CUMBOSSA – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Freirianas Guerreiras, Ana Mileida

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soulful sounds of Cape Verde through 'CUMBOSSA.' This song is a perfect gateway to learning Cape Verdean Creole, offering a glimpse into the rhythmic poetry and the spirited, communal identity of the islands.

[English]

[music]

[music]

Girl

the job [music] stays here for living

the cable passes

house [music]

the job stays

out [music]

the

your house takes it

[music]

by itself.

fearful.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> rope

speaking

enough

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[singing][music]

>> a little bit

a tough guy, [singing]

[music] a taste of food

>> [music]

[music]

>> in the

girl

>> [music]

>> rich [music] mass

rich mass

rich mass

Oh, hi

girl [music]

oh, insolent

oh [music] easy, come eat

[music]

ready

it's fine behind the [music] right there

window

Keep talking

>> [music]

>> Come on

[music]

[music]

[Portuguese]

[música]

[música]

Mina

o trampa [música] fica para morar saída

cabo passa

casa [música]

trampo fica

sa [música]

o

seu toma o casa

[música]

por isolero.

temero.

>> [música]

[música]

[música]

>> corda

fulando

farta

>> [música]

[música]

[música]

[música]

[canto][música]

>> un poil

um tronco gajo, [canto]

[música] un comida gosto

>> [música]

[música]

>> na pra

menina

>> [música]

>> rico [música] massa

rico massa

rico massa

Oc, oi

menina [música]

oi desaforment

oi [música] fazil comi com oi coma

[música]

na pronto

tá bem de trás o [música] crtino tá na

janela

Набора говори

>> [música]

>> Anda

[música]

[música]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Mina mina A2	noun - Girl, young woman (slang).
Trampo trampo B1	noun - Work, job.
Morar morar A1	verb - To live, to reside.
Saída saída A1	noun - Exit, departure.
Corda corda A2	noun - Rope, string.
Comida comida A1	noun - Food, meal.
Gosto gosto A1	noun - Taste, flavor; liking.
Rico rico A1	adjective - Rich, wealthy.
Massa massa A2	adjective - Cool, great (slang).
Janela janela A1	noun - Window.
Anda anda A1	verb - To walk, to move.

Key Grammar Structures

• o trampa fica para morar

  ➔ Preposition 'para' indicating purpose

  ➔ Used here to express the reason or objective for which the 'trampa' (work/effort) 'fica' (stays).

• tá bem de trás o crtino

  ➔ Contraction 'tá' (estar) + Prepositional phrase

  ➔ Informal usage of 'está' and the locative phrase 'de trás' indicating position.

• tá na janela

  ➔ Contraction of 'em' + 'a' (na) with verb 'estar'

  ➔ Shows current location using the definite article merged with the preposition.

• fazil comi com oi coma

  ➔ Subjunctive mood potential 'coma'

  ➔ The verb 'comer' conjugated in the present subjunctive form.

• rico massa

  ➔ Adjective usage for emphasis

  ➔ 'Massa' is used as a colloquial adjective meaning 'cool' or 'great'.