desenrola

Desenrola is a form of the Portuguese verb desenrolar, meaning to unwind, unfold, disentangle, or to resolve and manage a situation. In Brazilian Portuguese, the word is widely used in slang as an exhortation or command: when someone says “Desenrola,” they are telling the listener to sort things out, handle the problem, or get things moving.

Etymology and meaning: The term comes from des- plus enrolar (to roll up). The literal sense is to unwind or unroll something that is rolled up; the figurative sense extends to dealing with a situation, finding a solution, or improvising a response.

Usage: Desenrola can function as an imperative directed at another person (Desenrola!) or as a present indicative form (ele desenrola is “he unwinds” or “he sorts it out”). It appears frequently in informal speech and online communication, often with a confident or playful tone. In everyday use, it is synonymous with phrases like “resolve it,” “handle it,” or “figure it out,” depending on context and tone.

Cultural note: The term gained notable visibility in Brazilian pop culture through a viral meme and song around 2020–2021, where the catchphrase “Desenrola, Boi” became a widely circulated line used to encourage someone to take charge or keep things moving. The popularity of the meme cemented desenrola as part of contemporary slang, especially among younger speakers.

See also: desenrolar, slang in Brazilian Portuguese, meme culture.