Brazilian Dishes in English: How to Talk About Traditional Foods

Brazilian Dishes in English: 

How to Talk About Traditional Foods

by Grammar Drops 

Have you ever wanted to explain traditional Brazilian food to an English speaker but didn't know the right words?

Some of Brazil's most iconic dishes don't have direct translations, so learning their English equivalents can help you describe them naturally while introducing foreigners to Brazilian culture.

Can you match these dishes to their names?

Find the key below the last picture when you are done.

Check your answer here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GImFbDuyxOCfijrGi8qZW4M1bS-1KsH9jHiXQNJZqa0/edit?usp=sharing

Here are some traditional dishes and how you can talk about them in English:

Portuguese	English
Rabada	Oxtail stew
Mocotó	Beef trotters
Dobradinha	Tripe stew
Buchada de bode	Stuffed goat stomach
Galinha ao molho pardo	Chicken in blood sauce
Sarapatel	Pork offal stew
Torresmo	Pork cracklings
Caruru	Okra and dried shrimp stew
Pirão	Fish broth porridge
Tacacá	Tucupi and jambu soup
Coração de frango	Chicken hearts
Língua ao molho	Beef tongue in sauce
Fígado acebolado	Liver with onions
Moela de frango	Chicken gizzards

Useful example sentences:

Instead of simply memorizing vocabulary, try using these expressions in real sentences:

• I have eaten beef trotters since I was a child.

• My mother makes the best tripe stew I've ever had.

• I love pork cracklings with a cold drink.

• Chicken hearts are one of my favorite barbecue foods.

• I don't really like beef tongue in sauce.

• I've never tried stuffed goat stomach.

Using complete sentences helps you remember vocabulary much more effectively.

A cultural tip

If you're visiting Brazil, remember that Brazilians almost always use the Portuguese names of these dishes.

For example, don't ask:

WRONG: Where can I eat beef trotters?

Instead, ask:

RIGHT: Where can I eat mocotó?

People will understand the Portuguese names much more easily.

Which ones do I like?

My favorites are:

• Pork cracklings

• Chicken hearts (especially at a Brazilian barbecue)

• Liver with onions

• Chicken gizzards

• Beef trotters

• Oxtail stew

• Tripe stew

The only one I'm not particularly fond of is stuffed goat stomach, although I enjoy many other dishes from Northeastern Brazil.

Your turn!

Which of these Brazilian dishes have you tried?

And if you're not Brazilian…

Which one would you be brave enough to taste?

---

Grammar Drops
English can be easier than you think.