Nossa
NAW-sah, stress on the first syllable; often stretched as Noooossa.
“Wow; oh my God; jeez.”
Brazilians of any gender say Nossa as a common interjection for surprise, admiration, shock, annoyance or indignation. It comes from Nossa Senhora, “Our Lady,” but it usually feels like a normal conversational reaction, not a religious statement.
InformalAll Brazilalso: nossa, noss, nss, nuss, nussa
How Brazilians use it
“Nossa, que susto!”
“Oh my God, what a scare!”
Something startles you.
“Nossa, que vista linda!”
“Wow, what a beautiful view!”
You are impressed by something beautiful.
“Nossa, que falta de respeito.”
“Jeez, how disrespectful.”
You react to rude behavior.
“Noooossa, que caro!”
“Whoa, that’s expensive!”
You see a surprisingly high price.
In a real book
“— Virgem Nossa Senhora!”Similar expressions
- Meu DeusStronger “oh my God,” often for shock or worry.
- EitaA punchy reaction to surprise, trouble or drama.
- UéMore like “huh?” when something seems odd.
- PoxaSofter frustration, disappointment or sympathy.
Brazil vs Portugal
The possessive nossa = “our” is the same in Portugal. As a stand-alone interjection, Nossa! sounds much more Brazilian; in Portugal people may prefer Nossa Senhora!, meu Deus, caramba, bolas or fogo.
Common mistakes
- Do not change the interjection to “Nosso!” because the speaker is male; both men and women say “Nossa!”
- Do not assume “Nossa!” is necessarily religious today; in Brazil it is widely used as a normal emotional reaction.
- Do not translate every “nossa” as “wow”: in “nossa casa” or “nossa amiga,” it means “our.”
Frequently asked questions
What does “nossa” mean in Portuguese?
As an interjection in Brazilian Portuguese, Nossa! means “wow,” “oh my God,” “jeez” or “whoa.” The exact feeling depends on tone: it can show admiration, surprise, shock, annoyance or indignation.
Is “nossa” short for “Nossa Senhora”?
Yes. Nossa! is a shortened everyday form of Nossa Senhora, literally “Our Lady.” In modern Brazilian use, it usually does not feel like a religious statement.
Do men say “nossa” or “nosso”?
Men say Nossa! too. As an interjection, it does not change for the speaker’s gender; Nosso is only the masculine possessive form meaning “our,” as in nosso carro.
Why does “nossa” sometimes mean “our”?
The same spelling can be normal grammar: nossa is the feminine singular form of “our,” as in nossa casa, “our house.” If it stands alone as Nossa! or opens a reaction, it is usually the interjection.