Carnival is probably the most famous Brazilian holiday in the world. It’s also the largest “collective party” in the country.
Many people associate Carnaval with samba or Rio, but in this lesson, you will discover that Carnival is much more than that. We’ll tell you how Carnival is celebrated in other parts of Brazil and what we Brazilians normally do at this time.
As you learn more about Carnaval in Brazil (sometimes called El Carnaval Brazil), you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Brazilian and Portuguese culture. Thanks for letting PortuguesePod101.com be your guide! Let’s get started.
1. What is What is Carnaval in Brazil?
The Carnival festival in Brazil is a time of dancing and general fun before the upcoming Lent season. This holiday is widely celebrated around the world, but the Brazil Carnival experience puts a fascinating twist on celebrations you’ll find elsewhere.
From Portuguese Carnival masks to the unique music and dances, the Brazil Carneval is not something to be missed or easily forgotten.
2. When is Carnival in Brazil?
The date of the Carnival Season in Portugal varies each year, as it depends on the date of Easter. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years:
2019: March 4
2020: February 24
2021: February 15
2022: January 31
2023: February 20
2024: February 12
2025: March 3
2026: February 16
2027: February 8
2028: February 28
Carnival is normally in mid-February. Even though some schools start their semester before Carnival, for the majority of students, the end of Carnival marks the true end of the summer holiday.
3. Reading Practice: How is Carnival Celebrated?
Read the Portuguese text below to find out how the Carnival is celebrated in Brazil. You can find the English translation directly below it.
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Assim como muitas tradições brasileiras, o Carnaval chegou ao Brasil por meio dos portugueses, primeiro com o nome de entrudo, costume de brincar no período de carnaval, e depois bailes carnavalescos e carnavais de rua. No começo do século vinte as escolas de samba começaram a evoluir, e nas últimas décadas, algumas capitais construíram seus sambódromos, especialmente para o Carnaval.
Embora o Carnaval do Rio seja o mais conhecido mundialmente, o Carnaval de São Paulo, Salvador, Ouro Preto, Recife e Olinda, Fortaleza, Manaus e Florianópolis são muito renomados no país. No Rio e São Paulo, a principal atração é o desfile das escolas de samba da cidade. Em Salvador, milhares de foliões seguem os trios elétricos ao som de muito axé. Em Recife e Olinda, o ritmo é o frevo e maracatu. Cada cidade tem sua singularidade. Mas a ordem do dia é a mesma: se divertir e dançar muito!
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Like many other Brazilian traditions, Carnival came to Brazil through the Portuguese, first by the name of entrudo, which is the custom of playing during the period of Carnival, and afterwards Carnival-type dances and street carnivals. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the samba schools began to evolve, and in recent decades, some capital cities have built sambadromes, just for Carnival.
Even though Carnival in Rio is the most well known in the world, those in São Paulo, Salvador, Ouro Preto, Recife and Olinda, Fortaleza, Manaus, and Florianópolis are very well-known throughout the country. In Rio and São Paulo, the main attraction is the city’s samba schools parade. In Salvador, thousands of event participants follow large trucks playing axé music. In Recife and Olinda, the rhythm is frevo and maracatu. Each city has its own take on Carnival. But the order of the day is the same—have fun and dance a lot!
4. Additional Information
If you want to go to the large Brazilian Carnivals, often it is necessary to reserve your place as much as a year in advance.
But beyond those, each city also commemorates Carnival in its own way. In most cities, people walk through the streets, and some wear costumes (trust us, you won’t soon forget seeing a Brazilian Carnaval outfit!), to watch the samba schools parade, and also to dance, have fun, throw party foam on your friends and lose yourself in the revelry! Since Carnival is normally a prolonged holiday, many use that time to travel, generally to the coast.
5. Must-know Vocab
Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Carnival in Portugal!
Carnaval — “Carnival”
Axé — “Axé music”
Samba — “Samba”
Maracatu — “Maracatu”
Escola de samba — “Samba school”
Frevo — “Frevo”
Fantasia — “Costume”
Abadá — “Abadá”
Sambódromo — “Sambadrome”
Marchinha de carnaval — “Carnival little march”
Bloco carnavalesco — “Carnival block”
Rainha da bateria — “Queen of the drums at a Carnival parade”
Passista — “Person who dances samba at Carnival parades”
Pular carnaval — “Celebrate carnival”
Máscara — “Mask”
Desfile — “Parade”
If you want to hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our Portuguese Carnival vocabulary list. Here you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio of its pronunciation.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about the Brazil Carnaval! Do you celebrate Carnival in your own country, or a similar holiday? Let us know in the comments!
Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Portuguese could be just what you need to find it.
Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Portuguese partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At PortuguesePod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Portuguese lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make Portuguese dating easy for you.
Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)
1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
So, you have met your Portuguese love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the Portuguese word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these Portuguese date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.
Would you like to go out to dinner with me?
Você gostaria de sair para jantar comigo?
The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in Portuguese is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!
Are you free this weekend?
Você está livre neste fim de semana?
This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!
Would you like to hang out with me?
Você gostaria de sair comigo?
You like her/him, but you’re not sure if there’s chemistry. Ask them to hang out first to see if a dinner date is next.
What time shall we meet tomorrow?
A que horas a gente se vê amanhã?
Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.
Where shall we meet?
Aonde nos encontramos?
You can ask this, but also suggest a place.
You look great.
Você está ótimo.
A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit - they probably took great care to look their best just for you.
You are so cute.
Você é tão fofo.
If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.
What do you think of this place?
O que que você acha deste lugar?
This another good conversation starter. Show off your Portuguese language skills!
Can I see you again?
Posso te ver de novo?
So the date went really well - don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.
Shall we go somewhere else?
Você quer ir para outro lugar?
If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!
I know a good place.
Eu conheço um lugar legal.
Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!
I will drive you home.
Eu te levo para casa.
If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.
That was a great evening.
Foi uma noite ótima.
This is a good phrase to end the evening with.
When can I see you again?
Quando eu posso te ver de novo?
If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.
I’ll call you.
Eu te ligo.
Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.
You learned all the Portuguese phrases to make a date - congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in Portuguese below!
museum
museu
If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.
candlelit dinner
jantar à luz de velas
A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!
go to the zoo
ir ao zoológico
This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children - you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!
go for a long walk
fazer uma longa caminhada
Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.
go to the opera
ir à ópera
This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!
go to the aquarium
ir ao aquário
Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.
walk on the beach
caminhar na praia
This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.
have a picnic
fazer um piquenique
If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.
cook a meal together
cozinhar uma refeição juntos
If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!
have dinner and see a movie
jantar e ver um filme
This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in Portuguese - think how impressed your date will be!
4. Portuguese Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in Portuguese yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in Portuguese? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your Portuguese love on this special day!
I love you.
Eu te amo.
Saying ‘I love you’ in Portuguese carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.
You mean so much to me.
Você significa tanto para mim.
This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.
Will you be my Valentine?
Você quer ser meu namorado?
With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!
You’re so beautiful.
Você é tão bonita.
If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in Portuguese, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!
I think of you as more than a friend.
Eu te considero mais que um amigo.
Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the Portuguese dating culture.
A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.
Cem corações seriam demasiado poucos para levar todo o meu amor por você.
You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.
Love is just love. It can never be explained.
O amor é só amor. Ele nunca pode ser explicado.
If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.
You’re so handsome.
Você é tão bonito.
Ladies, this phrase lets your Portuguese love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.
I’ve got a crush on you.
Eu tenho uma queda por você.
If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.
You make me want to be a better man.
Você me faz querer ser um homem melhor.
Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your Portuguese girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!
Let all that you do be done in love.
Todas as vossas obras sejam feitas em amor.
We hope.
You are my sunshine, my love.
Você é o meu sol, o meu amor.
A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!
Words can’t describe my love for you.
Palavras não podem descrever o meu amor por você.
Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.
We were meant to be together.
Nós fomos feitos para ficar juntos.
This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.
If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.
Se você estava pensando em alguém enquanto lia isso, você está definitivamente apaixonado.
Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!
5. Portuguese Quotes about Love
You’re a love champ! You and your Portuguese lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in Portuguese that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
Wow. Your Portuguese lover is indeed the love of your life - congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the Portuguese custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.
We need to talk.
A gente precisa conversar.
This is not really a break-up line, but it is a good conversation opener with a serious tone.
It’s not you. It’s me.
Não é você. Sou eu.
As long as you mean it, this can be a kind thing to say. It means that there’s nothing wrong with your Portuguese lover as a person, but that you need something different from a relationship.
I’m just not ready for this kind of relationship.
É que eu não estou pronto para esse tipo de relacionamento.
Things moved a bit fast and got too intense, too soon? Painful as it is, honesty is often the best way to break up with somebody.
Let’s just be friends.
Vamos ser apenas amigos.
If the relationship was very intense, and you have sent many ‘i love u’ texts in Portuguese, this would not be a good breakup line. Feelings need to calm down before you can be friends, if ever. If the relationship has not really developed yet, a friendship would be possible.
I think we need a break.
Acho que a gente precisa dar um tempo.
This is again honest, and to the point. No need to play with someone’s emotions by not letting them know how you feel. However, this could imply that you may fall in love with him/her again after a period of time, so use with discretion.
You deserve better.
Você merece algo melhor.
Yes, he/she probably deserves a better relationship if your own feelings have cooled down.
We should start seeing other people.
A gente devia conhecer outras pessoas.
This is probably the least gentle break-up phrase, so reserve it for a lover that doesn’t get the message!
I need my space.
Eu preciso de espaço.
When a person is too clingy or demanding, this would be an suitable break-up phrase. It is another good go-to for that lover who doesn’t get the message!
I think we’re moving too fast.
Acho que estamos indo rápido demais.
Say this if you want to keep the relationship, but need to slow down its progress a bit. It is also good if you feel things are getting too intense for your liking. However, it is not really a break-up line, so be careful not to mislead.
I need to focus on my career.
Eu preciso focar na minha carreira.
If you feel that you will not be able to give 100% in a relationship due to career demands, this is the phrase to use. It’s also good if you are unwilling to give up your career for a relationship.
I’m not good enough for you.
Eu não sou bom o bastante para você.
Say this only if you really believe it, or you’ll end up sounding false. Break-ups are usually hard for the receiving party, so don’t insult him/her with an insincere comment.
I just don’t love you anymore.
É que eu não te amo mais.
This harsh line is sometimes the best one to use if you are struggling to get through to a stubborn, clingy lover who won’t accept your break up. Use it as a last resort. Then switch your phone off and block their emails!
We’re just not right for each other.
Nós não somos feitos um para o outro.
If this is how you truly feel, you need to say it. Be kind, gentle and polite.
It’s for the best.
É pro nosso bem.
This phrase is called for if circumstances are difficult and the relationship is not progressing well. Love should enhance one’s life, not burden it!
We’ve grown apart.
Nós nos tornamos distantes.
Cross-cultural relationships are often long-distance ones, and it is easy to grow apart over time.
8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn Portuguese faster?
Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer - of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. PortuguesePod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the Portuguese language.
Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn Portuguese Faster!
1- Being in a love relationship with your Portuguese speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
PortuguesePod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you Portuguese, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn Portuguese even faster.
2- Having your Portuguese romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced Portuguese language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies - a win/win situation!
3- A supportive Portuguese lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your Portuguese partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!
Three Reasons Why PortuguesePod101 helps you learn Portuguese Even Faster when you’re In Love
Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)
1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking Portuguese is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at PortuguesePod101 is translated into both English and Portuguese. So, while your partner can help you learn Portuguese faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!
2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with Portuguese Culture
At PortuguesePod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in Brazil. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your Portuguese partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!
3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic Portuguese Phrases
You now have access to PortuguesePod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your Portuguese soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly - remember to invite him/her to your wedding!
Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.
However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!
1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in Portuguese? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million Portuguese words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:
funny - engraçado
lie - mentir
fool - bobo
deceptive - enganador
April 1st - primeiro de abril
surprise - surpreender
prank - brincadeira
play a joke - pregar uma peça
humor - humor
prankster - brincalhão
sneaky - safado
joke - piada
joke - contar piada
2. Portuguese Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes - use these April Fools’ phrases in Portuguese to prank your favorite Portuguese speaking friend or colleague!
I learned Portuguese in 1 month.
Aprendi português em 1 mês.
All classes for today got canceled.
Todas as aulas de hoje foram canceladas.
I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
Desculpa, é que eu quebrei os seus óculos favoritos.
Someone has just hit your car.
Alguém acabou de bater no seu carro.
I’m getting married.
Vou me casar.
You won a free ticket.
Você ganhou um bilhete grátis.
I saw your car being towed.
Eu vi o seu carro sendo rebocado.
They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
Eles estão dando vale-presentes de graça na frente do prédio.
A handsome guy is waiting for you outside.
Um cara bonito está te esperando lá fora.
A beautiful lady asked me to give this phone number to you.
Uma bela moça me pediu pra te dar esse número de telefone.
Can you come downstairs? I have something special for you.
Você pode vir aqui embaixo? Tenho uma coisa especial para você.
Thank you for your love letter this morning. I never could have guessed your feelings.
Obrigado pela sua carta de amor hoje de manhã. Eu nunca adivinharia os seus sentimentos.
Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss - you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in Portuguese, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.
Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others - the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.
1- Infestation
This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.
2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?
Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.
3- Something Weird in the Restroom
At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.
Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.
Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!
4- Call Me Funny
Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number - 123-456-7890 - and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.
5- Minty Cookies
This is another simple but hugely effective prank - simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.
6- Wild Shopping
At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.
7- The Oldest Trick in the Book
Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book - smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!
8- Sneeze On Me
Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.
9- Word Play Repairs
Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.
10- Scary Face
Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.
11- Wake Up To Madness
Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.
12- Computer Prank
This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).
Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.
13- Monster Under the Cup
This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.
14- Prank Door
Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.
4. How Can PortuguesePod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
If you happen to visit Portuguese speaking countries like Brazil, or if you work for any Portuguese speaking company, knowing the above Portuguese prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core Portuguese words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.
Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in Portuguese - bone up your Portuguese language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, PortuguesePod101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.
Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in Portuguese below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at PortuguesePod101.
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in Portuguese - testing new technology
Help us by being a language guinea pig! Listen to this video above with embedded cutting-edge, frequency-based learning technology that enables you to learn large amounts of data in record time.
Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.
Thank you for helping PortuguesePod101! We’re serious about making learning Portuguese fun.
Portuguese isn’t the first pick for most people when it comes to foreign languages. Many have heard of the language, but not everyone knows how rich the language is or even where it’s spoken (outside of Portugal at least).
Honestly that is their loss, and in this post we look at why. Here are five unexpected benefits of learning the Portuguese language.
Enjoy!
1. It’s not too far from English
Portuguese comes from the Romance family of languages, which also includes popular foreign languages like Spanish, French, and Italian. This is good news for native English speakers! While English isn’t a Romantic language (it comes from the West Germanic language family), it has more in common with Portuguese than you might realize.
Much of this is due to the now extinct Latin language. Both English and Portuguese take a lot of influence from Latin. As a result you’ll find words in Portuguese that look and sound awfully similar to their English counterparts.
These shared linguistic roots don’t stop at Latin though. Greek also had a hand in the development of English and Portuguese. Also many modern words are also similar. Take for instance the English word airport and the Portuguese aeroporto.
Who knew your native English could also give you a head start in Portuguese?!
2. Portuguese helps you learn Spanish and other Romantic languages
It’s no secret that Portuguese and Spanish are closely related, but most people don’t realize just how similar these two languages are. They share an 89% lexical similarity.
This means that the vast majority of words in Spanish and Portuguese are similar. To put this in context the English language has a 60% lexical similarity with German and 27% with French. The words don’t always look or sound exactly the same in Portuguese and Spanish. Still, if you dedicate yourself to studying Portuguese your hard work will also go along way to help you learn Spanish.
The two languages also have similar grammar systems. Both languages use two genders (masculine and feminine). Both also use four definite articles (equivalents of “the” in English). Portuguese and Spanish also have similar verb tenses and word order. To see a practical example of how these similarities carry over between the two languages compare the Portuguese future tense to the Spanish future tense.
You’ll notice some striking similarities!
3. It’s spoken across the world (Europe, Brazil, Africa, Asia)
When you think of the Portuguese language what countries come to mind? Portugal is the obvious choice, and Brazil isn’t that far behind it. But the reach of Portuguese goes far beyond these two countries.
Several countries on the African subcontinent list Portuguese as an official language, including Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. There’s even an autonomous territory in western China called Macau, which also speaks the language.
So how exactly did Portuguese end up in these far flung regions of the world? It was through the colonization of the Portuguese Empire (most people don’t even know that Portugal had an empire!). These Portuguese speaking nations were once colonial territories.
Many languages like English, Spanish, Russian, and French steal much of the hype for being international languages. If you have a penchant for global travel Portuguese is also a language of choice, though like me you may not have thought of it as such.
4. There are good resources for learning it
Portuguese learners actually benefit from the popularity of Spanish as a foreign language. Out of all foreign languages none have the amount of courses, tools, and resources for native English speakers that Spanish has. This is probably do to the rapid growth of Spanish speakers in the USA.
Portuguese sort of piggybacks off the demand for Spanish courses. Because the languages are so similar, language learning companies who design a successful Spanish course have no problems making a Portuguese one. For a good example of this simply checkout SpanishPod101 and PortuguesePod101.
The result is that if you’re learning Portuguese, you’ll have your pick of quality resources. Don’t take this for granted. Students of less popular or more difficult languages don’t have such options.
This also means that Portuguese courses are likely to be more effective than courses for other foreign languages. A method that works well for the Spanish language probably isn’t going to be as effective for learning Japanese. However it is likely to be just as effective in learning Portuguese (again, because of the similarities between the two languages).
5. Economic edge
Typically people don’t mention Portuguese in the same breath as Spanish, German, or Mandarin when discussing foreign languages that give their students a leg up in the business world. In the English speaking world Portuguese isn’t as popular as the aforementioned foreign languages, but that’s precisely why it could lead to more opportunities in the marketplace!
This is because of the looming economic rise of Brazil, the largest Portuguese speaking nation on the planet. The country is already the world’s 8th largest economy. Brazil has a market of 200 million people strong, an enormous cache of natural resources, and a history of economic growth that has surprised even the experts.
The number of Portuguese speakers around the world is also growing. It’s already the 6th most spoken language on the planet with around 260 million speakers. Some estimates say that by 2050 that number will have risen to 335 million.
When all this is coupled with the fact that theren’t simply aren’t that many native English speakers who also speak Portuguese, you get a sense of the potential opportunities of someone learning Portuguese.
Final thoughts
Portuguese is a beautiful language spoken by an array of countries with rich cultures. The language has certainly left an impact on global history. However the language continues to be relevant today with the promise of even more influence in the near future.
Even with all this talk of other languages, travel, and economics; don’t miss out on the number one reason you should learn portuguese. You should learn the language because you want to, because you enjoy it! These other reasons are great, but in the end they are just icing on the cake!
Learn all the Portuguese New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join PortuguesePod101 for a special Portuguese New Year celebration!
Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated.
So, how do you say Happy New Year in Portuguese? Let a native teach you! At PortuguesePod101, you will learn how to correctly greet your friends over New Year, and wish them well with these Portuguese New Year wishes!
If you’re in Brazil on New Year’s Eve or Véspera de Ano Novo, you’ll be able to see the fireworks on the turn of the year on Copacabana beach. Apart from setting off fireworks, we have many other traditions for the New Year in Brazil. Everything from the meals to the color of the clothes you wear is extremely important on this day.
Now before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question?
What other name is also given for New Year’s Eve in Portuguese?
If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep reading!
There’s one very important detail for the passing of the year. It’s choosing the color of the clothes you will wear in Brazil. Each color has a special meaning, and it shows what you want for next year. “Color” in Portuguese is cor.
The most popular color for New Year’s Day is “white” or branco, which means “peace” or in Portuguese, paz. Another widely used color also is gold or yellow. Brazilian people think yellow or amarelo will bring wealth and money to them. If you’re in Brazil on New Year’s Eve, look around and enjoy the colorful clothes people wear that have a special meaning and hope for special wishes.
Besides the color of clothing, there are superstitions about food as well. The food includes figs or figos, pomegranates or romãs, the lentils or lentilha, and grapes or uva. They are all symbols of prosperity. For example, some people eat seven pomegranate seeds at midnight and save their seeds or sementes in their wallet. It’s believed that this custom will bring them wealth and money. Traditionally, Brazilian people also eat twelve grapes or uvas at the turn of the year to bring good luck for the year ahead.
The new year occurs during the summer or verão in Brazil. It’s a great time to go to the beach with family or friends. Many devotees of the religion of Candomblé make offerings to the goddess of the seas, whose name is Yemanja. The most common types of offerings are flowers or flores, candles or velas, and perfumes or in Portuguese, perfumes.
There’s another habit that shows African influence—jumping seven waves. It’s believed that if you jump over seven waves or sete ondas, it will attract luck and success for years to come.
And here’s the fun fact.
December 31st is also the day of International Race of St. Sylvester or Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre in the city of São Paulo. It’s a race held on one of Brazil’s most famous streets, with a route that is fifteen kilometers long, and participants have the warmth of the Brazilian summer to face.
Now it’s time to answer our quiz question-
What other name is also given for New Year’s Eve?
New Year’s Eve in Brazil is also known as the réveillon in Brazil. This word comes from the French word meaning “awakening.”
Happy New Year!
Feliz Ano Novo!
2. Must-Know Portuguese Words & Phrases for the New Year!
1- Year
ano
This is pretty self-explanatory. Most countries follow a Gregorian calendar, which has approximately 365 days in a year, while in some cultures, other year designations are also honored. Therefore, New Year’s day in Brazil could fall on a different day than in your country. When do you celebrate New Year?
2- Midnight
meia-noite
The point in time when a day ends and a new one starts. Many New Year celebrants prefer to stay awake till midnight, and greet the new annum as it breaks with fanfare and fireworks!
3- New Year’s Day
Dia de Ano Novo
In most countries, the new year is celebrated for one whole day. On the Gregorian calendar, this falls on January 1st. On this day, different cultures engage in festive activities, like parties, parades, big meals with families and many more.
4- Party
festa
A party is most people’s favorite way to end the old year, and charge festively into the new one! We celebrate all we accomplished in the old year, and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.
5- Dancing
dança
Usually, when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year officially begins, people break out in dance! It is a jolly way to express a celebratory mood with good expectations for the year ahead. Also, perhaps, that the old year with its problems has finally passed! Dance parties are also a popular way to spend New Year’s Eve in many places.
6- Champagne
champanhe
Originating in France, champagne is a bubbly, alcoholic drink that is often used to toast something or someone during celebrations.
7- Fireworks
fogo de artifício
These are explosives that cause spectacular effects when ignited. They are popular for announcing the start of the new year with loud noises and colorful displays! In some countries, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits. In others, the use of fireworks is forbidden in urban areas due to their harmful effect on pets. Most animals’ hearing is much more sensitive than humans’, so this noisy display can be very frightful and traumatising to them.
8- Countdown
contagem regressiva
This countdown refers to New Year celebrants counting the seconds, usually backward, till midnight, when New Year starts - a great group activity that doesn’t scare animals, and involves a lot of joyful shouting when the clock strikes midnight!
9- New Year’s Holiday
Feriado de Ano Novo
In many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday - to recuperate from the party the previous night, perhaps! Families also like to meet on this day to enjoy a meal and spend time together.
10- Confetti
confete
In most Western countries, confetti is traditionally associated with weddings, but often it is used as a party decoration. Some prefer to throw it in the air at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
11- New Year’s Eve
Véspera de Ano Novo
This is the evening before New Year breaks at midnight! Often, friends and family meet for a party or meal the evening before, sometimes engaging in year-end rituals. How are you planning to give your New Year greetings in 2018?
12- Toast
brinde
A toast is a type of group-salutation that involves raising your glass to drink with others in honor of something or someone. A toast to the new year is definitely in order!
13- Resolution
promessa
Those goals or intentions you hope to, but seldom keep in the new year! Many people consider the start of a new year to be the opportune time for making changes or plans. Resolutions are those intentions to change, or the plans. It’s best to keep your resolutions realistic so as not to disappoint yourself!
14- Parade
desfile
New Year celebrations are a huge deal in some countries! Parades are held in the streets, often to celebratory music, with colorful costumes and lots of dancing. Parades are like marches, only less formal and way more fun. At PortuguesePod101, you can engage in forums with natives who can tell you what Portuguese New Year celebrations are like!
3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
So, you learned the Portuguese word for ‘resolution’. Fabulous! Resolutions are those goals and intentions that we hope to manifest in the year that lies ahead. The beginning of a new year serves as a good marker in time to formalise these. Some like to do it in writing, others only hold these resolutions in their hearts. Here are our Top 10 New Year’s resolutions at PortuguesePod101 - what are yours?
Learn these phrases and impress your Portuguese friends with your vocabulary.
1- Read more
Ler mais.
Reading is a fantastic skill that everyone can benefit from. You’re a business person? Apparently, successful business men and women read up to 60 books a year. This probably excludes fiction, so better scan your library or Amazon for the top business reads if you plan to follow in the footsteps of the successful! Otherwise, why not make it your resolution to read more Portuguese in the new year? You will be surprised by how much this will improve your Portuguese language skills!
2- Spend more time with family
Passar mais tempo com a família.
Former US President George Bush’s wife, Barbara Bush, was quoted as having said this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.” This is very true! Relationships are often what gives life meaning, so this is a worthy resolution for any year.
3- Lose weight
Emagrecer.
Hands up, how many of you made this new year’s resolution last year too…?! This is a notoriously difficult goal to keep, as it takes a lot of self discipline not to eat unhealthily. Good luck with this one, and avoid unhealthy fad diets!
4- Save money
Economizar.
Another common and difficult resolution! However, no one has ever been sorry when they saved towards reaching a goal. Make it your resolution to save money to upgrade your subscription to PortuguesePod101’s Premium PLUS option in the new year - it will be money well spent!
5- Quit smoking
Parar de fumar.
This is a resolution that you should definitely keep, or your body could punish you severely later! Smoking is a harmful habit with many hazardous effects on your health. Do everything in your power to make this resolution come true in the new year, as your health is your most precious asset.
6- Learn something new
Aprender algo novo.
Science has proven that learning new skills can help keep brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay! It can even slow down the progression of the disease. So, keep your brain healthy by learning to speak a new language, studying towards a qualification, learning how to sew, or how to play chess - no matter how old you are, the possibilities are infinite!
7- Drink less
Beber menos.
This is another health resolution that is good to heed any time of the year. Excessive drinking is associated with many diseases, and its effect can be very detrimental to good relationships too. Alcohol is a poison and harmful for the body in large quantities!
8- Exercise regularly
Me exercitar regularmente.
This resolution goes hand-in-hand with ‘Lose weight’! An inactive body is an unhealthy and often overweight one, so give this resolution priority in the new year.
9- Eat healthy
Ter uma alimentação saudável.
If you stick with this resolution, you will lose weight and feel better in general. It is a very worthy goal to have!
10- Study Portuguese with PortuguesePod101
estudando português com PortuguesePod101.com
Of course! You can only benefit from learning Portuguese, especially with us! Learning how to speak Portuguese can keep your brain healthy, it can widen your circle of friends, and improve your chances to land a dream job anywhere in the world. PortuguesePod101 makes it easy and enjoyable for you to stick to this resolution.
4. Inspirational New Year Quotes
Everyone knows that it is sometimes very hard to stick to resolutions, and not only over New Year. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but all of us need inspiration every now and then! A good way to remain motivated is to keep inspirational quotes near as reminders that it’s up to us to reach our goals.
Make decorative notes of these in Portuguese, and keep them close! Perhaps you could stick them above your bathroom mirror, or on your study’s wall. This way you not only get to read Portuguese incidentally, but also remain inspired to reach your goals! Imagine feeling like giving up on a goal, but reading this quote when you go to the bathroom: “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” What a positive affirmation!
5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes
Still undecided whether you should enroll with PortuguesePod101 to learn a new language? There’s no time like the present to decide! Let the following Language Learning Quotes inspire you with their wisdom.
As legendary President Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” So, learning how to say Happy New Year in Portuguese could well be a way into someone special’s heart for you! Let this year be the one where you to learn how to say Happy New Year, and much more, in Portuguese - it could open many and unexpected doors for you.
6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages
Here’s a lovely bonus for you! Why stop with Portuguese - learn how to say Happy New Year in 31 other languages too! Watch this video and learn how to pronounce these New Year’s wishes like a native in under two minutes.
7. Why Enrolling with PortuguesePod101 Would Be the Perfect New Year’s Gift to Yourself!
If you are unsure how to celebrate the New Year, why not give yourself a huge gift, and enroll to learn Portuguese! With more than 12 years of experience behind us, we know that PortuguesePod101 would be the perfect fit for you. There are so many reasons for this!
Custom-tailored Learning Paths: Start learning Portuguese at the level that you are. We have numerous Learning Pathways, and we tailor them just for you based on your goals and interests! What a boon!
Marked Progress and Fresh Learning Material Every Week: We make new lessons available every week, with an option to track your progress. Topics are culturally appropriate and useful, such as “Learning how to deliver negative answers politely to a business partner.” Our aim is to equip you with Portuguese that makes sense!
Multiple Learning Tools: Learn in fun, easy ways with resources such 1,000+ video and audio lessons, flashcards, detailed PDF downloads, and mobile apps suitable for multiple devices!
Fast Track Learning Option: If you’re serious about fast-tracking your learning, Premium Plus would be the perfect way to go! Enjoy perks such as personalised lessons with ongoing guidance from your own, native-speaking teacher, and one-on-one learning on your mobile app! You will not be alone in your learning. Weekly assignments with non-stop feedback, answers and corrections will ensure speedy progress.
Fun and Easy: Keeping the lessons fun and easy-to-learn is our aim, so you will stay motivated by your progress!
Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Portuguese? PortuguesePod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Portuguese Christmas phrases!
Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Portuguese speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, PortuguesePod101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Portuguese!
In Brazil, Christmas is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. It is synonymous with seeing family and lots of love and gifts. Christmas is very important for all Christians in Brazil, so many of them go to churches for Mass or Christmas service.
Now, before we get into more detail, I’ve got a question for you-
Do you know where the most crowded place in Brazil is during the Christmas holiday?
If you don’t already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep reading!
Preparations for Christmas begin on November 30th. This is the time to put up the Christmas tree and decorate the whole house. The Christmas tree is called árvore de Natal in Brazil. The most common decorations are wreaths, lights and, cribs. After almost a month of festivities and celebrations in January, people take down the tree and put away the decorations.
The Christmas Supper or ceia de Natal is a large and abundant table in Brazil. Because of the country’s cultural diversity, many typical Christmas dishes come from other countries.
The roast turkey or Peru assado, for example, is very common in Brazil for Christmas. But many people opt for a Chester, which is a type of chicken, called chester in Portuguese, because it’s softer and juicier. And some families choose piglet or pork shank. And you can always find a good farofa salad or coleslaw. And for dessert, panettone, the Italian bread with eggs and fruits, and chocotone are always present, together with many seasonal fruits, nuts, and chestnuts. And the highlight is at midnight for kids, because it is the time they receive gifts from Santa Claus or in Portuguese, Papai Noel. Santa Claus arrives while the children are sleeping, and leaves the gifts under the Christmas tree.
Like in many other countries, many Brazilian children write a letter to Santa Claus before Christmas, explaining how they behaved and were obedient during the year and what they would like to receive as a gift.
Now it’s time to answer our quiz question-
Do you know where the most crowded place in Brazil is during the Christmas holiday?
Unlike many countries, Christmas is celebrated in the summer or verão in Brazil. So many people go to the beach or praia to spend Christmas and New Year. But it’s better to make this plan as early as possible, because everything will be booked quickly.
2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season
1- Merry Christmas!
Feliz Natal!
Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Portuguese? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!
2- Happy Kwanzaa!
Feliz Kwanzaa!
Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!
3- Have a happy New Year!
Tenha um feliz Ano Novo!
In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.
4- Happy Hanukkah!
Feliz Chanucá!
Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.
5- Have a great winter vacation!
Tenha ótimas férias de inverno!
This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.
6- See you next year!
Até o ano que vem!
Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.
7- Warm wishes!
Votos calorosos!
An informal, friendly phrase to write in Portuguese Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.
8- Happy holidays!
Boas festas!
If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in Portuguese, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead.
9- Enjoy the holidays!
Aproveite as férias!
After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in Portuguese, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.
10- Best wishes for the New Year!
Melhores votos para o ano novo!
This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.
3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Portuguese! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At PortuguesePod101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!
1- Christmas
Natal
This is the Portuguese word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in Portuguese will include this word!
2- Snow
neve
In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.
3- Snowflake
floco de neve
Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.
4- Snowman
boneco de neve
As you guessed - a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.
5- Turkey
pavão
Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?
6- Wreath
guirlanda
Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.
7- Reindeer
rena
Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?
8- Santa Claus
Papai Noel
Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!
9- Elf
elfo
An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!
10- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolfo, a rena do nariz vermelho
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!
11- North Pole
Polo Norte
The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!
12- Sled
trenó
A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.
13- Present
presente
Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.
14- Bell
sino
On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.
15- Chimney
chaminé
The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!
16- Fireplace
lareira
In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!
17- Christmas Day
Dia de Natal
This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.
18- Decoration
enfeite
Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.
19- Stocking
meia de Natal
According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.
20- Holly
azevinho
Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.
21- Gingerbread house
casinha de gengibre
According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.
22- Candy cane
bengala de Natal
According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!
23- Mistletoe
visco
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!
4. Twelve Days of Christmas
Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Portuguese, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?
5. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture
This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in Portuguese! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.
6. PortuguesePod101 Is One Of The Best Online Language Schools Available!
We don’t just say this - we can prove it! Geared to your personal needs and goals, we have several learning paths from which to choose. From Portuguese for Absolute Beginners to Advanced Portuguese, lessons are designed to meet you where you are, and increase your language abilities in fun, easy and interactive lessons! Mastering a new language has never been this easy or enjoyable.
We have over a decade of experience and research behind us, and it shows! With thousands of audio and video lessons, detailed PDF lessons and notes, as well as friendly, knowledgeable hosts, PortuguesePod101 is simply unbeatable when it comes to learning correct Portuguese. Plenty of tools and resources are available when you study with us. New lessons are added every week so material remains fresh and relevant. You also have the option to upgrade and enjoy even more personalised guidance and services. This is a sure way to fast-track your learning!
So, this Christmas, why don’t you give yourself a present and enroll in PortuguesePod101? Or give an enrollment as a present to a loved one. It will be a gift with benefits for a whole lifetime, not just over Christmas!
In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power - use these ones sincerely and often!
The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!
2- That’s very kind of you.
É muita gentileza da sua parte.
This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.
3- Thanks for your kind words!
Obrigada pelas suas palavras gentis!
Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!
4- Thank you for coming today.
Obrigada por ter vindo hoje.
This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with Portuguese speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your Portuguese guests!
5- Thank you for your consideration.
Obrigada pela consideração.
This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.
6- Thanks a lot!
Muito obrigada!
This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in Portuguese. Use this in an informal setting with your Portuguese friends or teachers.
7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.
Não é fácil de encontrar professores como você.
Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your PortuguesePod101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!
8- Thank you for spending time with us.
Obrigada por passar tempo com a gente.
Any host at a gathering with Portuguese speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your Portuguese language teacher for her time.
9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.
Obrigada por ser paciente e me ajudar a melhorar.
This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal Portuguese teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in Brazil, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee - gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!
10- You’re the best teacher ever!
Você é o melhor professor de todos os tempos!
This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!
11- Thank you for the gift.
Obrigada pelo presente
This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.
12- I have learned so much thanks to you.
Eu aprendi muito graças a você.
What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
Wherever you travel, manners are a must! And every culture has its own definition of politeness. In this respect, Brazil is no different. As you can imagine, knowing this tidbit of language can go a long way.
1- Obrigado
The phrase we’ll learn today is obrigado. In Portuguese, obrigado means “Thank you.” The word obrigado literally means “obligated,” or more specifically, “to be obligated toward someone.”
Now, in Portuguese, there are several ways to express one’s gratitude. There are more formal and more casual ways to do this. Let’s take a look at a formal way.
2- Muito Obrigado
A more formal way of expressing gratitude is muito obrigado, which means “Thank you very much.” The first word, muito, can mean several things in English: “much,” “many,” “very,” etc, but in this case, it means “very.” This is followed by obrigado, which in Portuguese you’ll remember is “thank you.” So, muito and obrigado mean “Thank you very much.”
Cultural Insights
Quick Tip: Are You Refusing the Things You Desire?
When I first arrived in Brazil, a friend and I went to a Senhora Noêmia’s house. I had only been in Brazil for a few weeks but had already fallen in love with acerola juice. (It is a very healthy kind of “sour cherry”. ) Brazilians always offer food to their guests, and this house was no exception. It being a hot day, Mrs. Noêmia went to the kitchen and brought out a nice, cold glass of suco de acerola. She offered it to me, and I dutifully said Obrigado. She promptly turned away and put the juice back in the fridge. Let me explain why exactly she did that.
In Brazil, when someone offers you something and you say Obrigado, it is a polite way of refusing what is offered. It’s kind of like “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t want whatever you’re giving me.” I explained myself to Noêmia (because my friend was laughing too hard) who also chuckled and gave me back the juice. As I said before, a little bit of language goes a long way, especially on a very hot day!
On the run to Brazil? Wait! You can’t go without some basic language phrases under your belt! Especially if you’re heading to meet your prospective employer! Either in person or online, knowing how to say ‘Thank you’ in the Portuguese language will only improve their impression of you! PortuguesePod101 saves you time with this short lesson that nevertheless packs a punch. Learn to say ‘Thank you’ in Portuguese in no time!
3. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases - Thank You
Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in Portuguese, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of Portuguese in Brazil!
At PortuguesePod101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in Portuguese that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in Brazil, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in Portuguese’ again…!
4. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language - it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.
5. Why would PortuguesePod101 be the perfect choice to learn Portuguese?
However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in Portuguese - why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special Portuguese friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!
PortuguesePod101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases
With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At PortuguesePod101, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods. A library replete with learning resources allows for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.
We accommodate all levels and types of learners, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and PortuguesePod101 is free for anyone to sign up. However, you can choose to fast track your fluency with lesson customization and increased interactive learning and practicing. Upgrade to Premium, or Premium PLUS to enhance your experience and greatly expedite your learning. With this type of assistance, and pleasurable effort on your part, you will speak Portuguese in a very short period of time!
Best of all is that you’re never alone! We believe that practice is the holy grail of learning any new language, and we gear our courses to ensure lots of it. Enroll with us, and you gain immediate access to our lively forum where we meet and greet, and discuss your burning questions. Our certified teachers are friendly and helpful, and you are very likely to practice your first ‘Thanks!’ in Portuguese on him/her, AND mean it! Hurry up, and sign up now - you will thank us for it.
Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Portuguese
Going through Portuguese lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of Portuguese, but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in Portuguese. This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons.
We naturally translate in our heads because it’s viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you’re learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object the connection will not be nearly as strong. When you bypass the original translation between Portuguese and your native language then there is a more basic and strong connection between just the Portuguese vocabulary word and the tangible object.
In this blog post, you will learn the 4 important techniques to easily and naturally begin to speculate about the daily occurrences in your life. The best part is all of these techniques are supported and can be achieved through PortuguesePod101.com.
By surrounding yourself with Portuguese constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realizing it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary. You can play music in the background while you’re cooking or have a Portuguese radio station on while you study. Immersion is a key factor with this learning process because it is one of the easiest things to do, but very effective. Even if you are not giving the program your full attention you will be learning.
One great feature of PortuguesePod101.com is the endless podcasts that are available to you. You can even download and listen to them on the go. These podcasts are interesting and are perfect for the intention of immersion, they are easy to listen to as background noise and are interesting enough to give your full attention. Many of them contain stories that you follow as you go through the lessons which push you to keep going.
2. Learn through observation
Learning through observation is the most natural way to learn. Observation is how we all learned our native languages as infants and it’s a wonder why we stop learning this way. If you have patience and learn through observation then Portuguese words will have their own meanings rather than meanings in reference to your native language. Ideally, you should skip the bilingual dictionary and just buy a dictionary in Portuguese.
PortuguesePod101.com also offers the materials to learn this way. We have numerous video lessons which present situational usage of each word or phrase instead of just a direct translation. This holds true for many of our videos and how we teach Portuguese.
3. Speak out loud to yourself
Speaking to yourself in Portuguese not only gets you in the mindset of Portuguese, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day. Your goal is to be the most comfortable speaking out loud and to easily create sentences. Once you feel comfortable talking to yourself start consciously thinking in your head about your daily activities and what is going on around you throughout the day.
With PortuguesePod101.com you start speaking right away, not only this, but they have you repeat words and conversations after a native Portuguese speaker. This makes your pronunciation very accurate! With this help, you are on the fast path to making clear and complex sentences and then actively thinking about your day.
4. Practice daily
If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be greatly slowed. Many people are tempted to take the 20-30 minutes they should be practicing a day and practice 120 in one day and skip the other days. This isn’t nearly as effective because everyday you practice you are reinforcing the skills and knowledge you have learned. If you practice all in one day you don’t retain the information because the brain can realistically only focus for 30 minutes at most. If you’re studying for 120 minutes on the same subject little of the information will be absorbed. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.
It’s tough to find motivation to study everyday, but PortuguesePod101.com can help. It’s easy to stay motivated with PortuguesePod101.com because we give you a set learning path, with this path we show how much progress you’ve made. This makes you stick to your goals and keep going!
Conclusion
Following the steps and having patience is the hardest part to achieving your goals, it’s not easy learning a new language. You are essentially teaching your brain to categorize the world in a completely new way. Stick with it and you can do it just remember the 4 tools I taught you today! With them, conversations, reading, and understanding will become much easier. The most important thing to remember is to use the tools that PortuguesePod101.com provides and you will be on your way to being fluent!
Speaking is usually the #1 weakness for all Portuguese learners. This is a common issue among language learners everywhere. The reason for this is obvious: When language learners first start learning a language, they usually start with reading. They read online articles, books, information on apps and so on. If they take a class, they spend 20% of their time repeating words, and 80% of the time reading the textbook, doing homework or just listening to a teacher. So, if you spend most of your time reading instead of speaking, you might get better at reading but your speaking skills never grow. You get better at what you focus on.
So if you want to improve you speaking skills, you need to spend more of your study time on speaking. Here are five tips to help you get started:
1. Read out loud
If you’re listening to a lesson and reading along, read out loud. Then re-read and speed up your tempo. Do this again and again until you can speak faster. Try your best to pronounce the words correctly, but don’t obsess about it. Read swiftly, emote and put some inflection on the sentences. Reading aloud helps to train the muscles of your mouth and diaphragm to produce unfamiliar words and sounds.
2. Prepare things to say ahead of time.
As you may know from experience, most learners run out of things to say. But, if you prepare lines ahead of time, you won’t be at a loss for words in conversations. This will help you not only to learn how to say the words, but how to say them in the right context. A good way to prepare yourself before conversations is with our Top 25 Questions Series, which teaches you how to ask the most common conversational questions, and how to answer them, in Portuguese:
3. Use shadowing (repeat the dialogues as you hear them).
Shadowing is an extremely useful tool for increasing fluency as well as improving your accent and ability to be understood. Shadowing helps create all the neural connections in your brain to produce those words and sentences quickly and accurately without having to think about it. Also, as mentioned in tip #1, shadowing helps develop the muscle memory in all the physical parts responsible for the production of those sounds. Depending on what your primary and target languages are, it’s quite likely that there are a lot of sounds your mouth just isn’t used to producing. Shadowing can be done, for example, when watching TV shows or movies or listening to music.
Each one of our lessons begins with a dialogue. Try to shadow the conversation line by line, and you’ll be mastering it in no time.
4. Review again and again.
This is the key to perfection, and we can’t emphasize it enough. Most learners don’t review! If you review and repeat lines again and again, you’ll be speaking better, faster and with more confidence.
5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES!
You’d be surprised by how many people try to avoid talking! The more you speak, the faster you learn – and that is why you’re learning Portuguese. Practice speaking every chance you get: whether it’s ordering coffee, shopping or asking for directions.
You’ll want to know about these 2 new Portuguese learning tools and features. They’re great for reviewing, motivation and progress. One is an unofficial sneak peek.
So what are they? The brand new Achievement Badges and the Word Bank! And… if you want to master Portuguese, unlock our proven learning system at 26% OFF and get a Bonus 6.5-hour Audiobook!
New Feature! Achievement Badges Now Available for Premium PLUS
Sneak Peek: Save & Review Vocab with this Study Tool
1. Ends Friday! Learn Portuguese with 26% OFF & a FREE Audiobook!
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2. NEW Feature! Learn and Stay Motivated with NEW Achievement Badges
Learning Portuguese? You deserve recognition and motivation. So, if you’re a Premium PLUS member… you can now unlock new badges as your Portuguese improves. Your Premium PLUS teacher will give out badges as you complete weekly assignments. The result? You master more Portuguese, unlock badges for your progress, and stay motivated to keep going.
3. Here’s a Sneak Peek at the Newly Redesigned Word Bank!
We haven’t fully announced this yet… but here’s a sneak peek! The Word Bank – your personal collection of words and phrases – is better than ever. What’s new? First, a shiny new design. You can sort and manage your vocab and phrases with custom labels. And feel free to print out your entries as physical study material or export them as files! Not a Premium member? Take advantage of the 26% discount by Friday.
P.S. We’re giving you a BONUS 6.5-Hour Audiobook. Get 26% OFF by Friday!
No school or textbooks necessary to learn Portuguese! In fact, you get a FREE Audiobook when you get 26% OFF any 1- or 2-year plan. Master Portuguese in LESS time with this 2-for-1 deal! Unlock our learning system – over 130 hours of audio and video lesson by real teachers and more! Just $2.96/month and up to $62.40 OFF. Hurry! Ends Friday, 8/28/2015!
