Archive for September, 2008
Portuguese Plurals: Part II Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 21, 2008
Today we’re going to continue our lesson about plural nouns in Portuguese. We’re going to take a look at some of the irregular nouns. When a noun ends in “ão,” there are different rules for how to make it plural, and it is simply a matter of memorization to remember which nouns have which rule…
Brazilian Fruit Series: Part IV Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 18, 2008
Today, we’re going to learn about the açaí berry. Grown in the Amazon, northern Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana, this fruit is known for its high energy content and delicious taste as a smoothie. Though its use as a food dates back to pre-Colombian indigenous tribes, this fruit was only popularized on the Brazilian…
Parabéns! Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 17, 2008
Yesterday, one of Brazil’s most famous singers, Caetano Veloso, celebrated a special day: his mom, Dona Canô, turned 101. A mass was held in her honor in her town of Santo Amaro, Bahia, and her eight children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren helped celebrate. In honor of Dona Canô’s birthday, we’re going to learn the…
Portuguese Plurals: Part I Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 16, 2008
Plural nouns in Portuguese can be a little confusing, so we’re going to take a look at them in a three part series. Today, we’re going to look at the set of regular nouns, which are the easiest to deal with. 1. Words ending in vowelsJust add an “s.” janela –> janelas [window -> windows]cotovelo…
Just imagine the smell Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 15, 2008
Globo reported that a truck full of cebolas (onions) had an accident on a major highway in Joinville, Santa Catarina on Sunday, when it flipped over and spilled its contents all over the road. Right after the onion truck accident, a truck carrying candy slipped on the onions and also flipped over. Both drivers were…
Biology & Environmental News Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 14, 2008
Let’s take a look at headlines in biology, science, and environmental news in Brazil this week: Bat Festival in the Amazon, from Globo (Portuguese) Lost Towns Discovered in Amazon, from BBC Penguins Get VIP Treatment in Recovery, from Globo (Portuguese) The Real Ice Age of the Amazon Rainforest, from Times Online Brazil Welcomes Foreign Money…
Brazilian Profile: Cazuza Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 12, 2008
Born Agenor de Miranda Araújo Neto, this singer is one of Brazil’s most beloved, and was known as Cazuza, and also as O Poeta (the poet). He was the son of an upper class Carioca family, and grew up during the 60s and 70s. He joined a rock band called Barão Vermelho, and sang and…