Chapter 16

Going to Sporting Events

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Purchasing a ticket to a game

Bullet Locating your seat, getting a snack, and cheering during a game

Bullet Chatting about sports

Bullet Talking about searching or looking for something

Brazil has definitely proven that it has international sporting chops; it hosted the 2014 Copa do Mundo (koh-pah doh moon-doh) (World Cup) and the 2016 Jogos Olímpicos de Verão (zhoh-gooz oh-leem-pee-kohs jee veh-rah-ooh) (Summer Olympic Games).

Whether you plan to attend a high-profile sporting event in Brazil or you just want to watch a classic jogo de futebol (zhoh-goo jee foo-chee-bah-ooh) (soccer game) while visiting the country or hanging with your Brazilian friend at a bar in your neighborhood, this chapter offers some tips for talking about the games in Portuguese.

If you happen to be a torcedor de futebol (toh-seh-doh jee foo-chee-bah-ooh) (soccer fan), definitely try to see one of Brazil’s famous soccer teams play in a live match. Try getting tickets to see Corinthians (koh-reen-chee-unz) in São Paulo (sah-ooh pah-ooh-loh) or Flamengo (flah-mang-goh) in Rio (hee-ooh). You’ll make friends fast if you wear a home-team camisa (kah-mee-zah) (sports jersey).

Cultural wisdom It used to be illegal to consume cerveja (seh-veh-zhah) (beer) or any other type of bebida alcoólica (beh-bee-dah ah-ooh-koh-lee-kah) (alcoholic drink) at major Brazilian soccer stadiums because of potential fan violence. Thanks to pressure from FIFA, Brazil lifted the beer ban in 2014 when it hosted the World Cup. Today, some stadiums allow low-alcohol beer, and some still ban it. Don’t be surprised to see police with guns at a Brazilian estádio (es-tah-jee-oh) (stadium). They’re there to keep the peace among passionate fans.

Getting Hip to Soccer — Brazil’s National Pastime

As may be the case for some of my fellow Americans, futebol (foo-chee-bah-ooh) (soccer) brings back memories of third-grade after-school sports. In my case, thinking of the esporte (eh-spoh-chee) (sport) conjures a memory of my adrenaline rush to the goal post that was quickly followed by a realization that I’d made the gol (goh-oo) (goal) for the wrong time (chee-mee) (team).

Within a few months in Brazil, though, I knew the names of several regional soccer times (chee-meez) (teams — times is a Brazilian translation of the English word teams) and how to associate specific friends with specific teams. People get upset if you peg them as a torcedor (toh-seh-doh) (fan) of the wrong team.

Cultural wisdom If you catch my drift, soccer is a very important topic in Brazil — maybe even more important than religião (heh-lee-zhee-ah-ooh) (religion). So the fastest way to make an amigo (ah-mee-goo) (friend) may be to share the same favorite Brazilian soccer team.

Most of Brazil’s famous soccer teams are in Rio (hee-ooh) or São Paulo (sah-ooh pah-oo-loh). Here’s a quick rundown of teams by area:

  • Flamengo (flah-mang-goh): City of Rio
  • Botafogo (boh-tah-foh-goh): City of Rio
  • São Paulo (sah-ooh pah-oo-loh): City of São Paulo
  • Corinthians (koh-reen-chee-unz): City of São Paulo

  • Santos (sahn-tohz): Coastal city in São Paulo state

    Note: Santos was Pelé’s first professional team. Pelé (peh-leh), if you haven’t heard of him, is known as one of the greatest soccer players in the world of all time. He played during the 1960s and 1970s.

So what do the millions of Brazilians do who don’t live in São Paulo or Rio? They either root for the best team near them, or, in some cases, they just pick either Flamengo or Corinthians as their favorite team. These two teams always seem to have it out for each other.

Remember Brazilians also like to play futebol! You’re more likely to see casual games on Brazil’s nordeste (noh-des-chee) (northeast) beaches than on beaches in Rio or São Paulo state. That’s because the farther south you go, the wealthier Brazil gets. And the richer a community is, the more money it has to build campos de futebol (kahm-pooz jee foo-chee-bah-ooh) (soccer fields).

Check out some basic soccer terms:

  • atacante (ah-tah-kahn-chee) (striker)
  • avante (ah-vahn-chee) (forward)
  • bola (boh-lah) (ball)
  • campo de futebol (kahm-poh jee foo-chee-bah-ooh) (soccer field)
  • goleiro (goh-lay-roh) (goalie)
  • jogadores (zhoh-gah-doh-reez) (players)
  • meia (may-ah) (midfielder)
  • técnico (tek-nee-koh) (coach)
  • volante (voh-lahn-chee) (defensive midfielder)
  • zagueiro (zah-gway-roh) (center-back)

Buying Tickets

If you want to comprar (kohm-prah) (buy) an ingresso (eeng-greh-soh) (ticket) to a jogo (zhoh-goo) (game), you don’t need to physically go to the bilheteria (beel-yeh-teh-ree-ah) (ticket office) at the estádio (es-tah-jee-oh) (stadium) to get the goods; you can do it online. But if the site doesn’t offer an English translation and you don’t feel comfortable enough with your level of Portuguese to close the deal, then fazer fila (fah-zeh fee-lah) (waiting in line) at the bilheteria is still an option.

You may need to use these words when buying an ingresso:

  • data (dah-tah) (date)
  • hora (oh-rah) (time)
  • local do jogo (loh-kah-ooh doo zhoh-goo) (location of match)
  • quantidade de ingressos (kwan-tee-dah-jee jee een-greh-sooz) (quantity of tickets)
  • preço (preh-soo) (price)
  • número da cadeira (noo-meh-roh dah kah-day-rah) (seat number)
  • camarote (kah-mah-roh-chee) (box seat)

  • portão (pohr-tah-ooh) (entrance gate; Literally: big door)

    Note:Porta means door; add the -ão ending to indicate big for any object or thing.

The main entrance to any estádio is known as the portão principal (pohr-tah-ooh preen-see-pah-ooh) (Literally: principal big door).

Finding Your Seat

In the days before Brazil secured its place as host for the World Cup in 2014 and Summer Olympics in 2016, Brazilian stadiums could be an uncomfortable experience. Fans in the nosebleed sections sat wherever they could find a place on concrete steps. Closer to the field were actual cadeiras (kay-day-rahs) (seats), but those tickets were more expensive than for those seats found higher up. And the priciest tickets were, and still are, for camarotes (kah-mah-roh-cheez) (box seats).

Now, after renovations, all tickets are for cadeiras numeradas (kah-day-rahs noo-meh-rah-dahs) (numbered seats), which makes it easier to figure out where to sit.

Tip As in most sporting and entertainment venues, the easy way to quickly find your spot is to show an attendant your ingresso (een-greh-soo) (ticket) and ask, Por favor, onde fica a minha cadeira? (poh fah-voh, ohn-jee fee-kah ah meen-yah kah-day-rah?) (Where is my seat, please?). Flip to Chapter 15 to find the Portuguese words for directions.

For now, these are some words you may hear from the attendant as they motion with their arm:

  • aqui (ah-kee) (here)
  • ali (ah-lee) (there)
  • lá (lah) (over there, farther away)

Try to look at a mapa (mah-pah) (map) of the estádio (es-tah-jee-oh) (stadium) before heading inside. That way, you can at least see which numbered or lettered portão (pohr-tah-ooh) (gate) you should enter from the outside to get close to your cadeira.

Ordering Brazilian Concessions

It may be difficult to get cerveja (seh-veh-zhah) (beer) at your soccer stadium, depending on which stadium you’re in and what the state laws are, but getting comida (koh-mee-dah) (food) is fácil (fah-see-ooh) (easy)! Here are some items you’re likely to find for sale inside a Brazilian estádio (es-tah-jee-oh) (stadium) at a quiosque (kee-ah-skee) (concession stand):

  • amendoim (ah-men-doh-eem) (peanuts)
  • cachorro quente (kah-sho-hoh kang-chee) (hot dog)
  • coxinha (koh-sheen-yah), a fried ball of flour dough filled with shredded chicken or ground beef
  • espetinho de carne (es-peh-cheen-yoh jee kah-nee) (beef shish kabob)
  • milho cozido (meel-yoh koh-zee-doo) (a boiled ear of corn)
  • pipoca (pee-poh-kah) (popcorn)
  • prato feito (prah-toh fay-toh), complete meals that typically include rice, beans, meat, and salad
  • sanduíches (sahn-dwee-sheez) (sandwiches)

  • sorvete (soh-veh-chee) (ice cream)

    Note: This word sounds a little like sorbet.

When ordering, figure out how many items you want. Is um/uma (oong/ooh-mah) (one; masculine/feminine) enough? Or do you need dois/duas (doh-eez/doo-ahz) (two; masculine/feminine) or três (trehs) (three; no gender here)? (For the skinny on numbers, see Chapter 4.)

Check out these examples:

  • uma coxinha (ooh-mah koh-sheen-yah) (one coxinha)
  • dois sanduíches (doh-eez sahn-dwee-sheez) (two sandwiches)
  • três pipocas (trehs pee-poh-kuz) (three popcorns)

Tip Use this formula to order: Eu quero (eh-ooh keh-roo) (I want) plus the quantity plus the name of what you want plus por favor (poh fah-voh) (please).

Practice these example orders:

  • Eu quero um sorvete, por favor. (eh-ooh keh-roo oong soh-veh-chee, poh fah-voh.) (I want one ice cream, please.)
  • Eu quero dois cachorros quentes, por favor. (eh-ooh keh-roo doh-eez kah-shoh-hooz kang-cheez, poh fah-voh.) (I want two hot dogs, please.)

To sound extra polite, you can try it this way instead: Eu gostaria (eh-ooh goh-stah-ree-ah) (I’d like) plus the quantity plus the name of what you want plus por gentileza (poh zhang-chee-lay-zah) (if you would be so kind).

Depending on the situation — ordering at a restaurant, buying a drink at a bar, getting tickets for an event, or another scenario — pick the most appropriate formula to place your order.

Making Sense of Yelling Fans

Cultural wisdom Brazilian torcedores (toh-seh-doh-reez) (fans) are a spirited bunch! Get ready for a barulhento (bah-rool-yen-too) (noisy) crowd who let loose their paixão (pah-eeh-shah-ooh) (passion) in the stands. Cerveja (seh-veh-zhah) (beer) may not be allowed at some stadiums, but good clean rivalidade (hee-vahl-ee-dah-jee) (rivalry) is allowed, of course, and often on full display!

Here are the most common gritos (gree-tooz) (shouts) from people in the stands during a Brazilian sporting event:

  • Vai, vai, vai! (vah-ee, vah-ee, vah-ee!) (Go, go, go!)
  • Gooooool! (goooooohl!) (Goal! [for soccer only])

The latter is accompanied by either a comical expression of delight or disgust, depending on how the time (chee-mee) (team) of the torcedor (toh-seh-doh) (fan) is doing.

Some vulgar expressions circulate in the stands, too, but I don’t include those here.

At Brazilian soccer matches, people wave lots of colorful bandeiras (ban-day-rahs) (flags) and sing cheers. Each torcida (toh-see-dah) (group of fans for a particular team) has its own cheer. See the nearby sidebar “Cheering for Corínthians” to learn the São Paulo (sah-ooh pah-ooh-loh) team cheer.

Talking about Sports

When you’re talking about esportes (es-poh-cheez) (sports), you probably need to use the verbs jogar (zhoh-gah) (to play sports), praticar (prah-chee-kah) (to practice), and preferir (preh-feh-reeh) (to prefer). Lucky for you, this is exactly where you can find out how to use these sport-talk verbs.

Using the verb jogar, to play

Jogo (zhoh-goo) means game or match in Portuguese. Similarly, the verb jogar means to play, as in to play sports.

Take a look at the present tense conjugations for jogar.

Conjugation

Pronunciation

eu jogo

eh-ooh zhoh-goo

você joga

voh-seh zhoh-gah

ele/ela joga

eh-lee/eh-lah zhoh-gah

nós jogamos

nohz zhoh-gah-mooz

eles/elas jogam

eh-leez/eh-lahz zhoh-gah-ooh

vocês jogam

voh-sehz zhoh-gah-ooh

Here are some sentences that include jogar:

  • Eu jogo futebol. (eh-ooh zhoh-goo foo-chee-bah-ooh.) (I play football.)
  • Você sabe jogar vôleibol? (voh-seh sah-bee zhoh-gah voh-lay-bohl?) (Do you know how to play volleyball?)
  • O time joga basquete muito bem! (ooh chee-mee zhoh-gah bah-skeh-chee moh-ee-toh bang!) (The team plays basketball very well!)

Soundnative If you want to talk about playing as in having fun, then use the verb brincar (bring-kah):

  • As crianças brincam. (ahz kree-ahn-sahz bring-kah-ooh.) (The children play.)
  • Eu só estou brincando. (eu-ooh soh es-toh bring-kahn-doh.) (I’m just joking.)

Playing an instrument is expressed with the verb tocar. (Read more about how to use tocar and see plenty of examples in Chapter 9.)

Considering practice

Before any jogo, you can bet a time (chee-mee) (team), especially a pro team, has done a lot of practicing. Praticar sounds like practice in English, and it’s an -ar verb, so this one is pretty simple. (Find more about verb conjugation in Chapter 2).

Remember You can use praticar to talk about practicing anything; praticar also means to do a sport.

Here are the present tense conjugations for praticar.

Conjugation

Pronunciation

eu pratico

eh-ooh prah-chee-koo

você pratica

voh-seh prah-chee-kah

ele/ela pratica

eh-lee/eh-lah prah-chee-kah

nós praticamos

nohz prah-chee-kah-mooz

eles/elas praticam

eh-leez/eh-lahz prah-chee-kah-ooh

vocês praticam

voh-sehz prah-chee-kah-ooh

Here are some sample sentences using praticar:

  • O time pratica pouco. (ooh chee-mee prah-chee-kah poh-ooh-koh.) (The team doesn’t practice a lot; Literally: The team practices little.)
  • Eu pratico capoeira. (eh-ooh prah-chee-koo kah-poh-ey-rah.) (I do capoeira — a Brazilian martial arts form.)
  • Você pratica violão muito? (voh-seh prah-chee-kah vee-oh-lah-ooh moh-ee-toh?) (Do you practice the guitar a lot?)
  • Elas praticam futebol todos os dias. (eh-luz prah-chee-kah-ooh foo-chee-bah-ooh toh-dooz ooz jee-ahz.) (They practice soccer every day.)

Expressing preferences

Preferir (preh-feh-reeh) (to prefer) is a versatile verb you can use to talk about all the different sports and your preferences for all kinds of things: foods, movies, vacation spots, tomorrow’s plans, and so on.

Vamos lá (vah-mooz lah) (let’s start) by seeing how to conjugate preferir. It’s an -ir verb (more on these in Chapter 2), so the endings are a little different from jogar and praticar.

Conjugation

Pronunciation

eu prefiro

eh-ooh preh-fee-roh

você prefere

voh-seh preh-feh-ree

ele/ela prefere

eh-lee/eh-lah preh-feh-ree

nós preferimos

nohz preh-feh-ree-mooz

eles/elas preferem

eh-leez/eh-lahz preh-feh-rang

vocês preferem

voh-sez preh-feh-rang

Practice using preferir with these sample sentences:

  • Qual você prefere: correr ou caminhar? (kwah-ooh voh-seh preh-feh-ree: koh-heh oh kah-meen-yah?) (Which do you prefer: running or walking?)
  • Eu prefiro assistir jogos de futebol locais. (eh-ooh preh-fee-roh ah-sees-chee zhoh-gooz jee foo-chee-bah-ooh loh-kah-eez.) (I prefer to watch local soccer games.)
  • Eles preferem viajar durante o inverno. (eh-leez preh-feh-rang vee-ah-zhah doo-rahn-chee ooh een-veh-noo.) (They prefer to travel during the winter.)
  • Você prefere as loiras? (voh-seh preh-feh-ree ahz loy-rahs?) (You prefer blondes?)

Winning and losing

To talk about who’s winning and losing a sports game or any other kind of competição (kohm-peh-chee-sah-ooh) (competition), use the verbs ganhar (gahn-yah) (to win) and perder (pehr-dehr) (to lose).

These sample sentences include ganhar and perder:

  • Quem vai ganhar? (kang vah-ee gahn-yah?) (Who will win?)
  • Eu perdi a aposta. (eh-ooh pehr-jee ah ah-poh-stah.) (I lost the bet.)
  • O meu time ganhou! (ooh meh-ooh chee-mee gahn-yoh!) (My team won!)
  • O Corínthians perdeu hoje. (ooh koh-reen-chee-unz pehr-deh-ooh oh-zhee.) (The Corinthians [a São Paulo soccer team] lost today.)
  • Nós ganhamos! (nohz gahn-yah-mooz!) (We won!)

Searching the Place

In the context of sporting events, you do a lot of searching and looking for things. First, you procura (proh-koo-rah) (look for) a game you want to see, and then you procura your seat after you walk into the arena. You probably need to procurar the banheiro (bahn-yay-roh) (bathroom) and the quiosque (kee-ah-skee) (concession stand) during the game, too.

Here are the present tense conjugations for procurar.

Conjugation

Pronunciation

eu procuro

eh-ooh proh-koo-roh

você procura

voh-seh proh-koo-rah

ele/ela procura

eh-lee/eh-lah proh-koo-rah

nós procuramos

nohz proh-koo-rah-mooz

eles/elas procuram

eh-leez/eh-lahz proh-koo-rah-oong

vocês procuram

voh-sehz proh-koo-rah-oong

The gerund (or -ing form) of procurar, is used a lot in the context of searching or looking for:

  • Eu estou procurando meu irmão. Você viu ele? (eh-ooh es-toh proh-koo-rahn-doh meh-ooh eeh-mah-ooh. voh-seh vee-ooh eh-lee?) (I’m searching for my brother. Have you seen him?)
  • Eu estou procurando um bom restaurante. Você conhece um? (eh-ooh es-toh proh-koo-rahn-doh oong boh-oong heh-stah-ooh-rahn-chee. voh-seh kohn-yeh-see oong?) (I’m looking for a good restaurant. Know any?)

Remember To translate sentences like these to Portuguese, use the form estar (to be) plus procurando (proh-koo-rahn-doh) (searching/looking for).

Here are a few other sentences that include procurar:

  • O que você procura? (ooh kee voh-seh proh-koo-rah?) (What are you looking for?)
  • Ele procura a saída. (eh-lee proh-koo-rah ah sah-ee-dah) (He looks for the exit.)
  • Nós procuramos nosso carro, mas não achamos. (nohz proh-koo-rah-mooz noh-soo kah-hoh, mah-eez nah-ooh ah-shah-mooz.) (We looked for our car, but we didn’t find it.) Note: This sentence uses the past tense. For more on the past tense, see Chapter 6.
  • Eu estou procurando o meu sapato. (eu-ooh es-toh proh-koo-rahn-doh ooh meh-ooh sah-pah-toh.) (I’m searching for my shoe.)
  • Eles estão procurando o caminho certo. (eh-leez eh-stah-ooh proh-koo-rahn-doh ooh kah-meen-yoh seh-toh.) (They’re looking for the right road.)