Rules We All Understand: Portuguese Phrases for Kids in a Multilingual Home
A Real Afternoon in My Living Room In our home, Portuguese, Spanish, and English swirl together like the smells from a pot of feijão on the stove. My kids know that when I say “Hora de guardar os brinquedos!” in Portuguese, I mean business, but when I switch to Spanish for a warning—“¡Ojo con eso!”—it’s […]
Setting the Scene: Planning Playdates in Brazil Like a Local
When a Simple Playdate Became a Language Lesson Not long after moving to Brazil, my son made a new friend at the playground. His mom and I started chatting, and within five minutes she suggested a encontro para brincar (playdate). My Spanish-speaking brain thought, “Easy enough.” But when she asked about times, snacks, and whether […]
Compassion in Conversation: Discussing Elder Care Health Needs with Brazilian Caregivers
Sitting Down to Talk About Care When my aunt came to stay with me in Brazil for a few months, I quickly learned that arranging elder care here meant more than just finding the right cuidadora (caregiver). It meant learning to talk about her health needs in a way that was both clear and culturally […]
Heart to Heart: Talking About Feelings with Your Partner in Portuguese
When Words Carry More Than One Meaning In any relationship, discussing emotions can feel tricky—but doing it in another language adds layers of complexity. Living in Brazil, I’ve found that emotional conversations in Portuguese aren’t just about choosing the right words; they’re about choosing the right tone, rhythm, and context. Early on, I’d sometimes translate […]
From Pages to Pixels: Introducing Your Kids to Spanish Cartoons and Books While Speaking Portuguese at Home
Why I Mix Portuguese and Spanish at Home Living in Brazil as an expat who speaks both Spanish and Portuguese has given my kids a unique language playground. At home, our days are mostly in Portuguese, but I’ve woven in Spanish through bedtime stories and weekend cartoons. It’s not about replacing one language with another—it’s […]
Trust and Clarity: Speaking Portuguese with Nannies and Babysitters about Safety and Schedules
Handing Over Responsibility with Confidence When you leave your child in someone else’s care, trust is everything. In Brazil, whether you have a babá (nanny) for full-time help or a cuidadora (babysitter) for occasional evenings, the relationship works best when expectations are clear. Over the years, I’ve learned that even when both sides speak some […]
Parent-Teacher Conversations in Brazil: Questions Every Expat Should Know
Walking into the Classroom as an Expat Parent Parent-teacher conferences in Brazil carry their own rhythm, shaped by a mix of formal education structure and the warm, relational tone Brazilians bring to almost everything. The first time I attended one here, I recognized the layout—desks pushed aside, stacks of notebooks, colorful charts on the wall—but […]
The Subtle Art of Tipping in Brazil: When and How Much
Everyday Moments that Involve a Tip Tipping in Brazil isn’t a constant mental calculation like it can be in the U.S., but it does pop up in more places than newcomers might expect. At a casual boteco, I often leave a little extra for friendly service even though the bill already includes the standard charge. […]
Coffee Culture Showdown: Ordering, Drinking, and Talking Like a Local
Morning Rituals, Two Countries, One Language Shift Coffee is as woven into my day in Brazil as it is back in the Dominican Republic, but the culture around it couldn’t be more different. In Santo Domingo, coffee is slow and social—tiny cups, often over a neighbor’s kitchen table. In Brazil, it’s just as social but […]
Speaking in Taste: Mastering the Portuguese Vocabulary of Flavor
Everyday Flavor Conversations Describing flavors in Brazil comes up more often than you might think. Whether I’m chatting with a coffee vendor about the roast’s acidez or telling a friend that a brigadeiro is “doce na medida certa” (sweet just right), knowing how to express taste in Portuguese turns simple comments into richer exchanges. It’s […]