Sensitive topics and stereotypes

Just like in every other culture, some topics might be more sensitive than others. This does not mean that you shouldn’t discuss these topics, especially if they were brought up by a yoser (that means they want to talk about it!). However, try to be careful and do not engage in heated arguments with yosers in case you end up talking about the topics below. Also, we will present a few stereotypes that most Brazilians might not appreciate.

• Politics, poverty, or religion. Whilst these topics are not taboo, not everyone is open to discussing them. If it does come up as a topic of conversation, avoid expressing opinions in the form of a critique. Although Brazilians may be skeptical of their government and societal structure, criticism from a foreigner may be interpreted as an insult.

• ‘Rivalry’ with Argentina. There is no animosity whatsoever between Brazilians and Argentineans, and this is an outdated cultural stereotype.

• Be careful when being sarcastic or mocking during conversations. Brazilians are generally optimistic and light-hearted, and wit or irony may be misunderstood depending on the tone and context, mainly because of the language barrier. Light and inoffensive humor plays a larger part in Brazilian conversation. It's always important to feel the temperature before taking more risqué approaches.

• Never ask a Brazilian how come they are not ‘black’ or act surprised when you meet a white person. This is typically taken to be a hurtful and ignorant comment, even if the person asking is genuinely naive. As mentioned in the Brazilian culture section, Brazil is very diverse, and not everyone has colored or dark skin.

• Do not be offended if you are called a ‘gringo’. This term is generally used not as an insult, but as a nickname for foreigners or foreign things in general, regardless of how they look or where they are from.

• Soccer. While many people in the country do love cheering for their regional club and the national team, especially during the World Cup, it’s wrong to believe every Brazilian shares this passion. Feel free to talk about this though, but don’t be surprised if a yoser is clueless and uninterested 😁

• Spanish language. It’s a common misconception that Brazilians understand and speak Spanish. While Spanish is the most spoken language in Latin America, it is not even the second language in Brazil. Brazilians speak Brazilian Portuguese, and despite Portuguese and Spanish having strong linguistic similarities, they are very distinct in terms of vocabulary and grammar.

• Danger and criminal. Another stereotype about Brazil is that its crime rate is through the roof and that danger awaits around every corner. This is simply not true! While Brazil has some issues with criminality that cannot possibly be ignored, mainly due to its colossal territory, the mainstream media only shows awful single-sided stories that do not speak to the soul of the country. The broader reality is that most tourist hotspots are relatively safe, and by taking precautions tourists would take when visiting European capitals, they should be fine.