Portuguese Sayings Translated into English

Portuguese Sayings Translated into English

The following exercise works in any language. There are some sayings, rooted in tradition and history, that have their meaning exclusively in the language where they have developed (the saying “it’s raining cats and dogs” is hilarious when translated into Portuguese). Translators know better than to translate these word for word, but sometimes the missionary, still learning the language and culture, finds himself lost, trying to make sense of somethings that was said to him. Most times these sayings, with all the wisdom they impart, are pronounced as a way to end a discussion. The poor missionary is left worst off than when he began the conversation.

• If you love something ugly, it will seem pretty to you. (Quem feio ama, bonito lhe parece)
• Guilt dies single. (A culpa morre solteira)
• The opportunity creates the thief. (A ocasião faz o ladrão)
• An old donkey does not lear languages. (Burro velho não aprende línguas)
• Each monkey in its branch. (Cada macaco no seu galho)
• Each one pulls the coals closer to his sardine. (Cada um puxa a brasa para a sua sardinha)
• White trousers in January, means he has no money. (Calças brancas em Janeiro, sinal de pouco dinheiro)
• From Spain you get bad winds and bad marriages. (De Espanha, nem bons ventos, nem bons casamentos)
• The young squeeze the cucumber. (De pequenino se torce o pepino)
• In the blacksmith’s house, the skewer is made of wood. (Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau)
• In the home where there is no bread, all fight and no one is right. (Casa onde não há pão, todos ralham e ninguém tem razão)
• Don’t put your spoon between husband and wife. (Entre marido e mulher não se mete a colher)
• [sarcastic] Trust in the Virgin and don’t run. (Fia-te na Virgem e não corras)
• The fish’s son knows how to swim. (Filho de peixe, sabe nadar)
• Fat is beauty. (Gordura é formosura)
• Where Judas lost his boots. (Onde Judas perdeu as botas)
• A thief that steals from another thief has 100 years of forgiveness. (Ladrão que rouba ladrão, tem 100 anos de perdão)