Na semana passada celebrámos o Carnaval na terça-feira aqui em Portugal. - Last week we celebrated Carnival on Tuesday here in Portugal. (Shrove Tuesday in the UK) so this week let’s have Carnaval as the tema, here are some related words.
o desfile - the parade
carros alegóricos - decorated floats
cabeçudos - figures with giant heads
palhaço - clown
assistir ao desfile do corso - to watch the carnival parade
mascarar-se - dress up
divertir-se - to have fun
foliões - revellers
Entrudo - Shrove
quaresma - lent
Here’s a link to a Quizlet set with the phrases above (and more) for you to play about with. Enjoy!
If you would like to join one of the weekly chat groups - we run two weekly - A0/A1 Weds 13h-13h30, A2/B1 - Thurs 13h-13h45, all details are in the weekly newsletter - sign up here.
AND because we learn really well from stories and seeing examples of correct language, every week I put together 3 stories or dialogues on the week’s theme with examples of the week’s words and phrases in a useful context. I strongly believe that we can learn a lot from reading, these mini-texts with translations are just the right length for you to digest easily. (look at the translations first if that helps!)
A0 / A1
A Maria e o João estão na rua. Hoje há um desfile de Carnaval. Muitas pessoas estão a assistir. Há música e dança. O João gosta dos tambores. A Maria gosta das cores.
Um carro grande passa. Há homens e mulheres com fatos brilhantes. Eles sorriem e acenam. As crianças riem e saltam.
A Maria come pipocas. O João bebe sumo. Eles estão felizes. O desfile continua pela rua. Há muitas máscaras e chapéus engraçados. O Carnaval é muito divertido!
A2
O Carlos e a Sofia estão a ver o desfile de Carnaval na praça. Há muitas pessoas mascaradas. Algumas usam fatos tradicionais, outras têm roupas modernas e brilhantes.
De repente, a Sofia vê alguém familiar. “Carlos, olha! Aquele palhaço é parecido com o meu irmão!” O palhaço dança e acena para eles. A Sofia ri. “É mesmo o meu irmão! Que surpresa!”
O irmão dela atira confetes para o ar. O vento espalha-os por toda a praça. “O Carnaval tem sempre surpresas,” diz o Carlos, a sorrir. Eles continuam a ver o desfile, cheios de alegria.
B1+
A Helena adora o Carnaval. Todos os anos, vai à cidade ver o desfile. Este ano, está especialmente animada porque há um concurso para o melhor disfarce.
A rua está cheia de cor e música. Os carros alegóricos passam, cheios de dançarinos com roupas brilhantes. De repente, a Helena vê uma mulher com um fato espetacular: parece uma rainha do Carnaval, com penas douradas e uma máscara trabalhada.
Quando anunciam o vencedor do concurso, a Helena sorri – a mulher com as penas douradas ganhou! “Bem merecido!”, pensa ela. Enquanto a música continua, a Helena promete que no próximo ano também vai participar no concurso.
Here are the translations of the stories:
A0/ A1
Maria and João are on the street. Today, there is a carnival parade. Many people are watching. There is music and dancing. João likes the drums. Maria likes the colours.A big float passes. There are men and women in shiny costumes. They smile and wave. The children laugh and jump.Maria eats popcorn. João drinks juice. They are happy. The parade continues down the street. There are many masks and funny hats. Carnival is lots of fun!A2
Carlos and Sofia are watching the carnival parade in the square. There are many people in costumes. Some wear traditional outfits, others have modern and shiny clothes.Suddenly, Sofia sees someone familiar. “Carlos, look! That clown looks like my brother!” The clown dances and waves at them. Sofia laughs. “It really is my brother! What a surprise!”Her brother throws confetti into the air. The wind spreads it all over the square. “Carnival always has surprises,” says Carlos, smiling. They continue watching the parade, full of joy.B1
Helena loves Carnival. Every year, she goes to the city to watch the parade. This year, she is especially excited because there is a contest for the best costume.The street is full of colour and music. The floats pass by, full of dancers in bright clothes. Suddenly, Helena sees a woman in a spectacular costume: she looks like a Carnival queen, with golden feathers and an elaborate mask.When they announce the contest winner, Helena smiles – the woman with golden feathers has won! “Well deserved!” she thinks. As the music continues, Helena promises that next year she will take part in the contest too.