My parents have come to visit. We are having a very good time so far. Unfortunately, they do not understand Portuguese. So I have become the interpreter for the house. I have a wonderful maid, Fatima. But my mom and Fatima cannot communicate, so I translate everything.
This has been a good thing because I can practice my Portuguese and make sure I am saying the correct words. However, this morning I had an education.
Dad in Portuguese is Pai. Parents in Portuguese is Pais. You pronounce these like pie and pies. Now to say country is also Pais, but pronounced differently. It is like Pie-ees with a hard stop at the end, not a soft s. Here is where the fun starts. Bread is Pão, like pow. But now many breads is pães. This is pronounced pies but you don't open your mouth wide for the long i sound. It is more muffled. Try it. It is not that easy. It all sounds extremely similar.
The funny part is that when I have been going to the grocery store and I wanted mini French bread rolls I have asked for, say 8 okay, I have asked for 8 paĕs. But it came out like 8 pais. So I have actually been asking for parents at the bakery instead of bread. No wonder they look at me funny.
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