Informal Brazilian Portuguese: Saying Far Away
Years ago, I was watching the Brazilian film “O Caminho das Nuvens” (aka The Middle of the World) when I heard the phrase “é chão” used for the first time. I stopped the film and rewound it to make sure I heard correctly because “it’s floor” didn’t compute in my head.
The Sarau – Brazil's Open Mic Night
(Source, Fábio Braga)
When I lived in San Diego almost a decade ago, in my college years, I frequented open-mic nights throughout the city and they remain some of the best memories I have of that time. There’s something really cool about a bunch of strangers getting together to share their artistic creations and ideas. It should be no surprise to anyone that knows me that I have lots of admiration for those who create.
Learn Colloquial Brazilian Portuguese: Are you on Pindaíba? How to say you are broke
Never had I seen a pindaíba tree. On my latest trip to the South of Brazil, more specifically, to the state of Santa Catarina, I could finally see a real pindaíba tree. It’s a tall tree, reaches up to 60ft, and has a multi-lobed red colored fruit. This tree is on the endangered species list, but it will probably live forever on the minds of Brazilians because of a very street smart expression.
Brazilian Magazines You Can Read Online
Here is a great way to practice your Street Smart Portuguese and build your vocabulary: Below is a list of Brazilian magazines on a wide variety of subjects. Some of them make all their content available online; others offer their .com edition on their site. Either way, you will keep informed and enjoy lots of practice.
Here is a tip for you: Read it out loud — it is great practice.
Boa leitura!
Maracatu @ Stern Grove (San Francisco) on Sun, Aug 9
Maracatu is a Brazilian beat from Pernambuco, a state in the Northeast region of Brazil. It is very rich and represents many cultural and historic elements. I won’t attempt to define Maracatu, but I can tell you that it is intense, colorful, and vibrant. The maracatu drums are unbelievable.
Your Weekly Word # 6: Verbo Pegar and Street Smart Expressions
Your word this week is the verb Pegar.
Pegar means to grab or to touch, depending on the context. It can also mean to get.
Learn more: Visit this other lesson about the verb Pegar.
Examples:
