" () is an Internet meme that emerged on social media in 2025, satirizing Portugal as if it were an extension of Brazil. The joke began after a controversy involving the signing of Portuguese player Kika Nazareth by Barcelona's women's team, which was announced with the Brazilian expression " (). This sparked criticism from Portuguese users, who considered the expression inappropriate and "too Brazilian". In response, Brazilian internet users coined the term "" to refer to Portugal, playfully suggesting a "recolonization" of the European country.
Origin.
The meme began in November 2024, when Barcelona announced the signing of Kika Nazareth with the greeting "" (), a phrase that is typically Brazilian. Following this, many Portuguese fans expressed their dissatisfaction, accusing Barcelona of "Brazilianism" and of disrespecting European Portuguese. Between 2021 and 2024, concerns grew in Portugal over the influence of Brazilian Portuguese, especially through YouTubers watched by children. In January 2024, a Portuguese anti-immigration page on X went viral after criticizing the use of Brazilian Portuguese on traffic signs in Sintra, in the Lisbon region. The post sparked controversy by accusing Brazilian expressions of undermining European Portuguese. The negative reaction from some Portuguese users led Brazilians to coin the term "" (), referencing French Guiana, a French overseas department in South America. The joke quickly spread across social media, especially on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.
Another point of contention is the "Portuguese-Language Orthographic Agreement of 1990", which aimed to unify spelling across Portuguese-speaking countries. Although implemented in Portugal over a decade ago, the agreement remains controversial. In 2025, a new working group was created to "refine" the agreement, citing ambiguities, flaws, and omissions in its current form.
Development.
As the meme gained popularity, various nicknames and playful variations for Portugal emerged, such as " (), " (), " (), " (), and "" (), among others, all referencing Brazilian states or cultural elements. Lisbon was humorously renamed "" (), and other cities were also given satirical names, like " (; a nod to Ouro Preto) and " (; playing on the name Minas Gerais and the fact that " has a negative connotation in Brazil). Users also created fictional flags, currencies, anthems, and mottos, such as " (; a play on Brazil's motto ""), as well as maps showing Portugal integrated into Brazilian territory. AI-generated videos depicted Portuguese public figures, like Cristiano Ronaldo, "running" for the office of governor of the supposed 27th Brazilian state.
The meme also pokes fun at the large number of Brazilians currently living in Portugal, as well as the historical ties between the two countries. The jokes extend beyond geography and demographics—many users claimed that Brazil would now speak "Brazilian", while Portugal would be relegated to speaking "archaic Brazilian" or "prehistoric Brazilian". Additionally, the old accusation that "Portugal stole Brazil's gold" resurfaced in the humor.
The joke even made its way onto Google Maps, where users created a location entry that allowed people to find Portugal by searching for "". It also appeared on Wikipedia, where users created fictitious pages about "", and edited various articles to rename Portugal accordingly, even inventing a supposed "historic agreement" for the annexation of Portugal. These edits remained live for a few minutes to several hours. A satirical website was also created to promote the country as a tourist destination under the name "".
Reception.
The reaction to the meme was mixed. While many Brazilians saw it as harmless fun, a number of Portuguese users expressed dissatisfaction, calling it disrespectful, offensive, and "cringe-inducing". Portuguese influencer Nokas went viral by posting videos questioning the name "", and quickly gained tens of thousands of new followers.