Paneleirices

paneleirices (n., pl.)

/pɐ.nɐ.lɐj.ˈɾi.sɨʃ/ · European Portuguese · vulgar, often offensive
singular: paneleirice

1. Behaviour, taste or stuff seen as effeminate or “too gay” for a man. Basically “f*ggotry,” “f*ggy shit.” Used derogatorily by straights, but plenty of Portuguese gays say it about themselves and each other, the same way “bicha” gets reclaimed.

   “Deixa-te de paneleirices.” (Quit being such a f*g about it.)

2. (extended, very common) Unnecessary fuss, frills or over-fanciness. Anything precious, extra or overdesigned. This sense often drops the gay meaning in casual speech, the same way English “gay” got bleached into “lame” in the 2000s.

   “Não quero paneleirices no prato, só um bitoque.” (I don’t want any fancy faff on my plate, just a steak and egg.)

Etymology: paneleiro + -ice, a suffix that turns adjectives into “the act or quality of being X,” as in tolice (foolishness) and parvoíce (idiocy). Paneleiro originally meant someone who makes or sells panelas (pots). How it became the main Portuguese slur for gay men is genuinely murky, and anyone who gives you a confident origin story is guessing.

Usage notes:

• This is Portugal-specific. Brazilians would say viadagem for sense 1 or frescura for sense 2.
• Who’s saying it matters a lot. A queer friend roasting your 14-step skincare routine at a bar in Príncipe Real is fine. A guy at the café saying it about two men holding hands is not. Same word, completely different energy.
• If you’re learning Portuguese, you’ll hear sense 2 constantly. Be careful using it yourself until you can tell the room. Coming from a foreigner, it lands closer to the slur than you’d expect.