Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations

Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin May 21, 2007 Duration: 13:15
asset title: Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations filename: tafalado_gra_03.mp3 track number: 29/46 time: 13:15 size: 9.31 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The plural of Brazil, if there were two of them, would be 'Brasis.' Now that would be a strange word! Spanish speakers aren't sure how to make those words that end in 'l' plural. Orlando, Valdo, Michelle, and José Luís try to tell us that it is as easy as drop the 'l' and add 'is,' but we're sure there is more to it than that. While they are talking about plurals, Valdo and Michelle also tell us about their experience in getting used to self serve gas stations in the U.S. too! Dialog Portuguese Valdo: Aquele homem está fazendo sinal pra gente baixar o farol do carro? Michelle: Não! Vamos deixar os faróis acesos ... E onde está o frentista pra colocar o combustível no nosso automóvel? Valdo: Aqui não é tão fácil como no Brasil. Os automóveis são abastecidos pelo próprio motorista. Michelle: Como assim? Por que as coisas são tão difíceis aqui? Valdo: Ah, não é tão difícil assim! Pagar com o cartão e colocar a mangueira no carro são coisas bem fáceis de fazer ... você consegue! Michelle: É, mas você tem que concordar que não há sinais claros indicando nada disso. Spanish Valdo: ¿Aquel hombre nos está indicando que bajemos las luces del carro? Michelle: No! Vamos a dejar las luces ascendidas ... ¿Y dónde está el mozo para poner el combustible en el carro? Valdo: Aquí no es tan fácil como en el Brasil. Los carros son abastecidos por el propio motorista. Michelle: ¿Cómo así? ¿Por qué las cosas son tan difíciles aquí? Valdo: Ah, no es tan difícil así. Pagar con la tarjeta y poner la manguera en el carro son cosas bien fáciles de hacer ... tú lo consigues. Michelle: Sí, pero tendrás que estar de acuerdo que no hay ninguna seña clara que indique nada de eso. English Valdo: That man is signaling that we should turn down the headlights? Michelle: No! Let's leave the lights on ... And where is the attendant to put gas in our car? Valdo: It's not as easy here as it is in Brazil. The cars are filled up by the drivers themselves. Michelle: What do you mean? Why are things so difficult here? Valdo: It's not so difficult. Paying with the credit card and putting the hose in your car are easy things to do ... you can do it! Michelle: Yea, but you have to agree that there are no clear signs indicating any of this.

For anyone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn the distinct sounds of Brazilian Portuguese, Tá Falado is a focused and practical resource. This podcast comes from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and it’s built on a simple, effective idea: your existing knowledge of Spanish is a powerful starting point. Each episode deliberately contrasts the two languages, breaking down specific pronunciation challenges like vowel sounds, nasal consonants, and intonation patterns that often trip up Spanish speakers. You’ll hear clear comparisons and practice examples that highlight these differences directly. Beyond the mechanics of speech, the podcast naturally weaves in cultural notes and real-life scenarios, offering glimpses into daily life and social interactions in Brazil compared to common experiences in the United States. It’s this combination of linguistic precision and cultural context that makes the lessons stick. As part of the broader Brazilpod project, Tá Falado is academically informed but entirely approachable, turning a potentially difficult learning curve into a series of manageable, insightful steps. The goal isn’t just to be understood, but to sound more authentic and confident when speaking.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Lesson 2: Pronunciation of /u/, Slamming the Car Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:27
asset title: Lesson 2: Pronunciation of /u/, Slamming the Car Door filename: tafalado_02.mp3 track number: 2/46 time: 9:27 size: 6.65 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The good news about Lesson #2 is that we're back. It must be that…
Lesson 1: Pronunciation of /i/, Getting the Check at a Restaurant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:32
asset title: Lesson 1: Pronunciation of /i/, Getting the Check at a Restaurant filename: tafalado_01.mp3 track number: 1/46 time: 10:32 size: 7.41 MB bitrate: 96 kbps There's only one Lesson #1. We'll never have a first…