Portuguese Language Blog

As one of Portuguese Blog’s contributors since 2008, I’m sad to say that this will be my last post on the blog! You’ll be in great hands with language whiz Adir, though I will be sad to leave. It’s been a great five years!

Here are some of my favorite posts that I’ve written for the blog:

• Xaxado
• Liberdade, São Paulo’s Japanese Neighborhood
• Zé Carioca
• Cordel Literature
• Podcast: Haggling in Portuguese
• Portuguese-Speaking Countries
• Lyrics Translation: The Girl from Ipanema
• Slang Phrases
• Brazilian Etiquette: Table Manners
• Brazilian Profile: Elza Soares

You can continue reading my work in English about Brazil here. Thanks again for reading, and boa sorte with your Brazilian Portuguese studies!

We’ve read and watched quite a bit about Brazil’s World Cup and Olympics, but it’s also important to get another perspective. A group of Rio filmmakers are working on a documentary about the preparations for Rio’s mega-events and the changes taking place in the city, particularly in the favelas.

Watch the video below.

Key Vocabulary:

UPP – Unidade de Polícia Pacificadora, or Police Pacification Unit

milícias – paramilitary groups in Rio made up of off-duty and retired police/military/firefighters

comunidade – community, often used to describe a favela neighborhood

cofres públicos – public funds

orçamento – budget

Having trouble? Watch the video with English subtitles.

Looking for holiday gifts for fellow students of Brazilian Portuguese? Here are a few ideas!

10. A Brazil wall map

9. A Caetano Veloso album

8. A Discovery Atlas: Brazil Revealed DVD

7. A Brazilian cookbook – in English or Portuguese

6. A Brazil-themed canga, or beach wrap/towel

5. A Brazil calendar – in English or Portuguese

4. A Jorge Amado novel – in English or Portuguese

3. A 501 Portuguese Verbs book

2. An iTunes gift certificate to buy Byki Mobile for Brazilian Portuguese or Brazilian music

1. A Transparent Online Brazilian Portuguese course, a Transparent Brazilian Portuguese complete edition course, or a Transparent Brazilian Portuguese audio course! (See prices and full info here.)