Archive for the year 2008
Miss Prisoner Pageant Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 26, 2008
You can’t make this stuff up. In the Federal District state of Brazil, where Brazil’s national capital is found, Federal Police have organized a beauty pageant for female prisoners called Miss Penitenciária, or Miss Inmate. One hundred and twenty prisoners entered the contest, and twelve were chosen as the winners. Volunteers helped the women with…
The Top Three Words You Need to be Negative in Portuguese Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 25, 2008
Let’s be real: sometimes we need words to describe negative situations, especially in Brazil, where complaining is a form of conversation. Here are the top three words you need to know. 1. chato (SHAH-too)This has got to be one of the best words in Brazilian Portuguese because it can be used in many ways. It…
Beto Carrero World: Brazil’s Biggest Theme Park Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 24, 2008
If you ask any Brazilian child or teenager where he or she would most like to visit, the likely answer will be Disney World (affectionately known as “Disney,” pronounced “geez-nee”). In fact, many middle and upper class Brazilian teenage girls go to Disney World as a fifteenth birthday present from their parents. However, Brazil also…
Brazil’s Growing Economic Power Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 22, 2008
It’s not news that Brazil is a growing economic power, since it has the seventh-largest economy in the world and second largest in the Americas. Here’s the news, though. On Thursday, the Brazilian government announced that for the first time in history, Brazil has enough capital to pay off its entire dÃvida externa, or external…
Being rude in Portuguese Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 21, 2008
One of the things that is difficult for English speakers to deal with when learning Portuguese is the feeling that Portuguese can be really rude. Linguistically and culturally, Brazilian Portuguese has some important differences from English that one needs to be aware of. First of all, making requests in Brazilian Portuguese are generally made with…
Gente Boa Contest in Rio Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 20, 2008
One of Brazil’s most important newspapers, O Globo, is sponsoring a contest in Rio de Janeiro to pick Rio’s most popular figura, which translates best as a “colorful character.” For five years, the newspaper has had an annual competition to decide which Carioca (a person who lives in Rio) is the most popular colorful character…
‘Chalkboard’ in Portuguese Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 19, 2008
…is Lousa, pronounced ‘low-zah‘. To say ‘erase the chalkboard/blackboard’ in Portuguese, use the verb apagar: apagar a lousa (to erase the chalkboard).