Como assim???

If you don't understand the question, or you'd like the person to clarify, you say "Como assim?"

It most closely translates to "What do you mean?

examples: 1 "Você está triste comigo? Are you upset with me?

Como assim? What do you mean?

2 Você ficou sozinha? Were you there alone?

Como assim? What do you mean?

You can also use this phrase when a person makes a statement that seems impossible.

example: 1 Estou aqui perdido na mata! I'm lost in the forest!

Como assim, está perdido na mata? What do you mean, you're lost in the forest?!

2 Perdi o vôo. I missed my flight.

Como assim, perdeu o vôo? What do you mean you missed it?

Meditation

Espera ai [ess-pehr-ah ah-ee]


This expression means "wait a second" or "hold on."

In spoken Portuguese, though, it often becomes "peraí."

-------- Peraí. Esqueci meu casaco.
--------Wait a sec. I forgot my coat.


--------Espera ai. Já volto.

--------Hold on. I'll be right back.

Tô numa boa!

Ever try to say 'I'm just chilling' or 'laid-back' in Portuguese?

Here's a quick list of terms:

Relaxa!! : relaxed, chill, 'all-good' (pronounced 'hee-lax')
Tranqüilooo: mellow, tranquil (pronounced 'trahn-kwee-loh')
Tá de boa? : "You chilling brother?"

It's interesting that the common greetings in Portuguese tudo bom / tudo bem already literally mean 'it's all good.' This literal translation when used in English implies tranquility and mellowness.