Street Smart Brazil - the Portuguese that We Speak in Brazil

New Ways to Learn Portuguese and Contact Us

2010-05-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Oi! Obrigada for visiting the Street Smart Brazil blog. We have moved! Here is how you can keep in touch and learn Portuguese with us:

Explore our Blog to enjoy video lessons, flashcards, cultural tips, and more. StreetSmartBrazil.com/Blog

Join us on Facebook to learn colloquial vocabulary, share your experiences, and keep up with concerts, events, news, and videos about Brazil

Subscribe to our YouTube channel, write comments, and rate our videos. As a subscriber you are one of the first to know when we post new videos.

Get ready to enjoy the World Cup (2014) and the Olympic Games (2016) in Brazil. Learn smart Portuguese with Street Smart Brazil!

StreetSmartBrazil.com 2.0 is finally here!

2009-11-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

We're pleased to announce that StreetSmartBrazil.com 2.0 is finally here. After many days of intense work, we are ready to launch the new website. It includes an integrated blog, a snazzy look, and most importantly, a forums section where students and non-students alike can meet to discuss anything from language to culture, to their favorite Pagode in the city they like to visit.

A few things to check out while you're here:

Blog - Check out our new, integrated blog. We will leave the existing posts up on our old blogspot site, but they have all been migrated to StreetSmartBrazil.com, and all new blog posts will be found there only. We also have expanded the capability of the blog to include posts by our professors, so stay tuned or subscribe to our RSS feed.
Meet the Team - Go ahead and read about our experts.
Forums - A new online community for discussing Brazil. Got a question? Want to share an amazing experience from your vacation? Need to get a few tips on where you are going or on the language? This is the place to go
Store - Here you will find a link to our merchandise, recommended books and materials for students, as well as good movies, music, and picture books

The site is brand new, so please excuse us if you find something does not work right away. Also, many more features are on their way, including a premium "Insider" membership with special benefits. If you have a suggestion on how we can improve StreetSmartBrazil.com, please use the contact form and choose "site feedback".

We hope you enjoy your stay!

The Street Smart Brazil team.

above: our new logo!

Here is a Site That Conjugates All Verbs

2009-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this site: AllVerbs.com

Muito legal. You type in the verb that you want and the site offers you all the conjugations for that verb.

I have one observation: AllVerbs.com is not updated to the language changes that happened in January 2009. For example, "eles veem" (they see) and "eles leem" (they read) are now spelled without accent, but AllVerbs.com still has them spelled the old way.

Only a few verbs lost their orthographic accent in some of their conjugations. The old and the new spellings are correct for now; until December 31st, 2012 we are in the transition period. Of course you can rest assured that Street Smart Brazil has been teaching with the new rules from day 1 of the Portuguese Language Orthographic Agreement :)

Congratulations Rio! An Olympic First.

2009-10-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

!!!Congratulations Rio!!!

picture by Rodrigo Soldon an Flickr's Creative Commons

Rio has won the bid for the 2016 Olympics! Brazil will now be the first country in Latin America ever to host the games, so today will certainly be a festive day in Brazilian bars and restaurants around the world. For more info, check out these two news articles, in English and in Portuguese. Also, check out the official Rio 2016 Games page here and a slide show with pictures of the various facilities for each event (the first slides are in Portuguese, but keep scrolling and you will get to the pictures).

With the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup coming up in the next few years, there has never been a better time to become fluent in Portuguese! We are here to help.

Brazilian Magazines You Can Read Online

2009-09-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

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!

Revista Veja - weekly magazine on various topics, including politics, economics, culture, fashion, etc.
Você SA - weekly magazine targeting professionals, with articles on work/life balance, career growth, personal development and the like. Every year they publish a research with the best companies to work for in Brazil
Vida Simples - Simple Life: the name says it all
Men's Health - Brazilian edition of the magazine
Revista Saúde - tips for a healthy life
Go Outside - outdoor fun
Exame - we can say it is the Brazilian Business Week
Contigo - gossip, novelas, TV start -- you get the picture
Quatro Rodas - for car lovers
Caras - the Brazilian People Magazine
Elle - Brazilian edition of the magazine
Revista Claudia - variety magazine for women
Revista Claudia Comida & Bebida - food & drinks edition of the above magazine
Bravo - for those who love cinema
Info - technology, gadgets, and the like
Info Corporate - for business people
Revista Escola - about kid's education

São Paulo: Can a Megalopolis Be Green?

2009-09-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

On my flight back from Brazil to the US, I found a very interesting artible in the Continental Airlines Magazine about "The Greening of São Paulo". Check it out. It brings some interesting perspective on the city's size, diversity, and green initiatives.

It reminded me of how cosmopolitan a place São Paulo is and how much I want to go back to visit.

Enjoy the reading.

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Photo by Diego 336 on Flickr's Creative Commons

O Verbo Precisar - with Video

2009-08-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

I am preparing for my upcoming trip to Brazil (yay) and thought that my to-do list would provide good examples of how we use the verb Precisar.

Precisar = To need

The verb PRECISAR does not require preposition when it is followed by a verb in the infinitive.

Examples:

Eu preciso tirar dinheiro para a viagem. (I need to cash money for the trip.)

Preciso comprar um biquini novo assim que chegar ao Brasil. (I need to buy a new bikini as soon as I get to Brazil.)

A gente precisa comprar presentes para minha família. (We need to buy gifts for my family.)

The verb PRECISAR requires the proposition DE, or one of its contractions, when followed by a
noun.

Compare the examples below with the ones above:

Eu preciso de dinheiro para a viagem. (I need cash for the trip.)

Eu preciso de um biquini novo assim que chegar ao Brasil. (I need a new bikini as soon as I get to Brazil.)

A gente precisa de presentes para minha família. (We need gifts for my family.)

Let's see a few examples using the contractions of the preposition DE:

Mariana precisa deste livro. (Mariana needs this book.)

Você precisa daquelas revistas? (Do you need those magazines?)

Preciso do seu número de telefone. (I need your phone number.)

Cadê o dicionário? Estou precisando dele. (Where is the dictionary? I need it.)

Pronto. Agora você precisa praticar seu português :)

Eyes on Brazil meets Street Smart Brazil

2009-08-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a blog that has become my number one place to read about Brazil: Eyes on Brazil.

Eyes on Brazil brings up to date information and news on economic and social issues, law, music, arts, language tips, and more. Click the links for a few of his recent posts and you will see what I mean. Very impressive.

Adam, the author, writes with style and shares intelligent perceptions on his posts. He shows true appreciation of Brazilian culture and people.

I was therefore very happy to find that Street Smart Brazil was featured on Eyes on Brazil. Check out this post. And while you are there, take the opportunity to surf the blog for a great taste of Brasil.

Using 'A Gente' - Make Your Portuguese Even Smarter - WITH VIDEO

2009-08-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

To speak truly Street Smart Portuguese, you need to learn how to use ‘a gente’.

A gente = Nós = We, but you conjugate the verb in the singular, as you do for você, ele, and ela.

In spoken Portuguese, we frequently use ‘a gente’.

Check out the examples below:

Nós falamos português.
A gente fala português.
(We speak Portuguese)

Nós andamos no parque com nosso cachorro.
A gente anda no parque com nosso cachorro.
(We walk in the park with our dog)

Nós gostamos de música brasileira.
A gente gosta de música brasileira.
(We like Brazilian music)

Maracatu @ Stern Grove (San Francisco) on Sun, Aug 9

2009-08-07T13:16:00.001-07:00

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.

The good news is that if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area you will be able to enjoy live Maracatu this coming Sunday, August 9th, at the Stern Grove Festival where Nation Beat will be performing.

Free Maracatu in a beautiful park in gorgeous San Francisco - I can't ask for more.

Here are some resources for you:

Stern Grove Festival - The Festival website has links to Nation Beat bio and a video clip
Maracatu on Wikipedia
Nation Beat with Maracatu Estrela Brilhante live - This video is fantastic
Olinda City Hall Photostream on Flicker
Nation Beat profile on Facebook

Divirta-se!

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Photo from Olinda City Hall Photostream on Flickr's Creative Commons

Street Smart Brazil Gets a Street Presence

2009-07-19T19:55:00.001-07:00

Street Smart Brazil just got new graphics on our Smart ForTwo. Check out our pics. And if you see us on the road, give us a shout :)

Months of the Year - Learn How to Say os Meses do Ano (VIDEO)

2009-07-19T14:26:00.001-07:00

Your Weekly Word # 6: Verbo Pegar and Street Smart Expressions (with VIDEO)

2009-06-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

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.

Examples:

Eu vou pegar uma caneta para anotar o seu telefone. (I am going to grab a pen to write down your phone number)
Eu vou pegar uma cadeira para você. (I am going to get a chair for you)
Este lugar está muito sujo. Não quero pegar em nada. (This place is too dirty. I don't want to touch anything)

The verb pegar is used in many expressions. I believe you will enjoy learning the following phases:

Expression	Literal Translation	Example
Pegar chuva	To get rain	Está chovendo. Vou ficar em casa porque não quero pegar chuva. (It is raining. I am going to stay home because I do not want to get wet)
Pegar sol	To get sun	Que dia lindo! Vamos à praia. Quero pegar sol hoje. (What a beautiful day! Let’s go to the beach. I want to be in the sun today).
Pegar um bronzeado	To get a tan	Os brasileiros adoram pegar um bronzeado. (Brazilians love to get a tan)
Pegar carona	To get a ride	Posso pegar uma carona com voce? (Can I get a ride with you?)
Pegar gripe	To catch a cold	Estou com dor de cabeça. Acho que peguei uma gripe. (I have a headache. I think I caught a cold)

Your Weekly Word # 5: Dinner & To Have Dinner (with VIDEO)

2009-06-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

It is known that we use more words in Portuguese than in English to express the same idea. Well, there are exceptions, and here is one of them.

Jantar (noun) = Dinner
Jantar (verb) = To have dinner

As a noun, dinner is a masculine word: o jantar.

Here are a few examples using jantar as a noun:

O jantar está pronto. (Dinner is ready)
O jantar está servido. (Dinner is served)
O jantar estava uma delícia. (Dinner was delicious)

Below are examples using jantar as a verb:

Estou com fome. Vou jantar. (I am hungry. I'm going to have dinner)
Você já jantou? (Did you have dinner yet?)
Marina e eu fomos jantar fora ontem. (Marina and I went out for dinner yesterday)

Notice in the last example that:

jantar fora = dine out or go out for dinner

Bom apetite!

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Foto de Yomi955

Festas Juninas - A Very Brazilian Celebration

2009-06-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

In June Brazil celebrates Festas Juninas or Festas de São João. In the Northeast of Brazil, the festas juninas are as big as carnival. You can expect tons of regional food, colorful outfits, loud music, lots of dancing (Forró), and of course a generous serving of Brazilian joy.

Here are good resources for you to learn about São João:

Festa Junina - Wikipedia
Festa Junina - Brazzil.com

Check out these videos from YouTube. Even if you cannot understand what is said, the images will speak for themselves:

Quadrilha Moleka 100 Vergonha
São João de Campina Grande - Jornal Nacional

Finally, some Flicker photos:

AF Rodrigues' photostream
Robinho's photostream

Enjoy!

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Photo by Luciana Brito

Your Weekly Word # 4 - Learn How to Say Passion Fruit

2009-06-01T16:04:00.001-07:00

Your Weekly Word # 3

2009-05-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

Your word today is beer:

Cerveja

Cerveja is a feminine noun:

a cerveja

In Brazil, we like our beer very cold. So you commonly hear Brazilians ordering beer like this:

Uma cerveja bem gelada, por favor. (A very cold beer, please.)

And here is how you order one more beer:

Mais uma cerveja, por favor. (One more beer, please.)

If you hang out with Brazilians, you certainly have noticed that we use a lot of diminutives. Here is how we invite friends to drink beer:

Que tal uma cervejinha bem gelada? (How about a very cold "little" beer?)

Watch the video to learn the universal Brazilian gesture to order a beer:

Your Weekly Word # 2 (with VIDEO)

2009-05-17T12:58:00.001-07:00

This week your word is GRIPE.

GRIPE = A COLD

Gripe is a feminine noun: a gripe.

In Portuguese we have another word for a light cold, so some books translate gripe as a bad cold.

There are two ways for you to say that you have a cold.

Estou com gripe. (I am with a cold)
Tenho gripe. (I have a cold)

We also have the word GRIPADO/GRIPADA. It describes someone who has a cold. For example:

Eduardo está gripado. (Eduardo has a cold)
Marta está gripada. (Marta has a cold)

The English language does not have the word gripado/gripada. Note that the translation above is not literal. The literal translation would be something like "Eduardo is 'coldy'", just like you say hungry or sleepy.

Your Weekly Word # 1 (with VIDEO)

2009-05-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

This week your new word is SEMANA.

Semana is a feminine noun. It means week.

Exemplos:

Larissa tem aulas de português duas vezes por semana.
(Larrissa has Portuguese classes twice a week)

Eu vou viajar na próxima semana.
(I will travel next week.)

The Traps of the Language

2009-05-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

By Vanessa Agra

Is there a difference between Tautology and Pleonasm?

Tautology (rhetoric): needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. We can say it is almost the same as pleonasm, since pleonasm is the use of more words (or even word-parts) than necessary to express an idea clearly. I just kind of did it, didn’t I?

For example: "a beginner who has just started", "black darkness", "cold ice", "burning fire".

However, pleonasms sometimes serve the same function as rhetorical repetition — it can be used to reinforce and idea, contention, or question, rendering writing clearer and easier to understand. It can even aid in achieving specific linguistic effects, be it social, poetic, or literary. Regardless, both are a form of redundancy. Pleonasm and tautology each refer to different forms of redundancy in speech and the written word.

Idiomatic expressions: Some pleonastic phrases are part of a language's idiom, like "safe haven" and "tuna fish" in English. They are so common that their use is unremarkable, although in many cases the redundancy can be dropped with no loss of meaning. The classic example in Portuguese language is to say “subir pra cima” (to ascend up) or “descer pra baixo” (to descend down). Or, for example: ‘surpresa inesperada’ (unexpected surprise). Is there any surprise that is expected?

Obviously not!! If it was some how expected, it wasn’t really a surprise, right?

Here is a sample of common pleonasms in Portuguese with their literal translation in English, so you get the idea:

Pleonasmo

Significado

Cego dos olhos

Blind of the eyes

Se está cego, só pode ser dos olhos.

If one is blind, it can only be in the eyes.

Maluco da cabeça

Crazy in the head

Se está maluco, só pode ser da cabeça.

If one is crazy, it can only be in the head.

Entrar para dentro

To enter inside.

Se está entrando, logo, é para dentro.

If it’s entering, then it’s going inside.

Sair para fora

To go out outside

Se está saindo, logo, é para fora.

If it’s going out, then it’s going outside.

Pessoa Humana (this is how we say “human being”)

Human person

Se é uma pessoa, só pode ser humana.

If one is a person, can only be human.

Unanimidade de todos

Everybody’s unanimity

Se é unanime, se trata de todos.

If it’s unanimous, it’s related to everybody.

Última versão definitiva

Final definitive version

Se é a última versão, será a definitiva.

If it’s the final version, it will be definitive.

Acabamento final

Final finishing

Se é um acabamento, só pode ser final.

If it’s a finishing, it can only be final.

Surpresa inesperada

Unexpected surprise

É uma surpresa, logo, é inesperada.

It’s a surprise, therefore unexpected.

Comparecer pessoalmente

To show up in person

Se vai comparecer, só pode ser pessoalmente.

If one is going to show up, it can only be in person.

Encarar de frente

To face “front ways”

Se a pessoa está encarando, só pode ser de frente.

If a person is facing, it can only “front ways”.

Gritar alto

To scream out loud

Se uma pessoa grita, só pode ser alto.

If a person screams, it can only be out loud.

Empréstimo temporário

Temporary loan

Um empréstimo já é temporário.

A loan is already temporary.

Abertura inaugural

Inaugural opening

Se é uma abertura, só pode ser inaugural.

If it’s an opening, it can only be inaugural.

Elo de ligação

“Connection link”

Se é um elo, já é de ligação.

If it’s a link, it’s already a connection.

Verdade verdadeira

Truthful truth

Se é uma verdade, só pode ser verdadeira.

If it’s true, it can only be truthful.

Livre escolha

Free choice

Uma escolha é sempre livre.

A choice is always free.

Retornar novamente

To return again

Retornar já é voltar de novo.

To return is already to come back again.

Expressamente proibido

Expressly prohibited

Se é proibido, só pode ser expressamente.

If it’s prohibited, it can only be expressly.

Multidão de pessoas

Crowd of people

Uma multidão já se refere a muitas pessoas.

A crowd is always a lot of people.

Sintomas indicativos

Indicative symptoms

Se uma pessoa tem sintomas, eles já são indicativos.

If a person has symptoms, they are already indicative.

Pleonasm as a way to reinforce an idea

Fato real

Real fact

Se é um fato, apenas poderá ser real.

If it’s a fact, it can only be real.

Certeza absoluta

Absolute certainty

Se uma pessoa tem certeza, ela só pode ser absoluta.

If a person is certain, it can only be absolute.

Pleonasm used to achieve specific linguistic effect

"Ó mar salgado, quanto do teu sal
São lágrimas de Portugal"
(Fernando Pessoa)

Salt-laden sea, how much of all your salt
Is tears of Portugal!

O mar já é salgado.

The sea is already salty.

"E rir meu riso e derramar meu pranto "

(Vinícius de Moraes)

And laugh “my laugh” and shed my tears

Quando uma pessoa ri, já há riso.

When a person laughs, there is already laughing.

Start Counting: Learn the Numbers (with VIDEO)

2009-04-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

When you learn the numbers, it is easy to learn time, dates, and currency. Here you go:

0 zero	10 dez	20 vinte	100 cem
1 um/uma	11 onze	21 vinte e um/uma	101 cento e um/uma
2 dois/duas	12 doze	22 vinte e dois/duas	200 duzentos
3 três	13 treze	30 trinta	300 trezentos
4 quatro	14 quatorze	40 quarenta	400 quatrocentos
5 cinco	15 quinze	50 cinquenta	500 quinhentos
6 seis	16 dezesseis	60 sessenta	600 seiscentos
7 sete	17 dezessete	70 setenta	700 setecentos
8 oito	18 dezoito	80 oitenta	800 oitocentos
9 nove	19 dezenove	90 noventa	900 novecentos
			1.000 mil

The numbers 1 and 2 - and all numbers ending in 1 or 2 - have a feminine form. For instance:

1 carro = um carro

1 casa = uma casa

2 copos = dois copos

2 mesas = duas mesas

31 barcos = trinta e um barcos

31 cadeiras – trinta e uma cadeiras

72 livros – setenta e dois livros

72 aulas = setenta e duas aulas

Até a próxima!

Test Your Knowledge About Brazil: Take Our Quiz!

2009-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Brazil Quiz

View more presentations from StreetSmartBrazil.

Possessive Pronouns: Own Them Now!

2009-03-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

In Portuguese, the possessive pronouns vary in gender (masculine and feminine) and number (singular and plural). Sometimes they vary with the person who owns the items in question, and other times they agree with the object that is owned. I hope this lesson will make it really easy to learn how to use the possessive pronouns.

Here is a table with all the possessive pronouns:

PERSONAL PRONOUN	POSSESSIVE PRONOUN
Eu	Meu, minha, meus, minhas
Você	Seu, sua, seus, suas
Ele	Seu, sua, seus, suas	Dele
Ela	Seu, sua, seus, suas	Dela
Nós	Nosso, nossa, nossos, nossas
Vocês	Seu, sua, seus, suas
Eles	Seu, sua, seus, suas	Deles
Elas	Seu, sua, seus, suas	Delas

Use of DELE, DELA, DELES, DELAS:

There are two rules to follow:

These pronouns agree in gender and number with the person who “owns” the items
These pronouns are always placed after the object that is owned

Exemples:

A casa de Maria é bonita. Eu gosto da casa dela.
A casa de Paulo é bonita. Eu gosto da casa dele.
A casa de Ana e José é bonita. Eu gosto da casa deles.

Use of the other possessive pronouns:

The rules are the opposite of the ones above:

These pronouns agree in gender and number with the items that are owned
These pronouns are placed before the object that is owned

Exemplos:

Minha casa é bonita.
Meu carro é azul.
Minhas amigas são divertidas.
Meus amigos são bacanas.

Observation:

The use of the definite article is optional before the possessive pronoun.

Exemples:

A nossa casa é linda.
Nossa casa é linda.

I hope this makes it easy for you to use the pronouns right :)

Até a próxima!

(Many thanks to my students Blake and Johnathann, who inspired this post :-)

Todo Dia or O Dia Todo? Learn How To Say It! (With Video)

2009-03-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

I had the idea to write this post while I was teaching a class yesterday. My student had a few questions; he was confused about how to say "every day" and "the whole day" in Portuguese. It can be a bit confusing, I admit.

So here it goes, a few expressions that will not be confusing to you anymore.

There are two ways to say "every day":

Todo dia

Todos os dias

Todo dia and todos os dias are interchangeable.

Exemplos:

Dani malha todo dia. (Dani works out every day)
Mariana come chocolate todos os dias. (Mariana eats chocolate every day)

Now comes what can be a bit confusing. Here is how you say "the whole day":

O dia todo

Todo o dia

O dia todo and todo o dia are interchangeable.

Exemplos:

Ontem Leonardo passou o dia todo na praia. (Yesterday Leonardo spent the whole day at the beach)
É uma longa viagem de São Francisco a Recife. Às vezes, leva todo o dia para chegar lá. (It is a long trip from San Francisco to Recife. Sometimes it takes the whole day to get there.)

This is a very important pattern as it applies to all other similar expressions. Yesterday's class inspired great "aha!" moments. I hope this post can help you, too. Please check out the tables below for more.

Every week	Toda semana	Janete joga baralho toda semana. (Janete plays cards every week)
Every week	Todas as semanas	Diogo escreve novos artigos todas as semanas. (Diogo writes new articles every week)

Every weekend	Todo fim de semana	Eu vou à praia todo fim de semana.(I go to the beach every weekend)
Every weekend	Todos os fins de semana	Helena visita os pais dela todos os fins de semana. (Helena visits her parents every weekend)

Every month	Todo mês	Tiago e Clara fazem trabalho voluntário todo mês. (Tiago and Clara do volunteer work every month)
Every month	Todos os meses	Vanessa vai à Lake Tahoe todos os meses. (Vanessa goes to Tahoe every month)

Every year	Todo ano	Eu vou ao Brasil todo ano. (I go to Brazil every year)
Every year	Todos os anos	Ricardo troca de carro todos os anos. (Ricardo changes his car every year)

The whole week	A semana toda	João trabalha a semana toda. (João works the whole week)
The whole week	Toda a semana	Marcos passou toda a semana gripado. (Marcos spent the whole week with a cold)

The whole weekend	O fim de semana todo	Vitória passou o fim de semana todo ensaiando. (Vitória spent the whole weekend rehearsing)
The whole weekend	Todo o fim de semana	Rosa passou todo o fim de semana preparando a apresentação. (Rosa spent the whole weekend preparing the presentation)

The whole month	O mês todo	Estou de férias e quero viajar o mês todo. (I am on vacation and want to travel the whole month)
The whole month	Todo o mês	Glória vai ficar todo o mês de julho na Bahia. (Glória will stay the whole month of July in Bahia)

The whole year	O ano todo	Carol quer viajar o ano todo. (Carol wants to travel the whole year)
The whole year	Todo o ano	Cecília sempre passa todo o ano esperando suas férias. (Cecília always spends the whole year waiting for her vacation)

Presidents Day: Lula and Obama - Parallels

2009-02-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the parallels one may draw between Lula, the President of Brazil, and Obama. I am not trying to compare these two men with one another. With that said, there is plenty to say about the similar feelings and reactions that they have created among their followers and opponents.

Lula is a nickname for Luiz. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is now in his second term in the presidency of Brazil. His election was an important historic moment. Lula was born poor, in a small, rural city in the Northeast of Brazil, a region known as the third world of the third world. The seventh of eight children, Lula's childhood was marked by poverty and lack education: he learned to read when he was 10, quit school in the fourth grade, and started working by age 12 as a shoeshiner. He later became a factory worker, union leader, and one of the founders of Brazil's Worker's Party. Needless to say, his candidacy raised heated arguments about social class and prejudice.

You can read more about Lula in Wikipedia.

Regarding any parallels that might be made between Lula and Obama, I found this interesting article. The paragraphs in Portuguese are followed by their English translation. I also suggest you read the comments (some are in Portuguese and some in English). I found them very

interesting.

Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn speaking Brazilian Portuguese

2009-02-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is fun. I got it from YouTube.

If you search YouTube for "speaking Portuguese" you will find all sorts of people, including many celebrities and musicians, speaking - well, at least trying to speak - Portuguese.

You will also find numerous videos of foreigners repeating dirty words and other retarded things to say. Don't want that to happen to you? The solution is very simple:

Take classes with Street Smart Brazil :)

90 New Words that You Will Have No Trouble Memorizing

2009-02-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

A great way to build vocabulary is by learnig patterns between the English and Portuguese languages. Here is a great pattern to learn:

English words ending in -ation = Portuguese words ending in –ação

Below are several examples. I am sure you can think of lots more. Just keep in mind that there are exceptions. A dictionary in hand is very useful as you think about new words. You can choose a good dictionary here.

Divirta-se!

ENGLISH	PORTUGUESE
Abbreviation	Abreviação
Aberration	Aberração
Acceleration	Aceleração
Accommodation	Acomodação
Acculturation	Aculturação
Accumulation	Acumulação
Accusation	Acusação
Activation	Ativação
Actualization	Atualização
Adaptation	Adaptação
Administration	Administração
Admiration	Admiração
Americanization	Americanização
Animation	Animação
Annotation	Anotação
Anticipation	Antecipação
Appreciation	Apreciação
Approximation	Aproximação
Aspiration	Aspiração
Assimilation	Assimilação
Association	Associação
Authorization	Autorização
Aviation	Aviação
Celebration	Celebração
Circulation	Circulação
Civilization	Civilização
Classification	Classificação
Collaboration	Colaboração
Colonization	Colonização
Coloration	Coloração
Combination	Combinação
Commemoration	Comemoração
Commotion	Comoção
Communication	Comunicação
Compensation	Compensação
Competition	Competição
Compilation	Compilação
Complication	Complicação
Concentration	Concentração
Condensation	Condensação
Confirmation	Confirmação
Confrontation	Confrontação
Conjugation	Conjugação
Conservation	Conservação
Consideration	Consideração
Consolation	Consolação
Constipation	Constipação
Contemplation	Contemplação
Continuation	Continuação
Conversation	Conversação
Cooperation	Cooperação
Coordination	Coordenação
Corporation	Corporação
Acceleration	Aceleração
Correlation	Correlação
Creation	Criação
Dedication	Dedicação
Determination	Determinação
Devastation	Devastação
Differentiation	Diferenciação
Documentation	Documetação
Duration	Duração
Education	Educação
Elevation	Elevação
Fabrication	Fabricação
Falsification	Falsificação
Globalization	Globalização
Graduation	Graduação
Identification	Identificação
Illustration	Ilustração
Imitation	Imitação
Inflammation	Inflamação
Information	Informação
Location	Localização
Medication	Medicação
Nation	Nação
Operation	Operação
Population	População
Preoccupation	Preocupação
Preparation	Preparação
Respiration	Respiração
Sensation	Sensação
Situation	Situação
Station	Estação
Temptation	Tentação
Transaction	Transação
Vegetation	Vegetação
Ventilation	Ventilação
Verification	Verificação
Visualization	Visualização

The Word GRINGO is NOT Offensive in Brazil

2009-02-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

That's right, the word gringo is not offensive in Brazil. It simply means foreigner. It is a friendly and easy way to refer to foreigners.

The reason I bring up this topic is because it is inevitable for gringos to be called gringos when they visit Brazil :) And it is totally ok. Please do not feel uncomfortable with the nickname. If you date a Brazilian, you may even be called minha gringuinha (if you are a girl) or meu gringuinho (if you are a guy), which are very affectionate terms :)

Some Things Are Communicated Differently: The Haircut Issue

2009-02-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

When I first moved to the U.S., I had the hardest time saying that I had a haircut. In Brazil we say:

Cortei meu cabelo.

That translates to: "I cut my hair". And then people would invariably ask me if I had cut it myself! No, I had not done it myself. This is just the way Brazilians say "I had a haircut."

Here is how you ask if someone had a haircut:

Você cortou o cabelo?

Which translates to: "Did you cut your hair?"

I cannot tell you how many times I asked friends: "Hey, did you cut your hair? It looks great." They would look quite puzzled and reply that they did not cut it themselves. It all sounded pretty funny to all of us, I guess :)

Fruits that you Must Try in Brazil

2009-02-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

I suggest that you try these fruits in all forms: drink the juice, have a fantastic ice cream, eat the sweets, and, of course, just eat the fruit!

Caju

Did you know that cashew nuts come from caju? You can see them in this photo. Read my earlier post to learn more about caju.

Cupuaçu

Native to the Amazon; very used in juices and chocolates

Açaí

Please, you have to eat açaí na tigela com granola. Regardless of any açaí product that you may have tried, please do not come back from Brazil without eating açaí na tigela!

Seriguela

Carambola

Cajá

Jaca

Pinha

Acerola

Super rich in vitamin C

Mangaba

(I love the ice cream and the juice!)

Goiaba

Ok, I know you have guava in the U.S. But have you ever eaten a juicy guava?

Pitanga

There are many other fruits in Brazil, of course. This is just a sample of all you are going to taste there :)

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Pictures thanks to the very cool photographers who make their art available on Flicker's Creative Commons:

Pitanga thanks to marcant_p55
Goiaba thanks to Vic Lic
Acerola thanks to Tiago Celestino
Jaca thanks to Mauro Quanandi
Carambola thanks to DeusXFlorida
Seriguela thanks to Azeite

Thanks also to the anonymous artistis from whom I borrowed some of the pics.

Gelada ou Natural: Learn How to Order Your Drink

2009-01-31T22:16:00.000-08:00

When you order bottled water (see previous post), you may hear this follow up question:

Gelada ou natural?

Gelada means cold, from the fridge.

Natural means room temperature.

Or you may hear something like:

Com gelo?

That means: "With ice?"

Here is what you need to know:

Com gelo = With ice

Sem gelo = No ice

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Cool photo by Nattu in Flicker Creative Commons

Personal Space: One of our Cultural Differences

2009-01-30T19:43:00.001-08:00

The notion of personal space is very different among Brazilians and Americans. In Brazil, people tend to stand closer together in all sorts of social situations. And there is a lot more touching during conversations.

The Brazilian sense of personal space can be a little shocking to Americans at first. You will notice what I mean as soon as your plane lands in Brazil. All the Brazilians will jump up from their seats and scramble to get their bags on the overhead bins. This indludes extending their arms in front of you, bending over you if you are still seated, and even squeezing by behind you to go where they want to go.

You will also notice that no one says "Excuse me" when they walk close by you. They are not being rude. It is just that Brazilians do not feel the need to apologize for passing too close to you, unless they bump into you, when it would be expected that the person apologize.

One example: Say you are in a bookstore, standing by the books reading something, and someone passes by right behind you. During my first visit to the U.S. I did just that: I walked by someone who was standing checking out the books. No biggy, I did not even touch the person. Well, this person emmited an annoyed " Excuse me" that very much surprised me. Maybe I walked too close to the person. The fact is that in Brazil I would not worry about it, unless, as I said earlier, I bump into the person.

Ah, and the joy of going to concerts in the U.S. It is so much easier to get close to the stage and actually be able to remain there. Even comfortably! Forget about it in Brazil. If you go to a rock concert and decide to get close to the stage, brace yourselve, you will be joyfully squeezed.

I suggest that you do not let these little things bother you. Live the differences with an open mind and a warm heart, and enjoy your trip to the fullest :)

Boa viagem!

If you are ready to learn some Portuguese, visit our website at www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

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Picture thanks to Seier+Seier+Seier on Flicker´s Creative Commons

Água Mineral: Ordering Bottled Water

2009-01-26T22:15:00.000-08:00

In Brazil, we do not drink tap water. Therefore restaurants do not serve you tap water, which means you need to order bottled water if you want to have water during your meal. That's right, in Brazil you do not get the usual glass of water as you wait for your meal like you do here in the U.S.

We call bottled water água mineral. If you hang out with Brazilians in an English speaking country, you may see them ordering "mineral water". What they mean is bottled water, but they are translating it literally from Portuguese. Believe me, I've been there :p

The literal translation of sparkling water also causes some confusion. In Brazil, we say água mineral com gás. Literally, it translates to "mineral water with gas".

When you order water, the server will often follow up by asking: "Com gás?" Now you know that he is asking if you'd like sparkling water. If you do not want it, you can just say: "Sem gás, por favor." Sem gás means not sparkling.

On the other hand, if you were to translate "bottled water" literally, you would be ordering "água engarrafada", which would cause some good laughter to your server and Brazilian friends :)

PS: I strongly sugest that you do NOT drink tap water when in Brazil!

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This beautiful picture is thanks to Snap in Flicker's Creative Commons

Easy Tip to Use MAS and MAIS Correctly

2009-01-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

Do You Know How to Use MAS and MAIS?

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: portuguese smart)

Street Smart Brazil: Brazilian Portuguese made simple!

www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

A Few Facts About the Amazon

2009-01-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

Brazil's North region - also known as Amazônia - is comprised by six states: Amazonas, Rondônia, Acre, Roraima, Pará, Amapá, and Tocantins.

The Amazon rainforest covers most of the region.

A few facts about this very fantastic part of the world:

The Amazon River:

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world in volume
It is the second longest river in the world, with 4,040 miles (the first is the Nile)
The Amazon River discharges 1/5 of the world's freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean
It discharges 3.4 million gallons of water per minute into the ocean; that is 14 times more than the Mississippi river
Freshwater is still found 100 miles off the coast into the ocean! Can you imagine the strength with which the Amazon's waters enter the Atlantic?!!
The Amazon River travels through, or touches, 8 countries

The Amazon Forest:

The Amazon is the largest and densest rainforest in the world; it covers 2.1 million square miles
60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazilian soil
It covers 40% of the Brazilian territory
The Amazon Forest is believed to have 10% of all known plant and animal species, which makes it the largest gene reserve in the world
A few hectares of the forest contain more species of plants and insects than all of Europe
The Amazon forest has 1,800 species of butterflys; 2,500 species of fish; 1,500 species of birds; more than 400 different types of hardwood; 200 species of mosquitos (I really don't look forward to meeting those); 50,000 species of plants

For more about the Amazon, visit:

And visit my website at www.StreetSmartBrazil.com :-)

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Picture thanks to Markg6 in Flicker's Creative Commons. In fact, I suggest you visit his photostream. It's pretty amazing.

Changes to the Portuguese Language - Life Will Indeed Be Different in 2009!

2009-01-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

In 2009 the long-discussed reform of the Portuguese Language will be implemented (or is supposed to be). The goal is to standardize the spelling and bring uniformity of language among the different Portuguese speaking countries.

Of course there is resistance to such changes, especially from Portugal because the changes bring the language closer to Brazilian Portuguese. I guess this is like trying to get England to adopt American spelling.

There will also be changes to Brazilian Portuguese, as many accents are not necessary anymore. I'd say this is good news to my students: No more fighting with your keyboard to find the Brazilian accents :)

For example:

no more trema: conseqüência now will be spelled consequência
no more hifens (except when the first word ends in "r")
no more accute accent in words ended in "eia" and "oia" (so now we will write heroica, jiboia, ideia)
no more circumflex accent in verbal conjugation when you have double "e" and double "o" (so now we will write eu voo, eles leem, vocês veem)

You can read more about the reform here.

And I am thinking: oh boy, placing those accents will be a hard habit to break; I always enjoyed my ability to write perfect Portuguese with all its intricacies :p

FELIZ ANO NOVO!

2008-12-31T13:47:00.000-08:00

Feliz Ano Novo a todos que fazem da Street Smart Brazil um grande sucesso!

Desejo um 2009 repleto de amor, alegria, paz, saúde e sucesso.

E muitas aulas de português, claro :-)

www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

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This awesome picture can be found on tbondolfi's photostream at Flicker's Creative Commons

We Do NOT Say "Mais Grande"

2008-12-31T11:51:00.000-08:00

This always comes as a surprise to Spanish speakers.

In Portuguese we create aumentatives by adding mais in front of the word being modified. For expample:

mais bonito
mais rico
mais saudável
mais feliz

So far, so good. This is the general rule. And here are the major exceptions:

In Brazilian Portuguese, we never say "mais grande", "mais pequeno", "mais bom", "mais bem", "mais ruim", and "mais mal". Instead, we say:

maior (bigger)
menor (smaller)
melhor (better)
pior (worse)

For learners of Portuguese, it is very important to keep this in mind!

www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

Obrigado and Obrigada - Thank You

2008-12-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

It is very easy to say thank you in Portuguese:

Men say Obrigado
Women say Obrigada

Why is that?

The first thing to have in mind is that in Portuguese adjectives vary in gender to agree with the noun they are modifying. For example:

casa nova (new house)
carro novo (new car)

Obrigado comes from "I feel obliged". That is, when someone does me a favor, I feel grateful and obliged to that person. So the word Obrigado will vary in gender to agree with who is feeling so.

This is a simple and easy rule to memorize. Guys always say Obrigado. Girls always say Obrigada. This is also one of those rules that people don't know about or forget. I can assure you that you will hear Brazilian women saying "Obrigado". They should not. And now you know why :)

One more note: In spoken Portuguese, we tend to drop the first "o". So you might hear Brazilians saying "brigado" or "brigada". That's ok in informal conversations, but no one should write it this way. In fact, I recommend that you always say the right thing. Dropping the "o" does not make it sound cool, youth, or more Brazilian. Let's say it is just a bad habit that we have.

For Portuguese lessons, visit www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

Obrigada :)

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Picture thanks to Lilivanili in Flicker's Creative Commons

Caipirinha Recipe to Celebrate the New Year

2008-12-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, in Brazil we also toast the new year with champagne and we love good wine. But nothing beats preparing a fresh caipirinha to enjoy with family and friends :)

Caipirinha may be the most Brazilian of drinks. It is made with Cachaça, a Brazilian spirit made from sugar cane. Because rum is also made from unrefined sugar, U.S. stores tend to put cachaça and rum on the same shelf. The drinks, however, are not similar.

The word comes from caipira, which is a person from the countryside. Caipirinha means "little person from the country". Brazilians use lots of diminutives to indicate either size or affection. As I see it, the diminutive is used here to show affection.

It is believed that the indigenous people and the slaves created the caipirinha. Many slaves worked in the sugar cane plantations and in the production of sugar. What was left of this production was a fermented beverage known as "cane wine". The Spanish called it "cachaza". The Jesuit referred to it as "augoa ardente" or "water that burns". In Brazil, we say aguardente.

The cachaza was used to feed animals and given to slaves. The slaves used to mix their cane wine with fruit juice. This mix was very used in religious ceremonies and parties. Lime was probably the most used fruit in this mix. And that is likely how caipirinha was created.

As you see, the original caipirinha is made with cachaça and lime. The same drink made with vodka is called caipirosca. The "caipirinha de sake" is also a big hit today. Today you can find caipirinhas and caipiroscas done with virtually any fruit: they are called caipifruta.

It is difficult to describe how wonderful it is to be at the beach on a beautiful, sunny day in Brazil, drinking caipirinhas made with fresh fruit :)

The good news: It is easy to prepare a delicious caipirinha!

You will need:

2 table spoons of granulated sugar (brown sugar makes it even more delicious)

1 lime (or 2 small limes)

2 1/2 oz of cachaça (the quality of the cachaça, of course, is of the essence)

Ice (crushed or in cubes; I love it with crushed ice)

Note: As a curiosity, in Brazil we have only one word for lime and lemon, which is "limão". If you are in Brazil, you want the green ones for your caipirinhas.

Preparation:

Wash the lime and cut it in 8 wedges (or in quarters, depending on its size) -- not round slices!
Seed the limes and remove the white parts in the core (this will prevent the drink from being bitter)
Put the limes in a glass and the sugar over them
Muddle (smash) them; you want to release the lime juice and dissolve the sugar
Add the ice and a bit of cachaça, and mix it well
Add the rest of the cachaça and shake it well (or stirr it really well). This is optional: Try mixing everything in the blender without turning the ice into water
Your drink is ready! Traditionally, caipirinha is served in a short, wide glass.

Adding mint leaves will give a special refreshing touch to your caipirinha.

Have fun :) Just beware that cachaça is not for the faint of heart.

Now excuse me: I have to go make my own caipirinha ;-)

Caipirinha Vocabulary

Lime	Limão
Sugar	Açúcar
Spoon	Colher
Table spoon	Colher de sopa
Ice	Gelo
To mix	Misturar
To shake	Agitar
Glass	Copo
To drink	Beber, Tomar
Delicious	Delicioso/a
Cheers!	Saúde!

For information about classes and links to Brazilian books, cd's, dvd's, and more visit www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

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Picture thanks to Elenadan in Flicker's Creative Commons

Literal Translation Can Lead to Misunderstanding

2008-12-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

Imagine that you are walking down the street and you drop your wallet without realizing so. A stranger stops you and returns your wallet. You feel genuinely grateful, and express your feeling with a heartfelt "Thank you so much!", to which the stranger replies: "For nothing".

What would you think? Well, I have seen puzzled looks in response to "For nothing". If you have ever wondered what those crazy Brazilians mean by that, here is the answer.

"For nothing" is the literal translation of "De nada" or "Por nada", which in Portuguese means "You're welcome".

Still puzzled? "De nada" means something like: "It wasn't a problem at all. Don't worry about it."

So now you know: When you are in Brazil and someone thanks you, you can say:

De nada.

Por nada.

Não há de quê.

All three answers correspond to "You are welcome" in English.

To learn the Portuguese that Brazilians speak, visit www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

Quick Vocabulary Building

2008-12-18T15:14:00.000-08:00

There are several words that are very similar in Portuguese and in English. Check out this list of Brazilian words:

Agressivo/a

Ambicioso/a

Animado/a

Arrogante

Atlético/a

Calmo/a

Competente

Corajoso/a

Criativo/a

Dinâmico/a

Eficiente

Elegante

Extrovertido/a

Fascinante

Generoso/a

Idealista

Imparcial

Importante

Impulsivo/a

Independente

Inteligente

Interessante

Introvertido/a

Liberal

Lógico/a

Materialista

Moderno/a

Nervoso/a

Otimista

Paciente

Parcial

Passivo/a

Perfeccionista

Pessimista

Popular

Rebelde

Religioso/a

Responsável

Romântico/a

Sentimental

Sério/a

Sincero/a

Terrível

Tímido

Tradicional

Just be careful: Some words are deceivingly similar, as for instance:

(Portuguese) (English)

sensível = sensitive

esquisito = weird

pretender = to intend

Start practicing these words to incorporate them in your vocabulary!

To take Portuguese classes, visit www.streetsmartbrazil.com

Asking why: Por que and Porque Simplified

2008-12-14T10:26:00.001-08:00

LÉO: Por que você está com pressa? (Why are you in a hurry?)

CLARA: Porque tenho uma reunião importante. (Because I have an important meeting.)

This is a simple rule, yet I frequently see por que and porque used in the wrong way. Keep this in mind:

Por que is used to ask questions. It corresponds to why in the English language.
Porque is used to answer why questions. It is the same as because.

DANI: Por que você está tão animada? (Why are you so excited?)

MATT: Porque vou passar férias no Brasil. (Because I am going to spend vacation in Brazil).

Is that all that is to Por que and Porque? Well, there is one more thing: When used alone or at the end of the sentence (before a period, comma, or other punctuation mark), por que and porque have a circumflex accent:

LAURA: Estou preocupada.

BILL: Por quê?

And there is also porquê, which is a noun and means razão (reason):

CAROL: Eu sei o porquê da sua alegria. (I know the reason you are happy.)

Yes, Portuguese has its complexities, but nothing that could prevent us from making it fun and simple!

Cashew -- A Lot More Than Just Nuts

2008-12-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

Everybody knows about cashew nuts. What most people don't know is that the nuts are just a small part of a fruit called CAJU, typical from the Northeast of Brazil.

The picture above shows two cajus and you can see the cashew nuts (castanha) on the left edge of the fruit.

In Brazil, we eat the fruit and make juices, smoothies, and candied fruit.

When travelling through the Brazilian roads you will notice vendors on the shoulder roasting cashew nuts over an open flame (picture below). Those cashew nuts are hand-picked from the tree. It is uma delícia, unlike any cashew you have ever tried!

For more information about cajus, visit Wikipedia.

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Top picture by Rob Slva. Thank you, Rob for your amazing pictures in Flickr Creative Commons.

Visit Rob's photostream.

Bottom picture by Carl Spanoghe.

E aí? Do you really know how to greet your Brazilian friends?

2008-12-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

E aí is one of the most popular informal greetings in Brazil these days. It simply means hello or hi.

Its main uses are as follows:

1.To answer the phone when you see that a friend is on the other side.

Example:

Paula sees that her friend Márcia is calling. She can answer the phone by saying:

E aí, Márcia? Tudo bem com você?

Or she can simply say:

E aí?

2. To greet a friend when you two meet.

Example:

Ronaldo is walking down street and runs into his friend José. The first one to greet the other will say:

E aí, tudo certo?

3.To ask how an event went.

Example:

Fernanda calls Roberto to ask how his interview (party, concert, trip, you name it) went:

Oi, Roberto. E aí, como foi a entrevista?

The use of E aí is:

Not recommended for professional contacts
Not recommend for written communications (except informal e-mails)
Totally recommended for every day, informal use with friends

E aí, are you ready to start speaking real Brazilian Portuguese? Visit www.StreetSmartBrazil.com

E-mail me at luciana@StreetSmartBrazil.com