Portuguese · Football & the Terraces
Gol de placa
GOW jee PLAH-kah · /ˈɡɔw dʒi ˈpla.ka/
A stunning, unforgettable goal
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"Goal worthy of a plaque"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
The name for a jaw-dropping goal — from Pelé's 1961 strike so beautiful the Maracanã hung a commemorative plaque. "Foi um gol de placa" is the ultimate compliment for a wonder-goal. Clean, celebratory, and steeped in football history.
Heard in the wild
Da meia-lua, no ângulo — gol de placa!
From the edge of the box, top corner — an absolute screamer!
Where it lands
Brazil (universal).
Quick answers
- What does "Gol de placa" mean?
- In Portuguese, "Gol de placa" means "A stunning, unforgettable goal". Literally it's "Goal worthy of a plaque". The name for a jaw-dropping goal — from Pelé's 1961 strike so beautiful the Maracanã hung a commemorative plaque. "Foi um gol de placa" is the ultimate compliment for a wonder-goal. Clean, celebratory, and steeped in football history.
- Is "Gol de placa" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "Gol de placa"?
- Say it "GOW jee PLAH-kah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈɡɔw dʒi ˈpla.ka.
Related in Portuguese
Craque KRAH-kee Star player / ace / a genius at something Jogar com raça zhoh-GAR kohng HAH-sah To play with heart, grit, and hunger Juiz ladrão! zhoo-EES lah-DROWN The ref's a crook! / You're robbing us, ref! Perna de pau PEHR-nah jee POW A terrible player / clumsy on the ball Frango FRAHN-goo A soft goal the keeper should have saved; a howler Pipoqueiro pee-poh-KAY-roo A player who chokes in big games
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "That's awesome".
- French Ça déchire ! That rocks! / That's awesome!
- German Geil! Awesome! / Sick! / Hell yes!
- Greek ρε μαλάκα Hey man / dude / bro — the affectionate-insult greeting between friends.
- Italian Figo! Cool! / Awesome! / Sick!
- Japanese やばい Insane / crazy / no way — good OR bad, from context
- Korean 존나 Fucking / hella — the vulgar intensifier that goes in front of everything.
- Polish zajebisty Fucking awesome / badass — the great slang-POSITIVE of the jebać family.
- Russian Класс! Awesome! / Great! / Cool!
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