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Winter in Rio Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 30, 2008
Winter in Rio de Janeiro is usually associated with fewer tourists, cooler, drier temperatures, bundled up residents and the exodus of the wealthy en route for skiing resorts abroad. This year, however, has been a bit different. This July, the temperatures have been higher than usual, reaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on some…
The Price of Growth Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 29, 2008
Forbes released a study last week with the top ten increasingly unaffordable cities. Rio de Janeiro came in a #4, and São Paulo came in at #1. The article explains that economic growth, a strong real, and a high demand for real estate have led to price increases in Brazil’s major cities. Even though Rio…
Como assim? Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 28, 2008
Since we looked at how to respond “yes” to a yes or no question recently, let’s take a look at how to say “no.” 1. Não The most straightforward answer to a yes or no question, all you have to say is “não.”Você bebe água todo dia? Do you drink water every day? Não. No…
Rescue dog becomes celebrity Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 24, 2008
Xuxa, a mutt who lives in the town of Santo Antônio do Monte, a rural area of Minas Gerais, is an ordinary dog. But she has become a local celebrity after helping rescue an abandoned newborn baby. The dog found the baby in a box in an empty lot, and began barking to attract attention…
Strong real, weak dollar Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 23, 2008
This week, the dollar reached its lowest value against the real since 1999, at 1.580 reais to the dollar. As a result, Brazilians are flocking to other countries to spend money, where they get more bang for their buck. In particular, Brazilians are traveling to New York City, where they are the fastest growing group of tourists…
Joinville Dance Festival Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 22, 2008
The largest dance festival in Brazil takes place in a somewhat unlikely location: Joinville in Santa Catarina state, in the southern part of the country. From July 16th to July 26th, dancers of every genre are performing in music halls, hospitals, and even on the street, in order to promote dance to every kind of…
Pois é… Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 21, 2008
An important thing to remember when answering yes or no questions in Portuguese are the different options you have for saying “yes.” 1. The grammatically correct answer uses the main verb in the question, which you conjugate in the first person tense. You can add a “sim” for good measure, but you don’t need it. Você…