Portuguese Phrase
O que é esse tal de ping?
Meaning
The sentence asks for a definition of the technical term “ping”. It is commonly heard in discussions about internet speed, online gaming, or any situation where network latency is mentioned.
When to use
Use this question when you encounter the word “ping” in a chat, forum, or video and you want a quick, informal clarification. It works well in casual conversation among friends, in tech‑support chats, or when a non‑technical person asks a tech‑savvy colleague.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oqueéessetaldeping
O que (interrogative)
Used to ask for information; literally 'what', it introduces a question about a thing or concept.
é (ser)
Third‑person singular present of the verb ser, used for definitions and identity.
esse tal de
Colloquial expression meaning ‘this so‑called …’; adds a slight tone of curiosity or mild skepticism.
ping (noun)
A borrowed technical term; in Portuguese it stays unchanged and is masculine: o ping.
🗨In Conversation
O que é esse tal de ping?
What is this thing called ping?
É o tempo que um pacote de dados leva para ir do seu computador até o servidor e voltar.
It’s the time a data packet takes to go from your computer to the server and back.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual é esse tal de ping?
“Qual” asks for a specific item among many; for definitions you need “o que”.
O que é esse tal de pingo?
“Pingo” is a different word (drop); keep the technical term “ping”.
Esse tal de ping?
Missing the verb “é” makes the sentence ungrammatical in Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
O que significa ping?
What does ping mean?
O que é ping?
What is ping?
O que quer dizer ping?
What does ping mean?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the construction “esse tal de …” is informal and often carries a hint of skepticism or curiosity, similar to English “this so‑called …”. It’s perfectly fine in spoken Portuguese and online chats, but you would avoid it in formal writing. Also, “ping” is a borrowed English word that has become standard tech jargon in Portuguese, so you’ll hear it pronounced with a Brazilian accent: /ˈpĩɡ/.