Eita
AY-tah
How to say itPart of: Reactions
“Whoa; yikes; oh!”
Eita is Brazil’s all-purpose exclamation of surprise: something dropped, a surprising piece of news, a close call, a good shot. It can be alarm (eita!), delight (eita, que bom!) or a wince (eita, foi mal). Stronger, and ruder, is eita porra. It is everywhere in Brazil and especially the north-east, and in texts it comes with extra letters: eitaaa.
Looking for more Brazilian slang? Brazilian slang: the guide
InformalAll Brazilalso: eitaaa, eita lasqueiraReply: Pois é.
How Brazilians use it
“Eita! Quase cai.”
“Whoa! I almost fell.”
A close call.
“Eita, que notícia boa!”
“Oh, what good news!”
Delight.
“Eita, esqueci o guarda-chuva.”
“Yikes, I forgot the umbrella.”
A wince.
“Eitaaa, olha o golaço!”
“Whoaaa, look at that goal!”
Typed, stretched.
How to reply
- Pois é.Indeed.
- Calma!Easy!
Similar expressions
Brazil vs Portugal
Brazilian. Portugal says eh pá, ena or caramba where Brazil says eita.
Common mistakes
- Don’t translate it: it is a sound, like whoa or yikes, and tone carries the meaning.
- Don’t add porra in company you don’t know: eita porra is rude.
- Don’t say it in a formal meeting: nossa is the safer surprise.
Frequently asked questions
What does eita mean?
Whoa, yikes, oh: a Brazilian exclamation of surprise, good or bad. Tone decides: alarm, delight or a wince. It has no literal meaning.
Is eita rude?
No, just informal. Eita porra, with a swear word attached, is rude; plain eita is fine among friends and family.
Where does eita come from?
Nobody is sure; it is heard most in the north-east and has spread everywhere through music and television. Its cousins are vixe and oxe.
What is the difference between eita and nossa?
Both say wow. Nossa is gentler and works anywhere; eita is punchier, more reactive, and more Brazilian-sounding.