B2 · 54 words
Hiking and mountain days in Portuguese
The path, the weather, the kit — and when to turn back.
Practise this list
From these 54 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
A third of the way down the list stands o cascalho, whose example is the sentence an English reader is likeliest to spoil while getting every word right. O cascalho solto desliza debaixo das botas says that loose broken stone slides underfoot, and Portuguese is content to leave it there: the same noun does the drive in front of a house, the slope below a crag and the bed a railway line is laid on. English has no general word for loose broken stone. It has four, and each one is fastened to a place rather than to the material. « Gravel » is the drive and the garden path. « Scree » is the mountainside, and the only one of the four that implies the stone will move under you, which is what this sentence reports. « Shingle » is the beach, where water has rounded everything. « Ballast » is the railway. Write that the loose gravel slides under your boots and nothing is false, yet the reader is now standing on a driveway. The Portuguese word carries no place inside it, so the place has to come out of the sentence around it.
The words
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Verb (1)
caminharto hike, to walkVerbB2
Caminhámos toda a manhã sem ver ninguém.We hiked all morning without seeing anybody.
Noun (1)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
as polainasthe gaitersNounB2
As polainas impedem que entre lama pela bota.Gaiters keep mud from getting into the boot.
Adjective (1)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective stands
íngremesteepAdjectiveB2
O último troço é curto e muito íngreme.The last section is short and very steep.
Phrase (24)
mapa e bússolamap and compassPhraseB2
Levamos sempre mapa e bússola, mesmo com bom tempo.We always take map and compass, even in good weather.
ficha de percursothe route cardPhraseB2
A ficha de percurso fica com quem ficou em casa.The route card stays with whoever is left at home.
deixar avisoto leave wordPhraseB2
Deixámos aviso na pousada antes de partir.We left word at the guest house before setting off.
descida em metrosthe descent in metresPhraseB2
A descida em metros é maior do que parece no mapa.The descent in metres is greater than the map suggests.
travessia de cumeadathe ridge traversePhraseB2
A travessia de cumeada fica exposta ao vento.The ridge traverse is exposed to the wind.
campo de blocosthe boulder fieldPhraseB2
O campo de blocos obriga a saltar de pedra em pedra.The boulder field makes you jump from stone to stone.
travessia de ribeirothe stream crossingPhraseB2
A travessia de ribeiro é fácil quando não chove há dias.The stream crossing is easy when it has not rained for days.
abrigo de montanhathe mountain hutPhraseB2
Dormimos no abrigo de montanha por causa da neve.We slept at the mountain hut because of the snow.
acampar na naturezawild campingPhraseB2
Acampar na natureza não é permitido em toda a parte.Wild camping is not allowed everywhere.
mochila de diathe day sackPhraseB2
Numa mochila de dia cabe pouco mais do que a comida.A day sack holds little more than the food.
botas de caminhadathe walking bootsPhraseB2
As botas de caminhada precisam de ser usadas antes da viagem.Walking boots need breaking in before the trip.
bastão de caminhadathe walking polePhraseB2
Um bastão de caminhada poupa os joelhos na descida.A walking pole saves the knees on the way down.
lanterna de cabeçathe head torchPhraseB2
A lanterna de cabeça deixa as mãos livres.A head torch leaves the hands free.
saco de emergênciathe survival bagPhraseB2
O saco de emergência pesa pouco e nunca fica em casa.The survival bag weighs little and never stays at home.
janela de bom tempothe weather windowPhraseB2
Aproveitámos a janela de bom tempo da manhã.We made use of the weather window in the morning.
hora de regressothe turnaround timePhraseB2
A hora de regresso combina-se antes de sair, não no cume.The turnaround time is agreed before leaving, not on the summit.
tirar um rumo à bússolato take a compass bearingPhraseB2
Tirámos um rumo à bússola antes de entrar na neblina.We took a compass bearing before going into the mist.
rumo inversothe back bearingPhraseB2
O rumo inverso confirma que estamos na linha certa.The back bearing confirms that we are on the right line.
linha de apoio no terrenothe handrail featurePhraseB2
Um muro serve de linha de apoio no terreno.A wall serves as a handrail feature.
ponto de ataquethe attack pointPhraseB2
A ponte é o ponto de ataque para o resto do percurso.The bridge is the attack point for the rest of the route.
desvio deliberadoaiming offPhraseB2
Com desvio deliberado sabemos para que lado virar ao chegar.With aiming off we know which way to turn on arrival.
limite da nevethe snowlinePhraseB2
O limite da neve desceu durante a noite.The snowline came down during the night.
socorro em montanhamountain rescuePhraseB2
O socorro em montanha demora horas a chegar.Mountain rescue takes hours to arrive.
nível do riothe river levelPhraseB2
O nível do rio sobe depois de uma noite de chuva.The river level rises after a night of rain.
Noun (f) (13)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
a caminhadathe walk, the hikeNoun (f)B2
A caminhada dura umas quatro horas.The walk takes about four hours.
a marcação do trilhothe waymarkingNoun (f)B2
A marcação do trilho apagou-se com a chuva.The waymarking has been washed out by the rain.
a placa indicadorathe signpostNoun (f)B2
A placa indicadora estava caída na erva.The signpost was lying flat in the grass.
a veredathe footpathNoun (f)B2
A vereda passa entre dois muros de pedra.The footpath runs between two stone walls.
a ascensãothe ascentNoun (f)B2
A ascensão até ao cume leva a manhã inteira.The ascent to the summit takes the whole morning.
a bolha no péthe blisterNoun (f)B2
Uma bolha no pé estraga qualquer percurso.A blister on the foot ruins any route.
a camadathe layerNoun (f)B2
Vestimo-nos por camadas e tiramos uma na subida.We dress in layers and take one off on the climb.
a desidrataçãodehydrationNoun (f)B2
A desidratação começa antes de dar sede.Dehydration begins before you feel thirsty.
a queimadura solarsunburnNoun (f)B2
A queimadura solar apanha-se também com nevoeiro.Sunburn catches you in fog as well.
a carraçathe tickNoun (f)B2
Depois do mato convém procurar alguma carraça.After the scrub it is wise to look for a tick.
a navegação no terrenonavigation on the groundNoun (f)B2
A navegação no terreno aprende-se com nevoeiro, não com sol.Navigation on the ground is learnt in fog, not in sunshine.
a contagem de passosstep countingNoun (f)B2
A contagem de passos diz quanto já andámos sem ver nada.Step counting tells you how far we have come with nothing in sight.
a vertentethe hillsideNoun (f)B2
A vertente norte guarda neve até tarde.The north hillside keeps its snow until late.
Noun (m) (14)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
o caminhantethe walkerNoun (m)B2
O caminhante parou para beber água.The walker stopped to drink some water.
o trilhothe path, the trailNoun (m)B2
O trilho sobe pela encosta virada a sul.The path climbs the south-facing hillside.
o trilho equestrethe bridlewayNoun (m)B2
O trilho equestre corre paralelo ao rio.The bridleway follows the river.
o degrau de vedaçãothe stileNoun (m)B2
O degrau de vedação deixa passar as pessoas e não o gado.The stile lets people through and keeps the cattle in.
o declivethe gradientNoun (m)B2
O declive aumenta logo depois da ponte.The gradient increases just after the bridge.
o colo de montanhathe col, the saddleNoun (m)B2
Almoçámos no colo de montanha, ao abrigo das rochas.We had lunch at the col, sheltered by the rocks.
o cascalhothe screeNoun (m)B2
O cascalho solto desliza debaixo das botas.The loose scree slides away under your boots.
o vauthe fordNoun (m)B2
Procurámos um vau mais acima.We looked for a ford further upstream.
o refúgio sem guardathe unmanned shelterNoun (m)B2
O refúgio sem guarda tem apenas uma lareira e um banco.The unmanned shelter has only a fireplace and a bench.
o impermeávelthe waterproof jacketNoun (m)B2
O impermeável fica sempre em cima, dentro da mochila.The waterproof jacket always sits on top, inside the rucksack.
o apitothe whistleNoun (m)B2
O apito ouve-se mais longe do que a voz.A whistle carries further than the voice.
o branco totalthe whiteoutNoun (m)B2
No branco total desaparece a diferença entre o chão e o céu.In a whiteout the difference between ground and sky disappears.
o congelamentofrostbiteNoun (m)B2
O congelamento dos dedos começa sem dor.Frostbite in the fingers begins without pain.
o campo de nevethe snowfieldNoun (m)B2
O campo de neve fica duro de madrugada.The snowfield goes hard before dawn.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Free time and sport — 24 lists and 793 words that can also be practised as a whole.