---
alias: gambiarra
gardenid: C12
---
# [[Concept]]
## [[Language]]
### [[Tongue]]
#### [[Brazilian Portuguese]]
##### [[Trivia]]
(Warning: I'm using my personal knowledge of my culture. Do not cite me, neither trust in me!)
- [[Dangerous]], [[useful]], [[ingenious]], [[funny]], and [[stupid]] [[workaround]]s can all be called [[gambiarra]]s.
- A few specific things in [[Brazilian culture]] which would probably evoke the idea of a [[gambiarra]] to a [[Brazil]]ian like me:
	- [[Gato]]:
		- a slang for a [[clandestine]] [[electrical connection]].
			- It can be used for other kinds of [[clandestine]] connection, such as [[Internet]] or [[TV]].
				- You can specify: [[gato de luz]]/[[gato de energia elétrica]] ([[electricity]]), [[gato de internet]], [[gato de TV]], etc.
			- It's homonymous with the word we use for a [[male]] [[cat]].
			- It has a relation to [[poverty]], [[marginalization]],  and [[favela]]s, in which they are quite common and [[normal]]ized. It also evokes [[improvisation]] and [[haphazardness]].
				- They're [[normal]]ized enough that one can easily find [[video]]s with instructions to make them with [[million]]s of views on [[Youtube]].
				- When they're done directly on [[utility pole]]s, they can get *really* [[messy]]:
					- ![](https://diariodorio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Gatos-de-Luz-1-768x413.jpg)					- ![](http://rioonwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/gatos.jpg)
					- ![](https://extra.globo.com/profile/bl_extraextra/3269311-bab-57b/w488h275-PROP/rocinhagato.jpg)
	- [[T]]/[[Benjamim]] (and any other kinds of [[plug adapter]]s, [[multi-outlets]], [[extension cable]]s, etc.):
		- [[T]], also known in a few places as a [[benjamim]], is a slang for a very common [[T]]-shaped [[multi-outlet]].
		- [[Self-explanatory]] relationship with [[gambiarra]]:
			- ![](https://cemirim.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sobrecarga-electrica_2-680x300.jpg)
			- ![](https://img.r7.com/images/2017/05/04/8l9y2r8ld0_q3hwazz5d_file.jpg?dimensions=460x305)
			- ![](http://www.basanengenharia.com.br/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/td_plugs.jpg)
			- ![](https://i.redd.it/8racdwxi3lt41.jpg)
			- ![](https://www.diariodaamazonia.com.br/gerenciador/data/uploads/2019/05/tomadagambiarra.jpg)