Afeto – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Mayra Andrade

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the heartfelt lyrics of Mayra Andrade's "Afeto" to understand the nuances of emotional expression in relationships. This song, rich in Portuguese poetry, offers a unique perspective on love and connection, making it a special piece for appreciating the emotional depth in music.

[English]

I don't quite know what to do

Nor how to tell you

Every time you come closer, I feel further away from you

Your modesty was conveyed

And will be neutralized

Your modesty was conveyed

It doesn't matter how much I do

The color of gold matters little

In the race for your affection

The medal is always bronze

I am an orphan of your tenderness

...

It stands out to me

When you arrive straight and firm

What little can I do to make you change?

Your modesty was conveyed

And will be neutralized

Your modesty was conveyed

If you knew how to embrace

From time to time kiss

And to the imperfect corners

Point out with less rigor

Who would I be?

I am an orphan of your tenderness

...

When it's just you and me

And you fall asleep by my side

An ocean separates us

But you know nothing of it

The song that repeats

The sadness that silences me

Love was received

Despite what you keep silent

Love was received

Despite what you keep silent

...

[Portuguese]

Não sei bem o que fazer

Nem sei como te dizer

Cada vez que me chegas me sinto mais longe de ti

Teu pudor foi transmitido

E será neutralizado

Teu pudor foi transmitido

Não importa o quanto faça

Pouco importa a cor do ouro

Na corrida ao teu afeto

A medalha sempre é bronze

Sou órfã da tua ternura

Muito me salta à vista

Quando chegas reta e firme

Que pouco posso fazer para te fazer mudar?

Teu pudor foi transmitido

E será neutralizado

Teu pudor foi transmitido

Se soubesses abraçar

De vez em quando beijar

E aos recantos imperfeitos

Com menos rigor apontar

Quem seria eu?

Sou órfã da tua ternura

Quando estamos tu e eu

E ao meu lado adormeces

Um oceano nos separa

Mas tu não sabes de nada

A canção que se repete

A tristeza que me cala

O amor foi recebido

Apesar do que tu calas

O amor foi recebido

Apesar do que tu calas

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
afeto /aˈfɛtu/ B1	noun - affection
pudor /puˈdor/ B2	noun - modesty, shyness
medalha /meˈdaʎɐ/ A2	noun - medal
ternura /teʁˈnuɾɐ/ B1	noun - tenderness
tristeza /tɾiʃˈtezɐ/ A2	noun - sadness
amor /aˈmoʁ/ A1	noun - love
correr /koˈʁeʁ/ A1	verb - to run
chegar /ʃeˈɡaʁ/ A1	verb - to arrive
fazer /faˈzeʁ/ A1	verb - to do, to make
saber /saˈbeʁ/ A2	verb - to know
mudar /muˈdaʁ/ A2	verb - to change
calas /ˈkalɐs/ B2	verb - to silence, to quiet
vista /ˈviʃtɐ/ B1	noun - view, sight
rigor /ʁiˈɡoʁ/ B2	noun - rigor, strictness

Key Grammar Structures

• Não sei bem o que fazer

  ➔ Present tense negative form.

  ➔ The phrase "Não sei" means "I do not know," indicating a lack of knowledge or certainty.

• Teu pudor foi transmitido

  ➔ Passive voice in the past tense.

  ➔ The phrase "Teu pudor foi transmitido" translates to "Your modesty was transmitted," indicating an action done to the subject.

• Quem seria eu?

  ➔ Conditional mood.

  ➔ The phrase "Quem seria eu?" translates to "Who would I be?" expressing a hypothetical situation.

• Um oceano nos separa

  ➔ Present tense simple.

  ➔ The phrase "Um oceano nos separa" means "An ocean separates us," indicating a current state.

• Apesar do que tu calas

  ➔ Preposition + noun phrase.

  ➔ The phrase "Apesar do que tu calas" translates to "Despite what you keep silent about," indicating contrast.