How do Brazilians use saudade?
Brazilians use saudade mostly in two phrases: Que saudade! when they see someone again (or remember something), and estar com saudade de… for "to miss…".
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| a saudade | the feeling of missing someone or something | Unit 6 |
| Que saudade! | I missed you so much! I miss it so much! | Unit 30 |
| Estou com saudade! | I miss you! | Unit 6 |
| Estou com saudade de você. | I miss you. | Unit 30 |
| Tô morrendo de saudade. | I miss you like crazy. (literally "I'm dying of saudade") | Not in the course |
How do you say "I miss you" in Portuguese?
Say Estou com saudade de você ("I miss you"), or in speech Tô com saudade. Sinto sua falta ("I feel your absence") means the same and sounds a little more serious. You'll hear saudades in the plural too; both are correct.
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Estou com saudade de você. | I miss you. | Unit 30 |
| Sinto sua falta. | I miss you. (a little more serious) | Not in the course |
| Estou com saudades. | I miss you. (plural, just as common) | Not in the course |
What does matar a saudade mean?
Matar a saudade means to finally see someone, or do something, you've missed: literally "to kill the saudade". Fui à praia para matar a saudade is "I went to the beach because I'd missed it so much".
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vamos nos ver para matar a saudade! | Let's meet up, I've missed you! |
| Fui à praia para matar a saudade. | I went to the beach because I'd missed it so much. |
How can you practice Brazilian Portuguese out loud?
Practice it in short, real exchanges, out loud. CiaoSpeak's Brazilian Portuguese course teaches everyday words like Que saudade! with a recording in a Brazilian accent, and in the Speak tab people across Brazil (a São Paulo baker, a Rio ride-app driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) ask you one question at a time. You answer by voice or typing, and the app tells you whether a Brazilian would understand you. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More words like this one: the Brazilian slang list.