Posts tagged with "expressions"

Hard to Believe

Posted by Rachel No Comments
May 25 2011

The other day, I was talking to a Brazilian friend and he used an expression that I wanted to share, since it’s perfect for using in everyday conversation.

Por mais incrível que pareça / Pelo incrível que pareça

This expression roughly translates as, “As difficult as it is to believe,” or “As hard as it is to believe,” or “As unbelievable as it seems.” You would use this expression to preface something unexpected or contrary to what you would believe. Both of the phrases mean the same thing. Let’s look at some examples:

Por mais incrível que pareça, meu marido não gosta de futebol. It may be difficult to believe, but my husband doesn’t like soccer.

Pelo incrível que pareça, elas querem ficar em casa em vez de viajar. As hard as it is to believe, they want to stay home instead of going away.

Meu time vai ser campeão, por mais incrível que pareça. My team is going to win, as hard as it is to believe.

Pelo incrível que pareça, meus amigos destestam este tipo de música. As unbelievable as it may seem, my friends hate this kind of music.

Now you try it in a sentence! Leave your example in the comments or on Facebook.

Paulistanês: Speaking Like You’re From São Paulo City

Posted by polyana 10 Comments
Oct 18 2010

Continuing with our “getting to know Brazilian accents & regional sayings,” series, I realized I hadn’t written about Paulistanês, the “language” spoken in São Paulo city, where I’m currently living and hear everyday!

The funny thing about people who live in the city of São Paulo is that they think everyone else has an accent except for them.  And travelling to other parts of Brazil, I’ve learned most other people around the country realize they have a regional accent, except paulistanos who think their accent is the norm for Brazilian Portuguese.  Paulistanos also swear everyone on TV speaks like them when it’s clearly not true either.  They’re really so self centered they go around saying meu, in every other sentence!

Before we go on to some fun sayings from São Paulo, a little on pronunciations.

In general, Paulistanos pronounce their “e’s” with a more nasal sound and closer to an “a,” than most other parts of Brazil.  When pronouncing the word apartamento, they’ll say ”aparta-may-ntu” instead of “aparta-meh-ntu” and when saying something has dust on it, they’ll pronounce poeira, “po-ay-rah” instead of “pu-era.”

Their “r’s” are rolled out almost like a Spanish “r.”  Outside of São Paulo City, in São Paulo state, “r’s” are pronounced like American “r’s.”  So if you’re thinking of coming to Brazil and want to learn an accent that’s easy for you if you’re American, small town São Paulo it is!

Ready to speak with a paulistano accent? Well, here’s the vocabulary to match!

As usual, the order goes paulistanês, português, English!

Meu, no definition, it can be used for anything, but really it means Mine

Mano, amigo, can also mean anything, Friend

Ué!, Igual o Uai de Mineiro, No real meaning, usually said when questioning something that just happened.

Mina, namorada/menina, girlfriend, girl

Chops, chopp, draft beer

Farol, semaforo, stop light

Lombada, quebra-mola, speed bump

Ladeira, morro, hill

Pode Crer, É mesmo, True!

Firmeza?, Oi, tudo bem?, Hey, what’s up?

Tipo, Como, ou uma vírgula, Like, or in the place of a comma…

Mo’ Cara, Muito tempo, A long time

Então, No translation, Used at the beginning of every sentence.

Imagina!, Que isso! Sem Problemas, No problem! You’re Welcome!

Trampo, Trabalho, Work

Can you guys think of any other words in paulistanês or particular pronunciations that are different from other parts of Brazil?

Missing You

Posted by Rachel 1 Comment
May 7 2009

In Portuguese, there are a few ways to express the feeling of missing someone or something. Let’s take a look.

1. estar com saudades

This expression means to miss or feel nostalgia for a person or thing.

Estou com saudades tuas. I miss you.

Eles estão com saudades do Brasil. They miss Brazil.

2. sentir saudades

Though this expression means the same thing, you are literally saying “to feel” longing or nostalgia. Literally, we translate this as “to miss.”

Ela sente saudades de você. She misses you.

Sentimos saudades do inverno. We miss winter.

3. saudades

In a conversation with a person you miss, you can simply say:

Saudades or

Estou com saudades to mean that you miss the person.

4. sentir falta

This also means to miss, since it literally means that something is not there.

Sinto falta de vocês. I miss you guys.

Eles sentem falta da comida brasileira. They miss Brazilian food.

Origins of Portuguese Expressions

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Sep 11 2008

Today we’re going to look at a few Portuguese expressions and their origins in the state of Minas Gerais.

1. Lavar à égua

This expressions means “to do well,” “to have success,” or to “enjoy oneself.” It originated in Minas Gerais during the gold boom, when horses and donkeys were used to haul the gold out of the mines. The gold dust would get all over the horse, so the miners would “wash” the horse off to get the gold when they left the mine. “Égua” is a female horse.

Hoje irei a três festas. Vou lavar à égua.

2. Pé-de-moleque

This is a type of candy typical of Minas Gerais, made with peanuts. In the old days, women would set the candy out on the windowsills to dry and cool off, and children would steal them. As a result, the original name was “pede moleque!” as in “Ask for it, kid!” Now, it is written as “Pé-de-moleque,” or child’s foot.

3. Enquanto descansa carrega pedra

This expression means that “it never ends” or that “there’s always more to do.” This also originated from the mining boom in Minas, when during their downtime, the miners would have to build rock walls to sustain the tunnels of the mine.

Quando chegar em casa após o trabalho, tenho que fazer o jantar e cuidar dos filhos. Enquanto descansa carrega pedra!

The Little Things that Count

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Jul 1 2008

Today we’re going to look at some short, simple phrases used in everyday Portuguese that help you sound more like a native speaker.

1. Olha só [ohl-yah soh]
This expression literally means “just look,” but is used when trying to make a point in conversation. It’s how we would use the expression “look” in English.

Look, I’m sorry but I can’t go.
Olha só, me desculpe mas não posso ir.

2. Se liga [see lee-gah]
This expression is difficult to translate literally, since it would be “turn yourself on!” Ligar means to turn on, like a computer or a light. When used in this way, it means “listen up,” “listen” or “pay attention.” It is a slang expression, most commonly used by young people.

Se liga. Vem me buscar às seis, tá bom?
Listen up. Come get me at six, ok?

3. Espera ai [ess-pehr-ah ah-ee]
This expression means “wait a second” or “hold on.” In spoken Portuguese, though, it often becomes “perai.”

‘Perai. Esqueci meu casaco.
Wait a sec. I forgot my coat.

Hold on. I’ll be right back.
Espera ai. Já volto.

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