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07/16/09
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Going to Brazil? Here are some Portuguese phrases to memorize before you arrive.
1. Tudo bem?
Hows it going? (lit. Everything good?) A super-common informal greeting. The correct response is also tudo bem. 2. O, rbitro! Cad o penalty? Hey, ref! Wheres the penalty? A useful phrase to know when traveling to any football-loving country. Shout as needed at the television, radio, or, when possible, the referee himself. 3. No, no posso faze-lo. No, I cant do it
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As my Portuguese professor once explained to me, Brazilians tend to avoid saying no. When they do say no, however, they say it as emphatically as possible. If you really want to be clear, tack on another no to the end of the sentence. 4. Legal Cool. One of the most useful slang words in the Portuguese language, you can use legal to describe a whole host of things. People can be legal, as can clothes, places, and, ironically, gangster rap. 5. Como? No falo portugus europeu. Come again? I dont speak European Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese are two very, very different dialects. So different, in fact, that Brazilian TV shows are frequently translated and broadcast with subtitles in Portugal. Even if you already speak Brazilian Portuguese, youll probably need some practice before you can understand speakers from Europe or Africa.
6. Dirige mais rpido, estamos num bairro perigoso. Drive faster, were in a dangerous neighborhood. Its unfortunate, but Brazil is one of the most unequal countries in the world in terms of income distribution, and most major Brazilian cities have several favelas, or shantytowns. While the favelas and their residents have made many important contributions to Brazilian society and popular culture, they can also be very dangerous places, especially for visitors. 7. Como vai, gatinha? Hows it going, baby? (lit. kitten) A pretty simple pickup line. I take no responsibility for what happens if you actually try to use it. 8. Que diaboquem projetou esta cidade? No faz sentido! What the hellwho designed this city? It makes no sense! (for trips to Brasilia)
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In 1954, Brazils government decided that the country needed a new capital. So, they did the logical thing and built a giant, airplane-shaped city called Brasilia in the middle of nowhere. Oscar Niemeyer was hired to fill Brasilia with unusually-shaped buildings. 9. O Brasil lindo maravilhoso! Brazil is magnificent! Lindo maravilhoso is a Brazilian idiom which literally translates to beautiful marvelous. You can use this phrase to smooth things over with any Brazilian friends who may have just heard you publicly mocking their capital. 10. o jeitinho brasileiro. Its the Brazilian way. How can Brazil be the worlds largest Catholic country, the worlds party capital, and an industrial giant to boot? Why did Brazil lay out its capital in the shape of an airplane and stick it in the middle of nowhere? The answer is simple: o jeitinho brasileiro.