Today we’re going to take a look at the big headlines this week coming out of Brazil.
Alligator kills 11-year-old girl in Brazil, MSNBC
Sugar output in Brazil’s Center-South may be 35 million tons, Business Week
Brazil’s Lula sends anti-fraud bill to Congress, Reuters
Brazil’s middle class grows to nearly 50 percent of the population, Latin American Herald Tribune
Robinho scores winner on Santos return, CNN
Preteen as Carnival queen stirs Rio controversy, Washington Post
Today we’re going to learn a useful little phrase that’s very slangy and will help you sound more like a native.
Pronto falei literally means there, I said it, as a follow up to some sort of controversial comment. Let’s look at how it’s used in conversation:
Ele ficou muito gordo. Pronto, falei. He got really fat. There, I said it.
Na verdade, ela não gosta muito de você. Pronto, falei. Actually, she doesn’t really like you. There, I said it.
A casa da sua tia tem um cheiro esquisito. Pronto, falei. Your aunt’s house smells funny. There, I said it.
Seu irmão não joga muito bem. Pronto, falei. Your brother doesn’t play that well. There, I said it.
Can you give an example?
Did you know that some Japanese words actually come from Portuguese? This Luso influence dates back to the 1500s, when the Portuguese established trade with Japan, the first Europeans to manage the journey. Through traders and missionaries, the Portuguese brought new words and products to Japan, and thus a lasting cultural influence.
Let’s check out some of the words:
Japanese English definition Portuguese
bīdoro - a type of glass - vidro
birōdo - velvet - veludo
furasuko - flask - frasco
jōro - watering can - jarro
kappa - raincoat - capa
koppu - cup - copo
manto - cloak - manto
pan - bread - pão
shabon - soap - sabão
tabako - tobacco - tabaco
One of the most surprising words: tempura, the famous Japanese fried seafood and vegetables dish, comes from the Portuguese word tempero and temporar, which means seasoning and to season, respectively. Some say it comes from the word têmpora, a period when Catholics abstain from eating meat. Another interesting caveat: the Portuguese introduced European cooking oil in Japan, which is used to make this fried dish.
For a complete list of Japanese words of Portuguese origin, see here.
Today we’re going to do a reading comprehension exercise with a travel story from Estadão.
Herança colonial com aroma de café
[Click above to read the full article]
“Atrás da imponente portaria surge uma casa grande marcada por uma fileira de janelas coloniais azuis perfeitamente retangulares na fachada. Herança de um tempo em que as economias do açúcar e do café movimentavam e levavam prosperidade ao interior do Estado de São Paulo. E proporcionavam a formação de um acervo de móveis, senzalas, capelas, terreiros e engenhos.”
Comprehension questions:
1. Where is the attraction located in Brazil?
2. What did the building used to be? What has it been converted into?
3. Why were the homes built without porches during the sugar era?
4. Who was the original owner of the property?
5. Is the attraction permanent or temporary?
