Pirei

Pirei is a slang term in Brazilian Portuguese derived from the verb pirar, meaning to go crazy or to lose one’s head. It is used to describe an intense emotional reaction—surprise, fear, excitement, or overwhelm—that is temporary and not a clinical condition. The expression is informal and common among younger speakers, especially in urban settings.

The form pirei is the first-person singular preterite of pirar, and other forms of the verb follow standard -ar conjugation patterns in Brazilian Portuguese. In usage, it can appear with various prepositional phrases to indicate the source of the emotion, for example "eu pirei quando soube da notícia" (I freaked out when I heard the news) or "eu pirei de medo" (I got really scared). It can convey positive intensity as well, such as "eu pirei com o show" (I was blown away by the show).

Geographically, pirei is widely understood throughout Brazil and features in media, social media, and pop culture; outside Brazil it may be less common and understood as slang. The term can be synonymous with phrases like "ficar maluco" or "ficar pirado," but is more colloquial and expressive.