Dia dos Namorados, The Day of Lovers

June 12th is "Dia dos Namorados" [pronounced: "Jee-uh dohz Nah-more-ah-dohz"] or "The Day of Lovers," and is the Brazilian cousin of Valentine's Day.

Pic via Google Imagens

There are a few marked differences in the way we celebrate Valentine's Day back in the States. Dia dos Namorados is mainly celebrated by people in relationships: married, engaged, or dating. There is no blanket celebration like that of the United States, where people of all ages (especially kids in school) give cards, candy, cupcakes, balloons or gifts to each other in celebration of Valentine's.

Not knowing this, the first year I was here and teaching at an English school, I had some leftover Valentine's cards from the arsenal that I kept for my many nieces and nephews, and wanted to pass them out at the school. Since they celebrate every other American holiday, I thought everyone would get a kick out of seeing how we do it back home.

Image by Frescura

Not so. People at the school thought it was kinda weird, and weren't as thrilled with the Scooby-Doo Valentine's cards that I passed out as I'd hoped they'd be. All my husband said was, "That's because we don't do that here."

Oh, well... I guess I'll have to remember to bring them back with me on my next trip home, since it looks like I won't ever use them here.

Back to the Brazilian Day of Lovers...

Let's start by getting some terms under our belts. Remember that if the noun ends in an "—o" (in the singular form) it is masculine, and if it ends in an "—a" it is feminine. In the plural form, the regular ending is "—os," (m+m, m+f) unless, of course, it is indicating two feminine nouns (f+f) in which case it would be "—as."


The Essentials:

amor [pronounced: "ah-more"] = love

coração [pronounced: "koh-rdah-sown"] = heart

beijo(s) [pronounced: "bay-zh-oo/oh" (—ohz)"] = kiss, kisses

abraço(s) [pronounced: "ah-brah-soh (—ohz)"] = hug, hugs

apaixonado [pronounced: "ah-pie-show-nah-doh"] = in love

Image via Microsoft Office Clip Art home page

Relationships:

namorado(a) [pronounced: "nah-more-ah-doh (—dah)"] = boyfriend, girlfriend

namorados [pronounced: "nah-more-ah-dohz"] = bf/gf, a couple, lovers, sweethearts

noivo(a) [pronounced: "noy-voh (—vuh)"] = fiancé, fiancée

noivos [pronounced: "noy-vohz"] = fiancés

casal [pronounced: "cah-zahl"] = a couple, a pair, twosome, a married couple

esposo(a) [pronounced: "eh-spoh-zoh (—zuh)"] = spouse: husband, wife

esposos [pronounced: "eh-spoh-zohz"] = spouses

marido [pronounced: "mah-rdee-doh"] = husband

mulher [pronounced: "mool-yehr"] = woman (Think Murray in Clueless: 'Most of the feminine [references] do have mocking but not necessarily misogynistic undertones.' Personally, I side with Dionne on this one.)

Senhor(a) [pronounced: "sehn-yore (—uh)"]= Mr., Mrs.

amante [pronounced: "ah-mahn-ch"] = illicit lover


Nicknames:

meu amor [pronounced: "may-oo ah-more"] = my love

paixão [pronounced: "pie-shown"] = (my) passion

querido(a) [pronounced: "keh-rdee-doh (—dah)"] = dear, sweetie, darling


Bonus:

romântico [pronounced: "hoh-mahn-chee-koh"] = romantic

beijar [pronounced: "bay-zhar"] = to kiss

abraçando [pronounced: "ah-brah-sahn-doh"] = hugging


Dia dos Namorados is the day of lovers, so it is an exclusive thing. No love, no gift. If you have a significant other, then he or she will be delighted by any of the traditional pledges of your eternal love via gifts of chocolates, bouquets, cards, or gifts such as jewelry or perfume (at least, according to the commercials), plus one romantic dinner for two.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to fan the flame of love. As always, should you be caught forgetting the date or blowing off your love of X number of months, cupid will disavow all knowledge of your actions, your relationship will self-destruct soon enough, and there will probably be a public scandal due to the internet and such. Good luck, Luv."

twoo wuv

Twoo wuv is also being agreeable to my man following his bliss, which literally means sleeping with the fishes. Instead of a card, I think I'll give him a personalized Gone Fishin' sign when he gets back.