What are Brazilians Like? 10 Facts You Probably didn't Know

Ricardo Metring
Updated August 08, 2022

Brazilians are well known around the world for their friendly and lively manner. However, what else can we say about them? Let's talk about the positive and negative aspects of Brazilians.

Brazilians are usually nice and friendly, even to visitors from other countries. Also, they are very warm and they love to talk. However, they also lack in punctuality, most of them don't speak English and they have different cultural habits.

Are you looking for more info about Brazilians? Here are 10 facts you need to know about Brazilians and their culture.

What are people from Brazil like?

The truth is that people in Brazil are nice, fun and very friendly. Usually visitors coming from other countries feel embraced by the warm and cheerful people who live here.

This is not just a personal opinion! According to a CNN Travel survey, Brazilians are the coolest people in the world.

The survey cites the sexy, laid-back, party-going reputation of Brazilians, and refers to the country's greatest symbols of entertainment: samba, carnival, soccer and the beach.

10 facts you probably didn't know

1. Tipping services in Brazil

In many countries, tipping waiters is obligatory, or at least an act of politeness. But in Brazil, clients are not expected to tip anything. But in case you do, Brazilians will be extremely happy, since they're not used to receive any additional value for their services.

• Only a few restaurants charge 10% of the total amount of the bill as a service fee. However, that's totally up for the customer whether to pay or not.

2. Brazilians are very friendly

You have probably already heard that people in Brazil are extremely friendly, warm and receptive. And not only with their own people, but also with tourists of the most diverse nationalities.

Even celebrities like Camila Cabello, Ian Somerhalder, Will Smith, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and others have publicly declared their love for the country.

3. Hustling on the beaches and streets

One of the things Brazilians do very well is selling. That is, they never miss an opportunity to make a little money. On the beach, for example, while some people are having fun and sunbathing, others are on the grind, trying to make a living offering food or accessories.

On the streets of major cities, the reality is no different. There are people selling all sorts of goods: water, sweets, housewares, sunglasses, etc. If you're driving, people even offer you stuff in the traffic lights. This can be convenient for some people, but annoying for others.

4. Pickpocketing is a thing in some major cities

One of the major drawbacks about coming to Brazil that are worth mentioning: Unfortunately, there are some pickpockets in the big cities, especially in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

So if you are going to crowded places in Brazil, keep an eye on your belongings and on the people around you.

5. Brazilians are not punctual

This can be a big problem for many people, but Brazilians are usually not punctual at all.

Most of the time, it's not on purpose. But regulated schedules is not the focus or culture of people living in Brazil.

At parties, for example, guests hardly ever arrive on time. So, if a Brazilian schedules something with you, you can be prepared because he/she will probably arrive late.

6. Brazilians are very emotional

It is also worth noting that Brazilian people are welcoming and emotional. Usually, family is more important than anything else. They also tend to form friendship bonds everywhere they go. So work friends doesn't stay only in the work circle, they're also part of personal life.

Brazilians love to help each other. So, if you need any help, you will find it from someone who will not ask for anything in return.

7. Brazilians love to party

If you have ever heard of Carnaval, you certainly know that Brazilians love to party. There are several days of fun, blocks, parades, and a lot of excitement all over the country.

Other very important dates for Brazilians include Christmas, New Year's, and the festa junina (June Festival), held in June, with typical foods, specific dances, and several shows.

8. Brazilians live on a low budget

If you compare to US dollars or Euros, Brazil is probably one of the cheapest places you can visit right now, but as the local currency (BRL) has inflated a lot, the dollar became high and most Brazilians have to live on a low budget.

The country is full of riches, but even so, there are Brazilians who suffer from extreme poverty. The amount of slums spread throughout major cities is a reflection of this reality.

In general, wages are low and the cost of living is high. Houses, cars, clothes, leisure and even the most basic food are priced very high compared to the amount people earn in Brazilian Real.

Check this guide from Numbeo if you wanna learn more.

9. Diverse cultural habits

With its territory (8.5 million sq km) almost similar in size to the whole continent of Europe, Brazil is a huge country with many cultural habits.

Although everyone here speaks the same language - Portuguese, you'll hear different accents and slangs that even Brazilians can have a hard time understanding fully 🙂.

Since everyone in Brazil is a mix of immigrants from other countries, people here all have different looks, traditions, and behaviors.

10. Brazilians don't speak English

With only 3% of its population being fluent in English, Brazilians will have a hard time understanding foreigners, but they'll surely make an effort to try to communicate if you don't speak Portuguese.

Before your trip, make sure to have Google translate ready 😅. If you wanna get prepared and learn some Brazilian Portuguese, the simplest, but most commonly used phrases are: