Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons

Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin May 31, 2007 Duration: 9:39
asset title: Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons filename: tafalado_gra_05.mp3 track number: 31/46 time: 9:39 size: 6.79 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Here's a trick question for Spanish speakers: Would it be better in Portuguese to say the equivalent of 'Siéntate' or 'Siéntese'? Answer: Don't worry about the reflexive pronouns. Chances are that Brazilians won't use them either. In this lesson Valdo and Michelle help the rest of us to get a sense of the disappearing reflexive pronouns in Portuguese. Michelle also adds how cool she thinks the use of coupons is here in Texas as well. Dialog Portuguese Valdo: Você deitou tarde ontem? Michelle: Deitei bem tarde e levantei bem cedinho. Valdo: Por que? Senta aqui e me conta. Michelle: Eu lembrei que tinha um monte de cupons que vencia hoje... daí eu corri pra loja para usá-los. Valdo: Eu acho legal esse sistema de cupons daqui. Sempre aproveito os descontos e ganho várias coisas de graça. Michelle: Oh, desculpe, tenho que ir... esqueci que tenho mais dois cupons pra usar agora à tarde. Spanish Valdo: ¿Te acostaste tarde ayer? Michelle: Me acosté muy tarde y me levanté muy temprano. Valdo: ¿Por qué? Siéntate aquí y cuéntame. Michelle: Me acordé que tenía un montón de cupones que se vencía hoy ... así corrí a las tiendas para usarlos. Valdo: Me gusta este sistema de cupones de aquí. Siempre aprovecho los descuentos y gano varias cosas gratis. Michelle: Oh, descúlpaame, tengo que irme ... se me olvidó que tengo dos cupones más que necesito usar esta tarde. English Valdo: Did you go to bed late yesterday? Michelle: I went to bed really late and I got up really early. Valdo: Why? Sit down hear and tell me about it. Michelle: I remembered that I had a whole bunch of coupons that were expiring today ... so I ran to the store to use them up. Valdo: I love this system of coupons that they have here. I always take advantage of the discounts and I get a lot of things for free. Michelle: Oh, I'm sorry, I've got to go ... I forgot that I have a couple of coupons that need to be used this afternoon.

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 24: Intonation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:05
asset title: Lesson 24: Intonation filename: tafalado_24.mp3 track number: 25/46 time: 15:05 size: 10.61 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Today's lesson is totally different. Instead of listening to a dialog and comparing the sounds…
Lesson 23: Cool Little Words,  Nicknames [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:11
asset title: Lesson 23: Cool Little Words, Nicknames filename: tafalado_23.mp3 track number: 24/46 time: 9:11 size: 6.46 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Let's see if we have this right? Michelle's family gave her the nickname 'witch…
Lesson 22: Epenthetic Vowels (wow, fancy word!),  Fast Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:50
asset title: Lesson 22: Epenthetic Vowels (wow, fancy word!), Fast Food filename: tafalado_22.mp3 track number: 23/46 time: 11:50 size: 8.32 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Epenthe ... what? Epenthetic vowels. We know, it sounds lik…
Lesson 20: Pronunciation of 'lh', Automatic Sprinklers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:38
asset title: Lesson 20: Pronunciation of 'lh', Automatic Sprinklers filename: tafalado_20.mp3 track number: 21/46 time: 12:38 size: 4.44 MB bitrate: 48 kbps The 'mulher molhada trabalhava' is rendered in Spanish as 'muje…
Lesson 19: Pronunciation of 'nh', Laundromats, Really? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:25
asset title: Lesson 19: Pronunciation of 'nh', Laundromats, Really? filename: tafalado_19.mp3 track number: 20/46 time: 11:25 size: 4.02 MB bitrate: 48 kbps Valdo and Michelle still can't get used to the idea of taking t…
Lesson 18: Pronunciation of 'ch', You Call That a Steak House? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:42
asset title: Lesson 18: Pronunciation of 'ch', You Call That a Steak House? filename: tafalado_18.mp3 track number: 19/46 time: 12:42 size: 4.47 MB bitrate: 48 kbps For the meat lovers of the world, we present the Brazil…
Lesson 15: Pronunciation of 'r' sounds (alt),  Good Tippers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:12
asset title: Lesson 15: Pronunciation of 'r' sounds (alt), Good Tippers filename: tafalado_15.mp3 track number: 16/46 time: 10:12 size: 3.59 MB bitrate: 48 kbps Our carioca is back! Once again Vivian Flanzer joins Michel…