Archive for 'Learning'
The Little Things that Count Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 1, 2008
Today we’re going to look at some short, simple phrases used in everyday Portuguese that help you sound more like a native speaker. 1. Olha só [ohl-yah soh]This expression literally means “just look,” but is used when trying to make a point in conversation. It’s how we would use the expression “look” in English. Look…
Translating Idiomatic Expressions: Part III Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 11, 2008
We’re going to continue our discussion of idiomatic expressions, using this humor site as a source. The idea is to show the dangers of translating word for word instead of understanding the actual meaning behind the expressions. 1. Ela é cheia de nove horas. She’s full of nine o’clock. This expression means a person is…
I Messed Up Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 10, 2008
There are a few ways to say “I messed up” or “I made a mistake.” Here they are: 1. Pisei na bola. [Pee-zay nah boh-lah] This expression literally means “I stepped on the ball.” In reality, it means “I made a big mistake.” Eu esqueci meu passaporte em casa, mas só reparei agora no aeroporto…
Translating Idiomatic Expressions: Part II Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 3, 2008
This series on idiomatic expressions is taken from this Brazilian humor site, so the translations are not mine. Plus, the idea of translating them word for word is to show how idiomatic expressions are only understandable in context, and can be very funny if translated literally. We have to understand the meaning behind the expression…
Enjoar Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 2, 2008
The verb enjoar has three principal meanings. We can conjugate enjoar de or use it as estar enjoado. 1. to feel nauseous Ela está enjoada. Deixa ela sentar. She’s nauseous. Let her sit down. Ficaram enjoados depois de ir na montanha russa. They felt nauseous after riding the roller coaster. Enjoei muito porque comi o…
Translating Idiomatic Expressions: Part I Posted by Transparent Language on May 28, 2008
Conquering idiomatic expressions is an important hurdle when learning a language. That’s because these expressions do not literally translate and you have to understand what they actually mean. There are dozens in Portuguese, and when translated directly to English they sound very silly, so let’s take a look at the real meanings. 1. Chá comigo…
Tudo vai dar certo Posted by Transparent Language on May 20, 2008
The best way to use the English expressions, “Everything will be fine,” or “Everything will work out” in Portuguese is to use the expression dar certo. For example: Eu estou muito estressada com tudo isto. All of this is really stressing me out.Não se preocupe, tudo vai dar certo. Don’t worry, everything will work out…