Portuguese Language Blog

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and here in Brazil, it’s widely celebrated. I even got perks at work from the guys, like a paid lunch, and hugs congratulating me on my day! And then my mother and I popped open a bottle of wine to celebrate us

So here are a few classic MPB artists’ songs that talk about and honor women! I’ve written the choruses with translations below the videos.

Feliz Dia da Mulher (atrasado) para as leitoras! 

Elba Ramalho – “Mulher”

Mulher.. / Que a divina natureza fez surgir / A mais linda obra prima que alguém já viu / Assim nasceu a mulher / Nas mãos de Deus…

Woman.. / Divine nature made you appear / The most beautiful piece of art that anyone has seen / This is how she was born, the woman / In the hands of God…

Vinícius de Moraes – “Mulher, Sempre Mulher”

Mulher, ai, ai, mulher / Sempre mulher / Dê no que der / Você me abraça, me beija, me xinga… 

Woman, oh, oh, woman / Always a woman / No matter what happens / You hug me, kiss me, yell at me…

Elis Regina – “Essa Mulher”

Essa menina, essa mulher, essa senhora / Em que esbarro toda hora / No espelho casual / É feita de sombra e tanta luz / De tanta lama e tanta cruz / Que acha tudo natural.

This girl, this woman, this wise woman / With whom I run into all the time / In the casual mirror / Is made of shadows and so much light / Of so much mud and so many crosses / And thinks everything is always so natural.

Caetano Veloso – “Minha Mulher”

Tudo é mesmo muito grande assim / Porque Deus quer / Minha mulher / Minha mulher / Minha mulher

Everything is really that big / Because God wills / My woman / My woman / My woman

This past week, my mother and I travelled to Jericoacoara, a small beach town, about 400 km west of Fortaleza, in the northeastern state of Ceará. While there, I realized I hadn’t written a post on “Cearensês,” as I have done with many Brazilian accents and sayings from different states, in the past, on this blog.

The uniqueness of the Cearense, accent, is that it is more “sung,” than most accents, but not as slow and paused as the accent from Pernambuco or Bahia. Probably some of the most laid back and sincere people I’ve met, I had a great time in Jericoacoara and recommend anyone who is planning on visiting Brazil to visit (fun fact – they REALLY need English teachers there )

So let’s move onto our lesson, shall we? We’ll do as we always have:

cearensês – português – English

achar graça – sorrir, rir – to laugh or smile

afanar – roubar, furtar – to steal

amunhecar – desanimar, perder a coragem - to tire of something, lose faith

a perigo – sem dinheiro, liso, duro – broke, without money

bater-fofo – faltar a um encontro, furar – to flake, not show up

boró – dinheiro, salário – money, salary

cabra – homem, pessoa do sexo masculino – man, male

de caldo – triste com algum acontecimento recente – upset about a recent happening

em riba – em cima, no alto – above, high up

mocó – esconderijo, lugar para esconder alguma coisa – safe place to hide things

nadicas – nada – nothing

nem mel, nem cabeça – nenhuma nem outra, perda total – complete loss of something, neither nor

Source.

Now, you ready to go to Ceará?

Here’s a song about the beaches of Ceará to finish off my persuasion to visit

To start off Carnaval, which officially starts today in many peoples’ hearts, minds, and thirst. Let’s listen to some classic Carnaval parade songs, shall we?

Turma do Funil (1956) 

Chegou a turma do funil / Todo mundo bebe / Mas ninguém dorme no ponto / Ai ai, ninguém dorme no ponto / Nós é que bebemos e eles que ficam tontos

Mamãe eu Quero (1937) 

Mamãe eu quero, mamãe eu quero, / Mamãe eu quero mamar! / Dá a chupeta! Dá a chupeta! Ai! Dá a chupeta / Dá a chupeta pro bebê não chorar!

Abre Alas (1889)

Ô abre alas que eu quero passar/ Ô abre alas que eu quero passar / Eu sou da lira não posso negar / Eu sou da lira não posso negar

See more here.

And this is what these marches look like today:

Eu Bebo Sim (1960s) 

Eu bebo sim, estou vivendo / Tem gente que não bebe está morrendo!

Hope you all get to celebrate Carnaval in your own special way. Feliz Folia!