Episode Overview
Episode Title: English Words That DONâT EXIST in Portuguese (and What Brazilians Say Instead!)
Host: Virginia Langhammer
Date: October 31, 2025
In this episode, Virginia Langhammer explores a fascinating topic for English learners of Brazilian Portuguese: common English words for which there is no direct counterpart in Portuguese. She explains how Brazilians express these concepts and shares useful vocabulary and phrases. The episode provides practical examples, highlighting nuances in expression between the two languages.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction to Language Nuances
- Virginia opens by pointing out that many everyday English words or phrases don't have a direct 1-to-1 translation in Portuguese.
- The structure of sentences and sometimes even the entire way of expressing an idea can differ greatly between the two languages.
2. Expressing 'Outdoors'
- The English word "outdoors" does not have a single-word equivalent in Portuguese.
- Virginia: "In English, we say 'outdoors,' but in Portuguese, to express activities or time spent outside, we have to describe it differently." [00:19]
3. The Word 'Siblings'
- English: The word âsiblingsâ is a gender-neutral term to refer to brothers and sisters collectively.
- Portuguese: There is no neutral word; instead, "irmĂŁos" (the plural of "irmĂŁo" or "irmĂŁ") is used, functioning as both the masculine plural and a mixed-gender plural.
- Virginia: âA palavra 'sibling' em inglĂȘs significa irmĂŁo ou irmĂŁ. Em portuguĂȘs, podemos usar o termo 'irmĂŁos' no masculino plural, neutro.â [00:34]
4. Discussing 'Commute'
- English: "Commute" refers specifically to the act of traveling to and from work.
- Portuguese: There's no direct translation. Instead, speakers use phrases to describe the concept.
- Virginia: âIn Portuguese, to say 'how long is your commute to work?' you would say, 'Quanto tempo vocĂȘ leva para ir ao trabalho?'â [00:47]
5. Talking About 'Chores' and 'Errands'
- Chores: "Chores" and "errands" are also not single words in Portuguese.
- Virginia: âI have to do some chores todayâ might be expressed as, âTenho coisas para fazer em casa hoje.â
- Errands: Usually paraphrased or described as âresolver coisas na ruaâ (to take care of things out) or âfazer comprasâ (to go shopping). [00:55]
6. 'Mindfulness' and 'Being Mindful'
- Mindfulness: There is no exact single-word equivalent.
- Virginia: âBeing mindful of something in Portuguese, we might use âestar atentoâ or âprestar atenção.â The word âmindfulnessâ is often just borrowed from English or explained.â [01:09]
7. Highlighting Mantras and Happy Coincidences
- Explains how certain terms or expressions, like âmantraâ or âfeliz coincidĂȘncia,â are used differently or borrowed for special contexts in Brazil.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On âsiblingâ vs. âirmĂŁosâ:
- âA palavra 'sibling' em inglĂȘs significa irmĂŁo ou irmĂŁ. Em portuguĂȘs, podemos usar o termo 'irmĂŁos' no masculino plural, neutro.â â Virginia [00:34]
- On describing a commute:
- âIn Portuguese, to say 'how long is your commute to work?' you would say, 'Quanto tempo vocĂȘ leva para ir ao trabalho?'â â Virginia [00:47]
- On mindfulness:
- âBeing mindful of something in Portuguese, we might use âestar atentoâ or âprestar atenção.â The word âmindfulnessâ is often just borrowed from English or explained.â â Virginia [01:09]
Important Timestamps
- 00:05 â Introduction to the language topic and structural differences between English and Portuguese.
- 00:19 â How Brazilians express âoutdoors.â
- 00:34 â Explaining the lack of a word for âsibling.â
- 00:47 â Discussing how to talk about a âcommuteâ in Portuguese.
- 00:55 â Tips for expressing âchoresâ and âerrands.â
- 01:09 â Adapting the concept of âmindfulnessâ into Portuguese.
Episode Takeaways
- Brazilian Portuguese often requires descriptive phrases, rather than single words, to capture concepts common in English.
- Cultural and grammatical differences shape how everyday ideas are communicated.
- Awareness of these differences can help learners sound more natural and avoid literal translations that donât work.
- Listeners are encouraged to pay attention to context and expressiveness when switching between English and Portuguese.
