Unit 18 · People and feelingsA2Lesson 4 of 5: Getting upset, getting happy
Getting upset, getting happy in European Portuguese
This is lesson 4 of 5 in Unit 18, People and feelings (Pessoas e sentimentos), an A2 unit in which you describe what people look like and what they are like, talk about feelings, and choose between ser and estar, saber and conhecer. The new words are ficar (to get), ficou (he/she got), a notícia (news) and 5 more, practised in 10 example sentences. By the end you can say things like Eu fiquei muito contente com a notícia (“I was very happy about the news”). The unit’s grammar notes cover “Ficar: to get, to become” and “Saudade”.
Words in this lesson
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
ficar | to getWith a feeling, ficar means to get or become: ficar contente, ficar chateado. |
ficou | he/she gotPast of ficar: fiquei, ficaste, ficou, ficámos, ficaram. |
a notícia | newsOne piece of news. As notícias = the news on TV. |
a prenda | presentThe usual word in Portugal for a present. |
surpreendidoalso surpreendida | surprised |
assustadoalso assustada | scared |
envergonhadoalso envergonhada | embarrassed |
o medo | fearTer medo de = to be afraid of. Ficar com medo = to get scared. |
Example sentences
- Eu fiquei muito contente com a notícia.I was very happy about the news.Ficar + a feeling = to get, to become. English often just says "was".
- O Pedro ficou chateado comigo.Pedro got upset with me.Ficou = he got, he became.
- Nós ficámos muito contentes com a prenda.We were very happy with the present.Ficámos (we got) has an accent in Portugal.
- A minha mãe ficou preocupada.My mother got worried.
- Eu fiquei com medo.I got scared.Ficar com medo = to get scared. O medo = fear.
- O meu filho ficou envergonhado.My son got embarrassed.People also say ficar com vergonha.
- Tu ficaste chateado com a notícia?Were you upset about the news?
- As crianças ficaram assustadas.The children got scared.Ficaram = they got. A criança is always feminine, even for boys.
- Eu fico nervoso antes dos exames.I get nervous before exams.In the present, ficar says what usually happens: fico nervoso.
- Ele ficou muito surpreendido com a prenda.He was very surprised by the present.Ficar surpreendido com = to be surprised by.
Grammar notes
The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 18: People and feelings: