Ela – Bilingual Lyrics Portuguese/English

• By: Tim Bernardes
• Album: Recomeçar

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant lyrics of Tim Bernardes's "Ela," a song that offers a touching perspective on observing and understanding someone's hidden emotional struggles. Through its gentle melodies and heartfelt Portuguese lyrics, "Ela" invites listeners to connect with themes of empathy and silent suffering.

[English]

When she wakes up, she looks to the side

Dresses beautifully for no one

Cries hidden in the bathroom

Pretends to be fine for her friends

But I see

I see

Thinks she needs to be tough

Doesn't give space for the pain to pass

There's a scream stuck in her throat

That won't let her speak

But I hear

I hear

Almost as if she's anesthetized

...

Letting life carry her away

She felt more than she could bear

Doesn't want to feel anything ever again

But I feel

I feel

Anyone who meets her on the street

Sees that something has faded

She's becoming different

I think no one told her

And I say

I say

...

[Portuguese]

Quando acorda olha para o lado

Se veste bonita pra ninguém

Chora escondida no banheiro

Pras amigas finge que está bem

Mas eu vejo

Eu vejo

Acha que precisa ser durona

Não dá espaço para a dor passar

Tem um grito preso na garganta

Que não está deixando ela falar

Mas eu ouço

Eu ouço

Quase como que anestesiada

Vai deixando a vida carregar

Ela sentiu mais do que aguentava

Não quer sentir nada nunca mais

Mas eu sinto

Eu sinto

Qualquer um que encontra ela na rua

Vê que alguma coisa se apagou

Ela está ficando diferente

Acho que ninguém a avisou

E eu digo

Eu digo

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
acordar /a.korˈdar/ B1	verb - to wake up
olhar /oˈʎaɾ/ A2	verb - to look at
vestir /vɛsˈtʃiʁ/ B1	verb - to dress
chorar /ʃuˈɾar/ B1	verb - to cry
esconder /es.kõˈdeɾ/ B2	verb - to hide
fingir /fiɲˈʒir/ B2	verb - to pretend
bem /bẽj/ A2	adjective/adverb - well
dizer /diˈzeɾ/ B1	verb - to say
sentir /sẽˈtʃiɾ/ B1	verb - to feel
diferente /dʒifeˈɾẽtʃi/ B2	adjective - different
avisar /aviˈzaɾ/ B2	verb - to warn; to inform

Key Grammar Structures

• Se veste bonita pra ninguém

  ➔ Use of 'pra' (para) to indicate purpose or intention

  ➔ 'Pra' is a colloquial contraction of 'para' in Portuguese, used to indicate purpose or direction.

• Ela sentiu mais do que aguentava

  ➔ Use of 'mais do que' to compare two quantities or states ('more than')

  ➔ 'Mais do que' is a comparative phrase meaning 'more than', used to compare quantities, qualities, or states.

• Nunca mais sentir nada

  ➔ Use of the future negative 'nunca mais' to express 'never again'

  ➔ 'Nunca mais' is a Portuguese phrase meaning 'never again', used to indicate that something will not happen in the future.

• Vê que alguma coisa se apagou

  ➔ Use of 'se' as a reflexive pronoun forming passive or reflective constructions

  ➔ 'Se' in Portuguese is a reflexive pronoun used to form passive or reflexive constructions, often indicating that the subject is affected by the action.

• Acha que precisa ser durona

  ➔ Use of 'que' as a conjunction meaning 'that' to introduce subordinate clauses

  ➔ 'Que' is a subordinating conjunction meaning 'that', used to introduce subordinate clauses in sentences.

• Ela está ficando diferente

  ➔ Use of 'está + gerund' to indicate ongoing progressive aspect ('is becoming')

  ➔ 'Está + gerund' in Portuguese is a construction used to denote ongoing action, equivalent to the present continuous in English, meaning 'is becoming'.