Verbal Regionalisms: Variations across Brazil

Brazil, with its vast territorial extension and cultural diversity, presents a rich variety of verbal regionalisms. These variations are not just linguistic curiosities, but living reflections of the history, geography, and culture of each region, enriching Brazilian Portuguese with their expressive particularities.

What are Verbal Regionalisms?

Verbal regionalisms are:

• Exclusive verbs from certain regions
• Meaning variations of common verbs
• Typical regional verbal constructions
• Idiomatic expressions with local verbs
• Regional pronunciations and conjugations

Northern Region

Characteristic Verbs

ESPOCAR

• Meaning: To explode, burst; appear suddenly
• Usage: “O pneu espocou” (The tire burst) / “Ele espocou na festa” (He showed up at the party suddenly)
• Origin: Onomatopoeia of bursting sound

AMOLAR

• Regional meaning: To bother, annoy
• National: To sharpen
• Example: “Pare de me amolar!” (Stop bothering me!)

EMPATAR

• Meaning: To hinder, prevent
• Usage: “Não vem empatar meu serviço” (Don’t come interfere with my work)
• Variation: From the sense of “to tie” (equal)

Verbal Expressions

• “Vou mais ele”: I’m going with him
• “Já tá de bubuia”: Already floating/idle
• “Vai te entregar”: You’re going to get in trouble

Indigenous Influences

Many verbs originate from indigenous languages:

• PERERECAR: To jump like a frog
• PITICAR: To pinch
• CURUMINAR: To act like a child

Northeastern Region

Typical Verbs

ARENGAR

• Meaning: To argue, quarrel verbally
• Usage: “Deixe de arengar comigo” (Stop arguing with me)
• Etymology: Possibly from Spanish “arengar”

AVEXAR

• Meaning: To rush, be in a hurry
• Usage: “Não se avexe não” (Don’t rush)
• Variation: From “vexar” (to embarrass)

APERREAR

• Meaning: To irritate, annoy intensely
• Usage: “Menino, pare de me aperrear!” (Boy, stop pestering me!)
• Origin: From “perrear” (to be stubborn like a dog)

Regional Constructions

• “Vou caçar o que fazer”: I’m going to look for something to do
• “Tá se gabando”: Is boasting
• “Vou dar fé”: I’ll pay attention

Expressions with Verbs

Expression	Meaning
”Mangar de alguém”	To mock, ridicule
”Futucar as coisas”	To meddle where one shouldn’t
”Acochar o nó”	To tighten, pressure

Center-West Region

Regional Verbs

PROSEAR

• Meaning: To chat casually
• Usage: “Vamos prosear um pouco” (Let’s chat a bit)
• Characteristic: Very common in MT and MS

DESGARRAR

• Regional meaning: To stray from the group (cattle)
• Usage: “O boi desgarrou da boiada” (The ox strayed from the herd)
• Context: Cattle culture

TANGER

• Meaning: To drive cattle, lead them
• Usage: “Vamos tanger o gado pro pasto” (Let’s drive the cattle to pasture)
• Origin: Rural vocabulary

Rural Influences

• “Campear”: To search in the field
• “Laçar”: To catch with a lasso
• “Apartar”: To separate cattle

Southeastern Region

Urban Verbs

ZOAR

• SP/RJ meaning: To joke, make a mess
• Usage: “Para de zoar!” (Stop messing around!)
• Origin: Possibly onomatopoeic

TIRAR ONDA

• Meaning: To show off, make fun
• Usage: “Ele adora tirar onda” (He loves to show off)
• Characteristic: Carioca slang that spread

TRAMPAR

• Meaning: To work (informal)
• Usage: “Trampo o dia todo” (I work all day)
• Origin: Italian “trampare”

State Variations

São Paulo

• “Dar um pião”: To take a spin/walk
• “Encher linguiça”: To talk without substance
• “Pagar mico”: To be embarrassed

Rio de Janeiro

• “Caô” (verb “caozar”): To lie, deceive
• “Vacilou”: Made a mistake, failed
• “Desenrolar”: To solve, flirt

Minas Gerais

• “Trem” (used with verbs): “Fazer um trem” = to do something
• “Procê vê”: For you to see
• “Dispois”: Expression with future verbs

Southern Region

Gaucho Verbs

PILCHAR

• Meaning: To dress in typical gaucho clothes
• Usage: “Vou me pilchar pro CTG” (I’ll dress up for the CTG)
• Origin: Gaucho vocabulary

BOMBEANDO

• Meaning: Drinking chimarrão (mate tea)
• Usage: “Tá bombeando um mate” (Is drinking mate)
• Context: Chimarrão culture

CAMPEREANDO

• Meaning: Working in the countryside
• Usage: “Ando campereando” (I’ve been working in the fields)
• Origin: Rural life

Border Influences

Verbs with Spanish influence:

• “Encarar”: In the sense of staring
• “Caprichando”: Doing with care
• “Tri legal”: Expression with verbs (“tri” = very)

Verbal Expressions

• “Mas bah!”: Interjection used with verbs
• “Te liga”: Pay attention
• “Cacetear”: To beat, hit

Regional Phonetic Variations

Gerund

Region	Pronunciation	Example
Southeast	-ndo	falando (speaking)
Interior SP	-no	falano
Some areas	-nu	falanu

Infinitive

• South/Southeast: Pronounces final R
• North/Northeast: Often omits R
• Center-West: Variable

Interstate Verbs and Expressions

Regionalism Migration

Some regional verbs have spread:

• “Zoar”: From SP/RJ to all Brazil
• “Ficar” (dating): From RJ to national
• “Pegar” (to work/function): Regional that became national

Verbs in Extinction

Verb	Region	Meaning
Alumiar	NE	To illuminate
Amiudar	North	To do many times
Amoitar	South	To hide

Regionalisms in Literature

Regionalist Authors

Guimarães Rosa (MG)

• “Nonada” - Minas verbal expressions
• Verbal creations: “descreviver”

Jorge Amado (BA)

• Verbs from Bahia’s Recôncavo
• “Vadiando” - regional meaning

Érico Veríssimo (RS)

• Gaucho vocabulary
• Rural verbs

Media and Regionalisms

Soap Operas and Series

Popularize regionalisms:

• “Rancho Fundo” - rural verbs
• “Cordel Encantado” - northeastern
• Regional productions preserve local uses

Internet and Social Media

• Spread regionalisms quickly
• Create regional hybrids
• Document local uses

Preservation and Change

Preservation Factors

1. Geographic isolation
2. Strong cultural traditions
3. Regional literature
4. Local media

Change Factors

1. Internal migration
2. National media
3. Standardized education
4. Internet

Regional Dictionaries

Reference Works

• State dictionaries
• Regional glossaries
• Academic studies
• Folkloric records

Practical Applications

For Writers

• Character development
• Regional setting
• Narrative authenticity

For Educators

• Valuing diversity
• Contextualized teaching
• Linguistic awareness

For Students

• Understanding variation
• Respecting differences
• Vocabulary enrichment

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

• Linguistic prejudice
• Excessive standardization
• Loss of regionalisms

Opportunities

• Cultural valorization
• Linguistic tourism
• Academic research
• Digital preservation

Conclusion

Verbal regionalisms are linguistic treasures that reveal the richness and diversity of Brazilian Portuguese. Far from being “errors” or “deviations,” they represent the vitality of our language and the creativity of our speakers. Knowing and valuing these variations is essential to understanding Brazil in its linguistic and cultural totality. Each regional verb tells a story, preserves a tradition, and enriches our common linguistic heritage.