So, I’m translating a fictional text (from English to German) with a character who’s from Brazil, and I have two questions about Brazilian Portuguese.
I don’t know any Portuguese, and I’m quite sure the author of the text doesn’t either, so I’m suspicious.
First there’s an endearing term used for the Brazilian man in the story. It’s used by his mother, sisters and the woman who’s in love with him when they speak to him. It’s supposed to mean something like “darling, honey, my love”.
And the author writes “mea amor”.
First, I would like to know if it’s really “mea amor”? My intuition says it should be “meu amor”.
Second, I’m wondering if this really is a usually way to address somebody, or if it is just a word-by-word-translation of the English term “my love”.
If it’s not used, what would be more appropriate?
The second thing is that this character refers to his mother as “mamma” when speaking about her. This looks Italian to me. Does this form exist in Portuguese?
Questions Brazilian Portuguese
- Sonjaconjota
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
You’re correct.
It should be “meu amor” and the affectionate/childish form of “mãe” (mother) is “mamãe” or “mamã” (both with stress on the second syllable). “Mama” means “breast” in Portuguese, haha.
Even if the word “amor” were feminine, which it’s not, the possessive would be “minha.” I don’t think “mea” is even a word in PT.
It should be “meu amor” and the affectionate/childish form of “mãe” (mother) is “mamãe” or “mamã” (both with stress on the second syllable). “Mama” means “breast” in Portuguese, haha.
Even if the word “amor” were feminine, which it’s not, the possessive would be “minha.” I don’t think “mea” is even a word in PT.
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
tastyonions wrote:You’re correct.
It should be “meu amor” and the affectionate/childish form of “mãe” (mother) is “mamãe” or “mamã” (both with stress on the second syllable). “Mama” means “breast” in Portuguese, haha.
Even if the word “amor” were feminine, which it’s not, the possessive would be “minha.” I don’t think “mea” is even a word in PT.
Thank you so much for your help!
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
He may be trying to imitate a Portuguese-Italian hybrid dialect. Such Italian-sounding expressions have become popular at times, by the influence of soaps about Italian immigrants.
"mea amor" is probably an incorrect rendition of Italian "mi amore", "Mamma" is also used to sound Italian.
"mea amor" is probably an incorrect rendition of Italian "mi amore", "Mamma" is also used to sound Italian.
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- tastyonions
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
Odair wrote:He may be trying to imitate a Portuguese-Italian hybrid dialect. Such Italian-sounding expressions have become popular at times, by the influence of soaps about Italian immigrants.
"mea amor" is probably an incorrect rendition of Italian "mi amore", "Mamma" is also used to sound Italian.
Thanks for your input, but we are not talking about someone going into this much detail.
I was suspicious from the start because I had similar situations with translations of other texts by the same person before.
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
If he writes macarronic Portuguese, wouldn't perhaps want to fix it in your translation?
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
Odair wrote:If he writes macarronic Portuguese, wouldn't perhaps want to fix it in your translation?
Exactly.
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
wouldn't just "mor" be more (no pun intended) common?tastyonions wrote:It should be “meu amor”
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Re: Questions Brazilian Portuguese
leosmith wrote:wouldn't just "mor" be more (no pun intended) common?tastyonions wrote:It should be “meu amor”
I've personally never heard "mor" used by someone to address their parents or children. "Meu amor" sounds very natural to me* though, to talk to a son.
* Born and raised in São Paulo state
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