{"id":778,"date":"2021-11-09T00:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T00:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.ca\/blog\/?p=778"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:34:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:34:45","slug":"portuguese-sayings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.ca\/blog\/portuguese-sayings\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Portuguese Sayings You\u2019ll Wish You\u2019d Known Before"},"content":{"rendered":"

Actions speak louder than words.<\/em><\/p>\n

Proverbs like this one play a big part in our emotional education from a very early age.<\/p>\n

As children, there are sayings and quotes that teach us not to be judgemental (\u201cDon’t judge a book by its cover\u201d), to be cautious \u00a0(\u201cit\u2019s better to be safe than sorry\u201d), to be kind (\u201cyou catch more flies with honey than vinegar\u201d) and to be determined and perseverent (\u201cwhere there\u2019s a will, there\u2019s a way\u201d).<\/p>\n

These sayings have been passed by from generation to generation for many years\u2026 and we believe they should be honoured and incorporated in our daily speech, and especially, in our daily behaviour.<\/p>\n

\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Portuguese Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n

English, of course, is not the only language that has such interesting sayings. In fact, there are useful, wise expressions like these in every country and culture.<\/p>\n

Today, we are bringing you the best Portuguese sayings\u00a0ever so you can practice the language while learning about Portuguese values.<\/p>\n

\n

Table of Contents<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

Portuguese Sayings About Love<\/a><\/h2>\n

Portuguese Sayings About Family<\/a><\/h2>\n

Portuguese Sayings About Life<\/a><\/h2>\n

Portuguese Sayings About Food<\/a><\/h2>\n

Mean Portuguese Sayings<\/a><\/h2>\n

Portuguese Wedding Sayings<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a>Portuguese Sayings About Love<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0<\/i>Quem v\u00ea cara n\u00e3o v\u00ea cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/i><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0(Seeing a face is not the same as seeing a heart.)<\/h3>\n

Thinking about dumping your Tinder date because he doesn\u2019t look as good\u00a0in real life\u00a0as in his profile picture? Portuguese people would not approve.<\/p>\n

Similar to \u201cdon\u2019t judge a book by its cover\u201d, this Portuguese saying reminds us that there\u2019s more to people than meets the eye.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/i>Roupa suja se lava em ca<\/i><\/em>sa<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Dirty laundry must be washed at home.)<\/h3>\n

Imagine a couple in a restaurant. They begin a heated argument about a text the woman has just received from her\u00a0young coworker when one of their friends leans over, puts his hand on the man\u2019s shoulder, and says: Voc\u00ea est\u00e1 fazendo uma cena, roupa suja se l<\/i><\/em>ava em casa.<\/i><\/em>(\u201cYou\u2019re making a scene, don\u2019t wash your dirty linen in public.\u201d)<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0<\/i>Antes s\u00f3 que mal acompanhado<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(It\u2019s better to be alone than in bad company.)<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever managed to get out of a toxic relationship, you know how wise this one is.<\/p>\n

Having a partner can be a wonderful feeling, but if all they do is bring negativity to your life or try to bring you down, it might be time for you to take a hard look at yourself in the mirror, and repeat: antes s\u00f3 que mal acompanhado\/a<\/i><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Woman

Water photo created by wirestock – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a>Portuguese Sayings About Family<\/h2>\n

1. Filho de peixe, peixinho \u00e9<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(The son of a fish is a little fish.)<\/h3>\n

True, the literal translation of this Portuguese saying doesn\u2019t make much sense, but hey, neither does \u201cBarking up the wrong tree\u201d or \u201cCaught red-handed\u201d.<\/p>\n

A more natural English equivalent would be \u201cLike father, like son\u201d, or \u201cthe apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree\u201d. The good thing about this one is that you can give it both a positive or a negative connotation depending on what the perceived similarity is!<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/i>A uni\u00e3<\/i><\/em>o faz a for\u00e7a<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Unity equals strength)<\/h3>\n

Struggle and hardship are part of the human experience. There is simply no way to avoid suffering forever. But if there is a strong, loving family behind you to have your back, no fall can be too harsh.<\/p>\n

As its English counterpart goes, \u201cunited we stand, divided we fall\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Portuguese Sayings About Life<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0<\/i>Quem n\u00e3o arrisca n\u00e3o petisca<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Those who do not risk, do not have a snack.)<\/h3>\n

So you want to get a raise but you\u2019re afraid your boss will reject your request?<\/p>\n

Are you having second doubts about your career choice and would like to try a more exciting path?<\/p>\n

Portuguese people have a nice proverb for this kind of situation. Usually said to someone who is too afraid to try something new, this saying reminds us that in order to achieve great things we have to put ourselves out there!<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/i>Mais vale um p\u00e1ssaro <\/i><\/em>na<\/i><\/em>\u00a0m\u00e3o do que dois voando<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(It is better to have one bird in your hand than to see two birds flying.)<\/h3>\n

Or, as we say in English, \u201ca bird in the hand is worth two in the bush\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"<a

Travel photo created by wirestock – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

As opposed to the previous expression, this one suggests that sometimes it\u2019s better to play it safe. Thinking about changing jobs in the middle of a global pandemic? You may want to think twice. Your current job might not be the most exciting one in the world, but at least it\u2019s something you can count on!<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0<\/i>Para bom entendedor, meia palavra basta<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(For those who are wise, half a word is enough.)<\/h3>\n

Smart people do not need everything explained to them. They are clever enough to read the room and understand what is going on without a direct explanation.<\/p>\n

So, if your friend has just walked out of her room wearing a dress so flashy it hurts your eyes, you don\u2019t need to be cruel. Just say \u201ca bit too much\u201d, and she\u2019ll know what you\u2019re talking about.\u00a0As the saying goes, if she is smart, just that comment will be enough!<\/p>\n

<\/a>Portuguese Sayings About Food<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0<\/i>S\u00e3o muitos anos a virar frangos <\/i><\/em>(I\u2019ve been turning chickens for many years.)<\/h3>\n

When a Portuguese speaker wants to say that he or someone else is very experienced, he can say that the person in question has spent “many years turning chickens\u201d.\u00a0Of course, the phrase is not literal. You can use it for all kinds of people, not just for those who excel at roasting chicken. So,\u00a0if someone tells you something like \u201cYou are great at your craft\u201d, you can use this phrase to mean \u201cI know the ropes\u201d.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/i>Estar \u00e0 sombra da bananeira<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(To be under a banana tree.)<\/h3>\n

Can you picture anything more relaxing than a carefree student sitting under\u00a0the shade of a tree? Well, images can be misleading.<\/p>\n

To say that someone is under a banana tree means that\u00a0they are\u00a0too relaxed when they shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n

For example, you can hear a mother say to their child:<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i><\/em>O que voc\u00ea est\u00e1 fazendo, sentado \u00e0 s<\/i><\/em>ombra de uma bananeira? Voc\u00ea deveria estudar para o exame de amanh\u00e3!<\/i><\/em>\u201d<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a>Mean Portuguese Sayings<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0<\/i>Gira o disco e toca o mesmo<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(To play the same record over and over again.)<\/h3>\n

The Portuguese don\u2019t \u201ctalk about the same thing nonstop\u201d. They \u201cturn the record and play the same song\u201d again and again.<\/p>\n

Is your friend still talking about the girl who dumped him two years ago after a two-month relationship? Use this phrase to tell him that he sounds like a broken record.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a02. Acordar com os p\u00e9s de fora<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(To wake\u00a0up with your feet sticking out.)<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever woken up with freezing cold feet sticking out, you know what a bad start feels like. This saying is used metaphorically to say that someone has woken up in a bad mood.<\/p>\n

Did someone just walk\u00a0into the kitchen with a grumpy face? Ask them if they woke up with \u201cos p\u00e9s de fora<\/i><\/em>\u201d. We can\u2019t promise this will improve their mood, but it\u2019s surely a great way to start using\u00a0Portuguese sayings\u00a0in your everyday life.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Portuguese Wedding Sayings<\/h2>\n

1.\u00a0<\/i>Se o c<\/i><\/em>asamento fosse uma coisa boa, n\u00e3o precisaria de testemunhas<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(If marriage were a good thing, it wouldn\u2019t need witnesses.)<\/h3>\n

The Portuguese have a great sense of humour, and they are not afraid to find laughter even in the most serious of topics. Besides, doesn\u2019t this one have a point? Come to think of it, even the choice of the word \u201cwitness\u201d makes it sound like one is talking about a crime!<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/i>N\u00e3o h\u00e1 mulher bonita no dia do casamento, exceto a noiva<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(There’s no beautiful\u00a0women on the wedding day, except the bride.)<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve ever made the mistake of wearing a white dress to a wedding, you\u2019ll know what this saying is about.<\/p>\n

For Portuguese women, the wedding day is very important, and they don\u2019t allow other women to upstage them. When the bride enters the room, all eyes should be on her. So, if you are ever invited to go to a Portuguese wedding, when choosing yout outfit, remember: N\u00e3o h\u00e1 mulher bonita no dia do casamento, exceto a noiva<\/i><\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Wedding photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If, like us, you think proverbs are a great way of learning about a culture and a language, give us a shout<\/u><\/a>. Our\u00a0native\u00a0Portuguese\u00a0teachers will be delighted to teach you to sound more natural in Portuguese using\u00a0phrases like the ones above in real contexts,\u00a0and\u00a0discuss\u00a0the nuances involved in all of them. Take a free trial lesson at the most convenient time for you and get started!<\/p>\n

\u2192Sign Up Now: Free Trial Portuguese Lesson With a Native Speaker Teacher!\u2190<\/a><\/p>\n

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