Posts from December 2009

Bovespa Ends 2009 with Highest Global Gains

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 31 2009

Estadão announced today that Bovespa, the Brazilian stock market located in São Paulo, closed the year with the highest gains of any stock market in the world. It closed at a high of 120.9 percent, compared to 118 percent in Indonesia, 25.4 percent in the United States, and 6.7 percent in Japan.

This percentage is based on dollars, in a system to measure stock market performance. It was created by MSCI, Inc, a division of Morgan Stanley.

Despite the encouraging economic achievements, Brazilian economists expect a more volatile year in 2010 with smaller gains.

To read the full article, click here.

Réveillon

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 30 2009

The word for New Year’s Eve in Portuguese is Réveillon, which actually comes from the French word réveillon, which means eve. Happy New Year is Feliz Ano Novo.

On New Year’s in Brazil, people dress in white, a tradition that comes from Afro-Brazilian religions. In the coastal cities, people throw flowers into the ocean as they make a wish for the new year, also based on African beliefs (principally as an offering to the goddess of the sea, Iemanjá). Also on the beach, people jump seven waves to bring good luck.

In Rio de Janeiro, there is a big celebration on the beach with fireworks.

Countries in Portuguese

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 29 2009

Today, we’re going to take a look at the names of countries in Portuguese that appear frequently in the news that will be useful to know.

Brazil = Brasil (pronounced brah-ZEEW)

United States = Estados Unidos / EUA (short for Estados Unidos de América)

Canada = Canadá (note that the stress falls on the last a)

Mexico = México (pronounced MEH-shee-coh)

England = Inglaterra

France = França (pronounced FRAN-sah)

Sweden = Suécia (don’t confuse this with the next country)

Switzerland = Suiça (pronounced SWEE-sah)

Iran = Irã

Saudi Arabia = Arábia Saudita (pronounced ah-RAH-bee-ah sow-DEE-tah)

Japan = Japão (this is the hard to pronounce nasal sound)

China = China (pronounced SHEE-nah)

Lyrics Practice: Maria Bethânia

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 28 2009

As the holidays come to a close, let’s take an opportunity to listen to a holiday song in Portuguese and follow along with the music. This song is called “Boas Festas,” which as you remember from Friday, means Happy Holidays. Listen to the song and follow along with the words, and then see if you can answer the practice questions.

YouTube Preview Image

Practice Questions

1.  Who is Papai Noel?

2. How do you say “toy” in Portuguese

3. What is a “sino”?

Lyrics

Anoiteceu
O sino gemeu
A gente ficou
Feliz a rezar
Papai Noel
Vê se você tem
A felicidade
Pra você me dar

Eu pensei que todo mundo
Fosse filho de Papai Noel
Bem assim, felicidade
Eu pensei que fosse uma
Brincadeira de papel

Já faz um tempo que pedi
Mas o meu Papai Noel não vem
Com certeza já morreu
Ou, então, felicidade
É brinquedo que não tem

Anoiteceu
O sino gemeu
Agente ficou
Feliz a rezar
Papai Noel
Vê se você tem
A felicidade
Pra você me dar

Eu pensei que todo mundo
Fosse filho de Papai Noel
Bem assim, felicidade
Eu pensei que fosse uma
Brincadeira de papel

Já faz um tempo que pedi
Mas o meu Papai Noel não vem
Com certeza já morreu
Ou, então, felicidade
É brinquedo que não tem

Anoiteceu
Anoiteceu

Feliz Natal!

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Dec 25 2009

Happy Holidays, everyone!

For a quick cultural note: while in the U.S., it’s PC and sometimes safer to say “Happy Holidays,” in Brazil it’s fine to just say “Feliz Natal” (Merry Christmas). You can also say “Boas festas.”

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