C1 · 47 words
The national economy in Portuguese
What the business pages say, and how the pieces fit together.
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From these 47 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.
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The ninth entry is o poder aquisitivo, and the adjective is a trap set by a word English owns and has spoiled. « Acquisitive » is built on the same Latin verb and looks like the obvious rendering, but English long ago handed it over to the moralists. An acquisitive person is grasping, always after one more thing; « an acquisitive society » is a phrase of complaint and not of measurement; and « acquisitive crime » is what the police call theft. Nothing in that family describes how much a wage will buy. English names the quantity with a plain verb instead and says « purchasing power », which is what stands in every statistical release and every newspaper paragraph. Portuguese kept the adjective neutral: aquisitivo says only that something has to do with acquiring, so o poder aquisitivo das famílias is a figure and carries no verdict about anybody’s appetites. The rule is easy to hold. Where a Portuguese economics page writes aquisitivo, English writes « purchasing »; where English writes « acquisitive », somebody is being accused of something.
The words
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Noun (f) (26)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
a política monetáriamonetary policyNoun (f)C1
A política monetária é decidida pelo banco central.Monetary policy is decided by the central bank.
a política orçamentalfiscal policyNoun (f)C1
A política orçamental deste ano é mais apertada.This year’s fiscal policy is tighter.
a taxa diretorathe policy rateNoun (f)C1
A taxa diretora subiu outra vez.The policy rate has gone up again.
a taxa de inflaçãothe rate of inflationNoun (f)C1
A taxa de inflação abrandou nos últimos meses.The rate of inflation has eased over the past few months.
a deflaçãodeflationNoun (f)C1
A deflação torna a dívida mais pesada.Deflation makes debt heavier.
a estagflaçãostagflationNoun (f)C1
A estagflação junta preços altos e economia parada.Stagflation puts high prices together with a stalled economy.
a retoma económicathe economic recoveryNoun (f)C1
A retoma económica ainda é frágil.The economic recovery is still fragile.
a depressão económicathe economic depressionNoun (f)C1
Uma depressão económica dura anos, não meses.An economic depression lasts years, not months.
a expansão económicathe economic boomNoun (f)C1
A expansão económica criou postos de trabalho.The economic boom created jobs.
a taxa de desempregothe unemployment rateNoun (f)C1
A taxa de desemprego desceu na região.The unemployment rate has fallen in the region.
a população ativathe labour forceNoun (f)C1
A população ativa está a envelhecer.The labour force is ageing.
a taxa de atividadethe participation rateNoun (f)C1
A taxa de atividade conta quem trabalha ou procura trabalho.The participation rate counts whoever is working or looking for work.
a taxa de câmbiothe exchange rateNoun (f)C1
A taxa de câmbio mudou de um dia para o outro.The exchange rate changed from one day to the next.
a depreciação cambialthe depreciation of the currencyNoun (f)C1
A depreciação cambial encarece as importações.The depreciation of the currency makes imports dearer.
a balança de pagamentosthe balance of paymentsNoun (f)C1
A balança de pagamentos regista tudo o que entra e sai.The balance of payments records everything that comes in and goes out.
a dívida soberanasovereign debtNoun (f)C1
A dívida soberana é comprada em leilão.Sovereign debt is bought at auction.
a austeridadeausterityNoun (f)C1
A austeridade cortou nos serviços.Austerity cut into services.
a flexibilização quantitativaquantitative easingNoun (f)C1
A flexibilização quantitativa consiste em comprar dívida.Quantitative easing consists of buying debt.
a rendibilidade das obrigaçõesthe yield on bondsNoun (f)C1
A rendibilidade das obrigações sobe quando o preço desce.The yield on bonds rises when the price falls.
a notação de créditothe credit ratingNoun (f)C1
A notação de crédito do país foi revista.The country’s credit rating was reviewed.
a liquidezliquidityNoun (f)C1
O banco tinha lucro no papel, mas não tinha liquidez.The bank had a profit on paper but no liquidity.
a solvênciasolvencyNoun (f)C1
A solvência mede se os ativos chegam para as dívidas.Solvency measures whether the assets cover the debts.
a corrida aos depósitosthe run on depositsNoun (f)C1
Bastou um boato para começar a corrida aos depósitos.A rumour was enough to start the run on deposits.
a supervisão bancáriabanking supervisionNoun (f)C1
A supervisão bancária exige mais capital.Banking supervision is calling for more capital.
a bolha especulativathe speculative bubbleNoun (f)C1
Toda a bolha especulativa parece racional por dentro.Every speculative bubble looks rational from the inside.
a especulaçãospeculationNoun (f)C1
A especulação com terrenos subiu os preços da zona.Speculation in land drove up prices in the area.
Noun (m) (21)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
o banco centralthe central bankNoun (m)C1
O banco central manteve a taxa.The central bank held the rate.
o índice de preçosthe price indexNoun (m)C1
O índice de preços é publicado todos os meses.The price index is published every month.
o poder aquisitivopurchasing powerNoun (m)C1
O poder aquisitivo das famílias caiu.The purchasing power of households has fallen.
o ciclo económicothe business cycleNoun (m)C1
Cada ciclo económico tem uma fase de arrefecimento.Every business cycle has a cooling phase.
o produto interno brutogross domestic productNoun (m)C1
O produto interno bruto cresceu menos do que se esperava.Gross domestic product grew less than had been expected.
o hiato do produtothe output gapNoun (m)C1
O hiato do produto mede o que a economia não produziu.The output gap measures what the economy did not produce.
o crescimento da produtividadeproductivity growthNoun (m)C1
Sem crescimento da produtividade, os salários estagnam.Without productivity growth, wages stagnate.
o crescimento salarialwage growthNoun (m)C1
O crescimento salarial não acompanhou os preços.Wage growth has not kept up with prices.
o défice comercialthe trade deficitNoun (m)C1
O país tem um défice comercial persistente.The country has a persistent trade deficit.
o excedente comercialthe trade surplusNoun (m)C1
Um excedente comercial não é bom nem mau por si.A trade surplus is in itself neither good nor bad.
o fluxo de capitaisthe flow of capitalNoun (m)C1
O fluxo de capitais inverteu-se em poucas semanas.The flow of capital reversed within a few weeks.
o investimento direto estrangeiroforeign direct investmentNoun (m)C1
O investimento direto estrangeiro concentra-se no litoral.Foreign direct investment is concentrated on the coast.
o défice orçamentalthe budget deficitNoun (m)C1
O défice orçamental voltou a aumentar.The budget deficit has grown again.
o endividamento públicopublic indebtednessNoun (m)C1
O endividamento público pesa nas contas de amanhã.Public indebtedness weighs on tomorrow’s accounts.
o pacote de estímulothe stimulus packageNoun (m)C1
O governo anunciou um pacote de estímulo.The government announced a stimulus package.
o incumprimento da dívidadefault on the debtNoun (m)C1
O incumprimento da dívida fecha as portas do mercado.Default on the debt shuts the doors of the market.
o resgate financeirothe financial rescueNoun (m)C1
O resgate financeiro foi decidido num fim de semana.The financial rescue was decided over a weekend.
o risco sistémicosystemic riskNoun (m)C1
O risco sistémico não se vê num balanço isolado.Systemic risk cannot be seen in a single balance sheet.
o produto derivadothe derivativeNoun (m)C1
Um produto derivado vale o que valer o ativo por baixo.A derivative is worth whatever the asset underneath it is worth.
o preço das matérias-primasthe price of raw materialsNoun (m)C1
O preço das matérias-primas oscila muito.The price of raw materials swings a great deal.
o choque da ofertathe supply shockNoun (m)C1
Um choque da oferta faz subir os preços sem procura nova.A supply shock pushes prices up with no new demand.
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This list belongs to Money, finance and economy — 28 lists and 989 words that can also be practised as a whole.