mano
/ˈmɐ̃.nu/masculine
The English phrase "homie" can be translated into Portuguese as mano.
Mano and Parça are both used to refer to a friend or someone one often hangs out with. While mano is a widely recognized term for a homie or bro, Parça is a specific slang term used among Brazilian youth to denote a close friend.
Meaning: a friend, somebody one often hangs out with (noun)
Which one should you use?
Mano is a common term for a homie or bro, whereas Parça is a slang term specifically used by Brazilian youth to refer to a close friend.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both mano and Parça are slang. Mano is highly informal and is used primarily among friends or in street slang.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The use of mano as a common term for a friend is particularly characteristic of Brazilian Portuguese slang, though it is understood in other areas.
How does it change in a sentence?
While mano is masculine, the feminine counterpart is often used as manas to refer to female friends.
How do you pronounce it?
Mano is pronounced /ˈmɐ̃.nu/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, saying mano can express frustration or disbelief rather than actually addressing a friend.
- The word mano is actually a shortened version of the Spanish word hermano, which means 'brother'.
- If you are in São Paulo, you will hear mano used almost like a punctuation mark at the end of almost every sentence.
Examples in context
- Ele é meu mano.He is my homie.
- Fala, mano!Hey, homie!
- O mano chegou agora.The homie just arrived.
Example conversation
Beatriz and Gabriel are walking to a party.
- BeatrizVocê viu o meu mano?Did you see my homie?
- GabrielNão vi, Beatriz.I didn't see him, Beatriz.
- BeatrizAcho que ele está aqui.I think he is here.
- GabrielOlha, o seu mano está lá!Look, your homie is over there!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “homie” translations and entries mano, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
