Archive for the year 2008
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…
Origins of Portuguese Expressions Posted by Transparent Language on 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…
Brazilian Cooking Series: Part I Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 10, 2008
In this new series, we’re going to look at a Brazilian dish, its origins, and how to prepare it, so that you can get a taste of Brazil as you study Brazilian Portuguese. Today, we’re going to look at the most famous Brazilian dish, feijoada. This dish, a bean and meat stew, has its…
Portuguese Verb Conjugation: Future Tense Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 9, 2008
Today we’re going to look at how to conjugate regular verbs in the future tense, which is the same for ar, er, and ir verbs. In this case, we add the conjugation to the infinitive, instead of cutting off part of the infinitive like in other verb tenses. This verb tense is used in the…
Brazil Business News Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 8, 2008
The international media is chock full of business and development news about Brazil. Let’s take a look: Brazil Governor Proposes New Rio-Sao Paulo Highway, Forbes Lula Wets His Hands in Brazil’s New Oil Wealth, Reuters Brazil Declines OPEC Invitation, BBC Brazil’s Real Falls Most in Seven Months on Global Slowdown, Bloomberg Lifted by the Consumer…
Brazilian Fruit Series: Part III Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 4, 2008
Today we’re going to look at the cashew fruit, called caju in Portuguese. Known as acayu or aca-iu, this fruit grows in the Northeast of Brazil. It grows on a tree averaging 10 – 12 meters tall, and the fruit grows from red flowers. The fruit that emerges is the “false fruit” known as…