or kisses, when meeting or leaving Brazilians. First off, this is usually only done in social situations, and not in the 'business world'... Men give a kiss to a woman while giving a handhake or hug, the right cheek first, then sometimes the left cheek as well. Three are usually reserved 'for marriage' - or wishes of marriage, although some places in the south give three. Best off to just go with two. Women kiss women, usually two times, while hugging. Men never (or very rarely) kiss when greeting other men, they just shake hands. Also, many people often ask about how much lip to apply to cheek. Mostly they are 'air kisses' while the cheeks touch but people you know better (or may want to know better!) sometimes get more lip-on-cheek.

Drinking Chimarrão (Erva Mate) the Gaucho way

When in the far south of Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, you will encounter a special kind of Brazilian - if you can call him that - who will refere to himself as a Gaucho. One way to identify this fellow is the special 'kit' he will be carrying. To a norte americano it looks like some sort of specialized coffee kit at first glance. But upon closer inspection, one will see that there is some sort of 'green stuff' in some sort of 'native looking coffee mug'. What you have encountered is an authentic gaucho 'Chimarrão Kit'. You may even be offered a hit off of it.

If so, there are some special etiquette rules you should follow:
1. first, never ever move the bomba (the reed straw) - this is very offensive because it takes a delicate touch to arrange the straw in the hole of the floating tea leaves just right.
2. drink all the chimarrão until you actually hear the 'rude slurping straw noise' at the end of the drink. Make it loud. Like when you were a kid and wanted to annoy your mother.
3. pass the cuia (the hollowed out gourd used as a cup) back to the gaucho after slurping.
4. it may taste bitter, but you will get used to it. whatever you do, don't ask for sugar - one gaucho told me that sugar is for 'women' (whatever that means) and this will definitely lose you some respect.
5. do not be offended if the gaucho tastes the chimarrão first - he is doing you a favour.
6. do not 'wipe the straw' with your shirt before or after - this is totally gringo and rude - you are not going to get avian flu from chimarrão

Being Polite - Misses manners for gringos

In Brazil, it is polite to always say good morning or good afternoon or good evening before asking for help or directions. Also, it is even better to ask how the person is going- Tudo bom? Como vai? Never directly ask before greeting - it is rude in most instances.

When using a toothpick after a meal at the table, cover those pearly whites with one hand while picking with the other.

Never throw things across the table or room. Hand them to people.

That thong or sunga (speedo) is perfectly fine on the beach, but when walking on the rua (street), cover up. You're not that hot anyhow.

If you don't learn any other thing in portuguese, at least learn this:
"Desculpe, você fala inglês?"
Sorry, do you speak english.
Never approach someone firstoff with english.