These Lisbon expressions are the most popular among the “alfacinhas”, and they all reveal the true soul of Lisbon.
Over the years, Lisboners have come up with many unique phrases, some of which may even sound strange, especially to those who weren’t born in the city.
Expressions that only Lisboners understand
Today we present you with a list of these peculiar expressions, as well as the explanation for each one:
Ir aos pastéis
It means to go to the Pastéis de Belém, the famous custard tarts of this particular pastry shop.
Going for a walk in Parque Eduardo
Refers to strolling through Parque Eduardo VII, one of the city’s most iconic parks.
Shall we go to Lux?
Lux Frágil is one of Lisbon’s best-known nightclubs. If someone asks you this, they’re suggesting that if you want to go out at night, you shouldn’t go to this Lisbon nightclub.
Going down to Baixa
Go to the Baixa Pombalina area, the historic center of Lisbon, usually to stroll, shop or go to a café.
Punching the ticket
Used not only to validate a ticket on public transport, but also as an expression for “completing a routine task”.
I’m going to Chiado
Going to the city’s “finest” shopping area, frequented by many locals, and more and more tourists, to shop, go to cafés or visit bookshops, especially the oldest in the world.
Taking the streetcar
For locals, the “streetcar” is typical public transport, and saying “I’m going to take the 28″ is completely normal.
Seeing the views from the miradouro
Lisbon is known for its incredible belvederes, the places with beautiful views at the top of its 7 (or 8) hills, so “going to the belvedere” is taking a walk.
Round the corner to Rossio
This means “going to or being in the heart of the center of Lisbon”, going around the famous square in Baixa.
Eat a bifana at the rulote
Taste the typical pork sandwich, sold in several fixed locations in the city, but also in vans parked in many places in the capital, especially at night.
Going to the loony bin
An old Lisbon slang term for the old lively bars in Cais do Sodré, even before it became the trendy area it is now.
Being in Recreio
An old reference to a famous bar in Bairro Alto, but also used to say that you’re relaxing in a cool place.
Keeping your fingers crossed for a Metro strike
It’s a real Lisbon drama, and anyone who rides the Metro knows what it’s like!
Missing the Feira Popular
An often nostalgic reference to the city’s old funfair, demolished in the early 2000s. Only the “alfacinhas” miss it.
Calling calhandreira
You have to go back to the 17th or 18th centuries to discover the origins of one of the city’s oldest popular expressions: scholars say it’s related to a kind of potty of the time, the “calhandro”, which was emptied and washed in the Tagus by a group of servants in the service of the city’s noblest and richest families.
These women would take the opportunity to chat (for a long time), telling and gossiping about everything that was going on in their bosses’ homes. From then on, the term “calhandreira” was forever associated with those who pry into other people’s lives.
Call cacilheiro
A typical reference to the boat that crosses the Tagus to Cacilhas, or to other stops on the south bank.
À grande and à francesa and Farrobodó
These two popular expressions were born in Palácio Chiado. Yes, in that historic building on Rua do Alecrim (no. 70) which is now a restaurant.
Both are related to the lavish banquets once served by Joaquim Pedro de Quintela, the first Count of Farrobo, at the then Palácio Quintela.
Farrobo eventually gave rise to farrobodó (and not forrobodó, as almost everyone says) and the expression has endured to this day.
Rés-vés Campo d’Ourique
It was just right! So it became rés-vés Campo de Ourique! Although there are various theories about this popular expression, the most widely agreed upon says that it dates back to the 1755 earthquake and the violent tsunami that followed. It hit almost the entire city, but narrowly missed the neighborhood !
There are also those who say it’s due to the urban layout of Lisbon in the 17th century, whose city limits ended at Campo de Ourique, more specifically at Rua Maria Pia. In other words, it was “just outside” Lisbon.
Carmo and Trindade fell
Another expression in which the 1755 earthquake is blamed. This tragic event caused the destruction of the old convents of Carmo and Trindade, two of the most important in the city at the time.
The astonishment was such that the population soon spread the message – “Carmo e a Trindade fell!”, and the expression has remained forever, now being related to something dramatic or a bad event.
Watching from the sidelines
Did you pass up an excellent opportunity that was right in front of you? Well, you’ve been left behind, haven’t you? The origin of this popular expression is also not consensual, but there are two best-known theories, both related to Alto de Santa Catarina:
One evokes the Lisboners who, not believing in the death of King Sebastião, would stand on this spot waiting for the King to return on a ship; the other, comes from the time of the Discoveries and the Portuguese shipowners, who would climb this hill to see their ships arriving from the Indies, Africa and Brazil.
Putting Rossio in Rua da Betesga
This is one of the easiest popular expressions to understand, especially for Lisboners. If that’s your case, I’m sure you’ve been down the little Rua da Betesga, which connects Rossio to Praça da Figueira. And, as you can imagine, Rossio would never fit into its 35-meter length.
Do you want to do something impossible or disproportionate? That’s “how to put the Rossio in Betesga”.
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