perna de pau

See also: perna-de-pau

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• perna-de-pau (Portugal)

Etymology

From perna +‎ de +‎ pau, literally “wooden leg”.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛʁ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛɦ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaʊ̯]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛʁ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛɦ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaʊ̯]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɾ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛɾ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaʊ̯]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛʁ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛʁ.nɐ d͡ʒi ˈpaʊ̯]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɻ.na de ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛɻ.na de ˈpaʊ̯]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɾ.nɐ dɨ ˈpaw/ [ˈpɛɾ.nɐ ðɨ ˈpaw]

Noun

perna de pau f (plural pernas de pau) (Brazilian spelling)

1. wooden leg
2. (Brazil, often in the plural) stilt (walking pole)

   Synonym: (Portugal) andas

Noun

perna de pau m or f by sense (plural pernas de pau) (Brazilian spelling)

1. (informal, derogatory, soccer) a bad player

   Synonym: perneta

2. (informal, derogatory) clumsy person

Further reading

• “perna de pau” in iDicionário Aulete.
• “perna de pau” in Dicionário inFormal.
• “perna de pau” in Dicionário infopédia da Língua Portuguesa. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2024.
• “perna de pau” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.