Idioms

Caught at a bus stop with a talkative stranger, Ana patiently contributes to the one-sided chat using simple comments that say “I’m listening”, without saying much at all. Coincidentally, this is also helpful for language learners who want to keep the conversation flowing, despite not having much to say yet… 😉

One challenge of learning Portuguese, or any language, is that you can’t simply translate literally. Each language has its own conventions for how to word different concepts. This is known as idiomatic language. In this Learning Note, we’re focusing mostly on how to translate English “phrasal verbs” into Portuguese. (If you’re looking for other types […]

Liliana and Bruno discuss some problems in their relationship. Notice how the verb ficar is used in a variety of different ways throughout their conversation.

Ana and Edmundo watch Francisco’s soccer game.

Did you know the verb “dar” has at least 60 different meanings in Portuguese? 😱 The simplest translation is “to give”, but it also has many idiomatic meanings, which depend on the context. Today, Joel and Rui take a deep dive into “dar”, with some help from one of our Shorty episodes: Dar Uma Mãozinha. […]

Rodrigo complains to Adelaide about how cold their home is. Familiarize yourself with a number of reflexive verbs throughout the dialogue.

You may have come across the word logo in Portuguese and had trouble translating it. Logo is another of those Portuguese words that has several meanings… The word can mean “therefore”, it can mean “soon”, and (don’t hate us!) it can also mean “later”. 😳 Sometimes it does not have a clear translation in English, […]

Helena decides to organize her storage closet. Notice how the verb “dar” is used in a variety of different expressions throughout the dialogue.

The simplest translation for the Portuguese verb andar is “to walk”, but the fun doesn’t stop there! Andar can take on many different meanings, depending on the context. As opposed to , which is pretty straightforward, refers more to the general act of moving, acting, or changing places. It can indicate that an action is […]

Explore the many different uses of the verb “passar” in this dialogue between Eurico and Vanessa.

Hear how a number of Portuguese idioms are used in conversation as Sónia discusses her love life. Check out the Idioms 2 unit for more descriptions and practice with these expressions.

Filipe tells Bruna the story about how he got a black eye, using many of the expressions you learned in the Idioms 1 unit.

In this Learning Note we’re going to show you a few more Portuguese idioms. This expression literally means “you’re a head of spoiled garlic”, which means you are not very bright. Although originally meant for people who are easily distracted or forgetful, it has a become an endearing way of calling someone dumb. In the […]

, or idioms, are expressions that you shouldn’t interpret literally. Portuguese idioms have a symbolic meaning, which is rarely maintained upon literal translation into other languages. These expressions reflect the customs and history of the country and are part of all conversations of the Portuguese, rich or poor, from North to South of Portugal. They […]