Did you know there are many different types of calendars?

As you probably know - a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia.

Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth’s movement around the sun - the “solar calendar”. Other calendars keep time by observing the moon’s movements, a combination of the moon and the sun’s movements, and seasons.

Through PortuguesePod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date.

Having a good plan for a visit or a trip is like studying well for an exam. You’re just so much better prepared! For that, you could well need specific phrases to plan around appointments and such, especially on business trips. Make sure to use the charts we provide here with the days of the week in Portuguese, as well as the months in Portuguese to navigate your way as you plan. Great resources!

Also - always remember to have fun!

Table of Contents

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Portuguese?
2. Talking About your Plans
3. Can PortuguesePod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Portuguese?

Well, that’s not a difficult question to answer. No matter why you’re travelling, it would be best to at least know the names of days and months in Portuguese. You don’t want to miss your flight or an appointment because you confused “sexta-feira” (Friday) with “sábado” (Saturday)! Or maybe you planned a holiday for “julho” (July), but you booked a flight for “junho” (June) by accident!

Avoid this confusion by learning the Portuguese calendar before you leave.

Now, as promised, the 15 phrases to help you make and discuss plans.

2. Talking About your Plans

Perhaps you’re working in Brazil, or maybe you’re enjoying a prolonged holiday. Fabulous! Memorize these phrases so you can be sure to successfully negotiate meetings, appointments, dates, events, the list goes on!

1. O que você vai fazer esse fim de semana?

“What are you doing this weekend?”

This question is usually a preamble to inviting someone somewhere. Given that it’s over the weekend, it probably means a casual get-together or another social event. (But not necessarily! A manager or boss could also ask this for entirely different reasons.)

It’s a handy phrase to know when you’ve made Portuguese or expat friends in the country. Or, be the one doing the inviting. Then train your ear to learn the following phrases so you can understand the response.

2. Eu vou viajar neste fim de semana.

“I am traveling this weekend.”

This could be a reply if you’re not available because you’re doing other fun stuff.

No matter why you are visiting Brazil, do take the time to explore the country! It’s beautiful and it has so many wonderful, interesting spots ready to be visited.

3. Estou planejando ficar em casa.

“I am planning to stay at home.”

Maybe you feel unwell, but don’t want to give too much information? Or maybe you have work to do? Perhaps you just need some quiet gardening time…it doesn’t matter. This response is polite and honest without oversharing.

It could also be a slightly open-ended response, depending on how you deliver it. Because hey, being home could still mean your plans are flexible, right?

That said - depending on your relationship with the inviter, nuances like these will probably not be so apparent in a foreign culture. So, best to use this excuse for declining an invitation only if you are truly set on staying in.

4. Esta semana estou ocupado.

“This week I am busy.”

Another polite phrase that gives a reason for declining an invitation but without oversharing details.

Don’t decline too many invitations, though! You don’t want people to think that you’re too busy to hang out with them. They will stop inviting you out, and you know how the saying goes - all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…! Being social is good for the soul.

5. Estou livre amanhã.

“I am free tomorrow.”

Yay! Perhaps you were approached by that person and they asked about your availability for a date. This would be a fine reply. Not too eager, but still indicating that you’re interested.

Or maybe you’re just replying to a colleague or manager’s request for a meeting. Polite, honest and clear.

Alternatively, you’re just busy right now, and plans are not going the way they were…well, planned. Compromise is a lovely thing! And this phrase sounds just like that.

Use it to indicate that you want to accommodate an invitation or the inviter’s plans, despite your current unavailability. Only if you are really free, of course.

6. Podemos reagendar isto?

“Can we reschedule this?”

So, life happened and you are unable to meet obligations or attend a planned meeting. This is a suitable question to ask if you wish to indicate your willingness to still engage with whatever is on the table.

Obviously you should (ideally) not ask to reschedule a party or big meeting! (Unless you’re the boss or it’s your own party, of course.) But if there’s reasonable wiggle room regarding arrangements, then this one’s your question.

7. Eu vou ter tempo suficiente no final do mês.

“I will have enough time at the end of the month.”

A go-to phrase when events or activities are likely to take up a lot of your time, such as going away for a weekend, spending the day at a local market, or writing your manager’s quarterly report (with 20 flow-charts in Powerpoint) - anything that won’t only take an hour or two.

8. Esta data está ok para você?

“Is this date OK with you?”

If the other party insists that you choose a time for a meeting, appointment, or date etc., then do so! Respond with this nice, somewhat casual question that leaves space for negotiation, but only needs a simple reply.

Suitable for friends, casual acquaintances, and colleagues.

9. Você está disponível nesse dia?

“Are you available on that day?”

This is the a-bit-more-formal version of the previous question. Again, it has room for negotiation, but only needs a simple response - nice and neat!

Maybe this is the go-to question when you’re addressing your seniors at work, or a person much older than you.

10. Podemos fazer isto o mais rápido possível?

“Can we do it as soon as possible?”

This question has an urgency to it that should preferably be responded to with the same. A simple reply will be good - yes or no. Less negotiable, this is still polite because it’s a question that gives you a choice.

But stand ready with one of the phrases in this article to help tie down a time and date!

11. Estou disponível todas as noites.

“I’m available every evening”

If you’re going to reply with this phrase, context is everything.

- If it’s your manager asking you to put in a bit of overtime, and you are available to - great reply! When deadlines are tight and everybody is stressing, your willingness to go the extra mile can only improve your relationship with your boss.

(Still, no need to be a doormat! If you get asked to work overtime too often, or if everyone else is goofing around while you have to graft, then re-evaluate the situation. And if you feel you’re being exploited a bit, don’t stress! Equip yourself with the diplomatic, yet assertive responses right in this article.)

- If it’s an old friend or longtime significant other asking to hang out - good reply. You know one another and appearances don’t matter any longer.

- If it’s a new crush who just asked when you’d be available for a date - stop. Not such a great reply. Tone down a bit! “Interested but not overly eager” is what you’re going for here.

Refer back to response #5, or use a counter-question, such as #1. Whatever suits you.

But if they - or anyone else - invite you to scale the Himalayas with them, then the next phrase will probably be the only sane response!

12. Eu preciso planejar isto com bastante antecedência.

“I need to plan this well in advance.”

So, as said under #9, perhaps you’re invited to join someone conquer the Himalayas.

Or your company manager wants you to plan the Party that Tops All Year-End Parties Forever.

Simply - if you get asked to do something that you know will need a lot of thorough planning, this is a good phrase to respond with.

It’s an assertive phrase that demonstrates two things regarding your attitude:

a) That you know your own abilities, and respect your own schedule.
b) That your respect other people’s time and schedule too.

Then just be sure to actually do that planning well in advance!

13. Precisamos encontrar outra data

“We need to find another date.”

So, you’re in negotiations regarding a date.

This is an assertive statement that should probably not be used with a “My way or the highway” attitude.

That stuff only works in the movies - think sharp-tongued Samuel L. Jackson. Or fierce Kristen Stewart. Yea, they can be scary, so tone down that tone.

Also, be mindful that fickle people who change plans all the time don’t keep friends! Taking others’ needs into consideration, while simultaneously having your way is a delicate art that takes proper cultivation. Use this phrase sparingly - we have better ones here to negotiate with.

Of course, if your planned trip to the dentist falls on the same day as the only Billie Eilish concert close by…well, priorities are priorities. Feel free to call the dentist with this phrase. Or even better, use the next one.

So, that’s it, folks! Which phrase did you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comments!

3. Can PortuguesePod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

Well yes, of course!

We think you will find these phrases easy to use when talking about dates and months in Portuguese. But knowing how to employ them properly could help you avoid sticky situations!

PortuguesePod101 is uniquely geared to help you with this and so much more.

This InnovativeLanguage.com initiative is one of many online language-learning courses. With us, you’ll find it easy and fun to learn a new language, and here are a few reasons why:

• Immediately upon enrollment, you’ll receive hundreds of well-designed lessons to get you going.
• Watch superb recordings of native Portuguese speakers in cool slide-shows - the easy way to practice till you sound just like a native speaker yourself!
• Also immediately upon enrollment, you’ll get access to a huge library of free resources! These include extensive, theme-based Vocabulary Lists and a Word of the Day List (For free, hot bargains!) These alone are sure to give your vocab-learning boxing gloves.
• You’ll also immediately be able to use an excellent and free Portuguese online dictionary. Necessary for quick, handy translations, no matter where you find yourself.
• For the serious learner, there are numerous enrollment upgrades available, one of which offers you a personal, online Portuguese host. Allow us to hold your hand and support you in your learning!

If you’re serious about mastering Portuguese easily yet correctly, PortuguesePod101 is definitely one of, if not the best, online language learning platforms available. Talking about your plans or dates in Portuguese need not ever spoil your stay.

So, hurry up—enroll today!

Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don’t parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family.

The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive - humans and animals alike!

At PortuguesePod101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family.

Table of Contents

1. Why Is It Important to Know Portuguese Vocabulary about Family?
2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first
3. How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn Portuguese Family Terms

1. Why Is It Important to Know Portuguese Vocabulary about Family?

Well, if you’re serious about studying any new language, then learning about the most important social unit in Portuguese culture would be a crucial part of your education.

What is family, though? Strictly speaking, it’s a group of people who live together and are supposed to take care of one another. Some of them are genetically linked.

Family isn’t just about who we’re related to by blood, of course. It’s also one of the main influences in shaping every child’s life.

Family is Important for Children’s Healthy Development

Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. Children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs from the day they were born.

Primary caregivers, which usually comprise parents and family, form a child’s first relationships. They are a child’s first teachers and are role models that show kids how to act and experience the world around them.

By nurturing and teaching children during their early years, families play an important role in making sure children are ready to learn when they enter school.

Families Can Take All Shapes and Sizes

However, the way families are put together is by no means standard.

Single-parent and same-gender households have become a new norm the past few decades, and there’s no shame in this. When there is love, connection and proper care, a child can thrive anywhere.

Everyone also knows that sometimes friends can become like family and remain with us for life, because it’s all about human connection.

After all, we share many commonalities simply because we’re human, and we are programmed to connect with one another and belong to a group. This is very important for our well-being and survival.

It’s All About Feeling Connected

As John Northman, a psychologist from Buffalo, NY, told WebMD - feeling connected to others contributes to mental as well as physical health.

He pointed out that when people feel connected, they feel better physically, and they’re also less likely to feel depressed.

Or, if they do feel depressed, they’d be in a better position to get out of it when they feel they are connecting with others. This is because they would be psychologically supported too, Northman said.

There has even been some links drawn between addiction and feeling disconnected from others. According to an article in Psychology Today, research indicates that addiction is not solely a substance disorder, but also affected by people feeling insecurely attached to others.

It showed that securely attached individuals tend to feel comfortable in and enjoy life, while insecurely attached people typically struggle to fit in and connect.

2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first

So, it’s clear that for most of us, family is our entry point into connection and belonging. This is true of every culture, so in every country, family takes prominence.

For this reason, PortuguesePod101 offers culturally-relevant lessons that will equip you well to understand families in Brazil.

Here are some of the most important Portuguese vocabulary and quotes about family and parenting!

A) Portuguese Family Vocabulary

Let’s start with the basic vocabulary. Without this collection of words, you’ll have a hard time describing any member of your family at all.

B) Quotes About Family

One of the ways to improve your Portuguese language skills is by memorizing quotes from books, or poems.

Either source some from Portuguese literature, or make use of ours!

Você não escolhe a sua família. Ela é um presente de Deus para você, como você o é para ela.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” - Desmond Tutu

Família não é uma coisa importante. É tudo.

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” - Michael J. Fox

Família significa que ninguém fica para trás ou é esquecido.

“Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” - David Ogden Stiers

Minha família é a minha força e a minha fraqueza.

“My family is my strength and my weakness.” - Aishwarya Rai

A família é uma das obras-primas da natureza.

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” - George Santayana

Quando os problemas aparecem, é a sua família que te apoia.

“When trouble comes, it’s your family that supports you.” - Guy Lafleur

A família é a primeira célula fundamental da sociedade humana.

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” - Pope John XXIII

Não existe essa coisa de diversão para toda a família.

“There is no such thing as fun for the whole family.” - Jerry Seinfeld

Você tem que defender a sua honra. E a sua família.

“You have to defend your honor. And your family.” - Suzanne Vega

Todas as famílias felizes são iguais; mas cada família infeliz é infeliz à sua maneira.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” - Leo Tolstoy

C) Test Your Knowledge!

Do you feel you have learned a lot in this blog? Let’s quickly test that!

In the table below, match the Portuguese vocabulary on the left with the definition of the relative in the right column.

How did it go? Don’t worry if you had trouble with it - you’ll get there! With a bit of practice, and our help at PortuguesePod101, you’ll soon have these family terms under the belt.

3. How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn Portuguese Family Terms

We hope that we helped you expand your family in Portuguese vocabulary!

PortuguesePod101, with its innovative online learning system, stands out among online learning platforms to help you master Portuguese easily.

Our lessons are tailored not only to increase your language skills, but to also inform you of Portuguese culture, including the Portuguese family structure.

When you sign up, you will get instant access to tools like:

1 - An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
2 - A new Portuguese word to learn every day
3 - Quick access to the Portuguese Key Phrase List
4 - A free Portuguese online dictionary
5 - The excellent 100 Core Portuguese Word List
6 - An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

Further speed up your learning with the help of a personal tutor, who will first assess your current Portuguese language abilities to personalize your training and tailor it to your needs.

Hard work always pays off, and to help you in this, PortuguesePod101 will be there every step of the way toward your Portuguese mastery!

Answers: 1.i. 2.f. 3.r. 4.w. 5.l. 6.o. 7.y. 8.j. 9.a. 10.c. 11.u. 12.z. 13.k. 14.b. 15.g 16.x. 17.h. 18.m. 19.d. 20.e. 21.n. 22.p. 23.q. 24.s. 25.t. 26.v.

Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to Brazil. Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag - another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East?

Well, we won’t know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate.

To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at PortuguesePod101! Why don’t you take the time to study Portuguese travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your Portuguese friends or travel guide with your flawless Portuguese!

Table of Contents

1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases
2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words
3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases
4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country
5. PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases

Impressing Portuguese people or your travel partners will be the least of the benefits you reap from learning these helpful phrases. These are greater ones:

1) Eliminate Travel Frustration: First of all, you’ll be able to cut out a good chunk of travel frustration and inconvenience due to language barriers.

Know how to pronounce and use at least the basic Portuguese phrases, and then just look foreign. This should go a long way to help you get by and win you friends, because locals would be more inclined to help someone who took the trouble to learn a smidgen of their language.

2) Emergency Readiness: In case of an emergency, you will be able to get help a lot quicker if you know how to ask for what in Portuguese. Imagine miming to a doctor or nurse that you have a sore ear but that you’re allergic to penicillin. Not so easy, right?

Rather, you should know basic emergency travel phrases, especially if you suffer from a serious condition. Also, information about life-threatening allergies you have should always be on your person in the language of the country you’re visiting.

3) Sight-Seeing Readiness: Hopefully, you also travel to learn more about a country’s culture. Visiting the main tourist sites in Brazil will be more interesting if you know how to ask pertinent questions in Portuguese.

In this blog, we’ll also be giving you important travel phrases to consider - from the 13 essential must-have phrases to ones that are just generally useful and good to know.

Let’s get cracking!

2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words

Seasoned explorers of multiple countries will tell you that certain words and phrases are absolute must-knows in anyone’s travel vocabulary. Learning from them, we collated some of the most essential ones here for you.

If you know these travel phrases and words by heart in Portuguese, you will be much better equipped for your visit than most of your movie-binging travel mates.

1) Obrigado (Thank you)

As a tourist, you will be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. Repay them with a small acknowledgment of their friendly generosity - know how to say “thank you” in Portuguese.

2) Você fala inglês? (Do you speak English?)

While it may be a bit of a cop-out, sometimes you just can’t figure out how to communicate. Maybe you’re blanking on one specific word you need, maybe they’re speaking with a heavy accent, or maybe it’s just really late and you really want to get to the hotel. In that case, try asking if they speak English, and hopefully you can make things a little bit simpler for yourself.

Don’t abuse this phrase, though! If you just try to get by without learning any of the local language, not only will you not learn anything - you’ll be out of luck if they can’t speak English!

3) Tem algum ônibus que vai do aeroporto até a cidade? (Is there a bus from the airport to the city?)

Public transit is usually cheaper, if slower, than taking a taxi or rideshare. Use this phrase to see if you can get where you’re going when you’re strapped for cash, or just when you’d like to take the scenic route into town!

4) Esse é o ônibus que vai até o aeroporto? (Is this the right bus for the airport?)

Likewise, if you’re the kind of person who can get themselves moving early (or maybe you just have a late flight), maybe you want to take the bus to the airport rather than taking a cab. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be sure you’re actually heading the right way! You wouldn’t want to end up at a lookout point half an hour away, watching your flight take off in the distance, would you?

5) Com licença, quanto é a passagem? (Excuse me, what’s the fare?)

If you are paying for a cab, you’ll want to know how much. Most legal taxis will have meters, but when dealing with a currency you’re not familiar with, it can be worth asking just to double check that you’re paying the right amount - especially if the currency has cents.

6) Eu tenho uma reserva (I have a reservation)

This one you can expect to use at least a few times throughout your trip, unless you’re the kind of person who travels by the seat of their pants and just goes to whatever hotel, motel, or hostel has rooms available.

7) Você tem um quarto vago pra hoje? (Do you have any vacancies tonight?)

If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be using this phrase instead. Quite possibly a lot, depending on how lucky you are!

8 ) Onde fica a estação de trem? (Where is the train station?)

If you’re in a country with an expansive commuter rail system (or maybe just a fan of other types of locomotives), you may want to know where the closest station is. Just don’t go looking for pennies on the rails!

9) Eu sou alérgico a amendoins (I am allergic to peanuts)

Replace “peanuts” with whatever the word for your allergen may be. If your allergy is serious, you probably already know the importance of stating this very clearly in Portuguese.

If the condition is life-threatening, be sure to have a letter or prescription from a medical professional in Portuguese on your person at all times. Consider getting a medical alert bracelet specially made in Portuguese if your stay will be longer than a month or so.

10) Você tem algum prato vegetariano? (Do you have any vegetarian dishes?)

If you dislike eating certain things, or you have certain dietary restrictions, it would be best if you knew how to convey this clearly in Portuguese.

Remember, though, that saying “I’m vegan” or “I’m diabetic” may not be enough to get you what you want. The rules for veganism and vegetarianism are not standard everywhere in the world. Also, your patron might not understand what “diabetic” means. If you have a medical condition, it would be best to research some in-depth vocabulary beforehand.

11) Você me vê um mapa? (Could I get a map?)

Planning on exploring your destination? Hopelessly lost? Maybe just an amateur cartographer? No matter the reason, this phrase is sure to come in handy. That said, you’re more likely to get use out of it at some sort of tourist or travel center than you are asking a random passerby on the street.

12) Quanto custa este daqui? (How much is this?)

Even if you’re not a big shopper, you’re probably going to need this phrase at some point. Knowing how to count in Portuguese will, of course, help a lot with purchases too.

13) Você aceita cartão de crédito? (Do you take credit card?)

This is another travel phrase that will smooth your monetary transactions considerably.

3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases

Unlike the previous phrases, these are not really essential so much as they are useful. Yet, knowing these will still smooth over some bumps on your journey, more than just knowing the crucial phrases would.

1) O Wi-Fi é gratuito? (Is the Wi-Fi free?)

If you’re abroad, your normal cellular plans probably won’t have any service, and you’ll be totally reliant on publically available Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Just ask a server, clerk, or attendant, and they’ll be happy to let you know. Just make sure you’re paying attention when they tell you the password!

2) Você pode tirar uma foto pra mim, por favor? (Could you take a picture of me please?)

What would a trip be with no photos to commemorate the event? Just be sure to ask this of someone who actually looks like they’d be willing to, unless you’re willing to risk being given the cold shoulder or worse. If you’re at a tourist attraction, you’ll find that most people are more than happy to take one for you, so long as you take one of them as well!

3) Você tem alguma sugestão? (Do you have any recommendations?)

Eating alone in a restaurant? Or going out with new Portuguese friends or business colleagues? Let them help you decide what to have.

4) Eu gostaria de um lugar para não fumantes, por favor (I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please)

Though smoking has gone out of fashion in some places, it’s still popular in others. In the event you’re at a restaurant where smoking is allowed on premises, you can always ask this question to the staff and be seated elsewhere.

5) Uma água, por favor (Water, please)

If you’ve emptied your glass, or are cutting yourself off after a few drinks, you can always ask for some water. It can be especially useful if the restaurant is busy to the point you need to call out to someone to get service.

6) Você pode trazer a conta? (Could I have the check?)

To finish off the restaurant related phrases, if you’re eating with friends or really want to impress your colleagues, taking the bill can be a nice treat for them. Of course, this phrase could come in handy as well if you’re eating alone and you’re just impatient to leave.

7) O que você recomenda para souvenir? (What do you recommend for a souvenir?)

Now that your trip is over, what better way to cap it all off than a memento, or maybe a gift for friends and family at home? It’ll be nicer to have something recommended by the locals than a cheap bauble from the airport store, so go ahead and ask someone you’ve met what they think.

4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country

When traveling, it’s possible to keep communication smooth when you don’t share a language.

Do so by keeping these five tips in mind. They are aimed to help you communicate with those who cannot speak English very well, and also to keep your traveling experience pleasant!

1. Keep your English simple and easy to understand.
If the person you are talking to speaks very little English, use basic verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and keep sentences short.

However, don’t patronize them by talking in pidgin or like you would address a child. Keep your speech simple but natural, and use the correct grammar.

For instance, don’t say: “You come when?”. If you say: “When will you come?”, you will very likely be understood, and may even help someone who wants to improve their English.

2. Ask someone to write information down.
Apply Rule 1 first at your hotel, where the staff is very likely to be able to speak some English. Get them to write down, in their native language, things like: “I would like to go to the airport, please,” “Please take me to the beach,” or “Where is the closest bathroom?”

These written questions are something you can then give to taxi drivers or any other people who are willing and able to help you. This simple step could make your life a lot easier when you travel to a foreign country!

3. Avoid asking leading questions!
If you want the correct information from a non-native English speaker, that is.

When you need directions, for instance, don’t ask: “To get to the bus stop, do I need to turn left here?” If the person didn’t really understand you, you will probably just get a smile and a “Yes,” which could possibly make you miss your bus.

Rather, you should ask: “Where is the bus stop?” If they understand you, you will get the correct directions.

4. Pick the right person to ask for help.
Time to look at people and think a bit about their appearance! A younger person who looks like they might be a student is more likely to have English skills than the friendly but ancient lady smiling at you from a fruit stall.

If you don’t see anyone like that, head into town to the nearest bank, hospital, pharmacy, or hotel. The staff at those places usually speak a bit of English.

5. Know when to quit.
If you stuck to the above rules, but the person you are talking to only stares at you blankly, say thank you and leave. Hanging around hoping someone will suddenly understand and respond is just wasting your time, and may irritate them as well. Go find someone else.

5. PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

So, reader, have you found this article helpful?

Do you feel comfortable enough to use some essential travel phrases in Portuguese? We’d also love to hear if you think we left out important travel phrases. Leave your suggestions and opinions in the comments!

PortuguesePod101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Portuguese reading and speaking easily, and in fun ways.

These tools include:

- An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
- A new Portuguese word to learn every day
- Quick access to the Portuguese Key Phrase List
- A free Portuguese online dictionary
- The excellent 100 Core Portuguese Word List
- An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

You will also have access to topic-specific recordings like our Before You Travel: Survival Phrases lesson.

Learn even more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, after taking an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training.

Getting a tutor is also a good option if you meet challenges in your learning, or need to fast-track correct pronunciation and diction. Your very own friendly, Portuguese-speaking teacher will be only a text away on a special app, anywhere, anytime - an excellent option for business persons!

Using a guided learning system that was developed by experts in language and online education, you’ll receive personal feedback and constant support to improve in no time. You’ll also be tasked with weekly assignments in reading, writing, and speaking to hone your Portuguese speaking skills.

Imagine how impressed your Portuguese friends or colleagues will be when you display your excellent conversational skills! With PortuguesePod101, getting there will be easy and fun.

Especially if you’re planning a prolonged visit to Brazil, using the correct Portuguese numbers for counting in Portuguese could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes.

Table of Contents

1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems
2. Why is it Important to Learn Portuguese Numbers?
3. Learning Portuguese Numbers
4. Why Choose PortuguesePod101 to Learn all about Portuguese Numbers?

1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems

1. The Ishango Bone

The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal system was found to be only between 20,000 and 35,000 thousand years old. This discovery came around 1960 in the form of the so-called Ishango Bone found in the Congo, Central Africa.

The 10cm/4 inch piece of bone was a fibula from a baboon. It showed markings with a neat, unified pattern of small lines - far too organized and sophisticated to have formed spontaneously. Archeologists believe that those thin markings were carved to keep score of, or count, something. The lines seemed to represent a sequence of prime numbers and a series of duplications. Some even called it the first-ever pocket calculator!

2. Mesopotamia and Greece

Yet, evidence suggests that it wasn’t until about 4,000 years ago that humans truly started counting and using numbers. Together with the development of civilization came developed agriculture, and the need for measurement and score-keeping was increased.

For this reason, a formal number system and mathematics were developed first in the Middle East, in what was then called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was roughly situated in the area of modern-day Iraq and Kuwait. Allegedly, the system was pretty simple at first. Citizens used tokens that represented a certain number of items, such as one token equalling four goats, etc. This eventually evolved into a system of score marks pressed into clay, which ultimately went on to influence Greek mathematics.

3. Hindu-Arabic Numbers

Zero, meanwhile, was conceived later and elsewhere. Inspired by the Hindu religion, which allows for the concept of infinity and eternity, the Indians invented a symbol to represent nothing. The magic of the zero lies not in itself but its combination with other numbers.

The Indians were also the creators of today’s numbers, which are often referred to as Hindu-Arabic numbers. These comprise one or a combination of just ten symbols or digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

Europe learned of this numeric system only around 1200 A.D., when they were introduced to it by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Pisano Bigollo.

Pisano, also known as Fibonacci, is famous for the discovery of a mathematical sequence with countless applications. Yes, math buffs, it’s the well-known Fibonacci sequence, also called the Golden Mean.

The Roman numeric system, which was clumsy next to the newer inventions, gradually lost popularity in the West. It’s from here that they “slowly spread to conquer the world,'’ as Steven Law puts it.

2. Why is it Important to Learn Portuguese Numbers?

For us at PortuguesePod101, this is an easy question to answer! Because we know that numbers are a global unifier.

Counting and numbers have made our lives easier since they were first formulated, even in their most primitive forms.

Without knowing your numbers, you can’t properly communicate about or deal with the following:

1) Your date/time of birth, i.e., your age: This is vital information to be able to give to people like doctors, employers, law enforcement, and so forth.

2) Banking: Worldwide, our monetary systems are built on numbers. Interest, credit scores, and loans all rely on math beyond simple finger counting.

3) Time: Without knowing how to say numbers, you can’t talk or ask about the time and expect to get a useful response. You don’t want to miss an appointment or schedule something for the wrong hour!

4) Ordering data: Numbers bring order to a mostly random life! Scientists even say that numbers and the way they are organized underpin the whole universe. From using them to count your meals’ calories and the number of likes your posts get on social media, to drawing up intricate data charts and explaining existence itself - numbers are what makes these things possible.

All of the above and more are reasons why it is important to know your numbers if you plan on travelling or becoming a foreign worker abroad, in Brazil or anywhere else!

3. Learning Portuguese Numbers

Now, let’s explore the Portuguese number system a bit more! Take a look at this infographic.

Can you make out for yourself what the Portuguese numbers between one (1) and nine (9) look and sound like? Easy, right?

Or, if you struggled a bit, no problem. Why not listen to how Portuguese numbers one (1) through ten (10) sound when pronounced by our native Portuguese speaker and friendly PortuguesePod101 teacher?

Then, share with us in the comments your native language’s romanized pronunciation of your number system. We’d love to see all the different ways the same numbers can be pronounced!

When you have mastered the first ten numbers, you have basically nailed the most significant part of the number system. Well done! Curious to learn the numbers from eleven upward? No problem! Why not subscribe and enroll with us now to immediately enjoy this lesson, teaching you all about Portuguese numbers eleven (11) to one hundred (100)?

Finally, if you’re curious how the numbers look once you’ve broken one hundred, why not check out our Portuguese number vocabulary page? You can see the numbers we’ve just covered, all the way up to four thousand (4,000). Plus, you can also see the Portuguese words for different numbers used in example sentences, to get an idea of how you can use them in your day-to-day conversations!

4. Why Choose PortuguesePod101 to Learn all about Portuguese Numbers?

PortuguesePod101, like all Innovative Language Learning ventures, takes the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun. It’s never an easy thing to learn a new language, but we formulated all your lessons so they’re nicely bite-sized, and geared to keep you motivated!

Also, we created a great number of fantastic tools to help keep struggle and boredom out of the learning process.

• Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn - what a beautiful cycle! PortuguesePod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect with! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Portuguese!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Portuguese with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account - for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Portuguese dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about PortuguesePod101…!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Portuguese teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to - what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Portuguese word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Portuguese level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

So, why wait? Sign up with PortuguesePod101 right away! Also, let us know in the comments if you’ve used this blog post, or any of the free lessons anywhere to master Portuguese numbers. Or, even better - share your birthdate using what you’ve learned!

Did you know that Brazil is the country with the fourth-largest number of Internet users in the world? Take that huge number of people online, add to it the natural creativity and humor of Brazilians, and you get a whole new world of Portuguese slang and expressions!

Some Brazilian internet slang is more common with the younger crowds, while other slang phrases are used by people of all ages. Besides that, many expressions born online and in memes end up in the daily vocabulary of Brazilians, even if just for a few months. In this article, we’ll focus more on long-lasting expressions, abbreviations, and slang words. But if you’re curious enough, you can always continue keeping up-to-date with new memes and engage with Portuguese speakers online.

To make sure you’re up-to-speed with all the abbreviations, codes, and expressions in the Brazilian internet scene, be sure to check this guide and come back whenever you need to. After going through this guide, you’ll be able to handle your internet-based conversations and understand all the Brazilian online gírias, or “slang,” like a local!

Table of Contents

1. Abbreviations Used in Portuguese Texting
2. Laughing the Brazilian Way
3. Portuguese Internet Slang Derived from English
4. Internet Slangs Popular on Social Media
5. Popular Emojis in Brazil
6. Learn More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

1. Abbreviations Used in Portuguese Texting

Vc tá no trabalho hj? ( “Are you at work today?” )

Texting is all about speed in Brazil. Abbreviations are everywhere, since they make it much quicker to write sentences. In Portuguese, it works the same way it does in English: we make the words smaller by substituting whole syllables for just one or two letters.

1 - Basic Words

The most commonly used abbreviations in Portuguese text slang are used by people of all ages in Brazil, and can be seen everywhere online from social media comments to Whatsapp messages. Considering the huge number of Brazilians connected to the internet, chances are you’ll encounter these abbreviations in your next text conversation!

Man checking wristwatch

2 - Abbreviations of Expressions

The following abbreviations are a bit more popular among younger people. These are common Brazilian Portuguese text slang expressions that are used online, on social media, and when texting!

/!\ Note /!\

You might have noticed that the different conjugations of the verb estar can appear in two ways: the original version and a shortened version.

está → tá
estou → tô
estamos → tamos

These aren’t slang words per se, and they’re very common in both spoken Portuguese and in text messages or social media.

2. Laughing the Brazilian Way

A guide to Brazilian Portuguese internet slang could never be complete without an in-depth look at how Brazilians laugh online. With the vast numbers of Brazilians on the internet, the particular way in which they laugh has caused plenty of confusion online. Let’s unpack the top ways in which Brazilians laugh online and get you laughing along!

• kkk

The award for most confusing laughter has to go to kkk—and all of its variations with an increasing number of k’s, depending on how much fun you’re having! And no, don’t worry, this is not a racist salute in any way.

For some reason, in Brazil, the idea of laughing with a “qua-qua-qua” sound is an old one, as you can hear in this song of the iconic Brazilian singer Elis Regina.

• rsrs

This is an abbreviation of the word risos (”laughter”).

• huahuahuahua

This is another common way of laughing, derived from the traditional “hahaha.”

• hdashdjkasdjshdsdjasd

Randomly pressing letters on the keyboard is also common!

• Other honorable mentions

huehuehue, hauhauhauhau, spoaskoaksak, kjkjkjkjkjkjkj, haushhaushshsuah

Can you tell Brazilians are happy people? A simple “LOL” is not enough to express all the dimensions of fun!

3. Portuguese Internet Slang Derived from English

Many commonly used internet slang words in Portuguese actually originate from English words! And we’re not talking about the abbreviations that come straight from the English language and are used in the same context, like BFF, OMG, or plz. After all, in Brazil, things go a step further!

Most of the cases below are used as verbs, adding a Portuguese ending to an English word. This kind of expression is quite common, and there’s always a new one being added to the Brazilian internet vocabulary! Let’s take a look at the most popular ones.

Sometimes the Expressions Make No Literal Sense!

4. Internet Slangs Popular on Social Media

You may not know, but Brazil is a fertile land for memes! As a result, many Portuguese expressions are born online and can even reach the streets being used in real life. Here are some popular internet-born slang words and expressions that you might hear from locals in an informal conversation.

→ Continue learning what’s popular in Brazil with the Top 5 Culture Icons You Need to Know About, on PortuguesePod101!

5. Popular Emojis in Brazil

Wondering what the most popular emojis are in Brazil? Since they’re such an important part of texting, it’s good to know what’s commonly used when talking to locals!

1. Red heart ❤️
2. Heart eyes 😍
3. Clapping hands 👏
4. Cat with heart eyes 😻
5. Please / Thank you 🙏
6. Music 🎶
7. Smiling moon, which can imply flirting 🌚
8. Peace sign ✌️
9. Eyes 👀

Now You’re Ready to Text Like a Brazilian!

6. Learn More Portuguese with PortuguesePod101

Feeling ready to confidently text in Brazilian Portuguese? Feel free to come back to this article whenever you need to brush up on your Portuguese internet slang. New expressions and abbreviations might pop up from time to time, so the best way to keep up-to-date is engaging with Portuguese speakers online!

Do you think we forgot any important slang words or phrases? Did the examples help you understand when to use each expression? Let us know in the comments below!

Now it’s time to continue on your language-learning journey! There are more free Portuguese resources and a variety of vocabulary lists available on PortuguesePod101. Go ahead and choose your favorite tools to expand your learning opportunities.

If you want to take your learning experience further, members of PortuguesePod101.com get access to the largest language lesson library in the world, with thousands of real lessons by real teachers. Perfect for anyone who wants to learn from anywhere, feel motivated, and be ready to speak Portuguese with confidence.

Learn how to apologize in Portuguese - fast and accurately! PortuguesePod101 makes it easy for you to make amends. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your Portuguese Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Portuguese
2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Portuguese
3. Audio Lesson - Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”
4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Portuguese through PortuguesePod101

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Portuguese

Nobody’s perfect, not anywhere in the world. Everybody makes mistakes, and does and says regrettable things. Then it’s time to apologize, as saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not in vain. It can be very healing! Did you know that hearing a sincerely-meant apology can have a noticeable effect on a person’s body? Research has shown that it slows down breathing and heart rate, and even causes a drop in blood pressure.

Sometimes we cannot fix what’s broken, but we can make the experience a bit easier for anyone who suffered on account of our thoughtless actions or words.

Here are a number of ways to say sorry in Portuguese. In any language, just make sure you really mean it! An insincere apology will not go down well with anyone.

Desculpa.
I’m sorry

These words should precede anything else you have to say. Use them sincerely and whenever you are clearly in the wrong. Acknowledging your guilt and apologizing for any wrongdoing will lift your spirits too! Often, remorse can eat away at us, and a simple ‘I’m sorry’, in Portuguese or any other language, can open the door for forgiveness and resolution of a bad situation. It can be a true gift!

Eu gostaria de me desculpar.
I would like to apologize.

This is a slightly more formal way to say ‘I’m sorry’ in Portuguese. Use this phrase if you’re addressing your superiors and/or elders.

Eu peço desculpas de coração.
I sincerely apologize.

If you feel strongly about your apology, this is another slightly more formal phrase to use. Keep it handy for graver errors, or you might come across as insincere!

Eu não vou mais fazer isso.
I won’t do it again.

A promise you can only make if you intend to keep it! Few things feel as bad as having to hear repeated apologies from someone for the same behavior - it means the ‘sorry’ is not sincere. Don’t be that person!

Eu vou me assegurar de não cometer este erro de novo.
I’ll make sure not to make this mistake again.

A beautifully strong phrase! Again, say this only if you mean it - not just in the moment, but always! A bit more formal, this is an especially good phrase to use when apologizing to superiors and/or elders. It will make an especially good impression at the workplace, where accountability is an excellent quality to display!

Eu não quis dizer isso.
I didn’t mean that.

This is a tricky one… What did you mean, then?! Clear up any confusion with sincerity. Also, use this phrase only if the harm done or mistake made was due to an accident, and then admit to thoughtlessness on your part, if appropriate.

É minha culpa.
It’s my fault.

If the fault is really yours, own up to it. You will gain respect in the eyes of others! However, don’t take the blame when it’s not truly yours. It won’t be good for you, and ultimately you will not be respected much for it.

Desculpa por ter sido egoísta.
I’m sorry for being selfish.

This is a good phrase to keep handy, especially for your close relationships. It is difficult to admit you’re selfish, isn’t it?! However, it’s good to know when to be honest. We get used to our loved ones, which often means we forget that they need our good manners and unselfish behavior just as much as strangers do.

Eu espero que você me perdoe.
I hope you will forgive me.

This is a polite and gentle wish that can smooth over many harsh feelings. It also shows that the other person’s opinion and forgiveness are important to you.

Eu assumo toda a responsabilidade.
I take full responsibility.

This strong statement is similar to admitting that an error or transgression was your fault. It speaks of courage and the willingness to take remedial action. Good one to use…if you mean it!

Eu não deveria ter feito isso.
I shouldn’t have done it.

This phrase is fine to use if you did or said something wrong. It shows, to an extent, your regret for having done or said what you did, and demonstrates that you understand your role in the mistake.

Desculpa por devolver o seu dinheiro atrasado.
Sorry for giving your money back late.

It’s rotten to have to loan money! Yet, it’s equally rotten to have to ask for the repayment of a loan. So, do your best not to pay late in the first place, but if it can’t be helped, this would be a good phrase to use!

Por favor, não fica bravo comigo.
Please don’t be mad at me.

Well, this is not a very advisable phrase to use if you are clearly in the wrong. If someone is justifiably angry with you, asking them not to be mad at you would be an unfair expectation. However, if you did something wrong by accident, and if the consequences were not too serious, this request would be OK.

Desculpa por chegar atrasada.
Sorry I’m late.

Punctuality is valued in most situations, but if you really cannot help being late, then apologize! This way you show respect for your host, and win their approval.

Peço desculpas por ter sido malvada com você.
I apologize for being mean to you.

Acknowledging your own meanness towards someone is no small thing, so good for you! Use this apology only if your intention is to seriously address your mean tendencies, or these words could become meaningless over time.

2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Portuguese

Congratulations! Now you know how to apologize in Portuguese! After you have apologized for a mistake, focus on fixing whatever you can, and don’t punish yourself over something that cannot be taken back or reversed. That’s healthy for you! Regret can eat away at the soul, and even destroy it. It is ultimately a useless emotion if it consumes you.

However, in language, we use apologies not only when we’ve transgressed or made mistakes. They come in handy in other situations too, when there has been no wrongdoing. Sometimes we need to express regret for having to refuse a gift, an offer, or an invitation. This can be somewhat tricky. Learn from specialists at PortuguesePod101 about how to use the correct Portuguese words for this kind of ‘sorry’!

3. Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”

On the run and need a quick lesson on how to say sorry in Portuguese? Don’t fret, just listen and repeat! Click here for a recorded short lesson and learn how to give the perfect apology, with perfect pronunciation in Portuguese. A little can go a long way, and you will sound like a native!

4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Portuguese through PortuguesePod101

Online learning is here to stay, that’s a fact. In 2015, the Digital Learning Compass Partnership released a report based on surveys to determine online enrollment trends in US institutions for higher education. Thirty percent of all their students learned online! And the number is growing! However, how can you be sure you will not regret your choice of an online language learning school? First, look at the school’s credentials and what it has to offer…

• Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn - what a beautiful cycle! PortuguesePod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect to! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Portuguese!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Portuguese with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account - for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Portuguese dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about PortuguesePod101…!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. Your can have your very own Portuguese teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to - what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Portuguese word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Portuguese level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

After this lesson, you will know almost every ‘sorry for’ in Portuguese, but don’t let it be that you’re sorry for missing a great opportunity. Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in PortuguesePod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Portuguese!

Each year, Brazilians take it upon themselves to celebrate and pay tribute to the patroness of Brazil, Our Lady of Aparecida. This is a major religious observance for Catholics, who often make a journey to the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida on this day.

In this article, you’ll learn about the Our Lady of Aparecida apparition, one of her most famous miracles, and the most common traditions associated with this holiday.

At PortuguesePod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both and informative!

1. What is Our Lady of Aparecida Day?

On Our Lady of Aparecida Day, Brazil pays tribute to its patron saint, who is sometimes also referred to as the Virgin of Aparecida or the Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

But why is she considered such an important figure, and when did people start celebrated this holiday?

Our Lady of Aparecida Story

The image of the Saint was discovered in the present-day Paraíba River. Three fishermen were trying to fish to prepare a very important dinner. After many vain tries, they finally did catch something in their net—the image of the saint, without her head.

And the next time they let down their net? The fisherman caught her missing head. This event is often called the Our Lady of Aparecida apparition, and also explains why her name means “Appeared.” From this point on, many miracles were attributed to the patroness of Brazil, starting with the abundance of fish the fisherman caught afterwards.

The Saint stayed in Guaratinguetá with one of the fishermen, but with the increase in the number of followers, they had to build a prayer hall, afterwards a chapel, a church, and finally a basilica.

In 1928, the town around the church became the Aparecida municipality, and in 1930, Pope Pius XI proclaimed Our Lady Aparecida as Queen of Brazil and its patron. In the year 1980, Pope John Paul II consecrated the Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida as the largest Marian sanctuary in the world.

2. When Does Brazil Celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida Day?

Each year, Brazilians celebrate Our Lady of Aparecida Day on October 12.

3. Traditions & Celebrations

During the day of Our Lady, more than 150,000 of the faithful will visit the Saint, thank her for blessings, and fulfill promises. Some of the faithful organize themselves into groups to go to the basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, performing religious pilgrimages called romarias. There are groups that go by foot or by horse, and travel long distances to the city of Aparecida, where the basilica is located. And, naturally, the Catholic churches perform many masses to honor the patron saint of Brazil.

The majority of Brazilians are followers of Catholicism. In homage to Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil women are often called Maria Aparecida or Aparecida, and their nicknames might be Cida or Cidinha.

4. Attacks on the Image

The image of Our Lady has suffered a few attacks, such as one in 1978, when a young man knocked the image over. The pieces were gathered up and the image was restored after about two months of work. Today, a bulletproof dome protects the image.

5. Useful Vocabulary for Our Lady of Aparecida Day

Here’s the essential vocabulary you need to know for Our Lady of Aparecida Day in Brazil!

• Procissão — “Procession”
• Peregrinação — “Pilgrimage”
• Padroeira do Brasil — “Patroness of Brazil”
• Doze de outubro — “October 12″
• Consagração à Nossa Senhora Aparecida — “Consecration to Our Lady of Aparecida”
• Cavalgada — “Cavalcade”
• Caravana — “Caravan”
• Basílica de Nossa Senhora Aparecida — “Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida”
• Missa — “Mass”
• Orar — “Pray”
• Dia de Nossa Senhora — “Our Lady of Aparecida Day”
• Nossa Senhora Aparecida — “Our Lady of Aparecida”
• Rainha do Brasil — “Queen of Brazil”
• Dia da Mãe de Jesus — “Day of the Mother of Jesus”
• Milagre — “Miracle”
• Santa — “Saint”

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, alongside relevant images, check out the Our Lady of Aparecida Day vocabulary list on our website!

How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn Brazilian Culture

We hope you enjoyed learning about Our Lady of Aparecida Day with us, and that you learned something new. Is there a patron of your country, or a highly regarded figure it celebrates? Let us know in the comments!

To continue learning about Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language, continue exploring PortuguesePod101.com. We provide an array of fun and effective learning tools for every learner, at every level:

• Insightful blog posts on a range of cultural and language-related topics
• Free vocabulary lists covering a variety of topics and themes
• Podcasts and videos to improve your listening and pronunciation skills
• Mobile apps to learn Portuguese anywhere, on your own time
• Much, much more!

For an even more enhanced learning experience, be sure to upgrade to Premium Plus to take advantage of our MyTeacher program. Doing so will give you access to your own Portuguese tutor, who will help you develop a learning plan based on your needs and goals.

At PortuguesePod101, we know that you can master the language and culture of Brazil, and we care about your learning experience! Know that your hard work will pay off, and we’ll be here with help and guidance every step of the way.

Did you know that Brazil is the only country in the Americas that uses Portuguese as its national language? This is because, for nearly three-hundred years, Portugal colonized Brazil. In 1822, freedom and independence finally became a realistic goal for Brazil, and as you can imagine, Brazil’s Independence Day is the country’s most important holiday.

How did Brazil gain its independence after so long a colonial period? In this article, you’ll learn about the history behind the Brazil Day of Independence, as well as Brazil Independence Day celebrations.

At PortuguesePod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative. So let’s get started!

1. What is Brazil’s Independence Day?

Brazil was a colony of Portugal for 285 years. However, when Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1815, the Portuguese court was forced to move to Rio de Janeiro, thus creating the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarve.

The Portuguese Court remained in Brazil until 1820, when the Liberal Revolution of Porto in Portugal forced King John to return to Europe. The Portuguese Government sought to make Brazil a colony once again, but the country was never to return to its former colonial status.

In 1822, a Court Order was issued to Pedro de Alcântara, prince regent of Brazil, for his return to Portugal. However, Pedro was petitioned to stay by the Brazilian people and decided accordingly to remain in Brazil. The day of his decision became known as the Dia do Fico (I’ll Stay Day), marking the first step toward the country’s independence.

Seeing that independence was inevitable, on September 7, 1822, after receiving a letter from his father demanding his return to Portugal, Pedro declared Brazil’s independence on the banks of the Ipiranga River with the famous words “Independence or Death!”

2. When is the Independence Day of Brazil?

Each year, Brazil celebrates its Independence Day on September 7.

3. Brazil Independence Day Celebrations

This holiday is also known as the Homeland Day or Seventh of September Day.

On Independence Day, Brazil celebrations throughout the country include civilian-military patriotic parades in all the city centers. Various public and military colleges participate in these parades.

The most famous of these celebrations is that of Brasília, held at the Esplanade of the Ministries, in the presence of the President of the Republic. In general, this event gains an audience of about fifty-thousand people.

And for Brazilians outside Brazil? The Brazilian Day is also celebrated worldwide, usually during the month of September, as an event to commemorate the independence of Brazil, accompanied by much Brazilian music and food.

4. How Did Brazil Get its Name?

Do you know where the name of Brazil comes from?

It comes from the name of a tree called Brazilwood that is native to the Atlantic Forest. Its wood is reddish in color and used to be used for dyeing textiles, but today this tree is under risk of extinction.

5. Vocabulary to Know for Brazil’s Independence Day

Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Brazil’s Independence Day!

• Dia da independência — “Independence Day”
• Dia da independência do Brasil — “Independence Day of Brazil”
• Banda — “Band”
• Desfile — “Parade”
• Sete de setembro — “September 7″
• Discurso do presidente — “president’s speech”
• Semana da Pátria — “Motherland Week”
• Pátria — “Motherland”
• Independência ou Morte! — “Independence or Death!”
• Independência — “Independence”
• Hastear a bandeira — “Hoist the flag”
• Hino da Independência do Brasil — “Independence Anthem“

To hear each of these Portuguese vocabulary words pronounced, check out our Independence Day of Brazil vocabulary list!

How PortuguesePod101 Can Help You Learn About Brazilian Culture

We hope you enjoyed learning about Brazil’s Independence Day with us! To make sure you were paying attention, answer this question in the comments: When did Brazil gain independence, and how?

Also feel free to share about the national day in your own country; we always love hearing from you!

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Really mastering a language takes work, but we know you can do it. Just keep up the hard work and hold on to your determination! You got this.

Portuguese is a complex language and people who are learning how to speak it often complain about its difficulty. Well, besides the verbs, adverbs, and syntax construction, there’s also the nonverbal communication in Brazil that’s pretty rich.

Luckily for you, we’re here to help you dominate the body language in Brazil. As you might know, Brazilians are particularly expressive with their hands, so we’ll be looking at the most common Brazilian hand gestures in addition to other body gestures.

In this article, we’ll explain what the offensive hand gestures in Brazil are and much more.

You can approve of something, disapprove, tell that you’re in trouble, allow someone to come in, say hello, and so much more without using words. You’ll see exactly how in a bit.

Table of Contents

1. Body Postures
2. Hand Gestures in Brazil
3. Facial Expressions and Another Portuguese Gesture Tip
4. Conclusion

1. Body Postures

There are plenty of Portuguese body gestures, and the best way to start this concise guide is by analyzing the body language and gestures in Brazil that are easiest to identify. The focus of these following postures is the movement of the torso and the limbs.

Whether it’s the full torso or just part of it, these postures will be more pronounced than any other types of Brazil nonverbal communication.

1- “What can I do?”

O que posso fazer?

You had a huge problem to solve but couldn’t handle it. Oh no… In fact, everything went wrong and there’s nothing you can do about it. Who would have thought? What can you do now?

Nothing. Unfortunately, that’s the role you’ll play from now on. But the impotence of action is sometimes too intense to put into words. So, what gesture in Brazil could express this? A passive shrug of the shoulders with the palms of your hands facing up.

2- “Come here, you!”

Vem cá

Long-time friendships are the best. It’s incredible how there are people in this world who are so easy-going, you could see them every single day and never get bored of their company.

When you get in touch with a long-time friend or someone you really care about in Brazil, don’t be shy: spread your arms open from a short distance, just like you want to hug someone.

This may be a prelude to a hug or just symbolize the affection you feel for them even before the meeting. If you want to do the gesture and run for a hug like in a slow-motion scene from a movie, go for it—this is one of the appropriate gestures in Brazil from the list. So, you won’t be misunderstood, except if you scream in their direction or do something alarming.

3- “Do you want a piece of me?”

Quer brigar?

If you’re not prone to fighting people, perhaps you should avoid this Brazilian gesture. At least, you should learn to identify it for safety reasons: a person faces you with open arms, chest puffed and head up. I’m deeply sorry to say this, but this person is willing to beat you up.

This is a notoriously classic posture in bars and pubs in Brazil after two in the morning. If you happen to get a glimpse of this cockfight routine and want to signal “peace,” don’t imitate a dove with your hand. Instead, lift your hands up, showing them your palms. Show that you’re not armed or willing to punch anyone.

Also, get some help from your friends. After all, it’s past two in the morning in a bar and this guy is an idiot.

4- “The banana”

Vai pra (aquele lugar)

The gesture popularly known as “the banana” consists of connecting your forearms in front of your face in the shape of the letter “L” or a cross. Though the cross may lead to a Christian reference or merciful meaning in the mind of the foreigner, it’s not the way it goes.

In fact, it’s the complete opposite—this is one of the bad gestures in Brazil. To “give someone a banana” is an offensive gesture and can be translated as “back off, fool,” if we’re keeping this article in the polite register.

2. Hand Gestures in Brazil

Not many people think about it, but hands are very often used as a media to communicate messages. Torso and limb gestures tend to depict graphically something the person is willing to do. Faces show emotions that are usually easy to interpret.

Hands, on the other hand (no pun intended), are closer to metaphors. Since metaphors are very much linked to social context and specific cultural backgrounds, hand gestures are the hardest for foreigners to “read.”

We’ve gathered a lot of Portuguese hand gestures so that you don’t look like an alien, while everyone else reacts to them properly.

1- Positive and Negative

These are more or less universal classics: thumbs up and thumbs down. Thumbs up equals an affirmative response, and thumbs down equals a negative response.

Many people trace the origin of this gesture to the times of the Roman emperors. You may have seen it in the movie Gladiator as a sign of mercy (thumbs up) or execution (thumbs down) for the fighters in the Colosseum.

Many historians understand this as a failed depiction of the sign, which was initially spread by the “Pollice verso” painting by Jean Leon-Jerome. Despite that, many countries use these gestures in the same way.

Still, there are accounts of the thumbs as offensive responses in many countries (like Greece). But Brazil, Portugal, Angola, and other Portuguese-speaking countries don’t fit in this group of nations.

2- So-so

Mais ou menos

The thumbs express “Affirmative” and “Negative.” But the world isn’t a black and white picture, and is instead filled with an immense palette of middle tones.

So, how do you express “more or less?”

To do the so-so sign, open one of your hands with its palm facing you. Then rotate it laterally using the wrist as the axis and rotate it back a couple of times like it’s trembling.

3- You are finished!!

This is another brawling gesture: one palm is open while the other one is closed in a fist, hitting the open palm with your knuckles.

This isn’t rocket science, but we’ll break it down to eliminate any kind of doubt. The open palm is a symbol for your beautiful face. The clenched fist is the messenger’s fist, literally (or perhaps their knee or foot).

The intensity of the hit is the violence the person is willing to inflict upon you.

We’ve already read you the message, now it’s up to you to sort out this situation…

4- “Come in” or “you are allowed to get in”

How do you know if you’re welcome in somebody’s house? Apart from knowing the person and getting invited in the first place, there’s a simple hand gesture in Brazil that will show you they really mean to allow you into their home.

If you notice their hand open with the fingers moving in their direction, this is a good sign. It’s like the person is waving their hands from you into their homes. Come on in, let’s have a cup of coffee!

5- “Go away”

You’ve learned how to identify that you’re welcome. Now, you must know how to tell if you should leave.

If a person waves their hand like in the “come in” gesture but in the opposite direction, they’re telling you to go away or get out, probably angrily. Sorry, mate.

6- Hang loose

Hawaii is a long way from Brazil, but the natives are enthusiasts of the “hang loose” gesture. In case you’re not familiar with it, the “hang loose” gesture is very popular among surfers in Hawaii and is linked to a message of “peace” or “taking it easy.” It can also show approval.

It also grew popular among some of Brazil’s top athletes, such as the tennis player Guga and the football player Ronaldinho—it’s now immortalized as “Ronaldinho’s famous gesture” in MC Bin Laden’s funk tune. So, now we consider it one of the Portuguese hand gestures.

To make “Ronaldinho’s famous gesture,” make a fist. Then, move the thumb and the little finger away from the fist, horizontally. There, you have it.

7- Knock on wood!

This one is a very superstitious gesture. When you say something that you don’t want to happen, you knock on wood (a table or any other surface) to repel the hypothesis of this event happening.

According to a scholar from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica from São Paulo, the gesture was originally a request for forgiveness of native people of the American continent and other populations to their gods—who supposedly lived inside logs and trees.

8- You’ve been cheated—sucks to be you!

This is a common gesture among Mediterranean people, and also among Brazilians who want to joke with someone about getting cheated on by their spouses – another example of offensive gestures in Brazil.

“The bull” and horns are symbols of the person who’s being cheated on. The word used to refer to this person is corno or corna (literally, “horned”).

This shameful situation is translated into a hand gesture of…horns. That is, a clenched fist with the little finger and the index finger up. It can also be done by lifting both index fingers and placing them like horns on your head.

9- What the…?

You’ve read about Portuguese hand gestures, but what about Italian gestures that are part of Brazil nonverbal communication?

Historically, Brazil was a major destination for all kinds of immigrants. The building of Brazilian industry, the substitution of slave work for paid work, and the modern country wouldn’t be possible without the presence of huge numbers of immigrants.

Among these, the Italians played a special role. The Italian immigration to Brazil began around 1870 and mobilized thousands of people up until around the rise of Mussolini in the 1920s.

So, Italian cultural traits and gestures have been incorporated into Brazilian culture. One of the most famous is the ma che, meaning “what the…?” or “what are you saying?” That’s how you should interpret this gesture if the person unites the point of their fingers, with their fingertips pointing upwards.

Whether the gesture is used as an honest question or the person is challenging you because of something foolish you’ve said is a matter of interpreting the context and their faces.

10- Middle finger up

A final example of rude hand gestures in Brazil is a universal classic. This is another American gesture that’s offensive in Brazil and probably anywhere in the world.

So, if someone shows you the middle finger, that means exactly what you thought.

3. Facial Expressions and Another Portuguese Gesture Tip

Facial expressions are relatively universal. There are scientific studies that show correct recognition rates of facial expressions above seventy percent of the sample audience.

Still, some body language in Brazil is linked to specific use of facial expressions.

Additionally, we’ll provide a useful tip about the use of body language and gestures in Brazil.

1- Put a smile on your face

It may sound strange to you, but the smile is a required mask to wear in Brazil. To show a smile and a good mood is important in social occasions.

You won’t have a lot of success flirting with only words—your smile should be the starting point. Also, smiling is fundamental for nonverbal communication in Brazilian business.

2- Different country, shorter distances

Proxemics, developed by anthropologist Edward T. Hall, is the study of how humans use space and its effects on behavior. It presents an explanation for the relationship between two human beings.

The distance between bodies can be divided into concentric areas that “describe” the interaction as intimate, personal, social, or public.

The interesting part of this topic is that this distance is conventional, meaning that the areas vary according to cultures and countries.

Typically, Brazilians tend to interact more closely than Americans or Europeans, even if they maintain “social” and “public” relations (not “intimate” or “personal”).

Without knowing this, some people might feel alarmed by the use of body gestures in Brazil at specific distances, or simply find it strange. Keep this information in mind and try to figure out the “correct” distances in your interactions.

4. Conclusion

How many of these Brazilian gestures did you know already? Are any of these new to you? We look forward to hearing from you in the comments section!

Portuguese gestures aren’t hard to master, but they demand some observation effort and practice. Luckily, this guide on Brazil nonverbal communication is a good starting point for foreigners who study Portuguese and have to figure out Brazilian habits.

Another excellent help for Portuguese learners is PortuguesePod101. The website gathers lessons, vocabulary tips, and many other useful informational tools in a dynamic and didactic form for speakers of all levels. From business body language in Brazil to the first baby steps in Portuguese language-learning, go to PortuguesePod101.com!

Fathers are extremely important people, benefiting both their own children and society as a whole when they choose to act in this honorable role. On Fathers Day, Brazilians seek to honor and show appreciation for the fathers or father-figures in their lives, as much of the world does once a year.

In this article, we’ll go over the basics of how Brazil celebrates Father’s Day, including the most popular gifts and traditions. At PortuguesePod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey worthwhile, and hope you take away something valuable!

Happy Fathers Day!

1. What is Father’s Day?

You’re likely familiar with the concept of Father’s Day, as it’s celebrated in just about every country. Father’s Day is a holiday for children and whole families to celebrate and honor fathers, usually through Father’s Day gifts.

This may be the only day of the year that many fathers are acknowledged and truly shown appreciation for their role in the family, and in society, making this holiday an important aspect of Brazilian culture. Even the best dads need a little motivation sometimes!

2. When is Fathers Day in Brazil?

The Fathers Day date in Brazil is the second Sunday in August each year.

The date was set by the well-known journalist Roberto Marinho, who wanted to boost his business and consequently his newspaper sales. They say the date was chosen by his advertising consultant, Sylvio Bhering, because August 14 was the feast day of St. Joachim, the patron saint of his family. Roberto Marinho’s plan worked, and the date has since proved very “profitable” (rentável) for stores.

For your convenience, we’ve put together a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2019: August 11
• 2020: August 9
• 2021: August 8
• 2022: August 14
• 2023: August 13
• 2024: August 11
• 2025: August 10
• 2026: August 9
• 2027: August 8
• 2028: August 13

3. Reading Practice: Fathers Day Celebrations in Brazil

Do you know how Brazilians celebrate Father’s Day, and what gifts are most common? Read the Portuguese text below to find out, and find the English translation directly below it.

—

Nesse dia, a maioria dos filhos compra um presente para o seu pai, escrevem cartas ou cartões de agradecimento e planejam um dia diferente e especial. A maioria dos filhos procuram um presente do gosto do pai. Entre os presentes mais comuns estão roupas ou perfumes.

É muito comum no Brasil filhos com o sobrenome “Junior,” “Filho” e netos que se chamam “Neto,” para honrar o nome do seus progenitores, como João da Silva Filho ou Pedro Soares Oliveira Junior ou José da Costa Machado Neto.

—

On this day, most children buy a gift for their father, write letters or cards of thanks, and plan to spend the day in a unique and special way. Most children hunt for a present their father will like. Among the most common choices of gifts are clothes or men’s cologne.

In school, the kids usually prepare a gift on the preceding Friday and take it home to give to their dad. Some schools also put on special concerts and shows for the fathers.

Then, on Sunday, a special lunch is prepared, and the father can take advantage of the day with his family for an outing or whatever other activity he chooses. After all, on that day everyone wants to please dad.

It is very common in Brazil for sons to have “Junior” or “Son” (or grandsons) to have “Grandson” added to their names as a mark of respect for their father’s name. For example, João da Silva Filho with Filho meaning “the son,” or Pedro Soares Oliveira Junior or José da Costa Machado Neto with Neto meaning “the grandson.”

4. Three Generations

Do you know any sayings that mention the three generations—father, son, and grandson?

“Dad is rich, son is noble, grandson is poor.” This saying relates to the difficulty of maintaining inheritance, wealth, and success through many generations.

5. Vocabulary You Should Know for Father’s Day in Brazil

Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Father’s Day in Brazil!

• Domingo — “Sunday”
• Pai — “Father”
• Filho — “Son”
• Filha — “Daughter”
• Presente — “Present”
• Jantar — “Dinner”
• Amar — “Love”
• Dia dos Pais — “Father’s Day”
• Celebrar — “Celebrate”
• Vale-presente — “Gift certificate”
• Cartão de dia dos pais — “Father’s Day greeting card”

To hear the pronunciation of each Portuguese Father’s Day vocabulary word, check out our relevant vocabulary list!

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about Father’s Day in Brazil with us! How do you celebrate Father’s Day? Let us know in the comments!

To continue learning about the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, visit us at PortuguesePod101.com, and explore our variety of practical learning tools. Read more insightful blog posts like this one, study free Portuguese vocabulary lists, and download our mobile apps designed to help you learn Portuguese no matter where you are! By upgrading to Premium Plus, you can also take advantage of our MyTeacher program and learn Portuguese with a more one-on-one approach and personalized plan.

Whatever your reasons for being drawn to the Portuguese language, know that with enough hard work and determination, you can master the language! And PortuguesePod101 will be here with you to help.

Feliz dia dos pais! (This means “Happy Father’s Day!” in Brazilian Portuguese.)