Portuguese · Football & the Terraces
Jogar com raça
zhoh-GAR kohng HAH-sah · /ʒo.ˈɡaʁ kõ ˈʁa.sa/
To play with heart, grit, and hunger
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"To play with breed/grit"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
The terrace virtue Brazilians demand above talent: "raça" is fight, guts, leaving everything on the pitch. "Jogou com raça" is the highest praise for a losing side that battled. Extends to life — "encarou o problema com raça." Clean and stirring.
Heard in the wild
Perderam, mas jogaram com raça até o fim.
They lost, but they played with heart until the end.
Where it lands
Brazil (universal).
Quick answers
- What does "Jogar com raça" mean?
- In Portuguese, "Jogar com raça" means "To play with heart, grit, and hunger". Literally it's "To play with breed/grit". The terrace virtue Brazilians demand above talent: "raça" is fight, guts, leaving everything on the pitch. "Jogou com raça" is the highest praise for a losing side that battled. Extends to life — "encarou o problema com raça." Clean and stirring.
- Is "Jogar com raça" 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 "Jogar com raça"?
- Say it "zhoh-GAR kohng HAH-sah" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ʒo.ˈɡaʁ kõ ˈʁa.sa.
Related in Portuguese
Craque KRAH-kee Star player / ace / a genius at something Gol de placa GOW jee PLAH-kah A stunning, unforgettable goal 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 "Hell yes".
- French Ça déchire ! That rocks! / That's awesome!
- German Geil! Awesome! / Sick! / Hell yes!
- Greek ώπα Oops! / Hey, watch it! / Let's go! — NOT mainly the plate-smashing tourist cheer.
- Italian Grande! Nice one! / You legend! / Way to go!
- Japanese やった Yes! / I did it! / We won!
- Korean 아싸! Yes! / score! — the fist-pump syllables.
- Polish zajebisty Fucking awesome / badass — the great slang-POSITIVE of the jebać family.
- Russian Офигенно! Freaking awesome! / Amazing!
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