minha nossa senhora

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Literally, “my our lady!”, referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmĩ.ɲɐ ˈnɔ.sɐ sẽˈɲɔ.ɾɐ/ [ˈmĩ.j̃ɐ ˈnɔ.sɐ sẽˈj̃ɔ.ɾɐ]
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.ɲa ˈnɔ.sa seˈɲɔ.ɾa/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmi.ɲɐ ˈnɔ.sɐ sɨˈɲo.ɾɐ/

Interjection

minha nossa senhora!

oh my God!; good Lord!; Jesus! (said in shock, awe or dismay)

Usage notes

This phrase is sometimes used with one of the Marian titles:

“minha nossa senhora de Fátima!” (for Our Lady of Fatima)
“minha nossa senhora de Lourdes!” (for Our Lady of Lourdes)
etc.

Sometimes also facetiously, which may be considered blasphemous:

“minha nossa senhora da bicicletinha!” (literally “Our Lady of the little bike”)
“minha nossa senhora da obesidade!” (“ […] of obesity”)

Or it could be situation-dependent:

“minha nossa senhora do bolo queimado!” (“ […] of the burnt cake”)
“minha nossa senhora da reprovação!” (“ […] of flunking”)

It is typically used in the bare form, with no title: simply minha nossa senhora!