Lyrics & Translation
Dive into the heartfelt sounds of Tony Fika's "Nu Pára," a captivating blend of Kizomba and Ghetto Zouk that offers a window into the emotional complexities of relationships. This song, sung in Cape Verdean Creole, provides an excellent opportunity for language learners to immerse themselves in the rhythm and nuances of the language through its poignant lyrics and melodious delivery. What makes it special is its ability to convey deep emotions of struggle and hope, making it relatable and musically rich.
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
|
briga /ˈbɾi.ɡɐ/ A2 |
|
|
fala /ˈfa.lɐ/ A1 |
|
|
para /ˈpa.ɾɐ/ A1 |
|
|
amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ A1 |
|
|
sufri /suˈfɾi/ A2 |
|
|
coração /koɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ A2 |
|
|
vida /ˈvi.dɐ/ A1 |
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mesti /ˈmɛʃ.ti/ A1 |
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|
relason /rɛ.lɐˈsɔ̃/ B1 |
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sol /sɔl/ A1 |
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lus /luʃ/ A1 |
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ilumina /i.lu.miˈnɐ/ B1 |
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mori /ˈmo.ɾi/ A2 |
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danha /ˈdɐ.ɲɐ/ B1 |
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abraços /ɐˈbɾa.sus/ B1 |
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calor /kɐˈloɾ/ A2 |
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família /fɐˈmi.li.ɐ/ A1 |
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kré /kɾɛ/ A1 |
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krefika /kɾeˈfi.kɐ/ A1 |
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storia /ˈstɔ.ɾi.ɐ/ A1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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Di kabeça ka sa briga
➔ Negation with Progressive Aspect
➔ This line shows the negation of an action in progress. The word "ka" is the general negation marker placed before the verb. "sa" indicates an ongoing action, similar to the English "-ing" form. So, "ka sa briga" means "is not fighting."
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Coração sa ta binta
➔ Progressive Aspect
➔ This illustrates the progressive aspect in Kriolu, indicating an action that is currently happening. "Sa ta" is a common construction for this, formed by the auxiliary "sa" (from Portuguese 'estar' - to be) and "ta" (indicating continuous action) followed by the main verb. So, "sa ta binta" means "is beating/pulsing."
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Nu mesti fala
➔ Modal Verb and Infinitive
➔ This phrase demonstrates the use of the modal verb "mesti" (meaning "to need" or "must") followed directly by a verb in its infinitive form ("fala" - to speak). This structure is equivalent to "we must speak" or "we need to speak" in English.
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Nu mesti para di briga
➔ Phrasal Verb 'para di' with Gerund Equivalent
➔ This sentence uses the phrasal verb "para di" (to stop from, to stop doing something), where "para" means "to stop" and "di" acts as a preposition linking it to the action being stopped. "Briga" here refers to the act of fighting. It combines with the modal verb "mesti" (must/need).
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Pa nu ka danha nha miga kré
➔ Purpose Clause with Negation
➔ This line uses "pa" to introduce a purpose or intention clause, meaning "in order to" or "so that." The negation "ka" is placed before the subject pronoun "nu" (we) and the verb "danha" (to harm), indicating that the purpose is to *not* do something.
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Sem bu abraços
➔ Preposition and Possessive Determiner
➔ This phrase combines the preposition "sem" (without) with the possessive determiner "bu" (your, informal singular), which precedes the noun "abraços" (hugs). This structure indicates lack or absence.
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Nu ka krefika
➔ Simple Negation
➔ This line shows the basic negation structure in Kriolu. The negation marker "ka" is placed directly before the verb "krefika" (a common Kriolu contraction of "kre fika," meaning "want to stay" or "want to remain"). This indicates "we do not want to stay" or "we won't stay/remain."
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Dipos kin coxa
➔ Temporal Conjunction and Subject Pronoun Contraction
➔ This line features "dipos" (after), acting as a temporal conjunction. It is followed by "kin," which is a common contraction of "ki n'" (where "ki" is a conjunction like "when," and "n'" is the contracted form of the first-person singular pronoun "eu"/"I"). So, "kin coxa" means "when I limp" or "after I am weak."
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Bo é sol ki ta kenta
➔ Verb 'to be', Relative Pronoun, and Habitual/Progressive Aspect
➔ This sentence uses the verb "é" (is), which is the third-person singular form of the verb "ser" (to be). "Ki" acts as a relative pronoun, similar to "who," "which," or "that," introducing a subordinate clause. "Ta kenta" uses "ta," another common Kriolu aspect marker indicating habitual or continuous action ("is warming" or "warms").
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Nha vida ganha agora
➔ Possessive Determiner and Present Tense Verb
➔ This phrase shows the use of "nha" (my), a possessive determiner that precedes the noun "vida" (life). "Ganha" is the verb "to win/gain" in the present tense. Kriolu verbs often have simple or invariant forms, making the present tense straightforward.
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