pot, cooking pot, saucepan
1. A cooking vessel used for boiling, simmering, or heating food and liquids
She placed the pot on the stove to boil water for pasta.
Ela colocou a panela no fogão para fervir água para a massa.
2. In Brazilian slang: a clique, group, or closed circle of people, often with negative connotations of exclusivity or nepotism
That company is run by a panela of friends who all went to the same school.
Essa empresa é dirigida por uma panela de amigos que estudaram na mesma escola.
3. A scoop or ladle-like utensil used in certain contexts
Use the pan to serve the stew.
Use a panela para servir o caldo.
In Brazil, 'panela' has evolved beyond its literal meaning as a cooking pot to become a significant social and political term. It describes exclusive groups or cliques that allegedly control opportunities through personal relationships rather than merit. This term is frequently used in Brazilian media, politics, and corporate culture to critique nepotism and lack of transparency. The expression 'panelinha' (small clique) is particularly common when discussing political appointments or business dealings seen as unfair or exclusionary.
NYC Slang
clique, click, in-crowd, inner circle
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