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C2  ·  37 words

Social roles and relations in Portuguese

Rank, closeness, obligation — the order nobody states.

Practise this list

From these 37 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The ninth entry is a figura de proa, and it is a picture both languages carry while only one of them reads it twice. The figure at the prow of a ship is the carving under the bowsprit, and « figurehead » names that object in English as well. Turned on a person, though, our word has only ever gone one way. It is a judgement, and a deflating one: the chairman who signs what others have decided, the monarch with no power left, the director kept on for the letterhead. Portuguese has that reading too — the sentence on this page, ficou como figura de proa, sem decidir nada, is exactly our sense — but it also kept the opposite one, which is the commoner of the two in a newspaper. Uma figura de proa do partido is a leading figure, a standard-bearer, somebody at the very front of a movement, and the phrase is praise. The carving has not changed; what changes is whether the eye rests on an ornament that decides nothing or on the part of the hull that meets the water first. Only the sentence around it says which.

The words

Noun (m) (25)

Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo

o par de igual postoa peerNoun (m)C2
A crítica vinda de um par de igual posto pesa mais.Criticism coming from a peer carries more weight.
o superior hierárquicothe line managerNoun (m)C2
O superior hierárquico assina antes de o pedido seguir.The line manager signs before the request goes any further.
o inferior hierárquicoa subordinateNoun (m)C2
Nunca corrigiu um inferior hierárquico à frente dos outros.He never corrected a subordinate in front of the others.
o homólogothe opposite numberNoun (m)C2
Falou ao telefone com o seu homólogo do outro ministério.He spoke on the telephone to his opposite number at the other ministry.
o emissáriothe envoyNoun (m)C2
O emissário trouxe uma proposta por escrito.The envoy brought a proposal in writing.
o intercessorthe go-betweenNoun (m)C2
Sem um intercessor, os dois nem se falavam.Without a go-between, the two of them did not even speak.
o guardião do acessothe gatekeeperNoun (m)C2
A secretária do gabinete era o guardião do acesso.The secretary in the outer office was the gatekeeper.
o mentorthe mentorNoun (m)C2
Teve um mentor que lhe abriu portas no início.He had a mentor who opened doors for him at the start.
o protegidothe protégéNoun (m)C2
O protegido acabou por ocupar o lugar do mestre.The protégé ended up taking the master’s place.
o confidentethe confidantNoun (m)C2
Contou tudo ao seu confidente e a mais ninguém.He told his confidant everything and nobody else.
o aliadoan allyNoun (m)C2
Ganhou um aliado no departamento vizinho.He gained an ally in the neighbouring department.
o competidorthe competitorNoun (m)C2
O competidor mais próximo copiou a ideia em semanas.The nearest competitor copied the idea within weeks.
o opositorthe opponentNoun (m)C2
O opositor mais duro sentava-se ao lado dele.His fiercest opponent sat next to him.
o iniciadothe insiderNoun (m)C2
Só um iniciado percebe o que aquela frase quer dizer.Only an insider understands what that sentence means.
o estranho ao grupothe outsiderNoun (m)C2
Para um estranho ao grupo, aquilo parece uma língua própria.To an outsider the whole thing sounds like a language of its own.
o recém-chegadothe newcomerNoun (m)C2
O recém-chegado ainda não sabe a quem perguntar.The newcomer does not yet know whom to ask.
o membro de longa dataa long-standing memberNoun (m)C2
Um membro de longa data lembra-se de todas as promessas.A long-standing member remembers every promise that was made.
o circunstantethe bystanderNoun (m)C2
Um circunstante chamou a polícia e ficou a olhar.A bystander called the police and went on watching.
o mironethe onlookerNoun (m)C2
Juntou-se um grupo de mirones à volta do carro.A group of onlookers gathered around the car.
o círculo restritothe inner circleNoun (m)C2
A decisão nasceu no círculo restrito da direção.The decision was born in the inner circle of the board.
o prestígiothe standingNoun (m)C2
O prestígio dela abriu a porta antes de falar.Her standing opened the door before she said a word.
o ar de superioridadethe air of superiorityNoun (m)C2
Respondeu com um ar de superioridade que gelou a sala.He answered with an air of superiority that froze the room.
o bom entendimentothe good understandingNoun (m)C2
Há bom entendimento entre as duas equipas.There is a good understanding between the two teams.
o distanciamentothe estrangementNoun (m)C2
O distanciamento entre eles cresceu sem discussão nenhuma.The estrangement between them grew without a single quarrel.
o favor por pagarthe outstanding favourNoun (m)C2
Ficou com um favor por pagar e nunca o esqueceu.An outstanding favour was left behind, and he never forgot it.

Noun (f) (12)

Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo

a pessoa interpostaan intermediaryNoun (f)C2
O pagamento passou por uma pessoa interposta.The payment went through an intermediary.
a figura de proathe figureheadNoun (f)C2
Ficou como figura de proa, sem decidir nada.He stayed on as a figurehead, deciding nothing.
a base do grupothe rank and fileNoun (f)C2
A base do grupo soube pelos jornais.The rank and file found out from the newspapers.
a hierarquia informalthe pecking orderNoun (f)C2
A hierarquia informal não está escrita em lado nenhum.The pecking order is written down nowhere.
a camarilhathe cliqueNoun (f)C2
Formou-se uma camarilha à volta do novo chefe.A clique formed around the new head.
a corrente internathe factionNoun (f)C2
Cada corrente interna quer o seu nome na lista.Every faction wants its own name on the list.
a rede de contactosthe network of contactsNoun (f)C2
A rede de contactos dele levou anos a formar-se.His network of contacts took years to build.
a credibilidadethe credibilityNoun (f)C2
Uma promessa por cumprir custa credibilidade.A promise left unkept costs credibility.
a deferênciathe deferenceNoun (f)C2
Tratou o visitante com uma deferência exagerada.He treated the visitor with exaggerated deference.
a familiaridadethe familiarityNoun (f)C2
A familiaridade entre os dois notava-se logo.The familiarity between the two of them was noticeable at once.
a reaproximaçãothe reconciliationNoun (f)C2
A reaproximação começou com um almoço.The reconciliation began with a lunch.
a lealdadethe loyaltyNoun (f)C2
A lealdade dele é para com a equipa, não para com o cargo.His loyalty is to the team, not to the post.

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This list belongs to People and feelings — 13 lists and 467 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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