Archive for 'Vocabulary'
Arrasar Posted by Rachel on Jan 18, 2011
Last week, we took a look at the adjective arrasado. This week, we’re going to look at the verb arrasar, which has a few similar negative meanings, and a few very different positive connotations. 1. Destroy, devastate (literally or emotionally) As chuvas arrasaram a Região Serrana do Rio. The rains devastated Rio’s mountain region. A…
How to Order Coffee in Brazil Posted by polyana on Jan 17, 2011
Since it’s Monday morning, let’s talk coffee, shall we? For those of you who are big coffee drinkers, the best advice I can give you for when you get to Brazil and walk into a corner padaria is… take what you can get. Depending on where you are, there are very limited choices in what…
Arrasado Posted by Rachel on Jan 11, 2011
There are some words in Portuguese that have multiple meanings, but their most literal meanings relate to their other meanings. Arrasado is such a word, and it’s a helpful adjective to know. Let’s take a look at the different uses and some examples. 1. Demolished, crushed, knocked down O prédio foi arrasado durante o terremoto…
Na Praia! Posted by polyana on Jan 10, 2011
Many times when we think of Brazil, we think beaches! Granted, that’s not ALL there is to see in Brazil, but some of the prettiest beaches I have been to have been… in Brazil. So why not take advantage of the fact that it’s summer in Brazil to get ready for the beach soon, to…
Brazilian Reveillon Traditions, Part II Posted by polyana on Dec 30, 2010
Yesterday I wrote a post on Brazilian traditions on what to wear for the New Year. I also mentioned how we have all sorts of superstitions and that I would share that with you all today! For many Brazilians, what you wear, eat, drink and do at midnight or around that time, determine how your…
Brazilian Reveillon Traditions, Part I Posted by polyana on Dec 29, 2010
Reveillon? Oi? Yup, reveillon, or “new year,” is right around the corner already!! And like with many other holidays, but especially for reveillon, Brazilians have all sorts of simpatias, or superstitions. Since there are so many, I’m going to make this a 2 part post!! First, we’re going to talk about colors and their meanings…
Carioquês – Getting Around Rio Like a Native Posted by polyana on Dec 13, 2010
The biggest tourist hot spot in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, has its own slang and almost overall dialect. Living in São Paulo and being around the Paulistanês “language” all the time, to me it’s quite refreshing to go to Rio and listening to Carioquês and its malandro nature. Cariocas speak with a certain coolness in…