Practice your Portuguese by listening to and translating songs from Portuguese to your native language. This song is called “Ouça Lá ò Senhor Vinho“, by Amália.
I’ve translated the song into English after the lyrics below. (the music video is not mine nor was it produced by me).
This isn’t just any recording: this is a live performance by Mariza, one of the most iconic fado singers in Portugal. You’ll hear the raw emotion in her voice as she sings, and notice the audience cheering and reacting. This is part of what makes fado so powerful. Paying attention to these expressions, pauses, and reactions will help you connect with the rhythm, emotion, and flow of European Portuguese, just like a native listener would.
How to use this song to improve your Portuguese
If you’re taking part in the 30-Day Free Portuguese Challenge, here’s how to make the most of this exercise. Even if you’re not in the challenge, these steps will help you learn naturally:
Beginners:
- Listen carefully to the pronunciation.
- Before checking the translation, underline words you know and circle the ones you don’t.
- Make a list of new words and revisit them later.
- Optional: look up words in an online dictionary and see if they appear in other contexts.
Intermediate learners:
- Listen and read the lyrics, but not the translation yet.
- Try to summarise what you think the song is about.
- Compare your summary to the translation.
- Sort words into verbs, nouns, adjectives, and note verb tenses.
- This helps you track your comprehension progress and vocabulary gaps.
Advanced learners:
- Translate the lyrics on your own.
- If you encounter a word you don’t know, make an educated guess before checking the dictionary.
- Think about rhyme and artistic license, fado often stretches normal language rules.
- Optional: write a short piece about your thoughts on the song, lyrics, melody, voice, feelings, or how you’d change it. Try including compound tenses or the subjunctive mood.
Useful tools
Disclaimer: I’m not connected or affiliated with these links. More info here.
Oiça Lá ò Senhor Vinho (Listen here Mr Wine!) by Amália
Oiça lá, ó senhor vinho
Vai responder-me, mas com franqueza
Porque é que tira toda a firmeza
A quem encontra no seu caminho?
Lá por beber um copinho a mais
Até pessoas pacatas
Amigo vinho, em desalinho
Vossa mercê faz andar de gatas
É mau procedimento
E há intenção naquilo que faz
Entra-se em desequilíbrio
Não há equilíbrio que seja capaz
As leis da física falham
E a vertical de qualquer lugar
Oscila sem se deter
E deixa de ser perpendicular
Eu já fui, responde o vinho
A folha solta a brincar ao vento
Fui raio de sol do firmamento
Que trouxe à uva doce carinho
Ainda guardo o calor do sol
E assim eu até dou vida
Aumento o valor seja de quem for
Na boa conta, peso e medida
E só faço mal a quem
Me julga ninguém e faz pouco de mim
Quem me trata como água, é ofensa
Pago-a, eu cá sou assim
Vossa mercê tem razão
É ingratidão falar mal do vinho
E a provar o que digo
Vamos, meu amigo, a mais um copinho
Vossa mercê tem razão
É ingratidão falar mal do vinho
E a provar aquilo que digo
Vamos, amigo, a mais um copinho
Translation
Listen here, Mr. wine
You’re going to answer me, but frankly
Why do you take all the firmness
From those you meet on your way?
Just because one drinks a “little” glass too many
Even peaceful people
My wine friend, in disarray
Your grace makes one walk on all fours
It’s bad practice
And there’s intent in what you do
One loses one’s equilibrium
There’s no equilibrium that is capable
The laws of physics fail
And the vertical of any place
Oscillates without stopping
And ceases to be perpendicular
I’ve gone, replies the wine
The loose leaf playing in the wind
I was a sunbeam in the firmament
That brought sweet tenderness to the grape
I still keep the warmth of the sun
And so I even give life
I increase the value of anyone
In good account, weight and measure
And I only do harm to those
Who thinks I’m nobody and makes fun of me
Who treats me like water, it’s an offence
I’ll pay for it, that’s the way I am
Your grace is right
It’s ingratitude to speak ill of wine
And to prove my point
Let’s go, my friend, to another glass
Your Grace is right
It is ingratitude to speak ill of wine
And to taste what I say
Come on, my friend, let’s have another glass
🎶 Want more songs to practice Portuguese?
Check out Learn Portuguese Through Music
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