Category Archives: language

Did you know…

Posted on 10 August 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

…that the Portuguese term for ear plugs is “tampons for the ears”? I’m still laughing over that one. But it makes sense!

Posted in language, Portugal | 6 Comments

Throwing flowers

Posted on 9 July 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

Today I learned a new phrase from a Spanish friend: echar flores a alguien, translating as “to throw flowers at someone.” It means to say something nice about someone, or pay a compliment. I love this, especially since it’s so … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 5 Comments

New word for me: argle-bargle

Posted on 27 June 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

I didn’t bother reading Scalia’s dissenting opinion in yesterday’s DOMA decision, but after hearing about his creative word usage, I had to go back and check it out. This marks the first time I have ever searched a PDF for … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 8 Comments

An irregular verb “aha” moment

Posted on 15 June 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

This is so cool. After having to tell my stepson that I have no idea why “to go” is such a bizarre irregular verb in English, I now have an answer. Turns out that go was a synonym of wend, … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 8 Comments

The spread of gurkor, pepinos and cucumbers

Posted on 30 April 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

An etymology geek’s idea of fun: tracking the twists and shifts of a word throughout its “native” ranges. Portugal remains united in its embrace of pepino, but Spain seems to have a split personality. That Galicia would be French-influenced is … Continue reading →

Posted in language | 5 Comments

Portuguese idiom of the day

Posted on 9 March 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

Just learned this one, and am going to be waiting for a chance to use it: É cor de burro quando foge. “It’s the color of a burro on the run.” (Literally, “when it flees.”) In other words, a color … Continue reading →

Posted in language, Portugal | 2 Comments

An esteemed animal

Posted on 12 February 2013 by Fletcher DeLancey

After living here for six years, I have finally learned the Portuguese term for “pet.” This is probably because I’ve never heard anyone talk about pets before. Cats, dogs, birds, yes, but not the general term “pet.” So I was … Continue reading →

Posted in language, Portugal | 13 Comments

Chicken mother and owl father

Posted on 8 December 2012 by Fletcher DeLancey

I did say I wouldn’t turn this into a cat blog, but…here’s an update, which has led me to learn a couple of new Portuguese phrases. Rumple the Kitten came to us with an eye/respiratory illness, which we are currently … Continue reading →

Posted in language, life | 20 Comments

Garota de Ipanema

Posted on 9 October 2012 by Fletcher DeLancey

Last week I wrote about the differences between the original Portuguese and English versions of “Águas do Março,” and mentioned my earlier discovery that “The Girl From Ipanema” was (gasp!) not actually an English song. But I didn’t get into … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, language, video | 24 Comments

Águas de Março

Posted on 5 October 2012 by Fletcher DeLancey

Being American, I thought for most of my life that “The Girl from Ipanema” was an English song. It wasn’t until I was an adult exploring what we like to call “world music” — i.e., anything not sung in English … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, language, video | 3 Comments