Bedeutung
To covet something belonging to another, to look enviously.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Brazil, it's common to see a 'pimenteira' (pepper plant) at the entrance of houses. If the plant dries up suddenly, it's believed it 'absorbed' the olho gordo meant for the residents. In Portugal, the term 'quebranto' is often used interchangeably with the effects of 'olho gordo', especially regarding children who become ill or tired for no apparent reason. Similar concepts of spiritual envy exist, often linked to traditional beliefs where the gaze of a 'feiticeiro' or an envious neighbor can cause material loss. The 'Figa' (a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers) is a pan-Lusophone amulet used specifically to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck.
The 'Pimenta' Emoji
On Brazilian social media, people often use the pepper emoji (🌶️) in captions or bios to symbolically ward off 'olho gordo'.
Don't call yourself 'olho gordo'
Unless you are joking, never say 'Eu estou de olho gordo'. It sounds like you are admitting to being a malicious or cursed person.
Bedeutung
To covet something belonging to another, to look enviously.
The 'Pimenta' Emoji
On Brazilian social media, people often use the pepper emoji (🌶️) in captions or bios to symbolically ward off 'olho gordo'.
Don't call yourself 'olho gordo'
Unless you are joking, never say 'Eu estou de olho gordo'. It sounds like you are admitting to being a malicious or cursed person.
Use with 'Secar'
For extra emphasis, you can say 'A pessoa me secou com o olho gordo'. It sounds very native.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition and idiom.
Não fique de ___ ___ ___ meu novo celular!
The idiom is 'olho gordo' and it requires the preposition 'em', which contracts with 'o' (from 'o celular') to become 'no'.
Which situation best describes 'olho gordo'?
Qual situação melhor descreve o uso de 'olho gordo'?
Olho gordo is specifically about envying someone else's success or possessions.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
Marta: 'Ganhei uma viagem para Paris!' Robson: 'Nossa, que inveja! Queria eu.' Marta: 'Pode parar! Não ___ ___ ___ ___ na minha viagem!'
'Pôr olho gordo' is the active form used to tell someone to stop envying something.
Match the remedy to the problem.
Para espantar o 'olho gordo', os brasileiros costumam usar:
The 'vaso de sete ervas' (including rue) is a traditional cultural remedy for 'olho gordo'.
Match the idiom to its meaning.
Relacione as expressões:
Olho gordo is envy, Olho grande is greed, and Olho vivo is being alert.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenNão fique de ___ ___ ___ meu novo celular!
The idiom is 'olho gordo' and it requires the preposition 'em', which contracts with 'o' (from 'o celular') to become 'no'.
Qual situação melhor descreve o uso de 'olho gordo'?
Olho gordo is specifically about envying someone else's success or possessions.
Marta: 'Ganhei uma viagem para Paris!' Robson: 'Nossa, que inveja! Queria eu.' Marta: 'Pode parar! Não ___ ___ ___ ___ na minha viagem!'
'Pôr olho gordo' is the active form used to tell someone to stop envying something.
Para espantar o 'olho gordo', os brasileiros costumam usar:
The 'vaso de sete ervas' (including rue) is a traditional cultural remedy for 'olho gordo'.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Olho gordo is envy, Olho grande is greed, and Olho vivo is being alert.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it generally implies a negative, envious energy. However, among close friends, it can be used as a joke when someone wants a bite of your food.
Usually, you stay 'de olho gordo' on *things* or *achievements*. If you use it for a person (e.g., a girlfriend), it means you are envying the relationship.
'Inveja' is the internal feeling of jealousy. 'Olho gordo' is the externalized, often superstitious power of that envy affecting the world.
Yes, but it is much more culturally prevalent and linguistically common in Brazil.
You can use 'zicar' or say that someone 'botou olho gordo'.
Brazilians use 'sal grosso' (coarse salt), 'arruda' (rue), or 'benzedeiras' (traditional healers) to remove it.
Absolutely not. It is too informal and implies a belief in superstition that is inappropriate for a professional setting.
No. Even if a woman is the one being envious, the phrase remains 'olho gordo'.
'Secar' (to dry) is the verb used for the effect of olho gordo—it 'dries up' your luck or your plants.
People use 'inveja branca' to mean 'good envy', but there is no 'olho gordo branco'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
secar com o olhar
similarTo look at something with so much envy that it 'dries up' or breaks.
olho grande
similarGreed; wanting more than one needs.
dar uma zicada
builds onTo jinx something.
inveja branca
contrastHealthy or harmless envy.
estar de olho em
specialized formTo be watching or interested in something.
