Posts from July 2007

Project Xingu

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Jul 31 2007


BBCBrasil.com | Interatividade | Projeto Xingu: No Coração do Brasil

Today I will translate this article, so you can read it in Portuguese, then in English, then in Portuguese or use the translation purely as a reference. Enjoy!

“Sue and Patrick Cunningham are realizing an incredible adventure throught the heart of Brazil. The two English people began, on the 2nd of April, to navegate a small boat the entire length of the river Xingu.

“They calculate that the trip ought to take between four and five months, and hope to observe how the indigenous populations of the region are living and to also evaluate the impact of humans and of global warming in one of the biggest natural reserves in the world.

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Pegadinha – Elevator Prank

Posted by Transparent Language 2 Comments
Jul 31 2007

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Pegadinha is the Portuguese word for ‘prank;’ it is quite commonly used in Brazil, thanks in large part to the prevalence of TV prank shows.

Click here to watch a hilarious video where a public elevator is outfitted as a toilet, complete with an actor playing the role of an alarmed patron.

A useful piece of vocabulary to know for this video is Opa!, an exclamation translated as something like ‘Whoa!’

These pranks differ from those of American shows in that they frequently irritate the subjects of the pranks to the point of violence, and it is common for the pranksters to be chased away by their marks. It’s hard to understand how some of the more famous pranksters are able to disguise their identity so easily, as the shows they appear on are so widely watched across the country.

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Seasons in Portuguese

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Jul 31 2007

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This post is self-explanatory. Visit this BYKI Web list to learn or practice the words for the different seasons in Portuguese.

There’s a funny saying in Brazil regarding the weather: “Inverno ou inferno” meaning that it’s either the winter… or it’s hot as heck

Dia das Crianças

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Jul 30 2007

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Children’s Day in Brazil

O Dia das Crianças, or ‘Children’s Day’ is celebrated across Brazil on October 12th of each year. The day coincides with the national holiday celebrating Nossa Senhora de Conceição Aparecida, or Our Lady of the Conception who Appeared, the patron saint of Brazil.

Though there exists an International Children’s Day (typically observed on June 1st), Brazil’s Dia das Crianças has a different origin and date. Interestingly, the Dia das Crianças was designated by a politician in the 1920′s in Brazil, but was only widely celebrated after a marketing campaign, the ‘Semana do Bebê Robusto’ popularized the notion in 1960.

The culture of Brazil certainly treasures their children on every day, and the Dia das Crianças is no exception. Middle-class families frequently go out of their way to purchase whatever presents their child desires. All this just a few months before Natal (Christmas), when the process is in large part repeated… what a life!

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Rio de Janeiro Landmarks

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Jul 30 2007

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Learn some good words for getting around Rio de Janeiro!

Images of Rio de Janeiro spring to mind when people around the world think of Brazil, and for good reason. A strikingly beautiful city sandwiched between the bay and the ocean, ringed at the edges by gorgeous beaches and peppered with bulging hills, few cities leave such an indelible mark on a traveler. Rio truly is the ‘Cidade Maravilhosa!’

Here are some words about Rio that you may find helpful to know.

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