The Confessions of St. Augustine — Page 13

English → Pt BOOK I Level 9/10

When they named any thing, and as they spoke turned towards it, I saw and remembered that they called what they would point out by the name they uttered.

Quando nomeavam alguma coisa, e ao falar se voltavam para ela, eu via e recordava que chamavam pelo nome que pronunciavam aquilo que queriam indicar.

And that they meant this thing and no other was plain from the motion of their body, the natural language, as it were, of all nations, expressed by the countenance, glances of the eye, gestures of the limbs, and tones of the voice, indicating the affections of the mind, as it pursues, possesses, rejects, or shuns.

E que pretendiam indicar esta coisa e não outra era evidente pelo movimento do corpo, a linguagem natural, por assim dizer, de todas as nações, expressa pela fisionomia, pelos olhares, pelos gestos dos membros e pelos tons da voz, indicando as afeições da mente, quando esta persegue, possui, rejeita ou evita.

And thus by constantly hearing words, as they occurred in various sentences, I collected gradually for what they stood; and having broken in my mouth to these signs, I thereby gave utterance to my will.

E assim, ouvindo constantemente as palavras, conforme apareciam em diversas frases, fui gradualmente compreendendo o que significavam; e tendo habituado minha boca a esses sinais, eu por meio deles exprimia minha vontade.

Thus I exchanged with those about me these current signs of our wills, and so launched deeper into the stormy intercourse of human life, yet depending on parental authority and the beck of elders.

Assim troquei com os que me rodeavam esses sinais correntes das nossas vontades, e dessa forma me lancei mais fundo no tempestuoso convívio da vida humana, ainda dependente da autoridade dos pais e do aceno dos mais velhos.

O God my God, what miseries and mockeries did I now experience, when obedience to my teachers was proposed to me, as proper in a boy, in order that in this world I might prosper, and excel in tongue-science, which should serve to the "praise of men," and to deceitful riches.

Ó Deus, meu Deus, que misérias e zombarias experimentei então, quando me foi proposto, como convinha a um menino, obedecer a meus mestres, a fim de que neste mundo eu prosperasse e me destacasse na ciência da linguagem, que deveria servir ao "louvor dos homens" e às riquezas enganosas.

Next I was put to school to get learning, in which I (poor wretch) knew not what use there was; and yet, if idle in learning, I was beaten.

Depois fui mandado à escola para aprender, sem que eu (pobre de mim) soubesse que utilidade havia nisso; e no entanto, se fosse negligente nos estudos, era espancado.

Vocabulary

Quando: KWAHN-doo — Conjunction meaning 'when', indicating time.
nomeavam: noo-mee-AH-vahw — They named or called things by their names.
alguma: ahl-GOO-mah — Some or any, feminine form of algum.
coisa: KOY-zah — A thing or object; something in general.
e: ee — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
ao: ow — Contraction of 'a' and 'o', meaning 'to the'.
falar: fah-LAR — To speak or talk; the act of speaking.
se: seh — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'themselves'.
voltavam: vol-TAH-vahw — They turned or returned toward something or someone.
para: PAH-rah — Preposition meaning 'for', 'to', or 'toward'.
ela: EH-lah — Third-person feminine pronoun meaning 'she' or 'her'.
eu: EH-oo — First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
via: VEE-ah — I saw; past imperfect of the verb ver.
recordava: heh-kor-DAH-vah — I remembered or recalled something from the past.
que: keh — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'.
chamavam: shah-MAH-vahw — They called or named someone or something.
pelo: PEH-loo — Contraction of 'por' and 'o', meaning 'by the'.
nome: NOH-meh — A name given to a person or thing.
pronunciavam: proo-noon-see-AH-vahw — They pronounced or articulated words or sounds aloud.
aquilo: ah-KEE-loo — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that thing' over there.
queriam: keh-REE-ahw — They wanted or desired something at that time.
indicar: een-dee-KAR — To indicate, point out, or show something.
E: ee — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting clauses or ideas.
pretendiam: preh-ten-DEE-ahw — They intended or aimed to do something.
esta: EHS-tah — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this', feminine form.
não: nahw — Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'.
outra: OH-trah — Another or other, feminine form of outro.
era: EH-rah — Past tense of 'ser', meaning 'was' or 'were'.
evidente: eh-vee-DEN-teh — Evident or obvious; clearly apparent to everyone.
movimento: moo-vee-MEN-too — Movement or motion of the body or objects.
do: doo — Contraction of 'de' and 'o', meaning 'of the'.
corpo: KOR-poo — The physical body of a person or animal.
a: ah — Definite article meaning 'the', feminine singular form.
linguagem: leen-GWAH-zhehw — Language or the system of human communication.
natural: nah-too-RAL — Natural; existing in or caused by nature.
por: por — Preposition meaning 'by', 'for', or 'through'.
assim: ah-SEENG — Thus, so, or in this way; therefore.
dizer: dee-ZER — To say or tell; the act of speaking words.
de: deh — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
todas: TOH-dahs — All or every, feminine plural form of todo.
as: ahz — Definite article meaning 'the', feminine plural form.
nações: nah-SOYNS — Nations or countries; plural of nação.
expressa: eks-PREH-sah — Expressed or communicated clearly through some means.
pela: PEH-lah — Contraction of 'por' and 'a', meaning 'by the'.
fisionomia: fee-zyoo-noo-MEE-ah — Physiognomy; the facial features or expression of someone.
pelos: PEH-looz — Contraction of 'por' and 'os', meaning 'by the'.
olhares: oh-LYAH-rehs — Glances or looks; the way someone looks at things.
gestos: ZHES-tooz — Gestures; deliberate movements conveying meaning or emotion.
dos: dooz — Contraction of 'de' and 'os', meaning 'of the'.
membros: MEM-brooz — Members or limbs; parts of a body or group.
tons: tonz — Tones or inflections of the voice when speaking.
da: dah — Contraction of 'de' and 'a', meaning 'of the'.
voz: voz — Voice; the sound produced when a person speaks.
indicando: een-dee-KAN-doo — Indicating or pointing out; showing something to someone.
afeições: ah-fay-SOYNS — Affections or feelings; emotional attachments toward something.
mente: MEN-teh — Mind; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
quando: KWAHN-doo — When; conjunction indicating time or condition.
persegue: per-SEH-geh — Pursues or follows after someone or something persistently.
possui: poh-SWEE — Possesses or owns something; third-person singular present.
rejeita: heh-ZHAY-tah — Rejects or refuses something; to not accept.
ou: oh — Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative option.
evita: eh-VEE-tah — Avoids or evades something unpleasant or unwanted.
ouvindo: oh-VEEN-doo — Hearing or listening; present participle of ouvir.
constantemente: kon-stan-teh-MEN-teh — Constantly or continually; happening without stopping.
palavras: pah-LAH-vrahs — Words; units of language used in communication.
conforme: kon-FOR-meh — According to or as; in accordance with something.
apareciam: ah-pah-reh-SEE-ahw — They appeared or showed up in various contexts.
em: ehng — Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'on'.
diversas: dee-VER-sahs — Various or diverse; several different kinds of things.
frases: FRAH-zehs — Sentences or phrases; units of spoken or written language.
fui: fwee — I went or I was; past tense of ir/ser.
gradualmente: grah-dwahl-MEN-teh — Gradually; slowly and progressively over time.
compreendendo: kom-preh-en-DEN-doo — Understanding or comprehending; present participle of compreender.
o: oo — Definite article meaning 'the', masculine singular form.
significavam: seeg-nee-fee-KAH-vahw — They meant or signified something; past imperfect form.
tendo: TEN-doo — Having; present participle of ter, indicating possession.
habituado: ah-bee-too-AH-doo — Accustomed or used to; having adapted to something.
minha: MEEN-yah — My; first-person singular possessive adjective, feminine form.
boca: BOH-kah — Mouth; the opening through which one speaks or eats.
esses: EH-sehs — Those; demonstrative pronoun, masculine plural form.
sinais: see-NAHYS — Signs or signals; means of conveying information nonverbally.
meio: MAY-oo — Means or middle; a way or method of doing something.
deles: DEH-lehs — Of them; contraction of 'de' and 'eles'.
exprimia: eks-pree-MEE-ah — I expressed or conveyed thoughts and desires verbally.
vontade: von-TAH-deh — Will or desire; a strong wish to do something.
Assim: ah-SEENG — Thus or so; in this manner or way.
troquei: troh-KAY — I exchanged or traded something with someone else.
com: kong — Preposition meaning 'with'; together or in company.
os: ooz — Definite article meaning 'the', masculine plural form.
me: meh — First-person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
rodeavam: hoh-dee-AH-vahw — They surrounded or encircled me from all sides.
correntes: koh-HEN-tehs — Currents or flows; chains linking things or people.
das: dahs — Contraction of 'de' and 'as', meaning 'of the'.
nossas: NOH-sahs — Our; first-person plural possessive adjective, feminine form.
vontades: von-TAH-dehs — Desires or wills; plural of vontade.
dessa: DEH-sah — Contraction of 'de' and 'essa', meaning 'of that'.
forma: FOR-mah — Form, way, or manner of doing something.
lancei: lan-SAY — I launched or threw myself into something.
mais: mahys — More; to a greater degree or additional quantity.
fundo: FOON-doo — Deep or bottom; profoundly into something.
no: noo — Contraction of 'em' and 'o', meaning 'in the'.
tempestuoso: tem-pes-too-OH-zoo — Stormy or turbulent; full of commotion and difficulty.
convívio: kon-VEE-vyoo — Social interaction or living together with others.
vida: VEE-dah — Life; the state of being alive and living.
humana: oo-MAH-nah — Human; relating to or characteristic of people.
ainda: ah-EEN-dah — Still, yet, or even; continuing up to this point.
dependente: deh-pen-DEN-teh — Dependent; relying on someone else for support.
autoridade: ow-toh-ree-DAH-deh — Authority; the power to give orders or make decisions.
pais: PAH-ees — Parents; father and mother collectively.
aceno: ah-SEH-noo — A nod or gesture signaling agreement or greeting.
velhos: VEH-lyooz — Old people or elders; masculine plural of velho.
Deus: DEH-oos — God; the supreme divine being in monotheistic religion.
meu: MEH-oo — My; first-person singular possessive adjective, masculine form.
misérias: mee-ZEH-ree-ahs — Miseries or hardships; great suffering and unhappiness.
zombarias: zom-bah-REE-ahs — Mockeries or taunts; acts of ridicule toward someone.
experimentei: eks-peh-ree-men-TAY — I experienced or tried something; first-person past tense.
então: en-TAHW — Then or so; at that time or in that case.
foi: foy — Was or went; third-person past tense of ser/ir.
proposto: proh-POS-too — Proposed or set forth as an expectation or rule.
como: KOH-moo — As or how; in the manner or way that.
convinha: kon-VEEN-yah — It was fitting or appropriate for someone to do.
um: oong — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one', masculine form.
menino: meh-NEE-noo — A boy; a young male child.
obedecer: oh-beh-deh-SER — To obey; to follow instructions or rules given.
meus: MEH-oos — My; first-person plural possessive adjective, masculine plural.
mestres: MES-trehs — Masters or teachers; those who instruct others.
fim: feeng — End or goal; the purpose or final objective.
neste: NES-teh — In this; contraction of 'em' and 'este'.
mundo: MOON-doo — World; the earth and all the people on it.
prosperasse: pros-peh-RAH-seh — Would prosper or flourish; subjunctive past form.
destacasse: des-tah-KAH-seh — Would stand out or excel; past subjunctive form.
na: nah — Contraction of 'em' and 'a', meaning 'in the'.
ciência: see-EN-syah — Science or knowledge; the systematic study of the world.
deveria: deh-veh-REE-ah — Should or ought to; conditional form of dever.
servir: ser-VEER — To serve; to work for or benefit someone else.
louvor: loh-VOR — Praise or commendation given to someone for merit.
homens: OH-menhs — Men; adult male human beings, plural of homem.
às: ahz — Contraction of 'a' and 'as', meaning 'to the'.
riquezas: hee-KEH-zahs — Riches or wealth; material abundance and prosperity.
enganosas: en-gah-NOH-zahs — Deceptive or misleading; tending to deceive or trick.
Depois: deh-POYS — Afterward or then; following a previous event in time.
mandado: man-DAH-doo — Sent or ordered; past participle of mandar.
à: ah — Contraction of 'a' and 'a', meaning 'to the'.
escola: es-KOH-lah — School; an institution where children receive education.
aprender: ah-pren-DER — To learn; to acquire knowledge or a new skill.
sem: seng — Preposition meaning 'without'; lacking something entirely.
pobre: POH-breh — Poor; lacking sufficient money or resources to live.
mim: meeng — Me; first-person singular pronoun used after prepositions.
soubesse: soh-BEH-seh — Would know; past subjunctive form of saber.
utilidade: oo-tee-lee-DAH-deh — Usefulness or utility; the quality of being helpful.
havia: ah-VEE-ah — There was or there were; past imperfect of haver.
nisso: NEE-soo — In that; contraction of 'em' and 'isso'.
entanto: en-TAN-too — Nevertheless or however; used in 'no entanto' meanwhile.
fosse: FOH-seh — Were or went; past subjunctive of ser or ir.
negligente: neh-glee-ZHEN-teh — Negligent or careless; failing to take proper care.
nos: nooz — In the; contraction of 'em' and 'os', or 'us'.
estudos: es-TOO-dooz — Studies; academic work or pursuit of knowledge.
espancado: es-pan-KAH-doo — Beaten or struck repeatedly; past participle of espancar.

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