Driving in Brazil can be a scary thing! Hopefully this comprehensive vocab list will make getting around in your car a less daunting experience.
Nouns
quebra mola or, lombada – speed bump
trânsito – traffic
engarrafamento – traffic jam
pasarella – overpass (also means “runway” in the fashion industry)
viela, beco – alley
pegágio – toll
faixa – lane
sinal or semáforo – stoplight
sinal vermelho/amarelo/verde – red/yellow/green light
* To express red or green, it is also common to say “sinal fechado” – literally: “closed light” or “sinal aberto” – literally: “open light”.
rua de mão única – one-way street
contramão – wrong way
desvio – detour
saída – exit
retorno – u-turn
acostamento – road shoulder
área de descanso (nas highways) – rest area
highway – highway
estrada pavimentada – paved road
estrada de terra – unpaved road or dirt road
infração de trânsito – traffic violation
estacionamento – parking lot, parking
direção hidráulica – power steering
ar condicionado – air conditioning
seguro – insurance
map – mapa
locadora – rent-a-car agency
milhagem, quilometragem – mileage
carteira de motorista – driver’s license
placa pare - brazilian stop sign
Signs
“não polua” – don’t litter
“pare” – stop
“estacionamento proibido” – no parking
limite de velocidade – speed limit
Verbs
guinchar – to tow
dobrar – to turn (just like “virar” but used more colloquially)
engatar – to shift gears, into a gear
“arrancar o carro“- to start the car
atropelar– to run over (someone, something)
buzinar– to honk
enxingar – to yell and curse at someone (think: road rage)
rodar – to turn, spin, tour, travel, drive, walk around…
“fazer a volta” (or: “dar meia volta“) – to make a u-turn
“dar no pé” – to run away, take off
ultrapassar– to pass/go around another car on the road
Slang
“lata velha” – (literally: “old can”) humorously used to refer to an old piece of shit car (but can be used to describe almost anything that is old, out dated, or falling apart such as a cell phone.)You could also say:
“meu carro esta caindo aos pedaços” – literally: my car is falling in pieces.
“dar um rolê”, or “dar uma volta” – commonly used slang phrases, meaning “to go for a walk or drive”, “to take a ride” or “to take a spin”
Repair
borracha/borracharia – “borracha” literally means rubber, a “borracharia” is like an auto-parts shop that sells tires (“pneus“- pronounced almost like “pey-neus” are tires). You will see these EVERYWHERE in Brazil, even in the middle of nowhere if you are taking a bus ride across country, for example, you will notice one about every 3 minutes. To own a Borracharia is a good way to make money in Brazil – driving long distances, travelers will be facing face some challenging roads and it is good to know that there is almost always a Borracharia around- just don’t let them rip you off.
farol (pl. “farois“) – headlights (also, means “lighthouse” strangely enough
pneu furado – flat tire
estepe – spare tire
oficina mecânica (or just oficina)- repair shop
mecânico – mechanic
graxa – the grease or oil that mechanics use
Gas Station
posto de gasolina – gas station
“encha o tanque, por favor” – “fill it up, please”
auto-atendimento – self service
gasolina de alta octanagem – super gasoline
gasolina comum – regular gasoline
gasolina sem chumbo, antipoluente – unleaded gasoline
Adjectives
“carro blindado“- an armored (or bulletproof) car, (often driven by rich people in Rio de Janeiro.)
Driving Directions
“siga essa rua toda a vida” – (phrase employing the imperative of the verb: “seguir“- good to know for giving directions.) Means: “follow this street as far as you can go”, or “follow this street to the end.”
Car / Vehicle Parts
o pneu – tire
o volante – steering wheel
o retrovisor – rearview mirror
a porta-luvas – glove compartment
o motor – the engine
o freio – the breaks
o cinto de segurança (or just ”o cinto”) – seatbelt
o limpador do pára-brisa – windshield wipers
pára-brisa – windshield
a buzina – horn
faróis – headlights
o acelerador – accelerator
a bateria – battery
o capô – the hood (of a car)
a chave – the key
o espelho – the mirror
o pára-choque – the bumper
maçaneta da porta – door handle
porta-malas – trunk
paralama – mud flap
tampa do tanque – fuel tank door
teto solar – sun roof
sinal de pisca – blinker (*piscar – to blink)