Portuguese-English Encyclopedic Dictionary of Phraseology (Native Level)

By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva 

 

The Portuguese-English Encyclopedic Dictionary of Phraseology (Native Level) is a comprehensive reference designed for linguists, translators, advanced language learners, and anyone seeking a deep, nuanced understanding of idiomatic expressions in both Portuguese and English. This encyclopedic dictionary goes beyond literal translations, offering culturally and contextually accurate equivalents, usage examples, and explanations of phrase origins where relevant. Whether you're decoding native-level Portuguese idioms or crafting fluent English translations, this resource bridges the gap between languages with precision and depth.

 

Here is list of Portuguese-English phrases from A to Z:

 

A comida está fria, vou esquentar no micro-ondas.: The food is cold, I’ll heat it up in the microwave.

A sobremesa foi o melhor da refeição.: Dessert was the best part of the meal.

A tripulação abandonou o navio.: The crew abandoned the ship.

Adoro frutas frescas no café da manhã.: I love fresh fruit for breakfast.

Até que eu volte são e salvo.: Until I return safely.

Comer juntos em família é muito importante.: Eating together as a family is very important.

Comida apimentada não é para mim.: Spicy food is not for me.

Cumpra a sua promessa.: Abide by your promise.

Dr. é a abreviatura de Doutor.: Dr. is an abbreviation for Doctor.

Ela dançou sem embaraço e sem afetação.: She danced with abandon.

Eles servem um buffet à vontade no almoço.: They serve an all-you-can-eat buffet at lunch.

Essa pizza está deliciosa!: This pizza is delicious!

Essa sopa é perfeita para dias frios.: This soup is perfect for cold days.

Esse prato é típico da região nordeste do Brasil.: This dish is typical of the Northeast region of Brazil.

Esse restaurante serve comida japonesa autêntica.: This restaurant serves authentic Japanese food.

Estou com fome, tem algo para comer?: I'm hungry, is there anything to eat?

Estou tentando seguir uma dieta mais saudável.: I'm trying to follow a healthier diet.

Eu adoro comida caseira.: I love homemade food.

Evito comidas muito gordurosas.: I avoid very greasy foods.

Fiquei desconcertado.: I was taken aback.

Fiquei perplexo.: I was taken aback.

Gosto de cozinhar para a minha família.: I like cooking for my family.

Hoje o jantar será massa com molho branco.: Dinner today will be pasta with white sauce.

Mantenha-se fiel às suas convicções.: Abide by your principles.

Não gosto de alimentos industrializados.: I don’t like processed foods.

Não perca esta oportunidade.: Don't miss this opportunity.

O café da manhã é a refeição mais importante do dia.: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

O churrasco brasileiro é muito famoso.: Brazilian barbecue is very famous.

O molho precisa de mais sal.: The sauce needs more salt.

O peixe está bem fresco.: The fish is very fresh.

O povo construiu um altar.: People built an altar.

O prato está bem temperado.: The dish is well seasoned.

Pão de queijo é um lanche típico de Minas Gerais.: Cheese bread is a typical snack from Minas Gerais.

Prefiro comida salgada a doce.: I prefer savory food to sweet.

Temos opções vegetarianas no cardápio.: We have vegetarian options on the menu.

Vamos almoçar juntos amanhã?: Shall we have lunch together tomorrow?

Você já experimentou feijoada?: Have you ever tried feijoada?

Você prefere suco natural ou refrigerante?: Do you prefer natural juice or soda?

Você quer repetir o prato?: Do you want a second helping?

Vou preparar um bolo de chocolate para a festa.: I’m going to make a chocolate cake for the party.

 

The complete resource for a complete list of phrases in Portuguese with their respective translations into Brazilian Portuguese can only be obtained by purchasing the full edition of this encyclopedic dictionary from the author.

 

Purpose and Importance

 

Language is not merely a collection of individual words—it thrives on idioms, expressions, sayings, proverbs, phrasal verbs, and fixed constructions that often defy literal translation. For example, the Portuguese phrase "chutar o balde" literally translates to "kick the bucket," but it actually means something like "give up" or "lose self-control," depending on the context. A traditional bilingual dictionary might translate each word separately, but an encyclopedic phraseological dictionary provides not only the correct idiomatic English equivalent (e.g., “throw in the towel” or “go off the rails”) but also contextual usage, regional variation, grammatical notes, and cultural commentary.

 

Key Features

 

1. Native-Level Phraseology: This encyclopedic dictionary focuses on expressions used by native speakers of Portuguese, incorporating regionalisms from Brazil, Portugal, and Lusophone Africa, along with variations in English (British, American, Australian, etc.).

 

2. Encyclopedic Entries:

 

Each entry often includes:

 

The phrase in Portuguese

 

Literal translation (for understanding structure)

 

One or more idiomatic English equivalents

 

Definitions and explanations

 

Examples in context (in both languages)

 

Notes on usage, connotation, grammar, and regional variation

 

Cultural background when necessary (e.g., folklore, literary references)

 

3. Bidirectional Cross-References:

 

While primarily a Portuguese-to-English tool, the dictionary also helps English speakers find the right Portuguese expressions, aiding in translation, interpretation, and language learning

 

4. Subject-Based Categorization:

 

Phrases may be organized or indexed by themes such as:

 

Emotions and psychology

 

Everyday life and social customs

 

Work, politics, and law

 

Slang and colloquialisms

 

Proverbs and wisdom sayings

 

5. Scholarly and Practical Applications:

 

For Translators: Ensures idiomatic accuracy and cultural fidelity in professional work.

 

For Language Learners: Provides insight into how native speakers truly speak, improving fluency.

 

For Writers and Interpreters: Offers tools to avoid awkward literal translations and express nuance correctly.

 

For Academics: Supports research in phraseology, lexicography, and comparative linguistics.

 

Why It’s Unique

 

Unlike ordinary bilingual dictionaries, this encyclopedic phraseological dictionary captures cultural equivalence, not just lexical equivalence. It doesn’t just tell you what words mean—it tells you what they mean to a native speaker, and how best to say them in the other language in an equally natural way. It recognizes that idioms and set phrases are at the heart of real-world communication.

 

Bibliographic References 

 

Suggested Bibliographic References:

 

Cowie, A. P. (1998). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

A comprehensive work that explores English idioms, providing meanings, examples, and usage. This work is valuable for understanding the role of idioms in translation and language learning.

 

Ferro, A. (2004). Diccionario de Frases Hechas y Refranes (Portugués-Español). Madrid: Editorial Gredos.

 

A similar work to the Portuguese-English Dictionary of Phraseology, focused on phrases in Portuguese and Spanish. It includes idiomatic phrases, proverbs, and their equivalent expressions in English.

 

McArthur, T. (1992). The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

This work discusses various aspects of the English language, including idioms, phrases, and regional variations, which would inform any phraseological dictionary.

 

Wierzbicka, A. (1996). Semantics: Primes and Universals. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Wierzbicka's work on semantics provides a deeper understanding of the cultural and cognitive factors that influence the meanings of idiomatic expressions, both in English and Portuguese.

 

Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. London: Prentice Hall.

 

A foundational text for translators, offering insights into the challenges of translating idiomatic phrases, with a special focus on strategies for rendering non-literal language.

 

Alvarado, E. (1991). Diccionario de Frases Hechas y Modismos del Español al Inglés. Barcelona: Editorial Teide.

 

A bilingual dictionary focused on Spanish-English idiomatic expressions that can also serve as a model for the construction of a Portuguese-English phraseological dictionary.

 

Vieira, F. (2010). Dicionário de Frases Feitas: Português-Inglês. Lisbon: Leya.

 

A dedicated dictionary of Portuguese idiomatic expressions with English equivalents, offering definitions, examples, and detailed explanations.

 

Sánchez, J. (2003). Manual de Fraseología y Paremiología: Teoría y Práctica. Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca.

 

A text that addresses the theory and practical aspects of phraseology and paremiology, crucial for understanding the construction of phraseological dictionaries.

 

Krennmayr, T., Langer, M., & Waas, J. (2011). Phraseology in English: A Corpus-based Perspective. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

 

A scholarly work that delves into phraseological studies in English, which would be relevant for compiling accurate English equivalents of Portuguese expressions.

 

Cambridge University Press. (2015). Cambridge English Dictionary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 

While not focused solely on phraseology, this dictionary is one of the most authoritative sources for contemporary English language usage and idioms.